On 29 April, CUHK Business School hosted its inaugural Greater Bay Area (GBA) CEO Forum, bringing together more than 200 business leaders, policymakers and industry experts to explore the opportunities shaping the region’s future.

In an address, the Honourable Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government, highlighted the GBA’s new phase of growth under the National 15th Five-Year Plan. He emphasised Hong Kong’s strengths in finance, innovation, talent and global connectivity, noting that “Finance+”, “AI+” and high value-added supply chain management will drive future competitiveness. He stated: “The GBA is no doubt one of the most promising regions in the world for investment, innovation and business growth, and Hong Kong stands at the heart of this opportunity. To realise our full potential, we need strong public-private collaboration.”

Delivering the keynote speech, Dr Fred Hu Zuliu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Primavera Capital Group, described the GBA as a safe harbour for global business and investment. He highlighted its strength in advanced manufacturing, resilient supply chains and extensive global connectivity, alongside its deep talent pool and world-class innovation ecosystem.

In his welcome remarks, Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, underscored the University’s two-decade long engagement in the GBA, including the recent launch of the CUHK InnoHub in Qianhai. He said: “By deepening our partnerships across GBA cities, we aim to contribute to the region’s development into a world-class hub for talent and technology. In doing so, we seek to play our part in the broader trajectory of the development of our country and beyond.”

The Forum was convened at a pivotal moment, as 2026 marks the launch of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, while geopolitical uncertainties and the dual-edged nature of AI continue to reshape the global business landscape. In response to these evolving dynamics, the Business School conducted the GBA Executive Survey to uncover valuable insights into the region’s emerging priorities and opportunities.

Sharing the findings, Professor Zhou Lin, Dean of CUHK Business School, said: “Overall, 60% of business leaders express high to very high confidence in the region’s regulatory environment, market stability and connectivity. Talent remains the greatest hurdle, with 66% of firms facing acute shortages. By combining our institutional stability with the Chinese Mainland’s immense scale, Hong Kong is emerging as a dual safe harbour for fintech and digital governance. This is the meeting point where the twain truly meet to shape the future of the global business landscape.”

The Forum featured two panel discussions. The first examined the GBA’s position among global financial hubs and Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector for capital and markets. The second explored how AI and other technologies are reshaping business models and consumer behaviour, highlighting opportunities for innovation in a rapidly evolving digital economy.