Official launch of 2023 Set Sail for GBA – Scheme for Financial Leaders of Tomorrow (with photos)

     The 2023 Set Sail for GBA – Scheme for Financial Leaders of Tomorrow programme, co-organised by the Shenzhen Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation, was launched at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (June 5).
 
     2023 Set Sail for GBA – Scheme for Financial Leaders of Tomorrow is a Shenzhen-Hong Kong youth internship programme under which around 40 undergraduates studying business, finance, economics, mathematics, computer science, etc, in tertiary institutions in Hong Kong are provided with the opportunity to undertake a six-week internship in financial institutions in Shenzhen as well as a four-day trip in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It enables youngsters to deepen their understanding of the financial markets in the GBA and gain first-hand experience of the latest developments in Mainland cities.
 
     Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, "The GBA has enormous economic power and is a fast-growing economy attracting worldwide attention. Financial co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao can explore greater market potential, growth areas and financial innovation, enabling finance to serve the real economy more effectively and bring wider benefit to the people. Hong Kong and other cities of the GBA have room for more and deeper co-operation and innovation in the areas of Renminbi business, investment and financing, asset management, green finance, fintech, risk management, etc. This will definitely provide more employment and development opportunities for young people of both places who are interested in joining the financial sector."    
 
     The Director of the Shenzhen Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, Mr He Jie, said, "The Programme launched today has incredible significance as it represents a concrete action of Shenzhen-Hong Kong co-operation, as well as a vivid example of implementing national strategies. Through the two-way exchange between young people of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, we hope that the Programme can help young people of Hong Kong to have a better understanding of Shenzhen, of the GBA, and of the national development, thereby attracting more of them to study, work and live on the Mainland. At the same time, we look forward to the wider perspectives and new energy to be brought to the Shenzhen financial sector to stimulate more innovative, productive and creative thinking."
 
     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, shared his views on the development of the financial markets of the two places, pointing out that Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as core cities and engines of the GBA development, could co-operate and complement each other to promote the sustained development of the financial industry in the GBA. He encouraged students participating in the Programme to broaden their horizons and seize the opportunities of the GBA development in their career planning, thus enjoying the great benefit.  
 
     Other officiating guests at the launch ceremony included the Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in the HKSAR, Mr Xu Weigang; the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms Salina Yan; First-class Inspector and Deputy Director General of the Youth Department of the LOCPG in the HKSAR, Professor Song Lai; and the Chairman of the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation, Mr Ng Win-kong. Local tertiary students joining the Programme and representatives from participating Shenzhen enterprises and tertiary institutions in Hong Kong also attended the event.