Press Release

Credit Suisse hosts the 22nd Asian Investment Conference to rethink Disruption as Usual

The Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference (AIC) will take place in Hong Kong SAR (China) on March 25-28. This year's AIC brings together more than 3,000 attendees, including over 2,000 representatives from the global investment community to explore how investors can capture the opportunities from disruption. Over 300 companies with total market capitalization of over USD5.8 trillion will be presenting at the four-day conference. Among the private companies taking part are some of the largest unicorns and decacorns from across Asia. This year's AIC will showcase more than 150 world-leading experts from across business, finance, economics, politics, technology and the philanthropy and sustainability sectors, delivering insights in 90 sessions on the theme of 'Disruption as usual'.

"For more than two decades, the AIC has delivered an impressive array of speakers to inform the debates of the day, and chart the future." Said Helman Sitohang, CEO, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse.

"As The Bank for Entrepreneurs Bank in Asia Pacific, through the AIC every year, Credit Suisse connects the world's largest institutional and private investors with some of the most dynamic, entrepreneurial institutions and individuals around Asia. We build meaningful connections between our clients and investors. We align capital to great minds, and make introductions through our extensive network for collaboration, growth and investment opportunities."

Focusing on the theme of Disruption as Usual, this year's AIC will explore the disruptive forces that are changing our lives in a variety of ways, how we can anticipate, understand and embrace them, and the investment opportunities they will create.

Taking the pulse of the Fed

At this year's AIC, Dr Janet Yellen, Distinguished Fellow in Residence at the Brookings Institution and former Chair of the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve System, leads an exceptional line-up of US central bank experts, with Charles Evans, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Eric Rosengren, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, who will share their insights on the challenges ahead.

Navigating geopolitical tensions

Rising tensions between the US and China that are playing out over trade and technology have brought this concept – the Thucydides Trap – to the fore. Shedding light on this key geopolitical dilemma at the AIC will be David Daokui Li, Director at Tsinghua University's Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking, and Minxin Pei, Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College and a specialist in governance in China and US-Asia relations.

The former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will share his thoughts on whether democracies can survive the proliferation of social media.

With Indonesia getting ready for a landmark general election in April, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia's Minister of Finance, will share how the country is charting its route to become one of the largest economies in the world.

Forecasting the future of fintech and biotech

While political disruption can cause market instability, disruption in technology is typically viewed as a huge source of value creation. Nowhere is this upheaval more visible than in financial services. Cyril Han, Vice President at Ant Financial, will share his thoughts on what is next for the fintech revolution.

Not only is China one of the leaders in financial technology, but it has also become one of the world's leading biotech nations. Discussing the trends and future growth opportunities for the sector will be Jasmine Cui, President and CEO at InnoCare, Hui Feng, COO at Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Company Limited, and Scott Liu, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc.

Building the artificial mind

Technology may have the power to improve the human mind, but the biggest changes are occurring within digital brains as artificial intelligence (AI) moves into homes, businesses, and government.

Bing Xu, Co-Founder of SenseTime — one of the world's most valuable AI start-ups — will discuss how AI is disrupting our way of living. Richard Tang, CFO of CloudMinds, will explain how innovation in the robotics industry will transform our lives.

Cloud computing is also powering the rise of e-sports, bringing gamers and spectators together around the world. Hua Fung Teh, Group President at ONE Championship, Min-Liang Tan, Co-Founder and CEO at Razer, and Mario Ho, Chief Marketing Officer at iDreamSky, discuss how companies take first in this fast-evolving competitive landscape.

Psychology and risk return

Denise Shull, expert in the neuroscience and psychology of risk in trading and investing, will explore whether psychology can radically enhance risk-return. She will introduce what neuroscientists know, but what investors and traders still resist – that emotion is essential to all decision-making.

Credit Suisse's leading research analysts will host media briefing sessions to share their unique insight in thematic and sectoral investment themes, namely:

  • the rising dominance of the young consumers;
  • who are the new unicorns in China;
  • 5G hype and reality; and
  • The age of plastic 2.0 – APAC value chain.

For more information about the AIC speakers, the agenda, coverage of the conference on the AIC Blog, interviews, and video highlights of the conference, please visit AIC website and view the latest AIC Media Program.

Please note that selected keynote addresses and panels will be open to media representatives, who are required to reference the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference when quoting any speaker at the AIC.