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Citi Hosts Flagship AI Forum to Drive Hong Kong’s Financial Future In Partnership with Mastercard & FinTech Association of Hong Kong
Leading Financial Institutions, Regulators, and Tech Innovators Converge to Accelerate Hong Kong’s AI Readiness and Global Leadership
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 September 2025 – Citi Hong Kong, in collaboration with Mastercard and the FinTech Association of Hong Kong (FTAHK), successfully co-hosted the “Creating an AI Ready Economy” forum yesterday. Riding on the success of last year, this flagship event, now in its second edition, brought together over 100 participants. This exclusive event brought regulators, finance industry experts, and FinTech innovators together to delve into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in propelling Hong Kong’s economic future, firmly cementing Hong Kong’s unparalleled position as a global AI-enabled financial hub. This forum reaffirmed Citi’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and preparing the financial ecosystem for an era of unprecedented growth and technological leadership.
The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and leading organizations including Accenture, Fano, Google Hong Kong and Mastercard. This diverse representation underscored the broad industry commitment to advancing AI capabilities responsibly and collaboratively. During the forum, discussions spanned critical areas such as the future impact of AI on Hong Kong’s economy and banking industry, the value of AI for wealth management, and the potential of Agentic AI in transforming the banking, investments and financial services.
The forum also emphasized responsible AI adoption, balancing innovation with strong regulatory oversight and consumer protection, and fostering international collaboration to ensure a secure, transparent, and well-regulated environment, drawing insights from initiatives like the GenAI Sandbox and evolving regulatory policies.
Vicky Kong, Head of Wealth, Asia North & Australia at Citi, said, “At Citi Wealth, AI presents an unprecedented opportunity to not only personalize client experiences but also to deliver enhanced value. Citi is at the forefront of leveraging AI to optimize our operations, empowering our teams to focus on providing our clients with timely, sophisticated and hyper-personalized wealth management solutions that anticipate and meet their evolving needs. This is how we are actively building the future of wealth.”
Delving into advanced AI applications, Joe Bonanno, Head of Data Analytics & Innovation at Citi Wealth, commented, “We are relentlessly modernizing our technology platforms to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities – bringing advanced functionality, innovation, and personalization to both clients and colleagues. This commitment also optimizes our operations and provides truly tailored client experiences. At Citi Wealth, we have already seen the significant impact of AI with the launch of AskWealth and Advisor Insights for the Wealth business in North America, enhancing operational efficiency and tailoring client experiences. We are incredibly excited to scale these proven AI innovations globally, bringing significant added value to our clients across the Hong Kong market and beyond.”
Dipendra Malhotra, Head of Wealth Technology at Citi, added, “The rapid evolution of our industry demands a bold vision for technological transformation. At Citi Wealth, we are architecting an industry-leading technological backbone, powered by strategic partnerships with innovators. This empowers our colleagues to deliver deeply personalized client experiences, establishing Citi as a pioneer in human-AI collaboration that fundamentally enhances value for both our colleagues and clients.”
Matthew Driver, Executive Vice President, Services, Asia Pacific at Mastercard, said, “AI is transforming wealth management – from streamlining operations and risk management to delivering deep personalization and actionable insights. Market leaders like Citi are leading this shift by not just upgrading technology, but driving a full-scale transformation across culture, processes, systems and capabilities. Responsible data use, executive commitment, and retraining are all critical to unlocking AI’s full potential, but perhaps the most important is keeping the human in the loop from governance all the way through to relationship management, because trust is the currency of the digital economy.”
Lareina Wang, Chair, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, said “This forum was a powerful demonstration of the collaborative spirit driving Hong Kong’s fintech ecosystem. Bringing together regulators, financial institutions, and technology innovators is essential to responsibly harness the transformative power of AI. The FTAHK is proud to partner with industry leaders like Citi Hong Kong and Mastercard to foster these critical dialogs, especially by the participation of members from our AI Strategic Advisory Council. By uniting diverse perspectives, we can accelerate Hong Kong’s journey to becoming a leading AI-ready economy, ensuring the city remains at the forefront of financial innovation.”
The forum marked a significant step in Hong Kong’s journey towards an AI-enabled financial hub. By facilitating the responsible adoption of AI, Hong Kong is ready to become a future-ready leader in the rapidly evolving global landscape, with Citi actively contributing to this transformative vision.
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Photo 1: Leading industry experts, regulators, and innovators gather at the “Creating AI Ready Economy” forum in Hong Kong, fostering dialogs to shaping the future of AI-driven financial innovation (From left to right):
- Dr. Miles Wen, Co-founder & CEO of Fano
- Sarah O, Head of Digital Growth & Cards and Unsecured Lending Sales, Citibank Hong Kong
- Tancho Fingarov, SVP, Head of Business & Market Insights for Asia Pacific, Mastercard
- Aveline San, Chief Executive Officer and Banking Head of Citi Hong Kong
- Carmen Chu, Executive Director, Banking Supervision of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority
- Howard Lee, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority
- Joe Bonanno, Head of Data Analytics & Innovation at Citi Wealth
- Dipendra Malhotra, Head of Wealth Technology at Citi
- Vicky Kong, Head of Wealth, Asia North & Australia at Citi
- Nailesh Shah, Head of Digital Platform & Content Commercialization, Citibank Hong Kong
- Nicole Bodack, Managing Director, Banking & Capital Markets, APAC at Accenture
Photo 2: Marc Luet, Head of Japan, Asia North & Australia, and Banking at Citi delivers opening remarks at the “Creating AI Ready Economy” forum.
Photo 3: Howard Lee, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (left), discusses the regulatory vision for AI, underscoring Hong Kong’s commitment to fostering a secure and well-regulated environment for AI-driven advancements during a Fireside Chat moderated by Vicky Kong, Head of Wealth, Asia North & Australia at Citi (right).
Photo 4: (2nd from the left to right) Joe Bonanno, Head of Data Analytics & Innovation at Citi Wealth, Carmen Chu, Executive Director (Banking Supervision) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Michael Yue, Managing Director and General Manager at Google Hong Kong, discuss how AI is revolutionizing the banking and wealth management landscape during the panel discussion moderated by Aveline San, Chief Executive Officer and Banking Head of Citi Hong Kong (first from the left).
Photo 5: (2nd from the left to right) Dipendra Malhotra, Head of Wealth Technology at Citi, Tancho Fingarov, SVP, Head of Business & Market Insights for Asia Pacific at Mastercard, and Nicole Bodack, Managing Director, Banking & Capital Markets APAC at Accenture discuss how Agentic AI is transforming financial services, during the panel discussion moderated by Dr. Miles Wen, Co-founder & CEO of Fano (first from the left).
Hashtag: #Citi
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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SkinLab The Medical Spa Recognised at the 2026 Singapore Retailers Association Awards (SRA) for Excellence in Beauty and Cosmetics
For SkinLab, this reflects two decades of building a holistic beauty ecosystem spanning medical aesthetics, skin health, and wellness, under Dr Kelvin Chua, Senior Medical Director and Founder of SL Aesthetic Group. Treatments are personally developed by Dr Chua to address different skin concerns, such as acne, pigmentation, sensitivity, rosacea, dryness, and ageing. The medical spa also offers a range of skincare products formulated for Singapore’s humid climate and to support long-term skin health.
With 10 outlets islandwide, SkinLab has cared for more than 100,000 customers through this model of doctor-designed care. As no two skin conditions present the same way, each treatment can be customised to individual needs and preferences.
SkinLab has also been recognised by Harper’s BAZAAR, HerWorld, and Singapore Women’s Weekly for treatments targeting deep hydration, rejuvenation, and complexion correction. Behind these treatment outcomes are medical-grade technologies, including the LDM Triple, a triple-frequency ultrasound that targets multiple skin depths simultaneously; FDA-approved Lumenis M22 IPL system for photorejuvenation and pigmentation; Onda Pro with Coolwaves™ technology for body contouring; and the globally-recognised HydraFacial.
The medical spa continuously invests in technology that improves the customer experience, including using AI-assisted skin analysis to support consultations alongside chatbot-based scheduling to reduce waiting time and streamline appointment bookings.
SkinLab’s commitment to holistic care extends beyond treatment sessions, promoting skin health literacy educational content and workshops with doctors from sister brand SL Aesthetic Clinic.
“This award is a valuable milestone that reflects how far SkinLab The Medical Spa has grown as a brand,” says Dr Chua. “From the very start, our brand was designed with the customer at the centre, and that principle continues to guide every treatment developed and every experience delivered moving forward. The brand remains committed to advancing medical-led facial treatments that address a wide range of skin concerns more effectively.”
Looking ahead, SkinLab The Medical Spa remains committed to advancing its medical-led approach to skin health, continuing to explore and adopt clinically validated technologies to deliver more individualised care while reinforcing its commitment to clinical excellence across all its outlets.
To learn more, visit: www.skinlabmedspa.com
Hashtag: #SkinLabTheMedicalSpa #SLAestheticGroup #SingaporeRetailersAssociation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About SkinLab The Medical Spa
SkinLab The Medical Spa brings together the attentive, understated service of a world-class spa with medically grounded aesthetic science. As the dedicated medical spa brand of SL Aesthetic Group, SkinLab focuses on non-invasive facial treatments for acne, pigmentation, sensitive skin, and overall skin rejuvenation, delivering evidence-based care that supports long-term skin health.
Founded in the 2000s, SL Aesthetic Group is a healthcare and aesthetics group specialising in skin and hair health, women’s wellness, and holistic medicine. Its portfolio includes SL Aesthetic Clinic, a doctor-led medical aesthetics practice; SkinLab The Medical Spa; TrichoLab, a specialist hair and scalp centre; PROLOGUE, a women’s wellness and lifestyle medical clinic; and Euphie Skin Solutions in Malaysia. Across its network of clinics and outlets, the Group offers a comprehensive range of FDA-approved aesthetic and medical treatments, all supervised by trained and certified healthcare professionals holding Certificates of Competency (COC) recognised by the Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (APOC).
SkinLab The Medical Spa operates 10 locations across Singapore, including its flagship medical spa at Wheelock Place, while SL Aesthetic Group has a network of more than 20 clinics and outlets across Singapore and Malaysia.
The launch ceremony was attended by Mr. Do Quang Thai, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Kingdom of Denmark, together with representatives from leading Danish organizations, including 3F, Dansk Erhverv, DPT and Carnegie Investment Bank, alongside strategic partners and industry stakeholders from the transport, technology, energy, finance and infrastructure sectors.
As one of the world’s leading cities in sustainable urban mobility, Copenhagen was chosen as Green SM’s first European market. Here, the company aims to complement the city’s existing transport network by offering another reliable, fully electric mobility option for residents and visitors alike.
In Denmark, the company operates a fully electric fleet of VinFast VF 6 and VF 8 vehicles, serving a wide range of everyday urban travel needs. Unlike many ride-hailing platforms that primarily connect passengers with independent drivers, Green SM directly owns and manages its fleet and oversees driver operations to help ensure consistent service quality and customer experience. During the initial phase of operations, Green SM will focus on establishing a reliable local operation, ensuring full compliance with Danish regulations, and continuously improving its service based on feedback from customers, drivers, and other stakeholders.
Delivering a safe, professional, and consistent customer experience begins with Green SM’s drivers. Before serving customers, every driver completes comprehensive training in road safety, customer service, operating procedures, and electric vehicle operation. Together with ongoing training and a robust local operations system, this helps ensure every journey reflects the high standards Green SM is committed to delivering.
Customers can book rides through the Green SM app, available on the App Store and Google Play. Fares are displayed before each trip is confirmed, and electronic receipts are issued automatically at the end of every journey. To mark its launch in Copenhagen, Green SM is offering new customers five (5) vouchers worth 25% off each trip, up to a maximum discount of 100 DKK per ride throughout the Grand Launch period from July 30 to September 30, 2026.
Richard Nabil Chahine, CEO of Green SM Europe, said: “Cities shape the future of mobility long before companies do. Copenhagen is one of those cities. That is why beginning our European journey here carries special meaning for Green SM. We come with deep respect for the standards already established here, drawing on what we have learned from serving millions of journeys across Asia. Our ambition is simple: to become a trusted mobility partner by delivering safe, professional and fully electric journeys that people can rely on every day. If we earn that trust, growth will naturally follow.”
Green SM’s expansion into Europe reflects the company’s long-term approach to international growth. Rather than prioritising rapid expansion, Green SM focuses on building well-structured local operations, adapting its services to local market needs, and earning trust through consistently reliable service.
With its fully electric fleet and low-emission operating model, Green SM hopes to contribute to Denmark’s long-standing ambitions for more sustainable mobility while providing another practical transport choice for everyday journeys.
Founded in Vietnam in 2023, Green SM currently operates in Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Kazakhstan. Through its fully electric fleet, technology platform and consistent operating standards, the company is steadily expanding internationally while adapting its services to local market needs.
Hashtag: #GreenSM
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The collaboration marks a significant moment for Taiwan’s international media presence, as the completion of Gaudí’s vision draws global attention to one of the world’s most visited cultural landmarks. NHK has documented the construction of the Sagrada Família for decades, building a relationship of trust with the basilica’s team that enabled joint coverage.
TVBS crews filmed in areas rarely accessible to media, including the crypt where Gaudí is buried, architectural workshops, and key structural sections of the basilica. The team conducted interviews with architects and experts involved in the project during preparations for the inauguration ceremony. Construction on the church began in 1882, one year before Gaudí took over as chief architect.
Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling joined the reporting team in Barcelona as a cultural ambassador for the project. Lin met with architects and experts to explore the basilica through the perspectives of architecture, aesthetics, and cultural heritage. Her involvement added a cultural dimension to the coverage beyond conventional architectural reporting.
The coverage brought together partners from Taiwan’s technology and financial sectors. HTC, through its VIVE Arts initiative, contributed its immersive experience “Gaudí, the Atelier of the Divine.” The virtual reality program allows audiences to explore Gaudí’s architectural world in new ways, transcending geographical and physical boundaries.
TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd., which has long supported arts and cultural exchange, sponsored the live broadcast. The company cited values of integrity, innovation, and sustainability in joining the project. The cross-sector collaboration extended Taiwan’s cultural advocacy onto the international stage, connecting the 144-year architectural endeavor to audiences in Taiwan and Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.
TVBS integrated AI-powered real-time translation technology throughout the live coverage, facilitating multilingual communication across international production teams. The project showcased Taiwan’s ability to connect industries and communities across borders. TVBS, NHK, HTC, and TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd., together documented a defining milestone in the Sagrada Família’s history.
Hashtag: #TVBS
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