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Hong Kong SMEs Accelerate Transformation as AI and Northern Metropolis Unlock New Opportunities, Dah Sing Bank Survey
Capability and Resource Gaps Limit Growth Potential As Firms Explore the New Economy
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 July 2026 – Dah Sing Bank, Limited (“Dah Sing Bank”) revealed in its latest SME Survey that Hong Kong SMEs are accelerating digital and business transformation, actively exploring opportunities arising from artificial intelligence (AI) and developments in the Northern Metropolis, and seeking new growth drivers in the evolving economic landscape.
Dah Sing Bank remains committed to staying close to the needs of SMEs and understanding the challenges and directions of their business transformation journey. To gain deeper insights into these trends, the Bank commissioned a survey[1] in May 2026 through a major local media outlet, interviewing over 340 Hong Kong SMEs to understand how businesses are navigating current challenges and evolving strategies, while examining their plans and needs in areas such as AI adoption, Northern Metropolis opportunities and business upgrading.
Transformation Gains Momentum
The Survey shows that around 23% of enterprises have already adopted AI or generative AI (GenAI) in their operations, while a further 32% plan to do so within the next one to two years, indicating a growing transformation momentum. At the same time, nearly 70% of respondents believe that developments in the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao-Hong Kong Science Park are relevant to their future businesses, reflecting strong interest in participating in the evolving new economy.
AI Adoption Still at an Early Stage
In terms of AI applications, SMEs are currently focusing on relatively accessible use cases such as marketing and content creation (56%) and customer service (42%), with some also applying AI in sales support (35%) and data analysis (30%).
In contrast, adoption remains limited in more advanced areas such as process automation or workflow improvement (14%), suggesting that overall AI usage among SMEs is still at an early stage and has yet to be fully integrated into core business operations.
Capability Gaps Limit Transformation
The Survey also highlights significant challenges in advancing AI adoption. Around 45% of SMEs have yet to implement AI technologies, with more than half citing a lack of relevant knowledge or skills (57%) as a key barrier. In addition, 38% pointed to unclear return on investment, while others indicated the absence of suitable use cases (29%) or insufficient time and resources to explore further (24%).
These findings suggest that gaps in capabilities, resource allocation and application planning remain major constraints on SMEs’ ability to scale up transformation initiatives.
Business Models and Talent Needs Evolve
SMEs are also advancing their digitalisation efforts, with widespread adoption of social media marketing (51%), e-commerce platforms (43%) and electronic payment solutions (50%), reflecting a shift towards more flexible, multi-channel business models.
As AI adoption gradually expands, workforce requirements are also evolving. About one-quarter of respondents indicated that AI would shift employees towards higher value-added roles, while around one in five expect increased demand for new skills and talent. This suggests a gradual transition towards more knowledge- and technology-driven operating models.
Northern Metropolis Opens New Opportunities
Regarding developments in the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao-Hong Kong Park, SMEs generally prefer to participate as service providers and supporting partners within the broader ecosystem. This includes offering specialised services or solutions to companies in the area (44%), collaborating with research institutions or technology firms (29%), and participating in pilot projects or proof-of-concept programmes (25%).
In addition, some SMEs plan to provide products and services to future residents, businesses and workers in the district (51%), or take part in construction and infrastructure-related supply chains (36%). These responses indicate that SMEs are actively identifying entry points aligned with their strengths to integrate into emerging industry ecosystems.
Dah Sing Bank Supports SMEs Transformation
To address the challenges of transformation, Dah Sing Bank recognises that SMEs not only need financial support but also practical and clear directional guidance. The Bank adopts a holistic approach, offering flexible financing solutions to meet evolving business needs, while streamlining digital banking processes and enhancing cross-border financial services to improve SMEs’ operational efficiency and agility.
In addition, Dah Sing Bank places strong emphasis on equipping SMEs with relevant market insights and practical knowledge. These initiatives include providing the latest market trends and business tips via the Bank’s online educational platform, the “SME Info Hub”. Additionally, the Bank organises tailored SME seminars through its “328 Business School” educational platform on various topics such as AI technology and digital marketing. Together, these efforts aim to help businesses deepen their understanding of emerging technologies and market developments, enabling them to navigate an increasingly dynamic economic landscape.
Dah Sing Bank Deputy Chief Executive, Senior Executive Director and Head of Group Personal Banking, Ms Phoebe Wong, said: “The Survey shows that Hong Kong SMEs are increasingly exploring AI applications and opportunities in the new economy. However, many businesses continue to face challenges in technology adoption and resource allocation. Dah Sing Bank has long been a trusted partner to SMEs on their transformation journey. Beyond providing flexible financing solutions, we are committed to offering market insights and a range of value-added services that help businesses strengthen their understanding of new technologies and market trends, equipping them with the relevant capabilities. By combining financial services with real-world support, we aim to empower SMEs to capture opportunities arising from AI and the Northern Metropolis, and to achieve sustainable growth.”
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About Dah Sing Bank
Dah Sing Bank, Limited (the “Bank”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dah Sing Banking Group, Limited (HKG:2356). Founded in Hong Kong over 75 years ago, the Bank has been providing quality banking products and services to its customers with a vision to be “The Local Bank with a Personal Touch”. Over the years, the Bank has been rigorous in delivering on its brand tagline to grow with its customers in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and beyond – “Together We Progress and Prosper”. Building on our experience and solid foundation in the industry, our scope of professional services now spans retail banking, private banking, business and commercial banking. Meanwhile, the Bank is also making significant investments in its digital banking capabilities to stay abreast with smart banking developments in Hong Kong and to support financial inclusion at large.
In addition to its Hong Kong banking operations, the Bank has wholly-owned subsidiaries including Dah Sing Bank (China) Limited, Banco Comercial de Macau, S.A., and OK Finance Limited. It is also a strategic shareholder of Bank of Chongqing with a shareholding of about 13.5%. Dah Sing Bank and its subsidiaries now have 63 operating locations in Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Mainland.
Media OutReach
“Boundless Creativity, Connecting Youth” China–Indonesia Youth Cultural Exchange Series Held in Jakarta
At the event, the exhibitions Her Bloom: A Digital Cultural Heritage Exhibition on Luoyang, the Divine Capital and the Indonesian leg of Emerging Forces, Boundless Horizons: A Global Touring Exhibition Series Featuring Young Chinese Artists officially opened. The event also launched a China–Indonesia media organization, FAST Media Alliance, the Indonesian broadcast of the micro-drama Her Bloom, and the China–Indonesia Visual Project—Nanyang Film Festival, among other collaborative initiatives.
In her remarks, Anindita Kusuma Listya, Special Advisor to the Minister of Culture for Cultural Diplomacy and Cultural Industries at Ministry of Culture of Indonesia, expressed her strong appreciation for the event’s focus on youth connectivity, digital innovation, and media co-creation. She noted that Indonesia has consistently attached great importance to cultural exchanges and cooperation with China, encouraging young people, arts professionals, media organizations, and cultural and creative enterprises from both countries to engage in regular, in-depth, and multidimensional collaboration. As nations with diverse civilizations, Indonesia and China enjoy vast potential for cooperation and closely aligned development needs in cultural heritage preservation, digital cultural and creative industries, film and television production, and youth innovation.
Wang Siping, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, said in his remarks that cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Indonesia have yielded fruitful results in recent years, while people-to-people exchanges have continued to gain momentum. He expressed the hope that young people from both countries would engage more frequently and that more events such as “Boundless Creativity, Connecting Youth” would be organized and widely attended. China is ready to pursue more cooperation with Indonesia and share more opportunities. China also stands ready to work hand in hand with Indonesia to cultivate the fertile ground of people-to-people exchanges, expand channels for youth engagement, strengthen the “people-to-people pillar” of bilateral relations, and advance the high-quality building of a China–Indonesia community with a shared future.
Al Busyra Basnur, Chairman of the Indonesia–China Friendship Association, noted in his remarks that both China and Indonesia possess abundant pools of young talent. Cooperation among outstanding young people from the two countries, he said, will not only deepen bilateral relations but also inject fresh momentum into regional prosperity, technological progress, and the building of a more peaceful and closely connected world. He expressed his hope of holding in-depth discussions with all parties during the subsequent activities on such issues as advancing China–Indonesia relations, talent development, and educational exchanges, with a view to identifying practical avenues for cooperation.
Arianto Surojo, Consul General of Indonesia in Guangzhou, said that the event was innovative in concept and far-reaching in significance, providing a high-level platform for cultural exchanges between Indonesia and China in the new era. Youth-oriented, digital, and innovative forms of exchange such as this, he noted, enable people—especially young people—in both countries to gain a more direct understanding of one another and forge deeper connections. They also help elevate cultural exchanges between Indonesia and China from the superficial to the substantive, enriching the content of bilateral people-to-people cooperation. “When young people thrive, nations thrive; when young people are strong, nations are strong,” he said. “Let us embrace the spirit of exploration and innovation and jointly write a new chapter in the friendship between our two countries.”
Li Mian, Deputy President of CICC, said that CICC has long worked with media organizations in Southeast Asia to promote cultural exchanges. Over the years, CICC has actively advanced audiovisual cooperation with mainstream media outlets in Indonesia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia through the television program UPanda Cinema. Through this event, CICC has launched such collaborative projects as the China–Indonesia media organization, FAST Media Alliance, the broadcast of the micro-drama Her Bloom, and the China–Indonesia Visual Project. These initiatives aim to tell the story of China–Indonesia friendship, share digital technologies and high-quality resources, and promote deeper, more substantive cooperation between the two countries.
Atika Suri, Editor-in-Chief of Indonesia’s GARUDA TV, said that the event, focusing on youth exchange and cultural empowerment, carried out a rich array of activities, including digital cultural heritage exhibitions, joint visual exhibitions, and touring exhibitions of young artists. It not only carries forward the traditional friendship between Indonesia and China, she said, but also represents an active exploration of new models and pathways for people-to-people cooperation in the new era.
Li Jing, Vice President of Coocaa, a Skyworth Group company, and CEO of Coolita, said that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart television, and FAST are driving the global media industry into a new digital era, creating fresh opportunities for cultural communication and international media cooperation. During the event, Coolita and CICC jointly launched the China–Indonesia media organization, FAST Media Alliance. Going forward, they will work with Indonesian media organizations and partners such as Tencent Cloud to explore innovative models in artificial intelligence, FAST, and digital content distribution; drive the digital transformation of traditional media; and promote innovation in the digital cultural industries of both countries.
The event also featured themed roundtable discussions bringing together esteemed institutions and figures. Participants included China National Archives of Publications and Culture, Tencent Cloud, “Honor of Kings”, the acting head of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH) at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, the University of Indonesia, LSPR Institute of Communication and Business, the Jakarta Film Commission, the renowned game studio Anantarupa Studios, and the visual creative studio Mono Studio. They were joined by Indonesian contemporary painting master Sidik Martowidjojo (Ma Yongqiang) and Chinese young artist Ren Zhe.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Photo Feature: Global Media Explore Hainan Free Trade Port, Unlocking the New Vitality of the “Ocean Economy”
As the first full year following the island-wide special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), 2026 has been designated the “Marine Tourism Year,” with a strategic focus on ocean-themed cultural travel. Leveraging policy dividends such as visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries, expanded traffic rights, and offshore duty-free shopping, Hainan has consistently enhanced its openness to the world, fueling a surge in cultural tourism demand. In the first half of this year alone, the island recorded over 1 million inbound visits, a year-on-year increase of 48.8%, underscoring the robust growth momentum of the FTP’s tourism sector.
In Wanning’s Riyue Bay, the international media group experienced firsthand the rapid expansion of Hainan’s coastal sports industry. Renowned as a world-class surfing destination, the bay receives more than 500,000 visits annually, drawing travelers from as far as Australia and Southeast Asia. A major highlight was the nation’s first Olympic-standard artificial surf pool, which employs advanced wave-making technology to simulate 23 different wave types, enabling year-round, all-weather surfing regardless of natural conditions. Mr. Guney Isik Ganimgil, a contributor to Turkey’s Aydınlık newspaper, remarked that Hainan’s cultural tourism development has far exceeded expectations and holds tremendous investment potential.
Eco-empowered tourism and the protection of blue bays are the defining hallmarks of Hainan’s development. The Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort adheres strictly to a policy against capturing wild marine life; its rescue center has successfully rehabilitated and released over 200 rare marine creatures, including sea turtles and hawksbills, back into the wild. Meanwhile, Wuzhizhou Island has pioneered an innovative model of eco-tourism, partnering with universities to develop a tropical marine ranch. Through the strategic deployment of artificial reefs and the transplantation of tens of thousands of coral colonies, the island now offers visitors the opportunity to participate in coral transplantation—a hands-on experience that fosters a virtuous cycle between ecological conservation and tourism engagement, earning high praise from the attending media.
Deepening the integration of culture and tourism has also revitalized Hainan’s traditional maritime heritage. The Danjia fishing rafts continue to enrich their authentic marine-ethnic cultural offerings, continuously diversifying their “product portfolio”. Tianya Town, built around a century-old fishing village, has evolved into a coastal leisure landmark, now home to nearly a hundred boutique homestays and specialty cafés. The Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex, housing over 1,000 international brands, has introduced cutting-edge “duty-free + technology” consumption scenarios. And the Sanya Yacht Tourism Center, with a complete industrial chain, recorded over 220,000 yacht outings in 2025, cementing its status as a premier destination for high-end coastal tourism.
After four days of in-depth exploration, the media delegation witnessed a Hainan that is open, green, and vibrantly dynamic. Today’s Hainan FTP has transcended the traditional model of seaside tourism, with policy as its backbone, ecology as its canvas, and culture as its soul. By continually energizing the blue economy, Hainan is presenting a compelling new vision of high-quality development to the world.
Hashtag: #HainanFreeTradePort
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Media OutReach
V-Green and HKR partner to develop large-scale EV Charging Hub, expanding Indonesia’s green transport infrastructure
Under the agreement, V-Green Indonesia will lease an 8,747-square-meter site owned by PT HK Realtindo (HKR) to develop the EV Charging Hub in Kemayoran. The model is particularly well suited for large land parcels, enabling landowners to optimize underutilized real estate assets and generate sustainable long-term revenue while allowing V-Green to rapidly expand its charging infrastructure network at strategic locations.
The EV Charging Hub is a large-scale charging infrastructure model that integrates multiple services within a single location to simultaneously serve the needs of individual EV owners, commercial fleet operators, and ride-hailing drivers. Scheduled to commence operations in October this year, VinFast’s EV Charging Hub in Kemayoran will feature 36 EV chargers and 20 battery swapping stations for electric motorcycles, with the capacity to serve up to 56 electric cars and 220 electric motorcycles simultaneously.
In addition to fast-charging facilities for electric cars and battery swapping stations for electric motorcycles, the project will include dedicated parking areas for commercial fleets, rooftop solar panels to supplement on-site renewable energy generation, and a range of customer amenities such as rest areas, food and beverage outlets, and cafés.
The agreement with HKR represents the first major milestone following the Memorandum of Understanding signed between V-Green Indonesia and Hutama Karya Group in April 2026. Under the MoU, the two parties agreed to jointly explore the development of EV Charging Hubs on Hutama Karya’s strategic land assets, while also collaborating to develop EV charging infrastructure across 29 rest areas along the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road.
In the next phase, V-Green plans to deploy EV chargers across these 29 rest areas, creating a large-scale charging network along one of Indonesia’s key highway corridors and making long-distance EV travel more convenient for users.
Mr. Ekwan Hadyanto, President Director of PT HK Realtindo, said: “Our partnership with V-Green opens up new opportunities to maximize the value of HK Realtindo’s land assets while demonstrating our commitment to supporting the Indonesian Government’s efforts to accelerate sustainable transportation infrastructure. We expect the Kemayoran project to become the foundation for expanding our collaboration across many other strategic locations nationwide.”
Mr. Mai Truong Giang, CEO of V-Green Indonesia, said: “Signing this agreement with PT HK Realtindo marks an important milestone in realizing V-Green’s strategy to develop EV infrastructure throughout Indonesia. We believe the EV Charging Hub model will not only meet the country’s rapidly growing demand for EV charging but also create sustainable value for V-Green’s partners while contributing to Indonesia’s green transition.”
The Kemayoran project is expected to serve as a flagship integrated EV Charging Hub model in Indonesia, laying the foundation for V-Green to gradually replicate the concept across other strategic HK Group locations. Beyond enhancing the EV ownership experience, the model also creates new opportunities to unlock the value of strategically located land assets while establishing modern infrastructure hubs that support Indonesia’s transport electrification.
The partnership with Hutama Karya, one of Indonesia’s largest infrastructure groups, further reinforces V-Green’s strategy of collaborating with leading local partners to build a modern, integrated, and accessible EV charging network across the country.
Globally, V-Green is rapidly expanding its electric vehicle charging network, which now comprises more than 150,000 charging ports, alongside battery swapping stations for electric motorcycles. In Indonesia, the Company has introduced a range of attractive incentives for users, including free charging for all VinFast electric car owners and a complimentary battery swapping program for VinFast electric motorcycles for one year, with up to 20 battery swaps per vehicle per month. Through these initiatives, V-Green aims to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility while contributing to regional and global decarbonization efforts and sustainable development.
Hashtag: #V-GREEN
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