the International Forum for Impact Investing 2026, themed "Impact in Action: Forging Resilient Futures", was successfully held in Hong Kong.

On January 28th, the International Forum for Impact Investing 2026, themed "Impact in Action: Forging Resilient Futures", was successfully held in Hong Kong. As an annual flagship event in the impact investment sphere, the forum brought together nearly

300 representatives from across the ecosystem worldwide, including institutional investors, family offices, development finance institutions, social enterprises, policymakers, academics, and technology innovators. Transcending geographical and sectoral boundaries, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on core issues such as the sustainable development financing gap, cross-border collaboration, corporate overseas expansion, and technological innovation. The forum aimed to build a diverse and open platform for exchange and cooperation, propelling impact investment from conceptual advocacy to scalable practice.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment and Technology Promotion Office (UNIDO ITPO Shanghai) was invited to co-organize the forum with the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation, the Hong Kong Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, and Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF), Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The forum received strategic support from the China Social Responsibility Investment Forum and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG Impact), with significant assistance from numerous institutions including the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, the Maritime Silk Road Society, the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), China Galaxy Securities, and Bank of Communications (Hong Kong).

Xiaolei ZHAO, Head of UNIDO ITPO Shanghai, was invited to participate deeply in this year's forum, contributing insights and participating in key ceremonies across multiple sessions. She advocated for the central role of green industrial transformation, regional value chain cooperation, and carbon neutrality innovation in advancing global sustainable development.

At the forum's opening ceremony, opening remarks were delivered by distinguished guests including Zhong WU, Director-General of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation; Duoguang BEI, GSG Impact China Country Partner Chairman and Dean of the Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion; Liushuyi YE, Convenor of the Hong Kong Executive Council and Co-Chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society; and Zhengyu XU, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong.

The plenary session featured insightful keynote speeches. Heavyweight speakers such as Laiwu ZHANG, Chief Economist of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation and former Vice Minister of Science and Technology; Nan LI, Chair of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative and Director of the Investment and Enterprise Division at UNCTAD; Guangshao TU (online), former Executive Vice Mayor of Shanghai; Dhédath D. MAHALAJ (online), Executive Director of the UN Technology Bank; and Haitao LI (online), Dean of Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, shared profound perspectives on impact investment strategies amidst global structural shifts, pathways for implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and opportunities for cross-border capital collaboration.

Xiaolei ZHAO, Head of UNIDO ITPO Shanghai; Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen, CEO of GSG Impact; and Ji ZOU, CEO and China Regional President of the Energy Foundation, participated in a high-level dialogue titled "Reshaping Sustainable Development: Towards a Resilient Future", moderated by Weiguo ZHANG, former member of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The dialogue delved into critical issues such as the direction of sustainable development in a multipolar world and the pursuit of consensus on global challenges, analyzing the evolution of sustainable development paradigms from diverse perspectives.

When discussing opportunities for developing nations to achieve leapfrog development amidst current challenges like geopolitics, trade barriers, and climate change, Head ZHAO provided a detailed explanation focusing on three aspects: regional integration, green industrial transformation, and artificial intelligence & digitalization. She stated: "Regional integration, green transformation and digitalization are not separate pathways; they form an integrated and mutually reinforcing system. By strengthening resilience through regional supply chains, aligning industrial development with future market demand through green industrialization, and reducing transition and compliance costs through digitalization and artificial intelligence, developing countries can chart a clear pathway toward competitiveness in the new trade environment".

During the "Spotlight: Impact in Action" session, entrepreneurs including Frederick TSAO, Chairman of Cao Bao Ji Group and Founder of OCTAVE; Ke TANG, Chairman of Changsheng Medical Group; and Huichun ZHANG, Chairman of Jinke Environment, took the stage to showcase innovative solutions and practical outcomes of impact investment in the real economy.

Co-building a resilient future is a global, systematic endeavor requiring collaboration among governments, enterprises, investors, and all stakeholders. UNIDO ITPO Shanghai will continue to serve as a bridge, joining hands with partners to advance the implementation of more innovative solutions through impact investment, collectively forging a path toward inclusive and sustainable development.