Hong Kong's Role as a Hub of Ocean Innovation and Blue Finance

(Welcome Remarks by Katy Yung, CEO of SFi, at the 9th Ocean Innovators Platform, Oct 22 2025)

Good morning, distinguished guests, partners, fellow ocean champions, and changemakers. It is an honour to welcome you to the ninth edition of the Ocean Innovators Platform, right here on the doorstep of Victoria Harbour – the heartbeat of Hong Kong and the crossroads of our region’s blue economy.

This is a particularly special gathering as we co-host today’s event in partnership with the Prince Albert the II of Monaco Foundation, a global leader in marine conservation and ocean innovation. We’re also delighted to have the support of AVPN, Builder’s Vision and HK Academy of Wealth Legacy. Together, our shared purpose is clear – to strengthen our global collaboration and catalyse investment where the ocean needs it the most. 

As many of you know, Hong Kong started out as a humble fishing village nestled within the Pearl River Delta, surrounded by the South China Sea.  Today, Hong Kong is a vibrant coastal city, a thriving  port and maritime hub that is also blessed with 9 Marine Parks and Reserves and nearly 6,000 marine species from Mangrove Horseshoe Crabs, to blue-ringed octopus and the Chinese White dolphins. 

Our city has always been defined by water – by the tides of commerce, the resilience of our people, and the opportunities the ocean has provided from one generation to the next. 

We now find ourselves at a tipping point, as Asia-Pacific needs trillions of dollars to finance ocean health and sustainable marine industries over the next decade. Less than 10% of global ocean related investment is in Asia , despite APAC accounting for 60% of global aquaculture and 90% of global shipbuilding capacity. The blue economy is no longer an abstract vision – it is one of the strongest growth imperatives of our time. 

At Sustainable Finance Initiative, we have spent years building  the foundations by nurturing an ecosystem that connects investors, innovators, and policymakers to drive measurable impact. From facilitating Investors Circle sessions, Learning Roadshows and our Annual Marquee Impact Week and Impact Summit, we will continue to champion the integration of sustainability into all forms of capital allocation decision-making.

Hong Kong’s environmental reforms – from the Fair Winds Charter and the clean-fuel-at-berth mandate, to today’s suite of government incentives rewarding carbon efficiency and the adoption of green fuels in the shipping sector – have positioned the city at the forefront of Asia Pacific’s green shipping transition. 

The Greater Bay Area’s rich coastal ecosystem — from wetlands and mangroves to nearshore reefs also offers an unparalleled foundation for long-term resilience and prosperity for Hong Kong to leverage. 

But building a regenerative blue economy isn’t just about compliance; it’s about collective creativity. Through SFi’s community, we are seeing next-generation entrepreneurs and investors reimagine how finance can accelerate restoration, resilience, and regeneration across the ocean economy.

Recent landmark reports from ADM Capital Foundation, WWF Hong Kong, HK University of Science and Technology and The Nature Conservancy also underscore how Hong Kong can reinvent itself as Asia Pacific's premier blue economy hub. By adopting blended finance structures for mobilising capital for ocean restoration and nature based solutions, as well as integrating development with marine conservation, climate resilience, recreation and the responsible use of ocean resources.

This is a defining moment for strategic collaboration: positioning Hong Kong not just as a gateway, but as Asia Pacific’s leading hub for Blue Economy solutions.

At SFi, we’re answering that call by acting as a regional bridge for investors seeking credible pathways to scale ocean impact. The momentum from our recent Singapore Roadshow highlighted the region’s accelerating blue finance movement – from Asia Community Foundation’s 30x30 SEA Ocean Fund  and the launch of the Asia Ocean Fund by OCTAVE Capital and Katapult Ocean, the list goes on...

As we gather today, I want to recognise those who have shaped this journey (many of whom are in the audience today)– from policymakers to scientists, NGOs, family offices, and businesses. Your dedication to ocean stewardship and blue finance drives real-world progress and inspires our efforts.

Hong Kong’s maritime heritage, our vibrant communities, and the resolute partnerships represented in this room, are more than capable of charting the next frontier of the blue economy – not just for our city, but for the wider region and the globe.

Let us dive in, and and chart the next frontier of the blue economy together – not just for Hong Kong, but for the wider region and the globe.