Chen Yiting: Hong Kong's IPO fundraising this year has reached $41 billion, expected to set a new record for the entire year.

During the "Achieving Opportunities. Choose Hong Kong" event in Kuala Lumpur, HKEX CEO Charles Li stated that Hong Kong's IPO fundraising amount this year has surpassed the total amount for all of last year and is expected to set new records. She noted that global capital is flowing back to Asia, benefiting both Malaysia and Hong Kong, and urged Malaysian companies to consider listing in Hong Kong to reach mainland investors. Charles Li revealed that she has been frequently visiting Kuala Lumpur this year to strengthen cooperation with Malaysia. In March, she visited Kuala Lumpur to sign a memorandum of understanding with Bursa Malaysia and subsequently conducted extensive follow-up work; she visited Kuala Lumpur again three weeks ago, primarily for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and the Malaysian Securities Commission. HKEX also recognized Bursa Malaysia as an "approved securities exchange," paving the way for Malaysian companies to list in Hong Kong. Charles Li pointed out that Hong Kong raised $39.5 billion through 120 IPOs last year, ranking first as a global fundraising platform. As of early August this year, Hong Kong's IPO fundraising has reached $41 billion, surpassing the total for all of last year, and it is expected to set new records this year. She stated that global attention is shifting back to Asia, particularly China, noting that capital was previously highly concentrated in the U.S. market, especially in one or two industries. However, with political and macroeconomic changes, investors have recognized the need to diversify risks, a trend that benefits both Malaysia and Hong Kong. Malaysia aims to support 60 IPOs by 2025, the highest in 20 years, but companies that need to access a broader investor base and deep capital pools should consider Hong Kong as an ideal option. Charles Li emphasized that the market used to believe that companies needed to have Chinese operations to list in Hong Kong, but there has been a shift in recent years. Last year, a Dubai-headquartered baby diaper company focused on Africa and Latin America successfully listed in Hong Kong; a few months ago, Indonesian gold mining company Modecta also completed its IPO in Hong Kong, both without Chinese revenue. With mainland investors seeking diversified investments, it is believed that more companies with less connection to Chinese businesses will consider listing in Hong Kong.