‘I’ll be back’ is normally reserved for big Arnie, however it appears COVID didn’t get the message. Although people and businesses are trying to get back to the new Normal the reality is, things continue to shift. We have hosted a number of webinars which have all gone very well and we are currently considering when it will be the right time to move back to physical events. Keep an eye out in the newsletter for details.
Remote working is now a daily topic and companies will have to look at how they operate in the future. With employees requesting increased flexibility, what does that mean for floor space and our city centres?
Our focus over the coming months will be to work closely with our ecosystem to provide support where we can. With that in mind, we have plans for a research report on Open Banking, creating an opportunity to use the Trans Tasman Bubble conversation to look at a joint approach between New Zealand and Australia.
This month I was interviewed by RNZ, Newstalk ZB and Breakfast TV talking about the need and desire for a clear Governmental focus on FinTech. Speaking to the FMA and as part of the Council of Financial Regulators we are looking at ways to elevate the conversation and consider a focus as part of the Digital ITP program.
New Zealand and the UK have formally launched free trade negotiations.
The discussions with the UK around the Free Trade Agreement will start in July, the announcement by Jacinda Arden and Laura Clark gave hope to it having a tech focus. Check out our report here on the opportunities for New Zealand the UK.
“As the UK embarks on its next steps post-Brexit, New Zealand is pleased to be among the first countries to negotiate a trade agreement with one of our oldest friends,” Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker said. “As the global economy continues to be severely impacted by the effects of COVID-19, we are more committed than ever to concluding a bilateral FTA capable of delivering significant benefits to the people of both New Zealand and the UK.”
The UK is New Zealand’s sixth largest trading partner. Two-way trade totalled almost $6 billion last year. So if the UK is a market you are keen to explore then you should apply to present at London Virtual Tech Week. The conference has transitioned to a virtual format for 2020 and participants will receive a virtual curated programme over three nights filled with content aimed at an Australian and New Zealand audience. Key themes will include capital raising, visas, R&D and grants, sector updates and opportunities available in the regions outside of London.
Welcome to The Search – the hunt for the future of FinTech!
If you are looking to access other markets this might be worth a look. Between now and November, the FinTech Abu Dhabi Innovation and startups team will digitally visit 23 countries across the globe to scout for, and hear from, the founders of the world’s most exciting early stage FinTech startups. The very best of these startups will be invited to join the prestigious FinTech100 programme, within the FinTech Abu Dhabi Festival, 2020.
Do you have a cool product or solution that you want to present to a big bank? HSBC, Partnership Development and Innovation is excited to set this dedicated time slot to invite Fintech professionals, students and established vendors to join us and present their solutions bi-monthly on Thursday’s from 11 am till 2pm.
Techweek2020 is just around the corner, we will be supporting a number of events and I am keen to hear from Minister Nash on supporting small businesses during these shifting times.
The Golden Ticket continues to go from strength to strength and the first recipient Kernel Wealth is getting a lot from the program and helping us shape the design for future winners.
While it has taken global pandemic to speed up digital adoption and the conversations around the role of fintech in supporting economic reform, job creation and supporting people around redeployment, I am excited about what the future holds in the Fintech space.
We are here to support you so please feel free to get in touch.
Stay safe and well,
James Brown
General Manager
To receive our full newsletter including additional industry updates and information, subscribe now.
