TEP Times 2016 | Page 7

TEP CONFERENCE • INTERNATIONAL WEEK Cities on the Tour Singapore Singapore is the third largest FinTech ecosystem in the world after New York and London. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and government agencies have been keen to promote inward investment in one of the world’s most open economies. The Singapore FinTech Festival is a great opportunity for FinTech companies to explore the ecosystem, hear from nearly 100 renowned speakers from the global FinTech community, and network with the expected 2,000 attendees. Tailored, week-long tours enabling rapid business development in Asia with introductions to the people and partners you want and need to succeed Seoul Korea has always been a world leader in innovation. The quality of talent there has been underlined by the various startups who have made it to the Korean Startup Summits in New York to seek investment. The local government has been a keen supporter of the startup tech ecosystem with initiatives such as the Accelerator Investment-Driven Tech Incubator Program for Startups (TIPs) which we will visit. Taiwan Taiwan, a gateway into China, is a world leader in IoT, Connected Devices and New Manufacturing, making it an obvious choice for inclusion on the World Innovation Tour. Taiwan US Alliance (TUSA) has been responsible for forging closer links between both countries making it easier than ever to set up your company there or source manufacturers. Highlights include visiting Gogoro—the pioneering scooter and battery technology company—the Taiwan Startup Stadium accelerator, and VCs keen to invest in startups considering the move to Asia. Hong Kong Hong Kong is an easy city for international companies to set up in. Not only is it a financial hub, making it easier to seek investment, but given its highly connected diverse population, serves as a good testing ground for international startups before taking on other Asian markets. The HKTDC InnoDesignTech Expo, which we will attend, is a unique onestop platform for creatives and technologists with enterprises looking to enhance their competitiveness and find business partners for the new opportunities emerging in Asia. Shenzhen The delegation will take a day trip to Shenzhen from Hong Kong—a city which is reputed to make over 90% of the world’s electronics. Shenzhen has a population which has grown by over ten million in the last twenty years. Highlights include the electronics market, a factory visit, incubator visit and networking reception. In collaboration with: 7