The Future of Finance in Asia:
Fintegration or Competition?

The Economist Events launches Finance Disrupted: Asia, part of a global event series that examines the effect of disruptive technology on the financial industry

HONG KONG, May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Big banks aren't going anywhere. But fintech entrepreneurs around Asia and the world say their business models and platforms will help meet the needs of people that have historically been underserved. The most bullish among them think they will take over as the dominant forces in finance. Sceptics claim that financial start-ups will enjoy only a limited run of success before the incumbents buy or outmuscle them. The reality is probably somewhere in-between. Are fintech firms really disrupting the business in Asia? Can they unseat the big banks that are the cornerstones of finance? Can they live up to the great expectations set for them, or will they be overtaken by the hype?

The Economist Events hosts Finance Disrupted: Asia on June 2nd at JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong and brings together more than 150 senior executives from financial institutions, fintech entrepreneurs, and regulators to assess how disruptive, tech-driven firms are changing the shape of financial services in Asia.

"The promise of fintech in Asia is great. It is shaking up a stodgy banking system and helping build a more efficient one, especially for consumers and small businesses. But limitations are also clear. Banks are fighting back. And regulators, tolerant so far, are wading in" comments Simon Rabinovitch, Asia economics editor at The Economist and chair of the event.

Featured speakers include:

Mikko Perez, founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Ayannah
Pierre Rousseau, head of global markets, Asia-Pacific, BNP Paribas
Sebastian Paredes, chief executive officer, DBS Bank
James Lloyd, Asia-Pacific fintech leader, EY
Alokik Advani, managing director, head of principal strategic investments, Asia Pacific, Goldman Sachs
Wendy Wang, chief information officer, HSBC Commercial Banking and chief information officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Bipin Preet Singh, founder and chief executive officer, MobiKwik
Linda Wong, chief executive officer, Neo Financial
Emma de Ronde, partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Eileen Burbidge, fintech envoy to United Kingdom HM Treasury and partner, Passion Capital
Madhur Deora, chief financial officer and senior vice-president, Paytm
Benedicte Nolens, senior director, head of risk and strategy, Securities and Futures Commission
Kathryn Shih, president, Asia-Pacific, UBS
Simon Loong, founder and chief executive officer, WeLab
Yihan Fang, chief executive officer, Yirendai

Topics to be discussed include:

The future of Asia's financial sector
The effect of fintech on the 'unbanked'
The impact of China's fintech sector on the region and the world
Peer-to-peer and mobile lending in China and India
Mobile payments and the potential displacement of cash
The regulatory framework of Asia's fintech hubs

View the latest programme

Tickets to Finance Disrupted: Asia are available for online purchase. For online registration and event details, please visit the summit's website: financedisruptedasia.economist.com

Supporters of The Economist Events' Finance Disrupted: Asia include: CreditEase Yirendai, Neo Financial, Norton Rose Fulbright and Ogilvy & Mather as silver sponsors.

To engage with Finance Disrupted on social media, use #FinanceDisrupted in your conversations and follow @EconomistEvents.