Hong Kong SAR, China, September 19, 2023— The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), has appointed Anna Ng as its new Regional Head of Operations for East Asia and the Pacific and Head of Office for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).
As Regional Head of Operations, Ms. Ng is responsible for strategy formulation, facilitation and oversight of investment and advisory programs, and fundraising efforts in East Asia and the Pacific. As Head of Office for Hong Kong SAR, she will work closely with regional investment and advisory teams to help drive cross-border investments and capital mobilization between Hong Kong SAR-based companies and financial institutions in emerging markets and developing economies globally.
"Climate change, financial inclusion, trade barriers and sustainable infrastructure gaps are just some of the many challenges facing emerging markets and developing economies in East Asia and the Pacific, and Hong Kong SAR's exceptional private sector offers many of the solutions needed to address them, from climate finance and a thriving startup ecosystem to sophisticated trading and logistics infrastructure," said Ms. Ng. "This makes it a critical regional hub for catalyzing cross-border investments and mobilizing capital to improve lives and livelihoods, not just in this region but globally."
"Economic growth in this region has lifted millions of people out of poverty. However, overlapping crises have deepened inequalities and erased years of development gains," said Kim-See Lim, IFC's Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific. "Having someone of Anna's caliber leading our operations in the region and driving our work in Hong Kong SAR is critical to our mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity."
Ms. Ng most recently served as IFC's Senior Country Officer for Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore. She contributed significantly to growing IFC's knowledge and business partnerships with the government and private sector clients in Singapore, and was instrumental in establishing IFC's presence in Malaysia. Prior to joining IFC in 2017, she worked in various roles for the Government of Singapore.
IFC opened its Hong Kong SAR office in 2000 to support its operations across East Asia and the Pacific. The office serves as a key regional hub for mobilizing capital from Hong Kong SAR-based companies, financial institutions, and government partners for investment in emerging markets and developing economies around the world, which has helped to create markets and opportunities where they're needed most.
Projects have included supporting Hong Kong SAR-based clients including ALBA Asia, Kerry Logistics, Li & Fung, Prudential, Shangri-La Asia, and WeLab in their expansion plans in emerging markets and developing economies globally, and impactful partnerships with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority including the Alliance for Green Commercial Banks and the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program.
Over the past decade, IFC's Hong Kong SAR-based team has contributed more than $4.5 billion worth of investments in 84 projects in 16 countries across the wider region.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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