United under the theme of “Smart Synergies: Building a Shared Future”, SW International ran its energetic and forward looking international partners conference from 26 to 28 September 2024, hosted by SW China in Guangzhou and attended by over 200 SW partners and guests from around the world.

Ms. Li Xiaoying, SW China’s Chairperson, opened the event by welcoming delegates to Guangzhou, a city renowned for its role in global commerce. She stated: “The AI Plus model is upgrading and creating immense value for the profession. What used to be impossible is now a reality and what once was a barrier has now turned into a bridge. As AI and digital technologies take a leap forward, our profession must evolve alongside them.” She further stressed that embracing innovation and digital transformation is essential for SW International to continue providing exceptional services and building a shared, sustainable future.

Mr. Zhang Ke, SW International’s Chairman, delivered a keynote speech on the importance of leveraging new technologies and collaborative strategies to drive global growth. He shared the challenges posed by global instability and the rapid pace of technological change and then prompted the importance of adaptability. He commented “Considering the domestic and international macro-economic contexts, SW International has to adopt an active and forward-thinking approach towards enhancing digital capabilities and growing non-audit services. With a core focus on China, we intend to improve efficiency and foster collaboration among member firms through the incorporation of new software and digital tools, in order to bolster our global competitiveness and brand influence.”

Mr. Marco Carlei, SW International’s Managing Director, provided insights into SW International’s global expansion, sharing the membership criteria for selecting member firms, the key areas for future development and the international secondment program. He stated: “By prioritising key regions such as Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East and Europe, SW strives to be a truly international professional service provider, helping our stakeholders to unlock transnational opportunities.”

The event also featured high-profile guest speakers, including John Jiang, Corporate Vice President of China Power International Holding Limited (SPIC), and Prof. Simon S.M. Ho, President of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, who offered their insights on innovation, technology, and economic recovery.

Mr. John Jiang talked about the future prospects of foreign direct investments by Chinese enterprises in overseas clean energy markets.

Prof. Simon S.M. Ho delivered a speech on “China Economic Outlook and New Quality Productive Forces”.

Additionally, the conference addressed key themes such as brand and marketing, international affairs, digital transformation and joint initiatives and development opportunities with US Firms.

The conference encompassed a highly anticipated session on “Talent Management and Leadership Development”, with invited SW partners across the network sharing their experiences in fostering leadership qualities and managing talents effectively in their regions.

There was also a panel discussion on “Business Development Exchanges”, with the panellists providing their experiences and perspectives on driving business development in their respective regions, as well as discussing the opportunities and challenges encountered in cross-border collaborations.

The conference concluded with the majority of the attending partners voting for Sydney, Australia as the host city for the 2025 International Partners Conference, followed by breakout sessions.

Chairman Zhang’s remarks set the stage for next year: “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, visualise it and accomplish it. This is what SW can do! We look forward to gathering in Sydney, Australia next year!”