An aerial view shows high-rise buildings in the Central district of Hong Kong on September 16, 2026. (Photo by Peter Parks / AFP)
Hong Kong: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded Hong Kong's economic growth forecast for this year to 3.8 percent, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government outlook remains more optimistic than that of the projection, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said on Sunday.
Chan wrote in his blog that during his visit to Bangkok, Thailand, last week for the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group, discussions highlighted how the global economic landscape is being reshaped by the impact of high energy prices driven by conflicts, as well as the surging AI boom.
The IMF's latest forecast projected global economic growth to slow from 3.5 percent last year to 3.1 percent this year, with a widening gap of uneven development -- growth projections for economies affected by conflicts were sharply lowered, while those deeply anchored in the AI supply chain were upgraded, and growth across Asia as a whole continued to outpace the global average, with Hong Kong's growth forecast likewise revised upward to 3.8 percent.
Chan pointed out that whether supporting economic transformation through technology or bolstering economic momentum to sustain employment, the key lies in efficient financial support, and Hong Kong is playing an active role in driving efficient capital flows.
