Borderless by design: Finance capabilities Hong Kong retailers need

Hong Kong’s retail landscape is at an inflection point. Data from the Hong Kong government noted that online retail sales reached HK$35.7 billion in 2025 — 9.4% of total retail sales — with year-on-year growth of 27–33% in the final quarter alone. In the 2026-27 Budget Speech, the government forecasts GDP growth at around 3.0% in 2027, the window for established brick-and-mortar retailers to build a credible digital and cross-border presence is narrowing.

Intensified competition and price pressure
Mainland e-commerce giants are expanding aggressively into Hong Kong, often using subsidies and free shipping to capture share. Local retailers, carrying high rent and operating costs, cannot compete on price alone.

Supply chain and logistics complexity
Scaling online and cross-border sales demands new capabilities in inventory management, fulfilment and last-mile delivery. Cross-border returns and customer service add further operational layers.

The need for modern financial infrastructure
As retailers move online and across borders, they face high foreign exchange costs, slow settlement times and the inefficiency of juggling multiple financial providers. Multi-currency payments, collections and clear cash-flow visibility quickly become critical pain points.

Layer on geopolitical volatility — shifting trade flows, currency swings and an increasingly multipolar business environment — and the conclusion for CFOs is clear: borderless finance is no longer just a growth lever. It is a resilience requirement.

Join Airwallex and Cxociety for a private, peer-led CFO luncheon to discuss how finance leaders are building a more connected operating model for omnichannel and cross-border growth. In a Chatham House Rule setting, you will:

• Benchmark against peers
  Share candidly with fellow Hong Kong retail leaders navigating the same shift from physical to digital, and from local to cross-border.
• Pressure-test your cross-border payments strategy
  Drawing on Airwallex’s experience supporting businesses across markets, explore how multi-currency accounts, integrated payment acceptance and faster international settlement can reduce cost and friction as you scale.
• Understand how FX costs and settlement delays affect your P&L
  Understand the real cost of managing multiple currencies through traditional banking — and what near real-time visibility over collections, payments and expenses could mean for your cash flow.
• Prepare for the 2027 competitive landscape
  Mainland platforms are not waiting. Neither should your financial infrastructure. Leave with a clear view of the capabilities you need to compete on experience rather than price alone.
• Shape the agenda
  Your challenges will define the discussion. Bring your toughest questions on expansion, treasury, risk and operational complexity — and leave with practical, actionable insight.

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a frank and valuable exchange. Register now to reserve your seat.