DAVOS DIARY

BY Lina Levein

At the World Economic Forum, L’OFFICIEL and AMTD hosted discussions on Web3, digital identity, and fostering connections between the East and West.

In January, government leaders and business professionals from all over the world gathered in Davos, Switzerland, for the 2023 World Economic Forum, an annual conference that fosters discussions about the current state of international affairs. “Cooperation in a Fragmented World,” the headline of the annual meeting, is a call for collective action. With an emphasis on open dialogue, solution-seeking, and connectivity, the five-day-long program focused on the power of virtual property, security of digital identity, and, of course, the importance of art and culture in regard to co-creation.

Together, L’OFFICIEL and AMTD hosted five panels, featuring an array of business experts, actors, and artists, including L’OFFICIEL SAS Inc. CEO Benjamin Eymère and Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor Winner Vincent Wong Ho Shun, who offered their own perspectives about the industrial benefits of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. As one of the world’s foremost cultural and artistic hubs, Hong Kong was at the center of conversation. The experts discussed how bringing the Eastern and Western Hemispheres together could generate decentralization and wider collaboration. Here, a summary:

HK ENTERTAINMENT + GAMING + NFTS POWER + ASIA LANDSCAPE AND DEVELOPMENT

Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands Yat Sui, CEO of L’OFFICIEL SAS Inc. Benjamin Eymère, Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor Winner Vincent Wong Ho Shun, and Chairman and CEO of Ledger Pascal Gauthier came together to discuss the power of virtual property, world connectivity, and cyber safety. Siu shared how owning physical property is one of Hong Kong’s largest concerns, so for younger people, opportunity lies in the virtual world. Gauthier spoke to the growing concern of online security, each year becoming worse than the last. Digital identity is already more important to young people than physical identity, so it is necessary to protect it while also nurturing it.

HONG KONG’S STRATEGIC POSITIONING AS AN ART AND CULTURAL HUB

Founder of L’OFFICIEL Art Victoire de Pourtalès, contemporary artist Jahan Loh, and Co-founder and CEO of Enviseam Jazz Li spoke about the importance of art and culture in regard to co-creation. Fine art is often talked about as an aesthetic form or a financial investment; however, it can also be a motivator for sustainability, collaboration, addressing social issues, and more. “Art reflects life,” said Loh as he spoke about his passion. The speakers all demonstrated their desire for a creator economy, and shared that art is for the masses, not just for a select few.