It’s no secret that businesses are facing uncertain times, due to economic shifts, geopolitical upheaval, and ever-changing trade policies. But what I also see are opportunities and growth potential as companies become more resilient in the face of uncertainty. Businesses are revamping their risk management strategies and recalibrating growth targets to stay on top. And many still have their sights set on global expansion, in search of fresh opportunities and risk diversification. 

We recently partnered with FT Longitude to examine some of the big trends shaping corporate services in Asia-Pacific. We found that nearly two thirds of the 250 executives surveyed in mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore believe the slowdown in globalisation is only temporary. They think the pace will pick up again soon and they want to be ready.

The journey to frictionless operations

So global expansion continues, and we need to make sure we’re bringing the right solutions to these progress-makers: the companies making the investments in new medical treatments, or building new green energy plants, or creating new jobs and prosperity in emerging markets, these are Vistra clients. 

There’s a lot to think about when entering new markets and it’s our job to understand our clients’ biggest pain points so we can remove the friction that gets in their way.  It’s a question we ask on repeat and the answer is almost always the same – compliance. 

This was backed up by our survey, which revealed that respondents in APAC saw changing regulations and compliance burdens as the leading impediment to growth.

At Vistra these concerns inspired a new solution – The Global Expansion Platform, and Geni, the world’s first global AI compliance advisor. 

The platform directly answers the concerns of our clients around global governance – uniting all compliance related data in one place. The solution is a game-changer on many levels: the platform functions as a single source of truth for all compliance related information, meaning clients can check their data anytime, from anywhere in the world.  It provides immediate access to embedded finance from day one of incorporation in one KYC submission, a service we know our clients have been seeking for some time. AND it speeds up simple business processes. Our AI compliance assistant Geni can execute a wide range of corporate actions and provide basic compliance advisory. 

Global entity management is the first application of the Global Expansion Platform and Geni, but in the future, we see the platform as the gateway to all Vistra’s products and services. Geni is learning all the time and while we see her role expanding as she learns, our Vistra experts are always on hand to provide the tailored solutions we know our clients need. It is this optionality and the combination of software plus services that is the hallmark of Vistra’s seamless and frictionless support.

Hong Kong – a gateway to growth

We chose our homebase of Hong Kong for the global launch of the platform. Vistra has deep roots in this key financial centre, supporting around 1,300 of the city’s listed companies. That’s about 50% of the Hong Kong’s total listed enterprises, and the number includes many Chinese MNCs. We are the largest service provider in HK’s IPO and Share Registry market and the top provider of corporate secretarial services in the territory.

Just like Vistra, Hong Kong is committed to driving progress through innovation. The city is building on its status as a leading innovation and technology hub, and the government actively encourages international and mainland companies to set up and expand their presence there. With a shared forward-thinking approach and commitment to ongoing growth, Hong Kong provided the ideal global launchpad for our transformative platform.

Launching into a bright future

Despite challenging conditions, the outlook remains positive. 62% of Greater China companies say they’re committed to expanding into new markets and 54% say they’re likely to pursue M&A and investment opportunities outside of China. With this continued push for expansion, and the commitment of cities like Hong Kong to drive innovation and foster growth, the stage is set for ongoing progress in the region.

Vistra’s role in Greater China’s progress is significant. Our Global Expansion Platform reflects our continuous commitment to innovation for our clients, to enabling progress, and making business feel borderless and frictionless. In the future, we look forward to connecting more of our products and services through the platform and making Vistra Geni the only choice for your global compliance requirements.