Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    BRINGING their business projects and innovative ideas in the field of financial technology, also dubbed FinTech, eight startups based in Australia participated in a road show in Shenzhen yesterday with hopes of seeking cooperation with their Chinese counterparts.

    Representatives of the startups briefed local investors and business counterparts about financial technology at the road show before joining a business-matching session where Australian representatives communicated with Chinese companies that had shown interest in the startups.

    Dougal Hawkes was one of the speakers that introduced a Sydney-based startup named AUGMENTOR that offers solutions for the cyber risks of various industries. With a tool installed on his smartphone, Hawkes showed how the system worked.

    “The tool allows customers to access themselves with cyber risk resilience perspective,” said Hawkes. By answering the 35 questions on the tool, customers get precise reports on the cyber risks faced by their organizations in their particular industries, and the company offers proper solutions to help their customers avoid the potential cyber threats.

    By joining the road show and business-matching session, Hawkes expected to find potential partnerships here in Shenzhen. He said that to adapt to the Chinese market, the tool could be translated into Chinese.

    The Australian Trade and Investment Commission was the organizer of the business promotion activity yesterday. It is the first time that the commission has arranged for Aussie companies in the FinTech field to come to China for a road show to communicate.

    Susan Corbisiero, a senior trade commissioner with the commission and also the deputy consul-general at the Consulate General of the Commonwealth of Australia in Shanghai, briefed Australia’s FinTech market before the road show.

    She said that Australia had a leading position in FinTech for Asian countries, along with multiple merits that attract investment in Aussie companies and startups.

    Australia has been one of the most popular destinations for Chinese immigrants over the past year. A large number of Chinese students finished their education there and have started their own business downunder.

    Locky Ge is one of the Australian business representatives that originally came from China and successfully set up a business in Australia. The company Ge works for, known as RoyalPay, provides cross-border payment and uniquely offers WeChat Pay for WeChat users in Australia.

    “Customers, mostly Chinese travelers, pay in RMB, and the shops or service providers receive money in Australian currency, which is handy for both sides,” Ge told the Shenzhen Daily yesterday. For local customers, Ge’s startup also offers other payment and asset management solutions.

    By visiting Shenzhen, Ge and his company hoped to team up with more Chinese partners.