Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said artificial intelligence would bring new job opportunities to Hong Kong while boosting economic growth. Writing in his weekly blog, Chan said driven by the demands for AI-related electronic products, the city’s exports recorded year-on-year growth of 53 percent in August. He said the government was confident in achieving its GDP growth forecast of 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent this year. Chan said AI would bring new job types and opportunities to Hong Kong. “We need talented people who understand the AI industry and have the courage to explore AI applications, as well as those in fields that even the most powerful AI cannot replace,” he wrote. “The AI literacy in our workforce and broader upskilling are crucial not only to our future competitive edge in the market, but also to Hong Kong’s ability to adapt to AI development and to our residents’ works and lives.” Chan said the government fully supports people in learning and using AI, with the authorities rolling out more than 200 training courses and activities by 2028. The finance chief also said he had arrived in Doha, Qatar on Sunday morning to attend an annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Chan said he would share Hong Kong’s experience in promoting infrastructure development, regional connectivity and sustainable development, as well as promote the city’s new advantages under its alignment with national development strategies. He also said Sino-US cooperation and communication would add certainty to international markets and provide stability for global economic development. Edited by Tony Sabine