At AIM Congress 2026, a new cross-border platform connects the Middle East, Asia and international investment markets
Dubai, UAE | 7 September 2026
At AIM Congress 2026 in Dubai, a significant new chapter in international cooperation was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AIM Foundation / AIM Congress and the Hong Kong International Family Offices Association (HKIFOA). The agreement brings together two international platforms around a shared ambition: to strengthen connections among global capital, family offices, technology, innovation and investable opportunities across the UAE, Hong Kong, Asia and wider international markets.
A landmark UAE-HK Partnership: Mr Walid Farghal, Secretary General of AIM Foundation / AIM Congress, and Mr Simon Je, Founder and Chairman of HKIFOA, sign the Memorandum of Understanding during AIM Congress 2026, witnessed by Mr Elizon M Lazaro, CMgr MCMI, Executive Vice Chairman-UAE, HKIFOA
The partnership was developed through the engagement of Mr. Simon Je, Founder and Chairman of HKIFOA, and Elizon M. Lazaro, CMgr MCMI, Executive Vice Chairman - UAE of HKIFOA, working with the leadership of AIM. On 7 September 2026, the MoU was formally signed by Mr. Je and Mr. Walid Farghal, Secretary General of AIM Foundation / AIM Congress, with Lazaro witnessing the ceremony.
Building a Bridge Between Capital and Opportunity
The agreement provides a framework for cooperation in cross-border investment, family offices, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, project financing, strategic capital deployment and international business development. Its purpose extends beyond institutional networking: the goal is to create practical pathways through which investors, businesses and institutions can identify opportunities, form trusted partnerships and move promising ideas toward execution.
With Dubai positioned as an international business and investment hub linking the Middle East with global markets, and Hong Kong serving as a major gateway into Asia, the relationship creates a complementary platform for connecting capital, projects, technology and decision-makers across regions.
Leadership Engagement at AIM Congress 2026
H.E. Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and President of AIM Congress with Mr Simon Je, Founder and Chairman of HKIFOA and Mr Elizon M Lazaro, CMgr MCMI, Executive Vice Chairman- UAE HKIFOA
Mr Simon Je, Founder and Chairman of HKIFOA with H.E. Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman and AIM Foundation / AIM Congress, and Mr Elizon M. Lazaro, Executive Vice Chairman-UAE, HKIFOA
The engagement with senior AIM leadership underscored the relationship-building behind the agreement. Meetings involving H.E. Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of AIM Foundation / AIM Congress, and H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and President of AIM Congress, reflected the wider dialogue around investment, international cooperation and the role of the UAE as a convening point for global business.
Where Investment Meets Innovation and Purpose
The collaboration also reflects a broader view of investment: sustainable value is strengthened when economic opportunity is connected with innovation and social responsibility. Alongside his international investment work, Lazaro is advancing the Barako 500 Plates Project UAE, a social-impact initiative supporting migrant workers, initially focusing on Filipino female migrant workers, through food access, health and wellness, education, employment and entrepreneurship.
The initiative illustrates a wider principle behind the partnership - that capital and technology can be powerful tools not only for commercial growth, but also for creating opportunity, dignity and measurable community impact.
From International Relationships to Tangible Results
AIM Congress 2026 brought together government representatives, diplomats, investors, family offices and business leaders from sectors including real estate, healthcare, international trade, investment and technology. Against this international backdrop, the HKIFOA-AIM agreement represents the beginning of a platform intended to turn relationships into practical collaboration and connect global investors with credible opportunities.
"Connecting capital is important. Connecting capital with purpose, innovation and opportunity is what creates lasting impact."
As global investment becomes increasingly cross-border, trusted relationships and credible platforms will remain central to moving capital and ideas between markets. Dubai and Hong Kong are well placed to contribute to that connectivity. The MoU signed at AIM Congress 2026 is therefore more than a ceremonial milestone: it is a foundation for deeper dialogue, investment cooperation, technological collaboration and long-term international impact.
Strategic Priority: Capital-Market Communications and the Asia-Middle East Investment Corridor
Complementing the AIM Congress MoU, HKIFOA is also advancing stronger capital-market communications and investor connectivity between Hong Kong, Asia and the Middle East. A key development within this wider ecosystem is the strategic partnership between Falcon Capital (International) Group and Commerce Wire Limited, which has established Commerce Wire Global Network Limited as a platform supporting cross-border commercial information and capital-market communications.
The Falcon Capital-Commerce Wire partnership combines regional investment and family-office networks with international communications infrastructure. Its focus includes investor outreach, cross-border financing, IPO and M&A communications, market-entry support, technology and infrastructure projects, and the efficient distribution of credible commercial information between Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
For HKIFOA, this directly supports one of the principal priorities highlighted through AIM Congress 2026 and the MoU: creating a practical investment corridor where capital, credible projects, technology, information and decision-makers can connect more efficiently. Together with HKIFOA's UAE, Hong Kong, Apolonia Capital and SADC engagements, the initiative strengthens a wider international architecture linking Asia, the GCC, Africa and global capital markets.
Strategic Highlight: Strengthening HKIFOA's UAE Leadership and Collaboration with Apolonia Capital
A further highlight of AIM Congress 2026 was the strengthening of HKIFOA's strategic presence in the UAE and its growing collaboration with Apolonia Capital. The engagement brings together international family-office networks, investment leadership and cross-border relationships with the aim of developing opportunities across capital formation, real estate, technology, healthcare and international business.
H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Ansari, Founder and Group CEO of Apolonia Capital, was also among the speakers at AIM Congress 2026. His engagement with HKIFOA leadership reflected a shared interest in advancing investment dialogue, strategic partnerships and international opportunities linking the UAE, Hong Kong and wider global markets.
The occasion also marked the official onboarding of Mr. Mohamed Chalghoumi, Managing Partner of Apolonia Capital, as a member of HKIFOA's UAE Executive Board. His appointment further strengthens the association's UAE leadership network and its capacity to develop relationships between investors, family offices, institutions and strategic projects.
From Left: Mr Elizon M Lazaro, CMgr MCMI, Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Mohamed Chalghoumi, Manager—Strategic initiatives & Partnerships for Apolonia, HKIFOA with Mr Simon Je, Founder and Chairman, HKIFOA
H.E. Dr Abdulrhamaan M. Al Ansaari, Founder and Group CEO, Apolonia Capital and speaker at AIM Congress 2026 with Mr Elizon M Lazaro, CMgr MCMI, Executive Vice Chairman and Mr Simon Je, Founder and Chairman of HKIFOA
Together, these developments complement the AIM-HKIFOA Memorandum of Understanding and reinforce a wider strategy: to build trusted bridges between global capital, credible projects, technology, institutions and people. The expanding UAE network provides HKIFOA with a stronger platform from which to deepen cooperation between Hong Kong, the UAE and international investment communities.
GLOBAL CAPITAL. TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS. MEANINGFUL IMPACT.
Strategic Highlight: HKIFOA–SADC Collaboration at AIM Congress 2026
Another notable development during AIM Congress 2026 was the collaboration meeting between HKIFOA and the SADC team, reflecting a shared interest in cross-border infrastructure, finance and strategic regional cooperation. The dialogue focused on opportunities to strengthen connectivity, investment and institutional collaboration across the sixteen countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with the objective of supporting regional integration and broader international engagement.
The engagement highlighted the potential for HKIFOA and SADC-connected stakeholders to explore practical areas of cooperation in capital markets, infrastructure, trade facilitation and financing mechanisms that can help connect Africa more effectively with international investors and strategic partners. The meeting further reinforced the international scope of HKIFOA’s network and its commitment to building bridges between regions through trusted relationships and long-term collaboration.
Official Onboarding of Hon. Elias Magosi for HKIFOA-SADC with Mr Simon Je, Founder and Chairman, HKIFOA and Mr Elizon M Lazaro, CMgr MCMI, Executive Vice Chairman, UAE-HKIFOA
HKIFOA-SADC Team at AIM Congress 2026.Yola De Figueiredo Sabino, Coleen Tafpumaneyi, Hon. Elias Magosi, Mr Simon Je, Elizon M Lazaro, Bu Prince and Withis Nkosi.
This engagement adds an African dimension to the wider HKIFOA international platform, complementing its UAE–Hong Kong partnership initiatives and underlining the importance of cross-border cooperation as a driver of inclusive economic growth, infrastructure development and financial connectivity.
Hong Kong International Family Office Association, HKIFOA
“Our vision is to build trusted bridges connecting Hong Kong, the UAE, Asia, Africa and global capital - bringing together family offices, investment, technology, infrastructure and credible opportunities. AIM Congress provides an important platform to turn those international relationships into practical collaboration and long-term impact.”