The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Shanghai Data Bureau (SDB), and the National Technology Innovation Center for Blockchain (NTICBC) announced today (2 March) that they have jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Digitised Cargo Trade and Finance Cooperation (the MoU). This aims to deepen the collaboration between Shanghai and Hong Kong in areas of digitised cargo trade and finance. The collaboration leverages the unique advantages of Hong Kong as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, with its connections to both the Chinese Mainland and the world, to support Shanghai's integration with the international data ecosystem through Hong Kong.
Under the MoU, the HKMA, the SDB, and the NTICBC will jointly conduct research on digital technology and its applications, and promote the innovative application of the technology in areas such as cargo trade and finance. The parties will work together to examine the use of digital technology to develop a “cross-border platform”. Through this platform, cross-border financial cooperation and the use of electronic bills of lading (eBL) will be explored under Project Ensemble, while the facilitation of trade finance through cargo and trade data will be studied via connection with the Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) and Cargox.
Mr Howard Lee, Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, said, “We are pleased to sign the MoU with the SDB and the NTICBC. This marks an important milestone in the collaboration on financial innovation between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and underscores the joint commitment to strengthen the collaboration between the two jurisdictions in areas of digitised cargo trade and finance. We look forward to driving innovative application of digital technology in areas such as cargo trade and finance, promoting joint achievements in digital innovation, exploring a digital infrastructure that links Shanghai and Hong Kong, promoting digitalisation of trade finance, as well as facilitating the integration of cargo and trade data in the Chinese Mainland with the international data ecosystem through Hong Kong.”
Dr Shao Jun, Director of SDB, said, “The joint signing of the MoU with the HKMA and the NTICBC marks a significant step towards deepening cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong on data. We remain committed to data-powered and innovation-driven development, striving to establish a secure, efficient, and open digital infrastructure. This collaboration will fully leverage Shanghai’s strengths in data integration and commercialisation, working in tandem with Hong Kong to realise innovative applications in digitised cargo trade, and finance. We also look forward to showcasing a range of innovation outcomes through close cooperation, thereby injecting new momentum into Shanghai-Hong Kong digital collaboration.”
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
2 March 2026
Mr Howard Lee (centre), Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Dr Shao Jun (left), Director of the Shanghai Data Bureau, and Mr Dong Jin (right), Director of the National Center of Technology Innovation for Blockchain, signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong on Digitised Cargo Trade and Finance Cooperation.
