Captive insurance was discussed at a breakout session during this year’s Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, where regulators and industry leaders outlined how the tool can help companies manage the wide-ranging risks tied to large-scale infrastructure and investment projects.

At a thematic breakout session on September 10, 2025, the Insurance Authority (IA) convened executives and service providers to discuss why Hong Kong is positioning itself as a hub for captives.

Clement Lau, executive director of policy and legislation at IA, said the Belt and Road Initiative presents a “wide range of complex and diverse risks” that require new approaches to risk management.

“By fostering a vibrant captive ecosystem in Hong Kong, we stand ready to support Belt and Road participants in venturing abroad and exploring new markets,” Lau said.

The panel included leaders from two Hong Kong-domiciled captive insurers – one linked to a Mainland Chinese enterprise and the other to a multinational conglomerate. Both described how establishing captives locally has allowed their companies to navigate global exposures and address emerging risks.

Professional service providers also outlined the technical and operational support they offer for captive formation and management, underscoring the ecosystem being built around Hong Kong’s captive market.

The discussion closed with an examination of the IA’s ongoing measures to encourage captive growth and what these developments mean for Hong Kong’s future as a regional hub in this area.