Speakers of the 8th Conference on International Coordination of Secured Transactions Reform
Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong (HKU Law) and its Asian Institute of International Financial Law (AIIFL) co‑organised with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) the 8th Conference on International Coordination of Secured Transactions Reform on 27–28 November 2025. The Conference, held at HKU Law, was led by UNCITRAL in its capacity as 2025 Chair of the Joint Network for Coordinating and Supporting Secured Transactions Reforms, with the support of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), the World Bank Group, and the International Law Institute (ILI).
The event brought together key decision-makers, including international standard-setting bodies, multilateral development institutions, government agencies, regulators, and international experts from academia and the industry to discuss "Legal and Policy Reforms for Inclusive Digital Finance". Opening remarks were given by Professor Hualing Fu, Dean of HKU Law, Professor Giuliano Castellano, AIIFL Director and Associate Professor at HKU Law, and Mr Jae Sung Lee, Senior Legal Officer at UNCITRAL. The Conference closed with a concluding roundtable featuring Ms Anna Joubin‑Bret, UNCITRAL Secretary, Professor Ignacio Tirado, UNIDROIT Secretary General, Mr Murat Sultanov, Senior Operations Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, and Mr Bob Trojan, Senior Advisor at ILI.
Over one‑and‑a‑half days, the Conference examined how international standards and coordinated reforms can expand sustainable access to credit, particularly for micro‑, small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs that rely on receivables, intellectual property, and digital assets as collateral. The event featured expert panels covering a comprehensive range of topics:
- International Standards: Status and Prospects – featuring updates from UNCITRAL, UNIDROIT, and Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) on the latest developments in international standards since the 7th Conference in November 2024.
- Reform Trends: Challenges and Successes – examining reform efforts across the Asian region and beyond, with contributions from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), APEC/ABAC Asia-Pacific Financial Forum, government representatives from Uganda, and leading experts involved in law reforms.
- Coordinating Legal, Regulatory, and Policy Responses – exploring digital finance innovations with participation from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council, and the Financial Services Agency of Japan.
- The Future of Collateral: Pathway to Digital Secured Lending – examining legal instruments and domestic approaches for integrating digital assets into secured transactions and featuring contributions from ILI and international experts contributing to the development of global legal standards and viable legal frameworks for the deployment of digital assets as collateral.
- Enforcement and Intangible Assets: Evolving Practice – addressing judicial and non-judicial enforcement mechanisms to enforce rights in intangible assets, with presentations from UNIDROIT and leading international practitioners dealing with enforcement matters in Asia and North America.
- Unlocking Innovation: Intellectual Property Collateralization – discussing frameworks to unlock intellectual property as an asset-class for innovation-led economic growth, with contributions from the World Bank Group, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government, and the International Intellectual Property Commercialization Council (IIPCC).
- Access to Credit, Trade Finance, and Digitalization – exploring digital supply-chain and trade finance mechanisms enabled by UNCITRAL instruments, such as the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records and the Draft UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, with presentations from representatives from IFC, ADB, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
- From Farming to Finance: Technology and Law for Agricultural Growth – highlighting the UNCITRAL-UNIDROIT Model Law on Warehouse Receipts, the role of UNIDROIT instruments for agriculture finance in the Asia-Pacific region, and innovative digital tools for agricultural credit, such as crop receipts, through the presentations offered by UNIDROIT, IFC, ILI, and key international experts from China and North America.
Participants reflected on lessons learned from current and past coordination efforts in promoting inclusive finance. They emphasised the importance of international standards in harmonising legal frameworks and the need for ongoing coordination to deliver product-focused reform strategies that address specific economic needs, from innovation to food security. Through these joint efforts, law reforms and technological advancements translate into real improvements in credit availability.
Consistent with UNCITRAL's decision at its 2025 session, the Conference served as a platform for continuing to explore updates to the UNCITRAL Model Law on Secured Transactions. At the end of the event, to further support UNCITRAL's efforts in global harmonisation, a half-day expert group meeting was held in person to examine possible amendments to the Model Law.
HKU Law and AIIFL extend their appreciation to UNCITRAL and to the members of the Joint Network for their partnership and contributions, as well as to the speakers and moderators whose insights will inform standard-setting, ongoing research, and reform projects aimed at improving access to credit.
Additional information about UNCITRAL activities and the Joint Network is available on UNCITRAL's website: https://uncitral.un.org/en/content/joint-network-coordinating-and-supporting-secured-transactions-reforms. Presentations, video recordings, and details about the Conference can be found at https://aiifl-event.law.hku.hk/8th-conference-secured-transactions-reforms.
