The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), co-organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will take place on January 26-27, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This event, the region's first major international financial gathering of the year, adopts the new tagline "Finance Empowering Business" and the theme "Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape." The forum expects to attract over 3,600 participants from more than 60 countries and regions, featuring more than 140 financial officials, business leaders, and experts as guest speakers.
A key development for 2026 is the inaugural Global Business Summit, launching on the forum's second day. This summit focuses on integrating finance with the real economy, aligning with China's 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations to strengthen the real economy's foundation, assist mainland enterprises in expanding globally, attract international companies, and promote Hong Kong's role as an international financial and commercial hub. Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government, stated that the forum aims to leverage global financial and industry leaders' vision and experience to optimize industrial and financial supply chains from a global perspective for win-win outcomes. He highlighted a dedicated discussion session and memorandum of understanding signing on gold market development, showcasing Hong Kong's potential as an international gold trading centre.
The forum's agenda includes an inaugural Global Business Summit, keynote speeches, policy dialogues, and thematic workshops covering topics such as Global Economic Outlook, CIO Insights, Asset & Wealth Management, Trade Finance and Supply Chain, Family Office Ecosystem, Fintech, Pension and Endowment, and Gold Exchange. Two plenary sessions on the first day will feature high-level discussions. The first, hosted by Christopher Hui, will include speakers like Zou Jiayi, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Scott Morris, Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank, analyzing the macroeconomic landscape. The second session, hosted by Julia Leung, CEO of the Securities and Futures Commission, will feature regulators and central bank officials, including H.E. Waleed Saeed Abdul Salam Al Awadhi from the UAE and Burkhard Balz from the Deutsche Bundesbank, sharing insights on monetary policies and regulatory directions.
Keynote luncheons will feature Dr. Jose Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, on Day 1, and Paul Polman, advocate for systemic change and sustainability, on Day 2. The Global Economic Outlook session will include forecasts from leaders like Sir Douglas Flint of Aberdeen Group and Kevin Sneader of Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific. Panel discussions on Asset and Wealth Management and CIO Insights will involve experts such as Fannie Wurtz of Amundi and Deborah Cunningham of Federated Hermes. The Gold Exchange session, responding to increased demand for safe-haven assets, will feature James Emmett of MKS PAMP SA and David Tait of the World Gold Council, discussing strategies to reinforce Hong Kong's role as a global gold trading hub. More details on the programme are available at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme.
The Global Business Summit on January 27 will explore high-growth sectors like artificial intelligence, new consumer trends, biomedicine, healthcare, and green energy. Sessions include "Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global" with speakers like Daniel Li of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and "Strategic Collaboration for Shared Growth" moderated by Lincoln Pan of Jardine Matheson, featuring Mohammmed Mahfoodh Alardhi of Investcorp and Dr. Herbert Diess of Infineon Technologies AG. The summit aims to leverage financial services to drive innovation and long-term growth, supporting mainland enterprises' global expansion and international companies' entry into the mainland market.
AFF will feature exhibition areas including the new FutureGreen showcase, FintechHK Start-up Salon, InnoVenture Salon, and Global Investment Zone, with over 140 exhibitors such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), HSBC, and Standard Chartered Bank. The FutureGreen showcase focuses on green finance and technology, connecting funding with sustainable development. The forum's AFF Deal-making programme, co-organised with the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, facilitates collaboration and investment opportunities in sectors like Environment, Energy and Clean Technology, Healthcare Technology, and Financial Technology. The event kicks off International Financial Week 2026, featuring 15 partner activities on topics including ASEAN opportunities and artificial intelligence, with details on speakers available at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakers.
This gathering underscores Hong Kong's pivotal role as a leading international financial centre, supporting over 52,000 Chinese companies expanding globally, according to Maggie Ng, AFF Steering Committee Chairperson and HSBC Hong Kong CEO. Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC, emphasized the forum's alignment with market trends to foster deep integration between finance and high-value industries, driving economic growth and industrial upgrading. The event's focus on practical collaboration and real-world impact highlights its significance in navigating global economic shifts and promoting sustainable development through financial empowerment.
