The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) commenced today in Hong Kong, co-organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Under the theme "Co-creating New Horizons amid an Evolving Landscape" and the tagline "Finance Empowering Business," the forum features more than 150 speakers, including government officials, business leaders, and financial executives from over 60 countries. With over 3,600 participants and approximately 80 business delegations, the event reinforces Hong Kong's position as an international financial center and its role in connecting the Chinese Mainland with global markets.
Prof Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing the forum's evolution as a platform showcasing Hong Kong's roles as a superconnector, super value-adder, and supercollaborator. He highlighted the introduction of the Global Business Summit, scheduled for tomorrow, which will evaluate high-growth industries like AI, robotics, biopharma, and new energy. This focus aims to strengthen ties between finance and the real economy to support sustained innovation and long-term growth. The forum's detailed programme includes over 40 sessions across two days.
Key sessions include Plenary Session I - Fostering Cooperation for Shared Success, hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government. This session brought together finance officials and multilateral organization leaders to discuss global economic outlook, financial stability, infrastructure investment, and sustainable development. Speakers included Zou Jiayi of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Scott Morris of the Asian Development Bank. Plenary Session II – Charting the Future of Finance in Times of Uncertainty focused on risks and opportunities for central banks and financial institutions, moderated by Julia Leung of the Securities and Futures Commission, with speakers from the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Germany, and Morgan Stanley.
A new session, Global Spectrum - Gold Exchange, was introduced to promote Hong Kong's development into an international gold exchange. Featuring speakers James Emmett of MKS PAMP SA and David Tait of the World Gold Council, the session analyzed international gold trading landscapes and strategies to enhance Hong Kong's role in gold pricing and trading in Asia. This aligns with Hong Kong's policy to build an international gold trading market, aiming to bring new value to the global precious metals market.
The Panel Discussion on Asset and Wealth Management, moderated by Amy Lo of UBS, explored how artificial intelligence can enhance decision-making efficiency and methods for integrating ESG factors into investments. The CIO Insights session featured chief investment officers from Asia, Europe, and the United States, providing analysis on asset allocation trends and interest rate movements. Additionally, the Global Spectrum - Pension and Endowment session discussed transformation strategies for retirement and philanthropic funds in a volatile global economy.
A survey conducted by HKTDC and EY, released today, examined how corporates and financial leaders are responding to disruptive challenges. Jack Chan, EY China Chairman, noted that prolonged uncertainty has become the new baseline, yet global expansion remains strategic. The survey highlights Hong Kong's evolution from a super-connector to a proactive growth orchestrator, offering recommendations for businesses to build resilience and leverage Hong Kong as a hub for global growth.
The AFF Deal-making platform continues as a highlight, offering one-on-one matching for over 280 investors and 560 projects across sectors like Environment, Energy and Clean Technology, Healthcare Technology, and Financial Technology. Four exhibition zones, including the InnoVenture Salon & FintechHK Start-up Salon and a new FutureGreen Showcase, feature about 150 exhibitors. The FutureGreen Showcase focuses on green finance and technology, aiming to promote capital matching with low-carbon projects and strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international green finance center.
The inaugural Global Business Summit, co-organized by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, will take place tomorrow. It will explore how financial services can drive innovation in high-growth sectors like AI, robotics, biomedicine, and green energy. The summit has received support from international companies including Amgen, Hermès, and Tencent, with executives analyzing future industry trends to provide the financial sector with insights for customized services.
International participants can immerse themselves in Hong Kong's attractions through guided tours to sites like Cyberport and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with partnerships offering travel and culinary promotions. The forum kicks off International Financial Week 2026, Hong Kong's first major financial event of the year, aimed at helping industry professionals seize opportunities. More information on speakers and events is available through the forum's official website.
