The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), co-organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will convene on January 26-27, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. As the region's first major international financial event of the year, the forum adopts the new tagline "Finance Empowering Business" and the theme "Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape." It is expected to attract over 3,600 participants from more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 140 financial officials, business leaders, and experts serving as guest speakers.
The forum aims to foster collaboration to navigate change and create win-win scenarios. A significant addition is the inaugural Global Business Summit on the second day, focusing on integrating finance with the real economy. This initiative aligns with China's 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations to strengthen the real economy, assist mainland enterprises in global expansion, 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, emphasized Hong Kong's commitment to bridging the world and the Chinese Mainland, leveraging global leaders' vision to optimize industrial and financial supply chains.
Key developments include a dedicated discussion on gold market development, featuring a memorandum of understanding signing and moves to establish an international gold trading centre in Hong Kong. This highlights the city's advantages in developing the gold market. The forum's programme, detailed at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme, includes plenary sessions, keynote speeches, and thematic workshops covering topics such as Global Economic Outlook, Asset & Wealth Management, Fintech, and Gold Exchange.
On the first day, two plenary sessions will feature high-profile speakers. The first, hosted by Christopher Hui, will include Zou Jiayi of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Scott Morris of the Asian Development Bank, analyzing the macroeconomic landscape. The second, hosted by Julia Leung of the Securities and Futures Commission, will involve regulators like Burkhard Balz of Deutsche Bundesbank and Rhee Chang-yong of the Bank of Korea, discussing monetary policies and regulatory directions. Keynote luncheons will feature Dr. Jose Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, and Paul Polman, who will share insights on global challenges and sustainable development strategies.
The Global Economic Outlook session will bring together leaders such as Sir Douglas Flint of Aberdeen Group and Kevin Sneader of Goldman Sachs in Asia Pacific to forecast the 2026 economic landscape. Panel discussions on Asset and Wealth Management and CIO Insights will explore market trends and investment opportunities with experts like Fannie Wurtz of Amundi and Deborah Cunningham of Federated Hermes. The Gold Exchange session, responding to rising demand for safe-haven assets, will feature James Emmett of MKS PAMP SA and David Tait of World Gold Council, discussing strategies to reinforce Hong Kong's role as a global gold trading hub.
The inaugural Global Business Summit on January 27 will explore industry prospects in high-growth sectors like artificial intelligence, technology, biomedicine, and green energy. Sessions such as "Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global" will include speakers like Daniel Li of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, while "Strategic Collaboration for Shared Growth" will feature Liu Haoling of China Investment Corporation. 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. The full speaker list is available at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakers.
Technological and biomedical advancements will be highlighted in sessions chaired by Dr. Allan Wong of Vtech, with speakers like Dowson Tong of Tencent and Dr. Yao Maoqing of Zhiyuan Innovation. The Biomedicine and Healthcare session will include Paul Burton of Amgen and Theresa Tse of Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited, discussing industry trends and collaboration opportunities. To promote green development, the forum will feature a new FutureGreen showcase focusing on green finance and technology, alongside other exhibition areas like the FintechHK Start-up Salon and Global Investment Zone, showcasing over 140 exhibitors including Bank of China (Hong Kong) and HSBC.
The AFF Deal-making programme, co-organised with the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, will facilitate collaboration and investment opportunities in sectors such as Environment, Energy and Clean Technology, and Financial Technology. The forum kicks off International Financial Week 2026, offering partner activities on topics like ASEAN opportunities and artificial intelligence. Attendees can access exclusive travel and cultural experiences, including tours with Hong Kong Big Bus Tours and visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum. For more information, visit the official forum website at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en.
