The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), co-organized 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 year's event introduces the tagline "Finance Empowering Business" and the theme "Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape," gathering over 100 global business and political leaders to analyze geopolitical shifts and macroeconomic trends. The forum aims to explore financial market developments and identify investment opportunities, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as an international financial center.
HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma noted that the forum has expanded from a one-day to a two-day agenda over 18 years, attracting 60,000 participants and 1,000 speakers. In response to market dynamics, the 2026 AFF features the inaugural Global Business Summit, focusing on the deep integration of finance and the real economy. This initiative expands discussions beyond financial topics to core economic sectors, aiming to unlock potential in high-value industries and drive innovation for stronger growth. The forum will include the AFF Deal-making platform to foster substantive collaborations, enhancing Hong Kong's role as a superconnector and super value-adder.
Maggie Ng, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and HSBC Hong Kong's CEO, stated that as the global economic landscape evolves, AFF partners like HSBC are strengthening Hong Kong's international connections. The forum expects over 3,600 participants from 60 countries, engaging with leaders in technology, consumer, healthcare, and finance sectors. The agenda includes panels on global economic outlook, asset management, trade finance, and more, evaluating topics such as macroeconomic trends, investment outlook, and financial technology.
The Global Business Summit, held on the second day and co-organized by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, will discuss artificial intelligence, consumer trends, biomedicine, and green energy. It will focus on opportunities for mainland enterprises to globalize and for international firms to enter the Chinese market, leveraging Hong Kong's advantages to promote cross-border cooperation. The AFF Deal-making platform, co-organized with the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, has connected over 8,000 companies and arranged 10,000 meetings, adopting a hybrid model with in-person sessions on January 26-27 and online networking until January 29.
This year's forum features four exhibition zones, including the FintechHK Start-up Salon, a new FutureGreen Showcase, Global Investment Zone, and InnoVenture Salon, with over 140 exhibitors such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), CICC, EY, HSBC, Huatai International, and Standard Chartered Bank. These zones will showcase innovative business concepts and green finance solutions, promoting cross-sector exchange. More details are available on the Asian Financial Forum website, with the agenda at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme and speaker list at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakers.
