The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), co-organised by the Hong Kong SAR government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is scheduled for 26-27 January 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year's AFF introduces the tagline 'Finance Empowering Business' and the theme 'Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape', bringing together over 100 global business and political leaders and financial experts to analyse geopolitical shifts and macroeconomic trends.
Prof Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, said that the AFF has grown significantly over 18 years, from a one-day agenda to two days covering broader topics, and has attracted some 60,000 participants. This year, the inaugural Global Business Summit will focus on the deep integration of finance and the real economy, expanding the conversation beyond financial topics to unlock the potential of high value industries. The forum will also feature AFF Deal-making to foster substantive collaborations, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a superconnector and super value-adder.
Maggie Ng, Chairperson of the Asian Financial Forum Steering Committee and HSBC Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Officer, noted that the forum expects over 3,600 participants from 60 countries and regions. Delegates will engage with industry leaders driving transformation across technology, consumer, healthcare, and finance sectors.
The two-day agenda includes discussion panels, keynote speeches, and thematic sessions covering topics such as Global Economic Outlook, CIO Insights, Asset & Wealth Management, Trade Finance and Supply Chain Management, and Gold Exchange. The inaugural Global Business Summit, co-organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, will discuss trending topics like artificial intelligence, new consumer trends, biomedicine, and green energy. Industry leaders will explore opportunities for mainland enterprises to go global and help international enterprises establish in the Chinese Mainland market.
AFF Deal-making, co-organised with the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA), has engaged over 8,000 companies and arranged more than 10,000 meetings. This year, it will adopt a hybrid model with in-person sessions on 26-27 January and online networking until 29 January.
The forum will feature four key exhibition zones, including a new FutureGreen Showcase, FintechHK Start-up Salon, 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 will showcase innovative business concepts, green finance solutions, and technology applications.
More details, including the speaker list and media registration arrangements, will be announced on 19 January. For further information, visit the Asian Financial Forum website or view the meeting agenda and speaker list.
