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 year's edition introduces the tagline 'Finance Empowering Business' and the inaugural Global Business Summit, focusing on the deep integration of finance and the real economy. The forum aims to bring together over 100 global business and political leaders and financial experts to analyse geopolitical shifts, macroeconomic trends, and explore development of financial markets and investment opportunities.
Prof Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, said: 'Over the past 18 years, the Asian Financial Forum has grown significantly, expanding from a one-day agenda to two days covering a broader range of topics. To date, it has brought together over 1,000 prestigious speakers and attracted some 60,000 participants, becoming the flagship financial forum in Asia and worldwide.' He noted that the new Global Business Summit will expand the conversation beyond financial topics to the core of the real economy, unlocking potential of high value industries and driving innovation for stronger economic growth.
Maggie Ng, Chairperson of the Asian Financial Forum Steering Committee and HSBC Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Officer and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth, said the forum expects to welcome over 3,600 participants from 60 countries and regions. Delegates will engage directly with industry leaders driving transformation across technology, consumer, healthcare, and finance sectors, while exploring Hong Kong’s latest advancements.
The two-day agenda will feature discussion panels, keynote speeches, thematic luncheons and breakfast sessions on topics such as Global Economic Outlook, CIO Insights, Asset & Wealth Management, Trade Finance and Supply Chain Management, and Gold Exchange. The Global Business Summit on the second day, co-organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, will discuss artificial intelligence and technology, new consumer trends, biomedicine and healthcare, and green energy. Industry leaders will provide in-depth analyses of the integration between finance and the real economy, exploring opportunities for mainland enterprises to go global and helping international enterprises establish operations in the Chinese mainland market.
AFF Deal-making, a global investment-matching platform co-organised with the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA), will adopt a hybrid model starting with in-person sessions during the forum followed by online networking until January 29. To date, it has engaged over 8,000 companies and arranged more than 10,000 meetings. The forum will also feature four key exhibition zones: the FintechHK Start-up Salon, the new FutureGreen Showcase, Global Investment Zone, and InnoVenture Salon, bringing together over 140 exhibitors including Bank of China (Hong Kong), CICC, EY, HSBC, Huatai International, and Standard Chartered Bank. These zones will showcase innovative business concepts, green finance solutions and technology applications.
More details about the forum, speaker list, and media registration arrangements will be announced at the press conference on January 19. The event underscores Hong Kong’s strengths as an international financial centre and its role as a superconnector. For more information, visit the Asian Financial Forum website.
