The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), co-organised by the Hong Kong SAR government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held on 26 and 27 January 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme "Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape," the forum introduces a brand-new tagline, "Finance Empowering Business," and will feature the inaugural Global Business Summit, focusing on the deep integration of finance and the real economy. This expansion beyond traditional financial topics aims to unlock the potential of high-value industries and drive innovation for stronger economic growth.
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 added that the new Global Business Summit will gather more than 100 global political and business leaders to share insights, while the AFF Deal-making platform fosters substantive collaborations, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a superconnector and super value-adder.
Maggie Ng, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and HSBC Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Officer, noted that 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 in key areas.
The two-day agenda will feature multiple discussion panels, keynote speeches, thematic luncheons and breakfast sessions. Highlights include Global Economic Outlook, CIO Insights, Asset & Wealth Management, Trade Finance and Supply Chain Management, and Gold Exchange. These sessions will explore global economic trends, economic forecasts, and other hot topics across finance and industry.
The Global Business Summit, held on the second day and co-organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, will discuss trending topics such as 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, focusing on opportunities for mainland enterprises to go global and helping international enterprises establish operations 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 to date. This year, it will adopt a hybrid model, starting with in-person sessions during the forum followed by two additional days of online networking until 29 January.
This year's forum also features four key exhibition zones, including the FintechHK Start-up Salon, a new FutureGreen Showcase, Global Investment Zone, and InnoVenture Salon. These zones will bring together over 140 exhibitors, including knowledge partners such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), CICC, EY, HSBC, Huatai International, and Standard Chartered Bank, showcasing innovative business concepts, green finance solutions, and technology applications.
More details about the AFF, speaker list, and media registration arrangements will be announced at the press conference on 19 January. The meeting agenda and speaker list are available at the AFF website. Media interested in interviewing speakers should email tleung@yuantung.com.hk or lsong@yuantung.com.hk by 21 January 2026.
