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. As the region's first major international financial event of the year, the forum adopts the new tagline "Finance Empowering Business" and theme "Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape," bringing together over 140 financial officials, business leaders, and experts with expectations of attracting more than 3,600 participants from over 60 countries.
This gathering matters because it occurs amidst complex international dynamics, with Hong Kong positioning itself as a bridge between global markets and the Chinese Mainland. Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government, emphasized Hong Kong's role as a globally trusted international financial center committed to achieving win-win outcomes by optimizing industrial and financial supply chains from a global perspective. The forum's significance extends beyond traditional financial discussions to include the inaugural Global Business Summit, which aligns with China's 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations to strengthen the real economy and promote Hong Kong's advantages as an international financial hub.
A key development this year involves gold market expansion, with dedicated discussion sessions, a memorandum of understanding signing, and initiatives to drive construction of an international gold trading center in Hong Kong. The Global Spectrumsession on Gold Exchange will feature insights from international experts including James Emmett of MKS PAMP SA and David Tait of World Gold Council, exploring strategies to reinforce Hong Kong's role as a global gold trading hub. These developments showcase Hong Kong's advantages in developing gold markets while seeking collaborative opportunities with the international community.
The inaugural Global Business Summit represents a strategic shift toward deeper integration between finance and high-value industries. Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC, noted that this initiative aligns with President Xi Jinping's emphasis on financial services for the real economy, focusing on enhancing value creation through capital flow and improved turnover rates. The summit will feature leaders from high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence, new consumer trends, biomedicine, healthcare, and green energy, exploring how financial services can drive innovation and long-term growth while supporting mainland enterprises going global and attracting international companies.
Program highlights include two plenary sessions featuring financial officials and leaders from international institutions analyzing the latest macroeconomic landscape. The first session hosted by Christopher Hui will include Zou Jiayi of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Scott Morris of Asian Development Bank, and finance ministers from Turkiye and Slovenia. The second session hosted by Julia Leung of Securities and Futures Commission will feature regulatory and central bank officials from United Arab Emirates, Germany, South Korea, and financial services leaders from Morgan Stanley and Financial Services Development Council.
Keynote addresses will be delivered by Dr Jose Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission and current Chairman of Goldman Sachs International Advisory Board, and Paul Polman, business leader and advocate for systemic change and climate action. The Global Economic Outlook session will bring together prominent leaders including Sir Douglas Flint of Aberdeen Group, Kevin Sneader of Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific, and Dr. Zhu Min of China Center for International Economic Exchanges to provide forecasts for the 2026 economic landscape.
The forum will feature multiple exhibition areas including the new FutureGreen showcase focusing on green finance and technology, FintechHK Start-up Salon, InnoVenture Salon, and Global Investment Zone with over 140 exhibitors. The AFF Deal-making program co-organised with Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association will facilitate collaboration, while Business Matching sessions will showcase projects in Environment, Energy and Clean Technology, Healthcare Technology, and Financial Technology sectors.
As part of International Financial Week 2026, the forum kicks off a week of financial events in Hong Kong with 15 partner activities covering ASEAN opportunities, asset management, and artificial intelligence. Overseas participants will receive exclusive travel and cultural experiences including Hong Kong Big Bus Tours, traditional sailing trips, museum access, and dining discounts. Detailed information about the forum is available through the official Asian Financial Forum website, with specific program details at the program page and speaker information at the speakers list.
