The 19th Asian Financial Forum, jointly organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council, concluded after drawing over 4,000 leaders from governments and business sectors across more than 60 countries and regions. The forum, which kicked off International Financial Week 2026, featured over 150 speakers and launched the inaugural Global Business Summit to integrate finance with key industries, driving innovation and economic development while strengthening Hong Kong's role through financial empowerment.
At a Keynote Luncheon, Dr. Jose Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, discussed Hong Kong's pivotal role in fostering regional cooperation and how Asia can draw on Europe's experience to deepen economic integration. He noted the current technological race creates instability, prompting global corporate leaders to position their companies favorably against geopolitical and technological risks. During a Panel Discussion on Global Economic Outlook, Dr. Zhu Min of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges highlighted opportunities that renminbi internationalization brings to Hong Kong, stating that competition among major currencies requires liquidity and a bond market—services Hong Kong is perfectly positioned to provide.
A significant milestone was reached when the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange, establishing a high-level cooperative governance framework for Hong Kong's central gold clearing system and exploring coordinated development of physical infrastructure. This initiative represents an important step forward in Hong Kong's development as an international gold trading hub. The inaugural Global Business Summit, co-organized by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, opened with remarks from Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma, who emphasized Hong Kong's role as a superconnector between the Chinese Mainland and the world.
A Pledging Ceremony demonstrated the commitment of the HKSAR Government, HKTDC, and AFF Partners—including EY, HSBC, and Bank of China (Hong Kong)—to assist Chinese Mainland enterprises in going global via the Hong Kong platform. Business Plenary sessions focused on Chinese Mainland enterprises going global and strategic collaboration for shared growth, featuring executives from companies like XPENG, Alibaba Group, and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. In Business Plenary II, Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman of Investcorp, emphasized the importance of the China-Gulf Cooperation Council corridor, noting significant appetite in the Gulf region to partner with Chinese companies due to favorable valuations compared to Western counterparts.
The summit featured discussion sessions covering high-growth sectors including biomedicine, green energy, and artificial intelligence. In sessions like "AI Infrastructure: Powering the Intelligent Supply Chain" and "AI Driven Robotics and Autonomous Technologies Revolutionising Industry," leaders from JD.com and Tencent discussed scalable application strategies and how AI-driven robotics can transform healthcare, manufacturing, and services. Real-time polling during AFF revealed that over 70% of attendees were neutral to optimistic about the global economic outlook for 2026, with 51.2% prioritizing artificial intelligence development, followed by energy transition and sustainable development.
The HKTDC facilitated AFF Deal-making, attracting over 280 investors and 600 investment projects, resulting in more than 800 one-on-one meetings. Project Investment Sessions highlighted strategic Hong Kong initiatives like the Northern Metropolis, SKYTOPIA at Hong Kong International Airport, and the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. Additionally, Hong Kong food-tech company Techvalue International and Australia's Gryph Holdings signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture for innovative plant-based products, facilitated by the HKTDC Sydney Office. This collaboration, building on connections from previous AFF editions, demonstrates Hong Kong's role in enabling cross-border food-tech innovation.
Four thematic zones—FutureGreen Showcase, FintechHK Start-up Salon, InnoVenture Salon, and Global Investment Zone—brought together approximately 150 exhibitors, including Standard Chartered and CICC. The FutureGreen Showcase highlighted applications in green finance and technology, showcasing solutions for carbon-credit trading and ESG monitoring. Roundtable meetings, such as the Hong Kong International Fundraising Roundtable 2026 and the Attracting Strategic Enterprises roundtable co-organized by HKTDC and OASES, provided platforms for discussing financing needs and connecting enterprises with Hong Kong's service providers. International Financial Week 2026 continues with 14 industry events covering topics from digital finance to private equity, underscoring Hong Kong's position as a comprehensive international financial centre. More information about the forum is available at https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/.
