Asia is entering a defining phase of acceleration - where influence is moving fast across geopolitics, markets and technology. From shifting power dynamics and evolving growth pathways to rapid digital expansion, the region is shaping the forces that will define the global economy.
Reuters NEXT Asia brings together leaders in Singapore - at the heart of this momentum - to interpret change, connect the signals and bring the force’s shaping Asia’s trajectory into focus.
Powered by Reuters’ award-winning global newsroom, Reuters NEXT Asia delivers trusted, independent intelligence, connecting these dynamics into one strategic picture and equipping leaders to understand where influence is building, how it is moving and what it means for what comes next.
Join us where Asia’s momentum turns into direction.
Asia’s geopolitical landscape is being reshaped by intensifying rivalries, rising middle powers, and shifting alliances. As the U.S.-China competition deepens and regional flashpoints from the South China Sea to the Korean Peninsula remain volatile, governments must navigate a complex web of diplomacy, defence, and economic strategy. Asia’s leaders are tasked with responding to growing security risks, digital warfare, and climate-driven instability – all while forging new coalitions to shape the region’s future.
Asia’s growth story is entering a new phase. One marked by trade tensions, slowing major economies, and uneven recovery across the region. As global markets fragment and domestic demand softens, business and policy leaders must rethink competitiveness, investment strategies, and innovation pathways. However, India’s expanding consumer base, China’s strategic recalibration and ASEAN’s adaptability offer fresh growth paths. How will bold choices and regional realignment shape Asia’s economic future?
Asia’s financial sector is under pressure from China’s economic slowdown, rising household debt, and shifting trade dynamics. As digital disruption, AI adoption, and climate risk accelerate change, the region also faces mounting regulatory complexity and cybersecurity threats. Yet new opportunities are emerging, from expanding green finance and digital inclusion to cross-border innovation and fintech partnerships. How can financial leaders shape a thriving, inclusive, and future-ready financial system?
Asia’s tech sector is accelerating fast, but faces rising complexity. Fragmented cloud ecosystems, digital sovereignty policies, AI governance gaps, and talent shortages challenge innovation across diverse markets. But the agile digital economies, emerging tech hubs, and growing demand for scalable, ethical AI present powerful opportunities. As synthetic content and autonomous agents reshape industries, what are the public-private priorities to build resilient systems for Asia’s digital future?
Corporate leaders in Asia are being tested by shifting global influence, rapid technological change, and rising stakeholder expectations. Executives must navigate geopolitical uncertainty, fragmented regulation, and talent shortages while adapting to evolving governance demands and digital transformation. At the same time, Asia’s expanding innovation ecosystems, growing consumer markets, and sustainability momentum offer new pathways for impact. How can businesses lead with clarity and courage in an era of reinvention?
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Building a better world demands that we re-evaluate our understanding of business, policy, and society today. Co-curated with Reuters’ award-winning newsroom, NEXT Asia will challenge global leaders, innovators and CEOs to think differently and act boldly on the issues that matter most.
From AI and climate to markets and leadership, the World Stage will host powerful interviews and dynamic panels, broadcast live to millions around the globe.
Collaborate with your peers through invitation-only interactive roundtables and workshop sessions running alongside the World Stage, led by experts and executives. Delve into industry-defining challenges and opportunities on the horizon.
All interactive sessions are held under the Chatham House Rule.
Asia finds itself in a defining moment, as influence shifts across alliances, security priorities and regional power dynamics, from the South China Sea to broader Indo-Pacific strategy. With the Philippines holding the ASEAN chair in 2026, Secretary Lazaro discusses the region’s priorities, from defence and diplomacy to trade and multilateral cooperation.
Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro
These conversations will be held under the Trust Principles.
Pakistan’s power sector is under strain as rising demand, mounting debt and reform pressure are testing the system’s limits. The stakes are high: economic stability, industrial growth and investor confidence all hinge on what comes next. Minister Leghari discusses plans to stabilise the system, from tackling inefficiencies and reforming distribution to advancing renewables in a volatile global market.
Pakistan Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
As US–China rivalry redraws global power, Asia is no longer adapting, but is instead shaping what comes next. From supply chains and trade to capital and technology, new “control towers” are emerging, redefining how influence is exercised in a contested system. Join us for a behind the scenes look at who is setting the terms of globalisation today and how Reuters journalists provide accurate, fast information in a world of opaque data and shifting policy signals. As Washington and Beijing build rival spheres, are Asia’s economies aligning, hedging, or forging their own paths? Where is real leverage being created, and who holds it?
Geopolitical tensions, fast‑moving AI adoption and rising climate threats are among some of the risks reshaping the global operating environment. This session breaks down the risk trends that matter most this year and their potential impact on business resilience and competitiveness, in a landscape defined by compressed timelines and harder trade-offs. How can business leaders build adaptive organizations, strengthen operational resilience and maintain strategic clarity as uncertainty accelerates?
Marsh Asia Chief Commercial Officer Joan Collar
Event Moderator: Karen Lam
This session is in partnership with Marsh Asia.
The global travel industry is rebounding as demand returns and borders reopen, with Asia emerging as a key driver of growth and cross-border mobility. As consumer expectations evolve and digital platforms reshape how people plan and experience travel, companies must adapt at speed. We talk with Sun about how travel is being redesigned, and how Asia's momentum is reshaping the future of global connectivity and tourism flows.
Trip.com Group Chief Executive Officer Jane Sun
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
Hong Kong is reinforcing its role as an international financial hub, deploying capital to accelerate growth in strategic sectors and strengthen its position within Asia’s evolving investment landscape. As governments take a more active role in shaping markets, public capital is becoming a catalyst for innovation and long-term competitiveness, bridging policy ambition with private sector execution. We talk with Chan about how HKIC is investing across emerging industries and partnerships and supporting growth, innovation and connectivity across Asia.
Hong Kong Investment Corporation Chief Executive Officer Clara Chan
Moderator: Reuters Asia Finance & Markets Editor Sumeet Chatterjee
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
Asia's financial markets are being reshaped by shifting economics, geopolitical fragmentation and a pivot toward private credit and infrastructure, as capital flows reprice risk and redefine influence across the region. As firms across China, India, Japan and ASEAN seek alternative financing, private credit is becoming a core pillar of capital, reshaping how growth is financed and where opportunity concentrates. This session asks where the next decade of value will come from as investors recalibrate China exposure, Japan unleashes governance reforms, India and ASEAN deepen their markets, and global investors recalibrate China exposure while lines blur between private equity, private credit and growth.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management Head of Private & Growth Equity Asia Pacific Stephanie Hui
Primavera Capital Group Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Fred Hu
Bain Capital Japan Chief Strategist Satoshi Ueyama
Moderator: Reuters Chief Asia M&A Correspondent Kane Wu
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
AI is rapidly moving beyond software into the physical world, powering robots, devices, and systems that interact with the real environment. This session explores the hardware backbone of this new era. From physical AI and emerging technologies to the power barriers of the future, what will shape the future, and who will capture the value?
TDK Corporate Officer & General Manager, Corporate Strategy Headquarters, Taro Ikushima
Moderator: Head of Reuters Professional Josh London
This session is in partnership with TDK.
Asia's investment landscape is being reshaped by factors including slower global growth and market volatility, yet momentum continues to build across key markets. We talk with one of the region's most influential institutional investors, about how it is positioning for the next cycle while navigating a more uneven and competitive landscape.
Temasek Chief Investment Officer Rohit Sipahimalani
Moderator: Reuters Chief Asia M&A Correspondent Kane Wu
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
Crypto is entering a defining new phase as governments refine the rules for digital assets, institutions deepen their involvement and the industry pushes to prove its staying power in mainstream finance – with influence shifting between regulators, platforms and global capital. We talk with Richard Teng about what comes next for the sector, from regulation and trust to adoption, innovation and how Asia’s momentum is shaping the future of digital finance.
Binance Co-Chief Executive Officer Richard Teng
Moderator: Reuters tAsia Finance & Markets Editor Sumeet Chatterjee
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
From tokenized securities to blockchain-based settlement, institutional adoption of digital assets is accelerating across Asia’s financial hubs. This session examines how investors and institutions are adapting portfolios to incorporate digital assets while frameworks continue to develop and evolve. And where is Asia building momentum as a driver of innovation?
Revo Digital Family Office Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer Zann Kwan
Schroders Investment Management Singapore Head of Operations, APAC & Global Head of Digital Assets Marita McGinley
Invesco Head of Product, APAC, Freddy Wong
Event Moderator: Karen Lam
This session is in partnership with event sponsors.
Healthcare demands are shifting along with ageing populations, workforce pressures and the drive for better, more efficient care. Leading one of the world's largest private healthcare networks, with more than 80 hospitals in 10 countries, Prem Kumar Nair discusses the outlook for healthcare investment, innovation and delivery and how the region's providers are responding to growing expectations around access, quality and long-term resilience.
IHH Healthcare Group Chief Executive Officer Prem Kumar Nair
Moderator: Reuters Asia Breaking Business News Editor Miyoung Kim
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
Facing mounting pressure to rethink risk and accelerate innovation, corporates are turning to AI as a critical lever for resilience and competitive advantage. We discuss how organisations can embed AI into mission-critical systems without disrupting operations, while building the infrastructure and governance needed to scale with confidence? And look at how early movers are converting AI capabilities into sustained competitive momentum in a volatile environment.
FWD Group Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Huynh Thanh Phong
DHL Supply Chain APAC Chief Information Officer Mihaela Isac
FairPrice Group Chief Digital & Technology Officer Dennis Seah
Event Moderator: Karen Lam
This session is in partnership with FWD.
From fiscal targets to subsidy reform, Malaysia is balancing discipline at home with a pragmatic regional stance. As competition for capital intensifies alongside external energy shocks, the focus is shifting to higher-quality investment, stronger supply chains and long-term resilience. Minister Amir Hamzah discusses how Malaysia is aligning policy, capital and strategy to sustain growth in a more fragmented global economy.
Malaysia Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
Sovereign wealth funds’ allocation decisions often signal that risk has been priced and opportunities are sufficiently durable for the long term, offering a view on where confidence is building across regions and sectors. Regional sovereign investors discuss how they are rethinking geography, asset classes and time horizons - and what their choices reveal about the next phase of growth in Asia and beyond.
Danantara Investment Management Head of Public Investment Rani Piputri
Chinggis Khaan Sovereign Wealth Fund Chief Executive Officer Temuulen Bayaraa
Khazanah Nasional Chief Investment Officer Hisham Hamdan
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
Autonomous driving is moving out of the lab and onto the street. Across Asia, robotaxis and driverless delivery are colliding with the realities of regulation, capital and competition. As the technology meets the market, who will capture the value and how quickly can they scale it?
WeRide Founder & Chief Executive Officer Tony Han
Moderator: Reuters Asia Technology Correspondent Fanny Potkin
This session is hosted by a Reuters journalist under the Trust Principles.
Today’s business environment presents both opportunity and uncertainty: rapid technological advances and new business models alongside rising protectionism, geopolitical instability and complex economic headwinds. How are the world’s top CEOs responding to these multidimensional challenges and opportunities, from geopolitics and AI to growth and resilience?
In an era when CEOs must operate simultaneously across AI, M&A, talent and governance, decisions are interlocking and high stakes, inevitably creating tradeoffs and tough choices in times of uncertainty. This invitation-only workshop brings together a select group of CEOs and senior executives to tackle the hardest questions leaders face today: how to make high-stakes, interlocking decisions that accelerate growth with precision, manage risk with clarity, and build long-term resilience with confidence.
The discussion will focus on the following areas:
• Geopolitical fragmentation and its implications for supply chain and business continuity
• Adverse outcomes of AI-driven innovations
• Healthcare affordability
• Shifting demographics and talent dynamics
• Climate impacts on operations
Event Moderator: Karen Lam
This session is hosted in partnership with Marsh Asia.
This is an invitation-only session.
AI governance across Southeast Asia is evolving rapidly with countries pursuing different approaches, ranging from voluntary guidelines to binding regulation. In addition, governments are increasingly treating AI as critical national infrastructure. These various governance paths create a complex operating environment for businesses managing cross border data, compliance and deployment decisions across multiple jurisdictions. This interactive workshop provides a practical overview of the current Southeast Asian AI governance landscape and what it means for leaders navigating opportunity amid diverging approaches.
Join this session to:
• Understand the landscape of various AI governance models across Southeast Asia
• Examine real business experiences to surface compliance and cross-border operational risks.
• Explore what regional frameworks, including ASEAN’s Digital Economy Framework Agreement, need to deliver from a business perspective
Tech for Good Institute Programme Manager Keith Detros
China’s energy transition is reshaping the fundamentals of global competition. As the world’s largest energy system shifts toward electrification, renewables, and new infrastructure, the implications extend far beyond the energy sector. This interactive workshop provides a clear, executive-level overview of where China’s energy transition stands today, and why it matters for leaders across industries.
Join this session to:
• Learn how business models and ecosystems are evolving around new energy systems
• Examine real company examples to surface the key shifts leaders need to understand now and the strategic choices they will soon face
• Understand the implications of China’s energy transition on your organisation
IMD Professor of Management Innovation Mark Greeven
Leading companies across Asia are starting to actively shape the future of work with AI. This session explores how organisations are redesigning jobs, embedding AI into core operations, and investing in in large-scale reskilling. Drawing on real world experience, the discussion explores what it means to be “future ready” in 2026 and how corporate strategy is driving workforce transformation.
Join this session to:
• Understand how leading companies are deploying AI at scale while rethinking workforce strategy.
• Examine the trade offs between automation, inclusion and long term talent sustainability.
• Explore how businesses can shape broader workforce ecosystems through partnerships and responsible AI deployment
AI Asia Pacific Institute President Kelly Forbes
Many organisations have shown that AI can deliver value in pilots. The next challenge and opportunity is embedding AI reliably into core systems and everyday workflows at enterprise scale. This closed‑door roundtable brings together senior technology leaders to focus on how organisations are overcoming system complexity, redesigning workflows and building confidence in AI‑assisted outputs, in order to move from experimentation to durable, repeatable enterprise capability.
Invitation-only session for Chief Technology, Information, AI Officers responsible for AI enterprise implementation, held under the Chatham House Rule.
Reuters NEXT is a fantastic place for leaders to gather to share ideas on such a variety of topics. Whether that's AI, the future of the workforce, how we see the global economy. That ability to both hear from world leading speakers from such a variety of areas, but also to connect with people who you may not connect with on a normal basis to share ideas and to share opportunities for growth.
