Alibaba’s Ant Group announced that its inaugural INCLUSION Fintech Conference originally scheduled for April 2020, will now take place in September 24-26, 2020, in Shanghai.

Organised by Ant Group and Alipay, the conference will feature a combination of online and onsite events to enable a global discussion among the financial and technology communities on how digital technology can help build a more inclusive, green, and sustainable world, especially as economies and businesses continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The INCLUSION Fintech Conference will present over 40 online and offline sessions, with 13,000 square meters in onsite exhibition space. To commemorate the launch of the event, the conference will host a nature-themed music festival along Shanghai’s Huangpu River on the first evening of the three-day conference.

The online sessions will bring together speakers and thought leaders from a range of organisations, from financial institutions and technology companies to research institutes, from around the world via video conference.

The keynote speeches and panel discussions aim to foster dialogue and the sharing of ideas on major themes such as the global digital economy, innovative technologies, digital finance, technology for social good and sustainability.

There will also be an offline exhibition area will enable conference attendees in Shanghai to experience and interact with the latest fintech innovations and technology solutions that Ant Group, Alipay, as well as other major fintech companies, have developed to support the digitalisation of service providers across China and beyond.

“Ant Group’s INCLUSION Fintech Conference will take place during an unprecedented time. COVID-19 has upended the way people live, work, and interact with one another. Now more than ever, we recognise the pivotal role digital technology can play in bringing the world equal opportunities and envisioning a more inclusive future for all,”

said Simon Hu, Chief Executive Officer of Ant Group.

“Through the INCLUSION Fintech Conference, we hope to foster dialogue on how cutting-edge technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, can empower people and communities across the globe and create a digital life that is accessible to all.”