New Delhi, August 26, 2026: The AVPN Global Conference 2026 began at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on August 25, bringing together close to 2,000 funders, investors, corporates, policymakers and social impact leaders to discuss approaches to inclusive growth and capital mobilisation across Asia.
The conference, being held in India for the first time in its 13-year history, is centred on the theme “A Blueprint for Action in Asia”. Discussions are focusing on blended finance, health, gender equality, economic inclusion, climate action, impact investing and the role of technology in addressing development challenges.
A Special Address titled “Advancing India’s Health Agenda” was delivered by Anupriya Patel, Honourable Minister of State & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers. The conference also features speakers including Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Group; Boon Heong Ng, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation; Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia; Professor Larry Kramer, President & Vice-chancellor, London School of Economics & Political Science; Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust; Piyush Gupta, Chairman, Singapore Management University; and Tony Tan, Executive Director, CapitaLand Hope Foundation.
“India has a growing role in Asia's impact story, and is no longer simply a destination for impact capital,” said Achal Agarwal, Chair at AVPN. “It is fast becoming a source of ideas, innovation and solutions that will shape Asia's future. Hosting our Global Conference here for the first time reflects that shift. This is a strategic choice: New Delhi gives us a two-way bridge, a platform for the rest of Asia to bring forward investment-ready ideas, and for innovations emerging from India to shape solutions across the region.”
The conference is taking place against an estimated USD 26 trillion financing requirement for Asia through 2030, along with a USD 1.5 trillion annual SDG financing gap, according to AVPN. Sessions are examining ways to improve coordination among governments, investors, philanthropists, businesses and other stakeholders to support development initiatives.
“In a year like this, our biggest breakthrough will not come from any single funder, instrument or initiative. It will come from how bravely we choose to work together,” said Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO at AVPN. “We need an ecosystem where philanthropists, investors, corporates, governments and innovators see themselves not as separate actors, but as co-owners of shared outcomes. That is what the Conference is here to build, partnerships that translate intent into coordinated action, and capital that moves in ways that honour the realities of our communities. If we can do that, Asia will not just respond to this moment; we will redefine what effective, collaborative impact looks like for Asia.”
The conference agenda includes discussions on climate and health, tuberculosis, impact investing and financing mechanisms. It also includes the Maharashtra Climate Investment Programme, under which the Government of Maharashtra and AVPN announced a USD 1 billion climate investment pipeline covering clean transport, industrial decarbonisation, renewable energy and climate-smart agriculture.
The event will conclude with an Impact Investing Day, bringing together investors, fund managers, philanthropists and other stakeholders to discuss the use of grants, debt and equity to support social and environmental solutions.
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