The 38th meeting of the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai (IBLAC) will be held in Shanghai on Oct 10 and 11, with a focus on innovation in the city's service sector.

Four sub-themes will guide the discussions: innovative applications of frontier technologies, deeper integration between manufacturing and services, new and upgraded consumption formats and business models, and new scenarios to support Chinese companies going global.

More than 40 chairmen and chief executives from around the world have been invited, along with leaders from 11 private enterprises.

The agenda includes a morning roundtable and afternoon closed-door group discussions.

Rob Speyer, chief executive officer of Tishman Speyer, serves as IBLAC chairman for 2026. Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chairman of Schneider Electric, and Robert Ford, chairman and chief executive officer of Abbott, serve as vice-chairmen.

Two special guest speakers will address the gathering: Jason Furman, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School, and John Waldron, president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs.

A pre-conference event on Fuxing Island in Yangpu district on Oct 10 will focus on AI and the service sector.

IBLAC was founded in 1989, when 12 members from eight countries attended its inaugural meeting. One of its early contributions came in 1991, when discussions at the council helped inspire the development of the Yangshan Deep-Water Port.

IBLAC has now expanded to 42 members, along with 11 honorary members.