Financial Center News #107

WAIFC ✅ At the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), we are proud to highlight the cutting-edge thought leadership of two of our distinguished members: Financial Services Development Council and ADGM.

📍 Financial Services Development Council has released a forward-looking report on the role of blockchain in advancing Hong Kong's financial services industry. It explores how DLT can enhance trade finance, streamline operations, and support the city's ambitions as a global fintech hub.

📍 ADGM published an in-depth white paper on the applications of AI in Web3, SupTech, and RegTech, shedding light on how artificial intelligence can shape smarter regulation, stronger market infrastructure, and innovative supervision frameworks.

These publications show the power of international financial centers in shaping the future of responsible innovation.

Upcoming Webinar by our member Financial Services Development Council

📈 We are pleased to share that our member, the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), will be hosting the next session of its Industry Exchange Series titled:

🔹 Unveiling Hong Kong's Potential: Prospective Growth in the Expanding Commodity Market 📅 27 June 2025 (Friday) 🕙 10:00am – 11:00am (HKT) 📍 Online via Zoom

This insightful webinar will explore strategic opportunities for Hong Kong to strengthen its position as a regional commodity trading hub, supported by distinguished speakers from the financial and industrial sectors.

🎙️ Speakers include: Ms. Clara Chan, CEO, Lee Kee Group Ms. Chen DING, CEO, CSOP Asset Management Ltd; Vice-Chairman, FSDC Mr. Dario Pong, Founder & Managing Director, Ferro Resources Ltd; Executive Director, Shiu Wing Steel Ltd Mr. Colin Toh, Managing Director & Asia Pacific Head of Global Commodities, Bank of America

🎙️ Moderator: Dr. King Au, Executive Director, Financial Services Development Council

📌 The World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) Newsletter of June is out.

🔹 In our main interview, Brenda Mbathi, CEO of Two Rivers International Finance & Innovation Centre SEZ (TRIFIC SEZ), shares Nairobi's ambitions as Africa's financial and innovation gateway. From fintech acceleration to job creation for Africa's youth, Two Rivers International Finance & Innovation Centre SEZ is shaping the future of inclusive growth on the continent.

🎙️ In our Opinions section, Thomas Krantz reflects on financing the green transition and the role of AI in shaping tomorrow's financial ecosystems.

🔹 Big news: EnterpriseNGR has officially assumed the Chairmanship of the World Alliance Africa Roundtable! We warmly congratulate the team for launching a forward-looking vision focused on collaboration, innovation, and pan-African impact.

🔹 We are excited to announce that the World Alliance AGM 2025 will be hosted by Frankfurt Main Finance in Germany, September 29–October 2, alongside Sibos. The agenda includes AI in Finance, corporate sustainability, and strategic member sessions. We will also engage with our member Stuttgart Financial.

📱 Don't miss updates from our members: - ADGM brought together 10,000+ professionals at its Virtual Career Fair. - Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority welcomed Qatar University students for an immersive experience into financial services. - DIFC launched its Dubai Financial Expert Programme with 20 top Emirati talents. - AIFC hosted a business event in Hong Kong, strengthening ties with Asian investors. - Jersey Finance held two cross-border investment events in Saudi Arabia, building on its regional presence. - Economic Development Board Mauritius explored strategic ties with Australia for investment and education. - Casablanca Finance City joined UNEPFI to deepen its sustainability commitments in finance. - FSA Oman launched a national campaign to promote green bonds and Sukuk aligned with net-zero goals.

Rashed Al Blooshi joins ADGM as CEO of the Registration Authority (RA), bringing over 24 years of experience in finance and regulation. His leadership — including key roles as CEO of ADX and Under Secretary at ADDED — will be instrumental in advancing ADGM's vision for a progressive, business-friendly environment.

This leadership transition reflects ADGM's ongoing commitment to excellence, innovation, and a business-friendly regulatory framework — reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a leading international financial center.

Over the weekend, I had the honor of speaking at the 1st Central Asian Financial and Banking Forum "Banks & Fintech – 2025", organized by the Association of Banks of Kazakhstan and supported by Bank CenterCredit & Mastercard Kazakhstan.

The forum brought together over 200 delegates from Central Asia, the CIS, Europe, and the US – including financial regulators, industry leaders, and fintech pioneers. A true platform for meaningful regional dialogue.

I was pleased to present the vision and priorities of the AIFC during the opening plenary. We continue to position the AIFC as a catalyst for innovation, investment, and integration across Eurasia.

As part of the program, the AIFC hosted two expert panel sessions: "Business in the AIFC: Experience, Opportunities, and Scaling", featuring insights from Arman Batayev, Gaini Omirserikov and moderator Arman Berdalin – highlighting regulatory support, legal infrastructure, and real success stories of companies operating within the AIFC ecosystem. We also explored the growing interest in fund management and investment vehicles. Today, the AIFC is home to 63 licensed Fund Managers and 132 registered Funds, reflecting its emergence as a trusted asset management platform in the region. "The AIFC as a Platform for Islamic Finance Growth", moderated by Madina Tukulova, Head of Islamic Finance at AIFC – focusing on real cases of Shariah-compliant product development, licensing journeys, and market potential. As noted in The Future of Islamic Finance in Central Asia report by the Eurasian Development Bank, Kazakhstan is on track to become a regional leader in this sector by 2033, with projected Islamic banking assets of $3.3 billion.

Busan is good. But what's good? Busan Finance Center spills the tea.

Meet #BDAN, Busan Digital Asset Nexus, is Korea's first blockchain exchange grounded in real-world assets established through bipartisan support and Busan's forward thinking policies. BDAN facilitates the tokenization and trading of seven tangible assets, such as gold and silver.

Now, BDAN teams up with Hashed and #Naver Pay to launch "Bidan Jumoni", a next-gen #Web3 wallet for daily life.

🌉 Busan Finance Center proudly supports BDAN as Busan's anchor in the digital finance frontier.

At the Mediterranean Economic and Social Forum in Málaga, Mr. Said Ibrahimi, CEO of Casablanca Finance City, highlighted Morocco's strategic position as a stable and reliable gateway for European investment into Africa and the Middle East.

He emphasized the need for greater regulatory alignment and deeper cooperation between Morocco and Europe, particularly through Spain, to unlock cross-border opportunities and drive sustainable growth.

Casablanca Finance City remains committed to fostering regional partnerships and reinforcing Morocco's role as a leading financial hub across the Mediterranean.

Being part of the DIFC Innovation Hub means benefiting from a range of advantages, including access to a vibrant ecosystem, world-class resources, global networking opportunities, and a strategic location.

Explore how these benefits empower start-ups like PostEx to scale efficiently and drive impactful growth. Through innovative solutions and a customer-centric approach, #PostEx is redefining the future of e-commerce.

Watch how this start-up continues to make an impact from the heart of #DIFC.

We are delighted to report that the EDB conducted a webinar on 10 June 2025, "Captive Insurance in Africa – Identifying the Right Location to Mitigate Your Risks".

We seize this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to our esteemed panellists, Vasish Ramkhalawon, Krishna Bheenick and Vikramsingh Ramlochun, for their insightful contributions on mitigating risks and highlighting the strategic advantages of the Mauritius International Financial Centre (IFC).

The event successfully gathered over 100 participants globally, with approximately 40% from the USA, alongside attendees from the UK, Singapore, South Africa, Ireland, and the UAE.

Behind the scenes of Nigeria's economy, real transformation is happening. Our State of Enterprise 2025 Report has tracked the hidden trends, sector shifts, and growth surges that happened within the past year and its impact on the economy.

Want the report that tells you what Nigeria's Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector has really been up to? Ready to understand what Nigeria's economy really looks like? Then don't wait. Join the waitlist below 👇🏾. Get early access.

📢 FinanceMalta was proud to take part in the Startup Ecosystem: Government Collaboration for Growth event by Malta Enterprise, where government authorities pitched their support to startups.

Our COO Graziella Grech highlighted how FinanceMalta – a member-based public-private foundation – helps startups and businesses grow through visibility, networking, and collaboration with regulators like the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and Malta Digital Innovation Authority.

💡 With over 50 events annually, including our flagship Annual Conference on 19–20 November, we provide a platform for meaningful connections and international exposure.

🚀 Whether you're starting up or scaling up – join our membership and be part of Malta's dynamic financial ecosystem.

🔎 In the context of strengthening governance and compliance, the "Combating Fraud and Misuse of Health Insurance Benefits" program aims to enable specialized cadres to develop their skills in verification, risk management, and auditing. 🛡️📋

🔎 As part of strengthening governance and compliance, the "Health Insurance Fraud and Abuse Prevention" program empowers professionals in verification, risk management, and audit functions. 🛡️📋

📢 Trump II – what does it mean for Europe? Four months after President Trump took office, the Center for Financial Studies takes stock with a special survey of specialists and executives in the financial sector.

📉 80% of respondents expect trade relations between the EU and the US to deteriorate.

📊 Only 52% believe that European companies will invest in the US – a sharp decline compared to November 2024.

📈 At the same time, investor interest in the EU is growing – triggered by Section 899 in the current US budget draft, among other things.

💡 The analysis shows that financial market participants react sensitively to geopolitical risks – and adjust their allocations accordingly.

Join us for an exclusive Future Finance Poland webinar on open finance and the upcoming FIDA regulation.

Date: Thursday, 26 June 2025 Time: 15:00–17:00 (CET) Format: Online Audience: FFP partners and members of the FinTech Poland ecosystem Language: Polish

We will explore: – What open finance means in practice – How the concept is framed within the proposed FIDA regulation – The legal and market implications for financial institutions and fintechs

Speaker: Krzysztof Korus, Attorney-at-law, Partner at DLK Legal

A must-attend session for anyone following EU financial data access regulation.

A new symbol of economic vision rises in the heart of Istanbul. Istanbul Financial Center brings together finance, entrepreneurship and life, providing the perfect environment to access world-class opportunities.

We're pleased to join the Financial Services Skills Commission (FSSC) as a partner member, reinforcing our commitment to building a future-ready workforce for Jersey's financial services sector.

Our FinTech Secretariat Lead, Leila Rwagasana joined the EAC Peer-to-Peer Learning Conference on Financial Services #P2PUgandaChapter held recently in Kampala, where she highlighted:

🔹 How Rwanda is advancing financial inclusion through FinTech 🔹 KIFC's vision to position Rwanda as a leading FinTech hub 🔹 Efforts to bridge the gender gap in digital financial inclusion

The conference focused on identifying critical challenges to the development of financial services in the East African Community (EAC), while promoting the exchange of best practices and strategies that enhance regional financial sector growth.

🚀 As we look ahead to 2030, Luxembourg's financial center is setting a bold course to shape the future of global finance. Guided by four key ambitions, we are committed to building a resilient, innovative, and inclusive financial ecosystem that adapts to an evolving world. 🌱

🎥 Watch our new video to learn how Luxembourg is shaping finance for our future!

QFC was proud to join the Invest Qatar Startup Qatar Pavilion at London Tech Week 2025! 🇬🇧🇶🇦

Bringing together innovators, investors, and global tech leaders, the event was a valuable opportunity to spotlight Qatar's growing startup ecosystem and connect with those looking to scale in and from the region.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about how QFC supports startups and entrepreneurship.

There's just a few weeks to go until City Week 2025!

We are pleased to be a supporter of City & Financial Global's 15th annual edition of City Week, taking place in person over three days in London from 30 June to 2 July 2025, and streamed live globally.

City Week will gather top executives from financial institutions for a comprehensive program featuring cutting-edge presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and social events.

Topics to be covered include: ➡️ Regulatory shifts: How macro conditions and governments in the U.S., Europe, and Asia are redefining crypto and digital asset policies. ➡️ Asset allocation: Digital asset strategies in 2025 and beyond: the future of institutional adoption. ➡️ Tokenisation: International use cases, collateral, money markets funds, and real estate tokenisation. ➡️ The future of financial transactions: Crypto payments, stablecoins, CBDCs.

"TRIFIC SEZ helped us grow and scale beyond what we imagined." – Amar Shah, Founder, The Design Gallery

We're proud to share this testimonial from one of our members at TRIFIC SEZ. From concept to scaling, The Design Gallery's story reflects the value of building a business within a Special Economic Zone.

📍 Based at the Two Rivers International Finance & Innovation Centre (TRIFIC SEZ), The Design Gallery has leveraged our strategic location, enabling infrastructure, and tailored incentives to scale its business.