Financial Center News #109

🤝 Exciting news from the global financial community.

We are delighted to share that our member EnterpriseNGR, under the leadership of Obi Ibekwe, is officially taking on the chairmanship of the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centers (ARFC), one of the continental chapters of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC).

This milestone reflects the continued growth and collaboration fostered by the World Alliance, bringing together international and regional financial centers to advance key priorities for the industry: innovation, competitiveness, and inclusive development.

As EnterpriseNGR steps into this role, we look forward to seeing Africa's financial centers work even more closely together to strengthen their impact and elevate their position on the global stage.

💡 The collective efforts of our members and partners are critical to shaping the future of financial ecosystems across the continent and beyond.

The Africa Roundtable brings together some of the most dynamic financial centers on the continent: ✅ Casablanca Finance City Authority ✅ Economic Development Board - Mauritius ✅ EnterpriseNGR ✅ Kigali International Financial Centre

Our members Casablanca Finance City and Busan Finance Center recently came together in Casablanca, Morocco.

This meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm their partnership and explore new avenues of collaboration, particularly in financial services, sustainable finance, and carbon markets.

Discussions also focused on coordinating the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) Annual General Meeting 2026, and on planning future delegations and field visits.

Arvind Ramamurthy, ADGM's Chief Market Development Officer, joins Dubai Eye 103.8 FM to reveal how a 67% surge in new licenses in Q1 2025 powers ADGM, Abu Dhabi's premier International Financial Centre.

Discover how our customer-focused regulations, thriving live-work-play ecosystem with 29,000 professionals, and healthy regional competition make ADGM and Abu Dhabi a global business magnet—poised at the "tip of the iceberg" for growth!

📢 Astana International Exchange - AIX and Shanghai Stock Exchange Expand Strategic Cooperation

Astana International Exchange (AIX) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) to strengthen and expand the longstanding relationship between the two exchanges.

🤝 Under the MoU, both parties agreed to explore new areas of cooperation across capital markets, including the development of innovative financial instruments and investment solutions. The agreement also includes mutual support in promoting each other's markets.

📍 The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC).

💬 Assel Mukazhanova, CEO of AIX, commented: "AIX is grateful to SSE for its continued support since its inception back in 2017. Today we are pleased to sign a new document that paves the way for deeper collaboration and the pursuit of new growth opportunities. We look forward to advancing initiatives such as stock and debt product development – as part of our shared commitment to enhancing market cooperation and expanding investor engagement".

💬 Cai Jianchun, President of SSE, stated: "SSE has all along taken AIX as our vital strategic partner in Central Asia and showed continued support for AIX development. The signing of the MoU today marks a step further in our cooperation. We stay committed to supporting financing and business operation of high-quality companies from both countries and further strengthening cooperation between respective capital markets".

🌍 This marks a new chapter in AIX's international engagement and reinforces its commitment to building deep, strategic partnerships across global financial ecosystems.

BFC attended the Luxembourg National Day celebration held on Thursday, June 26 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, joining in the festivities.

Representatives from BFC met Ambassador Jacques Flies to discuss future directions for cooperation.

A distinguished panel of international experts will take the stage at the Scaling up African carbon markets in Africa Conference to share their insights on Project Development Perspective. This session will dive into the real-world experiences of project developers across the continent, uncovering both the opportunities and the challenges of generating high-quality carbon credits in Africa. A must-attend for anyone looking to better understand the future of carbon project development on the continent.

🎙️ Speakers include: • Ms. Nadia Kaddouri, CFO, South Pole • Mr. Paul Mauthura, CEO, Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) • Mr. Benjamin Camus, Senior Director, Evolution Markets Inc. & Xpansiv

📍 Atlantic Re Auditorium - 60 Main Street - Casablanca Finance City District 📅 July 8th | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

🔗 Don't miss this key discussion, confirm your participation — register now: https://lnkd.in/erNCs8ZU

#DIFC Family Wealth Centre, in collaboration with Al Tamimi & Company, co-hosted the roundtable "Securing the Future: Let's Talk Legacy", led by Izabella Szadkowska, Partner – Corporate Structuring and Khadija Ali, Chief Representative - Business Development Segments at DIFC.

The session brought together family business leaders, legal experts and wealth advisors to explore the foundations of successful legacy planning.

Discussions focused on establishing effective governance structures, designing strategic wealth transition plans to ensure smooth intergenerational asset transfer, and managing family dynamics to minimize conflict and preserve unity.

The roundtable also examined the role of leadership development in securing long-term business continuity and maintaining the purpose behind generational wealth.

The Economic Development Board hosted a high-profile delegation from Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) during an interactive session themed 'Deepening Economic Ties', this morning, 30th June 2025.

The high-level delegation comprised of eminent dignitaries is led by the H.E. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI.

The interactive session marks an important milestone in reinforcing economic bridges between Mauritius and Sharjah in the wake of the recent entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Agreement is set to deepen trade and investment ties, accelerate growth in key industries, strengthen supply chains, and streamline market access for businesses in Mauritius and the UAE. 🇲🇺🇦🇪

👉 Read the full article to see what's next: https://lnkd.in/d--7V8vT

In his keynote address, His Excellency, Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, highlighted that Mauritius is the first African Nation to sign a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates. He further added that Sharjah aims to accelerate growth in key industries and anticipates prospective collaboration with Mauritius in key sectors namely, manufacturing, healthcare, port operations, tourism, education, and renewable energy.

Delivering the welcome address, the CEO of EDB, Mr. Mahen Abhimanu Kundasamy highlighted that this event signifies the dawn of a promising new chapter in the relationship between Sharjah and Mauritius. It represents the weaving together of two vibrant economic tapestries—that of the Emirate of Sharjah, a beacon of culture, industry, and innovation in the Gulf, and that of Mauritius, a premier international financial center and gateway to Africa.

The SOE 2025 Report is loaded with data and insights on: ✅ Sector-by-sector performance ✅ Growth insights ✅ Actionable intelligence for investors, policy-makers, and leaders.

Click on this link to download the report now: https://lnkd.in/dSkK9Nfx

📍 FinanceMalta at the forefront of Malta's financial services transformation

In an interview with The Sunday Times of Malta, our Chief Strategy Officer, Bernice Buttigieg, sheds light on the steady but significant changes shaping Malta's financial services sector — from modernizing regulation and tax frameworks to strengthening digital infrastructure and sustainability efforts.

The article highlights the work being carried out by the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council (MFSAC), particularly through our 2024 Annual Report, and FinanceMalta's ongoing commitment to positioning Malta as a competitive, credible, and future-ready financial jurisdiction.

Key priorities include: 🔹 Coordinated sectoral transformation 🔹 ESG and sustainable finance frameworks 🔹 Fintech and payments innovation 🔹 Increased investor transparency 🔹 Stronger public-private collaboration

📰 Read the full interview to learn more about the "silent revolution" taking place within Malta's financial services landscape.

When numbers speak… Tajawob delivers 100% performance 📊

Complaints, inquiries, and reports all handled efficiently in June 2025 ✅

#Newsletter | Find the latest news from the financial center Frankfurt here 👇

📢 #FrankfurtLife: Experience Europe's last active trading floor in Frankfurt's historic stock exchange, where tradition meets modern finance and visitors get a unique behind-the-scenes look.

🌍 #3Questions to Paul Kammerer, COO at fincite - Wealth Management Software, discusses how the largest wealth transfer ever and AI-driven digital transformation are reshaping the future of wealth management.

📈 #CFS-Index Q1 2025: The CFS-Index dropped slightly by 0.9 points to 107.9. However, confidence in Germany's international financial role hit a record 104.7, as Europe's stability fuels optimism.

Sign up today! https://brnw.ch/21wTKxY

We're kicking off a new series of meetings as part of the Data & AI Specialisation at Future Finance Poland! Together with our expert partner Accenture, we invite you to dive into one of the hottest topics in tech today — the growing role of AI agents in the financial sector.

We'll look at how generative #AI, #LLMs, and autonomous systems are shaping decision-making, responsibility, system design, and regulation. What does it really mean for AI to be "agentic"? What are the real-world implications for finance?

📅 Date: 9 July 2025 🕑 Time: 14:00–16:00 (CET) 📍 Format: Hybrid (in Polish)

Register: kmultan@futurefinancepoland.com

This is for everyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve and understand how advanced AI is transforming the future of financial services. Seats are limited — secure yours now and join the conversation!

🌟 Insights Exchange with the Chinese Financial Association of Hong Kong #HCFA

#FSDC engaged in a meaningful dialogue with the #HCFA to explore collaboration opportunities that will advance Hong Kong's financial services industry.

Key topics of discussion included Hong Kong's role in #Fintech and #VirtualAssets, the development of #Stablecoins, and the importance of #GreenFinance in driving sustainable growth.

This insightful exchange reaffirmed Hong Kong's position as a leading #IFC and its pivotal role in shaping the future of global finance through innovation and sustainability.

What makes a city financially powerful? Strategic access.

Istanbul proves how global connectivity drives investment, talent mobility, and growth. Explore how well connected cities unlock real financial potential.

Read the full article here. Apply now to be part of this ecosystem: https://lnkd.in/dxA9i6YC

Don't miss the opportunity to hear from one of the most compelling voices in global affairs.

We're delighted to welcome Rt Hon Rory Stewart OBE, historian, co-host of 'The Rest is Politics' podcast and former UK Cabinet Minister and diplomat, as our keynote speaker at this year's Private Wealth Conference.

Drawing on his experience in frontline politics, international diplomacy and development, Rory will offer conference delegates a deeper insight into how trust is earned and lost on the world stage.

Our keynote speaker is proudly sponsored by Carey Olsen.

Register now to secure your place: https://jsy.fi/3I04ghK

Today, we hosted a stakeholder workshop to review Kigali's performance in the latest Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI 37).

The discussions focused on identifying Kigali's strengths as a financial center and exploring actionable strategies to further enhance Rwanda's competitiveness on the global stage.

To enhance Kigali's performance, stakeholders were encouraged to maintain strong collaboration, take the lead on priority actions, and work collectively to implement reforms and initiatives that will advance Kigali's performance.

As Kigali continues to gain recognition as a rising financial hub, such engagements are essential in aligning efforts across our ecosystem.

At our recent Sustainable Finance Forum, William Wright of New Financial, presented highlights from the latest report on ESG. Despite political backlash and declining public commitments, the data shows that ESG activity has proven remarkably resilient across global capital markets.

Wright's call: use the backlash as an opportunity to reset and streamline ESG, making it more impactful and less about box-ticking. Europe is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation.

Watch here the full replay of his speech and more: https://bit.ly/422Yt1f

How are shifting macro trends and global trade dynamics shaping investor outlooks? 🤔

In collaboration with Morgan Stanley, we hosted an economic workshop featuring Dr Rajeev Sibal, Senior Global Economist, who shared a global perspective on the current trade environment, evolving tariff policies, and key macroeconomic indicators.

The session opened with remarks from Kamal Naji, Chief Economist and Special Projects Officer at QFC, and Abdulrahman Hussain Al-Abdulla, Country Head for Morgan Stanley in Qatar.

Together, QFC and Morgan Stanley leaders offered timely insights on what investors should watch for in the months ahead.

🚀 ♀️ Attention female founders - you have the opportunity to network exclusively with female investors from encourageventures e.V. during a relaxed breakfast at our Venture Day on September 18, 2025.

Ask the questions that have always been on your mind, listen to our investors talk about their secrets and find out how you can best convince in an investor meeting.

Sounds interesting? Then register directly for one of the 50 limited places. Participation is free of charge. 👉 All information can be found at: https://lnkd.in/eieQXWbb

The Venture Day is part of the Finance Summit | 18.09.2025 of the Boerse Stuttgart Group and Stuttgart Financial. It will take place at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart.

🤝 The Female Founders Breakfast takes place in cooperation with encourageventures e.V., GIG7 Kompetenzzentrum FeMale Business and AI xpress.

A big welcome from TheCityUK team to Omar Ali of EY today as he officially takes over as Chair of our Board. He succeeds Anne Richards DBE of Fidelity International, who also today takes on her new role as Chair of our Leadership Council.

We're very proud to have Omar and Anne in post to lead our most senior forums. We're looking forward to working closely with them both to ensure that our members and the wider industry benefit from their insights and extensive experience across financial and related professional services.

📖 You can read more about Omar and Anne here: https://lnkd.in/eDi3_XmD

We are incredibly proud to see our CEO Brenda Mbathi honored with the Africa Brand Leadership Excellence Award at the 15th Brand Africa 100 | Kenya's Best Brands event.

This recognition is a testament to her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to positioning TRIFIC SEZ and Kenya as a hub for innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships.

Your dedication continues to inspire our team and drive the bold ambition behind the TRIFIC vision.

Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement!