Financial Center News #123

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) — the world's leading arbitration institution with 29,000+ cases administered over 100 years — has established its Middle East Office at ADGM's Dispute Resolution Hearing Centre.

This regional presence offers parties direct access to world-class arbitration services, tailored to local languages, legal traditions, and business customs.

With the UAE ranking #5 globally for new ICC cases, Abu Dhabi is solidifying its role as a hub for international dispute resolution.

🔥 USD 1.85 billion – total assets under management (AUM) in Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) as of the first half of 2025.

🔶 At the end of 2024, AUM stood at USD 1.1 billion. The figure has since grown by USD 750 million in half a year, reflecting stronger investor confidence.

Developing the asset management market remains one of the AIFC's key strategic priorities.

#DIFC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy & Tourism and the New Economy Academy - أكاديمية الاقتصاد الجديديد, launched the Entrepreneurship Programme through Ignyte, the region's leading digital start-up and SME ecosystem.

The initiative, part of 'The Emirates: The Start-up Capital of the World' national campaign, aims to train 10,000 Emiratis in entrepreneurship fundamentals, from ideation and business modelling to global expansion, empowering them to launch high-impact ventures and drive the UAE's knowledge-based economy.

Developed by #DIFC, Ignyte plays a central role in nurturing innovation and supporting entrepreneurs through access to global mentors, investors, and cost-saving resources, positioning Dubai as a global hub for start-ups and innovation under the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

Read more: https://lnkd.in/dHdB-zpE

🌟 Malta Business Registry - MBR is a Registration Sponsor at FinanceMalta's 18th Annual Conference!

Excited to have Malta Business Registry - MBR joining us as a #FM18 sponsor! Find their company bio here: https://lnkd.in/ez6cdNis

Don't miss the opportunity to connect with them this November in Malta. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eKsEDY4G

In line with the activities of World Investor Week 2025

The #FSA hosted a workshop titled 'Investment Basics – How to Make Your Investment Decision?' targeting students and staff of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, as part of its efforts to enhance financial and investment awareness

🌍 FMF strengthens international partnerships across Asia

Frankfurt Main Finance (FMF) is proud to announce two new Memoranda of Understanding, marking key steps in fostering global financial cooperation.

🤝 In Uzbekistan, FMF will collaborate with the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade (MIIT) to support the development of a financial center, promote investment opportunities, and advance sustainable economic growth.

🤝 At the same time, FMF has partnered with the People's Committee of Da Nang City, Vietnam, to exchange expertise in establishing an international financial center, support capacity building, and connect investors and institutions between Frankfurt and Da Nang.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate FMF's role as a hub for global finance, facilitating collaboration and innovation across continents. 💡

📄 You can find the links to the press releases in the comments.

🚨 Registration is now open!

Join us on November 6, 2025, at CIC Warsaw for Financial Crime Fighters — a deeply substantive event tackling the front lines of AML, fraud, and digital security.

We're thrilled to host a lineup of world-class experts and leaders, including: 🔹Simonas Krėpšta — Member of the Management Board, AMLA - The EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority 🔹Marta M. Ziarko — Head of Department for Support & Development Processes, Department of Financial Information, @Ministry of Finance, Poland 🔹Sander Mõisa — Head of Information Technology, Estonian FIU 🔹@Dal Sahota — Global Director, Trusted Payments, LSEG Risk Intelligence 🔹Alexandre Pinot, CAMS — Co-Founder, AMLYZE 🔹A distinguished representative from the Egmont Group

This is your opportunity to engage in high-level discussions, exchange insights with peers, and explore real solutions to today's most pressing financial crime challenges.

🎯 Don't miss out — register now and secure your spot 👉 https://lnkd.in/d5dX4Sde

We look forward to seeing you in Warsaw!

Istanbul Financial Center is redesigning the future of the business world. This is not just a place; It is a new generation center where ideas meet, trade is shaped, and investment gains value.

Future-proof your business: https://ifm.gov.tr/basvur

What an inspiring start to our 2025 Perspectives: Women in Leadership event series in Riyadh ✨

From Riem Elfar ريم الفار's keynote, to a thought-provoking fireside chat with Deputy Elaine Millar, Minister for Treasury and Resources at Government of Jersey and Jill Britton, Director General at Jersey Financial Services Commission, moderated by Amy Bryant, our Deputy CEO, to the engaging panel discussion moderated by An Kelles, our Director – GCC, the event was filled with energy, connection and shared experiences.

A huge thank you to all our speakers for their insights, the incredible attendees who joined us for the day and to our sponsors VG (Main Event Sponsor) and Praxis (Networking Reception Sponsor) for supporting this event. 💫

We're so proud to have created a space for female professionals in Riyadh to connect, learn and grow together - and we can't wait to continue the series in Doha.

I'm truly honored to be part of #NFW25 and look forward to engaging with industry leaders shaping Africa's fintech landscape. I'll be glad to speak at this exciting event and to share insights on how Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) continues to drive innovation and investment across the continent.

What a wonderful evening yesterday celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Luxembourg Sustainable Finance Initiative, and what better way to mark it than with cake! 🎂

I'll leave the honour to the LSFI to share the picture of that fantastic cake, but I'm very proud that we also managed to capture this quick snapshot together. It has been a tremendous honour for Luxembourg for Finance to be one of the founding members of the Luxembourg Sustainable Finance Initiative and to be part of this collective effort to mobilise finance for a better world.

Bringing together a community with such strong expertise in finance and sustainability has immense value, and when we talk about real long-term relevance, this one is truly guaranteed.

A big thank you to Nicoletta Centofanti, Lorenzo Avico, and the entire LSFI team for their dedication, hard work and vision. Here's to continued success and many more sustainable milestones ahead! 🥂

QFC was proud to sponsor the Ehsan Elderly Forum 2025, organised by the Centre of Empowerment and Elderly Care (Ehsan) under the umbrella of the Ministry of Social Development and Family. 👵👴

The forum, held under the patronage of Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family, brought together leaders and stakeholders to honour the invaluable contributions of Qatar's elderly and discuss key initiatives that support their wellbeing.

The event also marked the launch of Ehsan's strategy, reinforcing ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life and empowerment of the elderly community in Qatar.

QFC is proud to support initiatives that reflect our shared commitment to community development and social progress.

🌍 Welcoming the World to Stuttgart: WAIFC Delegation Visit

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) to our vibrant financial center in Stuttgart.

From a welcome reception, including opening remarks by Heiko Engling, Director-General at the Ministry of Finance of Baden-Württemberg, to a full-day program at Boerse Stuttgart Group headquarters, we explored what makes our financial center stand out:

🔹 Executive discussion with Dr. Constantin Bettermann and Thilo Rossberg, moderated by Dr. Philipp Veit – on bridging regional excellence with global growth. 🔹 Study Presentation "Capital Markets as a Driver of Transformation and Prosperity – What We Can Learn from Sweden", presented by Simon Guntrum (Boerse Stuttgart Group), this joint study by Deutsches Aktieninstitut and Boerse Stuttgart Group offered fresh perspectives on how capital markets can drive economic transformation and long-term prosperity. 🔹 A taste of Stuttgart's culture during a culinary tour through the city's western neighborhood.

We showcased our financial ecosystem's strengths – from deep regional roots in banking and Mittelstand to a strong global orientation, with innovation in digital assets and platforms like Seturion paving the way for the future of finance in Europe.

Thank you to our guests for your interest, thoughtful questions, and compelling conversations. It was a pleasure to host you – we're looking forward to the next exchange!

We were honoured to welcome Pak Indarto Budiwitono, Deputy Commissioner for Private Bank Supervision at Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK), to a roundtable with our members last week — generously hosted by Standard Chartered and chaired by Rino Donosepoetro, CEO, Indonesia, Standard Chartered.

The roundtable also featured H.E. Dr Desra Percaya, Ambassador of Indonesia to the UK; Patrick Lee, CEO, Singapore & ASEAN, Standard Chartered; and our Managing Director, International, Nicola Watkinson (she/her), who delivered the opening remarks.

The discussion explored Indonesia's evolving sustainable finance landscape, including: 🔹 Indonesia's 2060 net zero goal and OJK's leadership in enabling cross-government coordination 🔹 The launch of Indonesia's Sustainability Disclosure Standards (SPK) 🔹 Capacity building for IFRS S1/S2 implementation in Indonesia Insurance's role in de-risking blended finance 🔹 Carbon trading — including international trading already underway, supported by OJK's July 2025 guidebook Understanding Carbon Trading for the Financial Services Sector

We look forward to continuing to provide business input and UK expertise as Indonesia advances its energy transition journey and deepens international collaboration.

Thank you to Standard Chartered, Indonesian Embassy in London, and all contributors for making this impactful dialogue possible.

Our CEO Brenda Mbathi represented TRIFIC SEZ at the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) meetings in Frankfurt last week.

The discussions centered on how financial centers can accelerate the global adoption of trusted sustainability standards with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), the future of the Digital Euro with Deutsche Bundesbank, and the evolution of capital markets at Börse Frankfurt.

The Africa Roundtable brought together leading African financial centers to advance collaboration across the continent. Discussions focused on investment promotion, sustainable finance, fintech growth, regional integration and positioning Africa as a competitive player in the global financial landscape.

For TRIFIC SEZ, these engagements strengthen our role as Kenya's gateway to global finance, connecting international standards, innovation and investment opportunities with Africa's growing economic potential.