Financial Center News #139

Great discussions this week within the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) in Hong Kong, hosted by our member Financial Services Development Council 🤝

The World Alliance members held high-level exchanges on how to further strengthen the network and connectivity between Africa and Hong Kong, with a clear focus on long-term value creation and investor confidence.

For investors, three key themes clearly stood out 📊🚀 🔹 Capital markets and cross-border investment flows 🔹 Fintech and digital finance as accelerators of inclusion and efficiency 🔹 Sustainable finance as a structural pillar for future growth

These conversations once again highlight the growing strategic alignment between African financial centers: Casablanca Finance City, EnterpriseNGR, Kigali International Financial Centre, TRIFIC SEZ, NIFC Africa, EDB Mauritius and Financial Services Development Council, and the role financial hubs play as gateways for capital, innovation, and sustainable development.

📲 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dYaSf67v

The Africa Roundtable of Financial Centers (ARFC), in collaboration with the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), today highlighted the accelerating economic integration between Africa and Asia.

Over the past two decades, major financial hubs—led by Hong Kong and Africa's leading international financial centers—have emerged as key gateways for capital flows, innovation, and sustainable growth between the two continents.

In support of the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) taking place today in Hong Kong, the ARFC officially launched a landmark white paper titled "Bridging Continents: Unlocking Asia–Africa Opportunities", commissioned by Financial Services Development Council. The white paper brings together contributions from Casablanca Finance City, EnterpriseNGR, Kigali International Financial Centre, NIFC Africa, and TRIFIC SEZ. It delivers a forward-looking analysis of the rapidly expanding trade, investment, and financial linkages between Asia and Africa, identifying untapped opportunities across key sectors including financial services, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, energy, agribusiness, and professional services.

It also underlines the growing role of financial centers as critical platforms for capital mobilisation, risk intermediation, and cross-border partnerships.

This launch reflects a shared ambition to move from dialogue to delivery, strengthening Asia–Africa connectivity and laying the foundations for long-term, mutually beneficial economic growth.

📲 Download the white paper: https://buff.ly/sBl6VG9

As part of the 27th Annual IBA Arbitration Day Conference, ADGM delivered the DRHC Side Events Programme, bringing together practitioners, institutions and decision-makers for a series of focused conversations.

With Abu Dhabi selected as the host city by the International Bar Association, the programme created space for meaningful exchange on arbitration practice, dispute resolution and the evolving role of legal frameworks in a global context.

Delivered with the valued support of our Platinum Sponsor, Al Tamimi & Co., and Supporting Organisations, arbitra, arbitrateAD, Blackrock Chambers, ICC Dispute Resolution Services, International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC), Law Rocksi and Opus2, the programme reflected a shared commitment to advancing dialogue and strengthening global arbitration practice.

These highlights capture moments from a programme designed to connect expertise, share perspectives and reinforce Abu Dhabi's position as a growing centre for international legal and arbitration discourse.

For more details, visit https://lnkd.in/gjD9d6tg

Why Smart Cities Are Increasingly Viewed by Investors 📊

The AIFC Insights Analytical Centre has published the report "The Next Wave of Urban Development: Investing in Smart City Infrastructure and Technology", which approaches smart cities not as a collection of fragmented digital initiatives, but as urban systems increasingly competing for long-term investment decisions. In this post, we highlight key insights from the report, focusing on why some cities become more attractive to investors while others face institutional constraints.

The report also emphasises the role of institutional platforms and financial centres, such as the AIFC, in enhancing the investment readiness of urban projects and strengthening their connection to capital markets.

Swipe through the slides to learn more. ➡️

📍 The full report is available on aifc.kz under AIFC Publications → Industry Analysis, or via the link: https://lnkd.in/dVZeWEQ2

🏙️ A new skyline at BIFC

#BIFC Tower II has officially joined Busan financial district scaling up the city's financial cluster. The new tower is designed as a multi-purpose platform that brings together business, technology, and community functions in one place—supporting companies and talent to grow in Busan

☑️ 170 companies confirmed ☑️ 4,000 professionals expected to work here ☑️ Financial public institutions ☑️ IHO Infrastructure Center joining the district

At Busan Finance Center, we see BIFC II as more than a new building—it's a catalyst for collaboration across financial institutions, fintechs, and digital innovators, accelerating Busan's journey as a globally connected financial hub.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched DIFC Zabeel District, a monumental expansion of DIFC that will consolidate its status as the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, while also reinforcing Dubai's allure as the region's preferred business and lifestyle destination.

Designed to drive #Dubai's long-term growth, DIFC Zabeel District will scale the Centre to over 42,000 companies and more than 125,000 professionals. The expansion will introduce over 1 million sq. ft dedicated to future technologies, including the world's largest innovation hub and the world's first purpose-built AI campus, a ten-fold expansion of the DIFC Academy and a first-of-its-kind art pavilion.

DIFC Zabeel District is the largest demand-led expansion of a financial centre in the region, encompassing a massive site area of 7.1mn sq. ft and total gross floor area of 17.7mn sq. ft. The estimated gross development value exceeds AED 100bn.

Tomorrow begins here.

Know more: https://lnkd.in/dyazFMNK

Strategic insights from Mr. Mahen Abhimanu Kundasamy, CEO of Mauritius' Economic Development Board (EDB), on positioning the island as Africa's premier investment hub—blending stability, innovation, and sustainability. From robust FDI projections exceeding $800M in 2025 (led by real estate, fintech, renewables, and advanced manufacturing) to leveraging the UAE-Mauritius CEPA for Gulf investors in logistics and family offices, Mauritius is primed for high-value growth under AfCFTA.

Key highlights: - Gateway to Africa: Trusted platform with $82B+ channeled via IFC, COMESA/SADC access, and OECD/FATF compliance. - Emerging Sectors: Fintech, smart manufacturing, blue economy, and Hi-Tech Intelligent Island vision with AI deployment. - Ease of Business: Digital NELS licensing, regulatory reforms, and human capital upskilling in digital/engineering skills. - UAE Ties: CEPA boosts trade (already $392M in 2023) in real estate, freeport, and wealth structuring.

Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/dG-wPUUi

The Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC) Council, chaired by Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, Chairman of EnterpriseNGR, held its 5th Council Meeting at Lagos House, Ikeja.

The Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC) is a strategic initiative by EnterpriseNGR, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, aimed at positioning Lagos as a leading financial hub in Africa. It seeks to create an enabling environment that attracts international investors, multinational corporations, and top-tier financial service providers through world-class infrastructure, streamlined regulations, and access to Africa's largest market. Since its launch in 2023, LIFC has achieved key milestones in strengthening Lagos' global financial connectivity.

As strategic engagements continue, EnterpriseNGR remains committed to working closely with the Lagos State Government and key stakeholders to support the delivery of an enabling financial ecosystem that deepens domestic capital markets and attracts long-term investment.

Great turnout at today's Members' Meeting as we aligned on our strategic direction for the year ahead.

Key Sessions: 📍 George Vella, Chairman opened the meeting, setting the tone for FinanceMalta's continued commitment to positioning Malta as a leading international financial centre. 📍 Bernice Buttigieg, Chief Strategy Officer outlined the organisation's strategic priorities and mission for 2026, focusing on member value creation and market positioning. 📍 George Micallef, Senior Manager, Business Development presented our events calendar for the year - packed with networking opportunities, industry insights, and platforms to connect our 350+ member organisations.

Thank you to all members who joined us. Your continued engagement drives our success as Malta's premier financial services hub.

Special thanks to our sponsors: AQA Capital Ltd, RMC Wise, and GUILDAM for making this event possible.

As part of #FSA efforts to strengthen connectivity between insurance and healthcare institutions through the #Dhamani platform, the Health Insurance Directorate (Change Management Team) held awareness and training sessions with private healthcare institutions across several governorates to ensure optimal use of the platform.

"We have to move away from pure technology hype and towards resilient business cases" - 3 questions for Corinna Egerer 🚀

Frankfurt Main Finance is a network partner of the Frankfurt Digital Finance, which brings international perspectives and European decision-making power to the table. In the run-up to the seventh edition, we spoke to Corinna Egerer about the focal points of this year's conference.

The interview makes it clear: It's about the major strategic lines. Corinna Egerer shows how technological innovation is now inextricably linked to resilience and security of supply. The aim is not only to observe global trends from AI to tokenization, but also to actively shape them for our market together with European decision-makers. This is the only way to transform loose contacts into resilient partnerships and real business cases to secure Europe's leading role in global competition.

👉 The complete interview can be found here: https://frankfurt-main-finance.com/en/3-questions-to-corinna-egerer-on-frankfurt-digital-finance-2026/

#FinanceMatters | What moved Frankfurt's financial centre in January?

🔹 Frankfurt continues to assert its role as Europe's leading financial hub. At Davos, the city's position was highlighted once again, with high-level political and financial participation underlining Frankfurt's strategic importance. 🔹 Ahead of the Frankfurt Digital Finance conference on 11–12 February, we spoke with Founder & MD Corinna Egerer about turning global trends—from AI to tokenization—into resilient, actionable business cases for the European market. 🔹 In local recognition, FMF Honorary President Dr. Lutz Raettig was awarded the City of Frankfurt's Honorary Plaque for his outstanding contributions to the financial centre over many years.

📩 Stay informed about Frankfurt's financial ecosystem and subscribe to our newsletter "Finance Matters" now: https://brnw.ch/21wZxMk

The World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) has officially launched the Young Academic Award 2026, inviting early-career researchers to contribute fresh perspectives on the future of finance, financial centers, regulation, and innovation.

As a member of WAIFC, Future Finance Poland is pleased to support this global initiative. We are also honored to share that Pawel Widawski, President of Future Finance Poland, has once again been invited to serve on the Award's international jury, alongside representatives of leading financial centers and academic institutions worldwide.

The Young Academic Award provides a unique platform for researchers from universities, research institutes, and think tanks to showcase their work internationally and engage directly with the global financial ecosystem.

📅 Key dates – Award launch: 20 January 2026 – Submission deadline (papers / essays): 30 April 2026 – Final papers due: 30 May 2026

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dvdc6k7H Apply here https://lnkd.in/g276hGKw

We encourage academic institutions and young researchers to share this opportunity within their networks.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗙𝗦𝗗𝗖 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 #𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗙𝗖 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The FSDC is delighted to welcome the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) delegation to Hong Kong, fostering meaningful dialogue and strengthening cross border connectivity among international financial centres.

This year's delegation brought together representatives from financial centres across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, who engaged in insightful exchanges with Mr Joseph HL Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, as well as representatives from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). The discussions provided a valuable platform to share perspectives on Hong Kong's latest developments in fintech, sustainable finance, Islamic finance, and commodity trading.

We sincerely thank all delegates for joining us and the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong, and for sharing valuable insights. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with partners worldwide to support market development and sustainable growth.

With thanks to: Dr Jochen Biedermann, Ms Marquesa Leung, Ms Lamia MERZOUKI, Ms Maha Al-Saadi, Mr Sadiq Hamour, Mr Chris Hollifield, Mr Tom Théobald, Mr Sandy Begbie CBE FRSE, Mr Miles Celic OBE, Mr Zhouchen Mao PhD, Mr Sachin Mohabeer, Mr Jean-Marie Kananura, Mr Lami Adekola, Mr MyongHo Rhee, Ms Chaihee Joo, Ms Jean Kambuni, Mr Jonathan Beardall

Istanbul Financial Center offers a setting where ideas move forward and potential turns into progress with momentum, confidence and clarity.

Be part of what's next: https://lnkd.in/dxA9i6YC

In Jersey we are blessed to have many firms in our Financial and Related Professional Services industry that are leading the way in the mobilisation of capital to the sustainable development goals. Jersey Finance's Sustainable Finance awards is the perfect opportunity for those firms to be recognised and rewarded.

The deadline for submissions is the 27 February 2026.

With momentum building toward the Inclusive FinTech Forum (#IFF2026), set for 10–12 March 2026, KIFC held a forward-looking exchange with Equity Bank Rwanda, reinforcing our shared commitment to advancing Rwanda's financial ecosystem.

The conversation explored collaboration around the Fintech Forum as a space where bold ideas translate into real impact for inclusive finance.

Confirm your participation at the Inclusive FinTech Forum: https://lnkd.in/d9aAnmen

One of MiCA's most immediate achievements has been addressing the fragmentation that once defined crypto supervision across the EU. Before MiCA, firms faced a patchwork of national registration regimes, creating uncertainty for businesses and uneven consumer protection. MiCA replaces this complexity with a single European rulebook and a harmonised authorisation framework. Supervision now follows a familiar model: national competent authorities, such as the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg, apply a common regulatory framework within their domestic markets. The first year of implementation has also shown why close coordination remains essential, as Natasha Deloge highlights.

Read our latest article to learn more: https://lff.social/y9y

The NIFC is proud to be represented this week at the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong by our Deputy Director, Capital Markets, Jean Kambuni.

At the #AFF2026, the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres (#ARFC), in collaboration with the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), launched a white paper titled "Bridging Continents: Unlocking Asia-Africa Opportunities", commissioned by Hong Kong's Financial Services Development Council.

The paper, contributed to by the NIFC, highlights the unique value propositions and opportunities offered by financial centres across the African continent, while placing particular emphasis on strengthening financial and investment linkages between Africa and Asia. It explores how deeper collaboration can unlock capital flows, partnerships and new pathways for cross-border growth.

We are excited to advance the dialogue and build stronger connections between African and Asian markets.

The paper can be accessed at: https://buff.ly/sBl6VG9

QFC concluded a strong week at #WEF26 in Davos. 🤝🇨🇭

From high-level discussions to valuable engagements with global leaders and partners at the Invest Qatar pavilion, the week highlighted the role of connectivity, collaboration, and long-term thinking in shaping sustainable growth and investment.

The programme also included sessions featuring our CEO, Mansoor Al-Khater, focused on the changing geography of business and the role of capital and innovation in a shifting global economy.

📣 Attention startups and those interested in startups! On February 26, the Road to START Summit of START Stuttgart im STEYG by FRAMEWORX will take place in Stuttgart.

What can you expect there? ✨ 8 startup pitches on stage ✨ 10+ startup booths with innovative solutions ✨ Backstage area for 1:1 networking and personal conversations ✨ Industry partners who are ready for cooperation ✨ Innovative startup solutions, ideal for pilots and partnerships ✨ A meeting of supporters and key players of the startup ecosystem Baden-Württemberg

💡 Startups can apply for the pitch competition until February 10: https://lnkd.in/dD5HKTRm

🎟️ Tickets for the event are available here: https://lnkd.in/dVsWpmqt

Great to welcome Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, and members this morning to the roundtable launch of our report with PwC UK: 'No time to lose: Reasserting UK leadership in financial and related professional services'.

The conversation focused on the report's findings and how the industry can work together with the government and the regulators to ensure that the UK can lead in the next era of global finance. Our Managing Director, Policy, Public Affairs and Research, John Godfrey, shared the feedback we received from the more than 300 industry leaders and stakeholders to whom we spoke to while developing the report: that bolder, faster and more decisive action is needed to strengthen the industry and drive investment and growth. Darren Ketteringham, UK Financial Services Leader at PwC UK, stressed the need for urgent action to maintain the UK's competitiveness, in particular in realising the opportunity for the UK to lead on tokenisation, AI and the market infrastructure needed to unlock long-term growth.

Thank you to Anne Richards DBE, Chair of the report steering committee and our Leadership Council, for deftly chairing the event and to everyone who joined for their insightful contributions. We look forward to working with industry, government and regulators to take forward the report's recommendations over the coming weeks and months.

📄 Read the full report on our website: https://lnkd.in/eH5rqDq6

Yesterday, we had the honour of hosting H.E. Amb. Yurii Tokar, Ambassador of Ukraine to Kenya, alongside Ms. Olena Ivanchuk, Counselor for Trade and Economic Relations, at TRIFIC SEZ.

What stood out in our engagement was a shared clarity: the future of global trade is increasingly services-led, digital, and borderless.

Kenya's SEZ framework, particularly service-oriented zones like TRIFIC SEZ represents a new generation of economic architecture. One that is deliberately designed for: • Exporting skills, services, and innovation, not heavy production • Enabling fast market entry, regulatory certainty, and capital mobility • Connecting global firms to Africa's fastest-growing markets through a credible, English-speaking, one-stop business environment

As Africa rewrites the rules of growth, SEZs are no longer just tax incentives, they are platforms for talent, technology, and trust.

For Ukrainian companies in IT, fintech, BPO, shared services, and digital agri-solutions, Kenya offers more than opportunity; it offers strategic relevance. A base from which to scale into Africa, co-create with local talent, and participate meaningfully in the continent's next economic chapter.

Not every business belongs in an SEZ, and that nuance matters. But for globally-minded service exporters, this model works, and it works well.

We look forward to deepening Kenya–Ukraine economic dialogue and continuing to position TRIFIC SEZ as a gateway for serious partners seeking to build, scale, and serve Africa sustainably.

🌍🤝 The future belongs to those who collaborate early, intentionally, and across borders.