Financial Center News #143

The World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) is heading to Malta 🇲🇹

From 2 to 5 March 2026, the World Alliance Board of Directors and an Extraordinary General Meeting will take place in Malta, hosted by our member FinanceMalta.

We're delighted to confirm that this key moment for our global community will be hosted by our member FinanceMalta. A few days of high-level exchanges, governance discussions, and strategic alignment bringing together international financial centers from around the world, in the heart of the Mediterranean.

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Astana Finance Days 2026 will take place on 9-10 September 2026 in Astana!

Held under the theme Delivering Impact. Capital in Action, the 9th edition of AFD will once again convene global investors, bankers, regulators, fintech leaders and policymakers from across Eurasia and beyond.

Since its launch in 2018, AFD has grown into one of the region's leading financial platforms, where dialogue evolves into transactions, partnerships and long-term initiatives. In 2025, the forum welcomed over 5,500 participants from 82 countries, including asset managers overseeing USD 1.5 trillion.

In 2026, the forum will offer expanded opportunities for meaningful engagement and high-level networking. Participants will gain insights into global market trends, explore new business and investment directions, attend a dedicated financial services exhibition, and build direct connections with investors, senior executives and industry leaders.

AFD continues to serve as a platform where capital meets ideas, and where conversations translate into action. Mark your calendar. Registration and the detailed programme will be available on the official website: astanafindays.org

What does it take for family businesses to lead in the age of AI?

#DIFC Family Wealth Centre, in collaboration with SEDAR and Oracle, convened family business leaders for The AI-Augmented Enterprise, an exclusive executive roundtable exploring how AI is transforming leadership, accelerating expertise and enabling smarter, faster decision making.

By bringing together family enterprises with global technology leaders and secure, enterprise grade AI infrastructure, DIFC continues to strengthen its position as the trusted platform where families can confidently adopt AI, benefit from UAE based data sovereignty and regulatory clarity, and access the capabilities needed to identify risks, unlock opportunities and scale sustainably across generations.

Explore the DFWC here: https://lnkd.in/dPhKGUU5

The Mauritius Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) aiming to analyse and provide recommendations on the ways the country can achieve sustained development while responding to climate change, was launched on February 19, 2026 at The Docks in Port Louis.

The report offers an in-depth assessment of Mauritius' climate vulnerabilities, particularly in sectors such as tourism, ocean economy and fisheries. It highlights that climate change poses significant risks to the country's economy, infrastructure and coastal communities through sea-level rise, increasing temperatures, heatwaves, droughts, cyclones and flash floods.

The CCDR showcases that well-planned climate adaptation measures can act as a catalyst for economic transformation, job creation and emissions reduction, if supported by structural reforms and sustained private-sector investment. The analysis recommends accelerating adaptation efforts, reinforcing coastal and infrastructure resilience, and pursuing a more diversified and productive economic model to restore Mauritius' high-income status while reducing long-term climate and fiscal vulnerabilities.

👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dZMfuKk8

The future of Nigeria's insurance industry will be shaped by those in the room.

On March 5, 2026, EnterpriseNGR, in partnership with the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and other key stakeholders, will convene regulators, legislators, and senior decision-makers across the insurance ecosystem to align on the actions required to accelerate sector transformation.

With participation from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the National Assembly, and industry leaders, this Forum marks a critical step in advancing reform and unlocking growth.

We acknowledge the support of our sponsors — Coronation Insurance, Leadway Assurance, and AIICO Insurance — and our partners, including Custodian and Tangerine.

Participation is limited to invited stakeholders.

On 19 February, FinanceMalta was proud to sponsor the NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum at the Hilton, St. Julians. We were delighted to be joined by members of our community at the event: Michael Buhagiar (Camilleri Preziosi Advocates), Pierre Paul Gauci (Embark), Alexia Farrugia (Actaco Financial), Carl Zammit (Apex Group Ltd), Ramon Bondin (Investors Europe), Jens Bodewsky (FinXP), Fran Moisa (FM Search Limited), Norbert Vella and Malcolm Debattista (PwC Malta), Giannella Barbieri (GB Legal), and Gaby Zammit (WH Partners).

Great to see Malta's financial services community engaged and represented at the highest level.

Your opinion makes the difference ✨

We invite you to participate in the Beneficiary Experience Survey on Civil Government Services in the Sultanate of Oman (2nd Edition) and contribute to enhancing service quality and efficiency.

Strong signal for the Frankfurt financial centre

Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Hesse's Minister of Economic Affairs Kaweh Mansoori met the heads of the Frankfurt financial centre on Friday at the premises of the Helaba to discuss the central issues facing the future of the location.

The focus of the exchange with leading representatives of the financial centre – including FMF President Oliver Behrens, Bettina Orlopp (Commerzbank AG), Nurten Erdogan (ING), Thomas Groß (Helaba), Thomas Book (Deutsche Börse Group), Cornelius Riese (DZ BANK AG), Florian Rentsch (Verband der Sparda-Banken e.V.) and Christian Sewing (Deutsche Bank) – focused in particular on the competitiveness of our financial centre.

The message is clear: the exchange with the financial centre is important to the Federal Government. Further visits have been announced. This is a clear signal of interest in actively strengthening the location.

Europe needs strong capital markets. Germany needs investment. And Frankfurt is ready to take responsibility. Now it is important to implement reforms such as CRD IV consistently, convince international investors and use the momentum. The opportunities are there, we have to seize them together.

The direction is right. The momentum is there. Frankfurt can do more. Frankfurt wants more. Frankfurt is shaping the future. 🚀

🔔 Public consultations have been launched on the draft law concerning trust services and electronic identification!

The Ministry of Digital Affairs has published the draft Act amending the Act on Trust Services and Electronic Identification and certain other laws (UC122) 🔗 https://lnkd.in/deF8-5hh

➡️ The draft act aims to align the Polish legal framework with the changes resulting from the eIDAS regulation. A key element of these changes is the provision of a European digital identity wallet and the implementation of related organizational, technical, and regulatory solutions that will enable secure, cross-border access to public and private services, as well as full user control over their data.

📑 That is why we are actively engaging in the dialogue – together with FinTech Poland, we are conducting market consultations and preparing a position paper with our comments.

📩 We encourage everyone interested to review the documents and share their feedback with us. You can send your comments, observations, and suggestions to: arozendaal@fintechpoland.com by March 10th.

🌍 Upcoming Webinar: The Role of Finance in Addressing Sustainable Development

Sustainability is increasingly reshaping finance, prompting #InternationalFinancialCentres (IFCs) to play a bigger role in facilitating capital towards supporting long-term economic and environmental objectives.

A new report by Z/Yen Group Limited, commissioned by the #FSDC, looks at how financial systems worldwide are adapting to sustainability demands, highlighting the pivotal roles of #IFCs as governance anchors and innovation platforms for sustainable finance. Hong Kong's case, as featured in the report, illustrates how the city is integrating sustainability into its financial architecture, while reinforcing its competitiveness as a globally connected financial hub.

To further unpack the insights, Z/Yen will host a webinar on 3 March (5:00–5:45pm HKT) with experts discussing how financial centres can effectively embed sustainability within their markets and institutional frameworks and how finance is becoming a proactive catalyst for systemic change that can align profit with purpose.

Speakers: • Tracy Wong Harris, EVP, Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA); Private Capital Mobilization Strategy Advisor, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) • Katy Yung, CEO, Sustainable Finance Initiative • Simon Mills, Senior Associate, Z/Yen Group

Moderator: Mike Wardle, CEO, Z/Yen Group

Register to join the webinar 👉 https://lnkd.in/gr5fxCFy Read the Paper here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gPe6NiHV

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✨ The Rising Stars 2026 Awards are fast approaching ✨

Nominations open on Monday 2 March. This is your chance to recognise team members who go above and beyond, deliver impact and set the standard for others.

Get inspired – watch our 2025 highlights: https://jsy.fi/4kew0y7

Hon. Paula Ingabire, Rwanda's Minister of ICT and Innovation, delivers a timely message ahead of #IFF2026. She urges decisive action to remove the structural barriers limiting financial inclusion, thereby unlocking access for underserved communities.

High costs, limited infrastructure, and outdated regulations continue to keep communities out of the formal financial system. Women, rural communities, and small businesses are most affected - and the time to respond is now.

IFF exists to break these barriers by turning innovation into tangible impact and ensuring technology serves everyone.

🎥 Watch the video to hear her powerful invitation to join this global effort to advance financial inclusion.

Confirm your participation: https://lnkd.in/depub3-9

From operating models to regulatory frameworks, innovation is fundamentally changing how financial services are designed, supervised and delivered.

At our upcoming Digital Finance Forum 2026, we will take a closer look at the forces driving this transformation and the policy responses shaping the next phase of development.

Jean-Louis Schiltz, Honorary Professor at Universität Luxemburg and Senior Partner at Schiltz & Schiltz S.A., and David Shrier, Professor of Practice, AI & Innovation at Imperial Business School, will discuss about AI's impact on financial services, exploring how artificial intelligence is influencing strategy, governance, risk management and competitiveness across the industry.

Don't miss it and register now: https://lff.social/xck

Many thanks to our sponsors: A&O Shearman, ATOZ Tax Advisers, Linklaters, Swissquote Bank Europe, Coinbase

Last Friday, NIFC Africa and Open Capital convened a strategic engagement to explore potential areas of partnership and collaboration.

These discussions are integral to advancing our mandate. Through structured dialogue with credible ecosystem partners, we continue to strengthen regulatory clarity, deepen institutional coordination, and develop pathways that enhance investor confidence and support efficient capital mobilisation into priority sectors.

The World Meets Nairobi. Learn more about us at www.nifca.go.ke

Apex Group Ltd has expanded its Middle East presence with the opening of a new regulated office at QFC. 👏

With over US$3.5 trillion in assets serviced globally, the Group's entry into Qatar marks a strategic milestone in its Gulf expansion and reflects a long-term commitment to supporting Qatar's financial ecosystem in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. 🇶🇦

From its Qatar office, Apex Group will bring international expertise, global platforms, and advanced digital capabilities to support institutional investors, asset managers, family offices, and financial institutions in the local market.

We will be at the FIBE Berlin on April 15 and 16 and look forward to expanding 🤝 our investor network. Would you like to exchange ideas with us? Then feel free to contact us! 😎

This week, our Chief Executive Miles Celic OBE and Associate Director, Europe, Scott Devine embarked on a busy programme across Paris and Brussels, meeting key organisations and leaders influential in financial services and defence across Europe to discuss shared challenges.

In Paris the visit began with a Financial Services Roundtable attended by French industry leaders hosted by the British Embassy Paris and Chaired by Ashley Alder and Sarah Pritchard of the Financial Conduct Authority, focusing on market access and regulatory challenges for cross-border financial services. Additional meetings were held with Sharon Lewis, Partner, Hogan Lovells; Andrew Dalgleish, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Paris; Antoine Joly, Head of Defence Coordination & Development - Managing Director, BNP Paribas CIB; Carmine Di Noia, Director for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, OECD; and Sebastien Raspiller, Secretary General, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) – France.

These discussions centered on many important issues including the value of regulatory collaboration and boosting financial connections across borders, as well as the importance of the private sector as an enabler for meeting increased defence financing needs.

In Brussels, our schedule began with a meeting with Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) Secretary General, Camille Grand, on Europe's defence financing landscape. We also met with Sandro Gozi MEP, Chair, EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, Caroline Read, Deputy Ambassador at the UK's Mission to the European Union, Maria Raffaella Assetta, Head of International Affairs Unit, DG FISMA, and Sébastien de Brouwer, Deputy CEO, European Banking Federation.

These deepened our understanding of UK-EU relations, highlighting a shared commitment to practical collaboration. Our sincere gratitude to all hosts and partners for their valuable time and perspectives.

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