Financial Center News #25

#WAIFC Discussion on Sustainable Finance with Lord Mayor of the City of London Michael Mainelli at #COP28 🌱

Our Vice-Chair, Lamia MERZOUKI, COO at Casablanca Finance City, has had the privilege of participating in a thought-provoking discussion with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Michael Mainelli, and fellow leaders from the WAIFC.

▶️ As we gear up for the COP28 UAE, it was a timely opportunity to delve into critical matters.

▶️ The discussions touched upon various pressing topics and challenges, reflecting the commitment of #WAIFC and its members to contribute to a sustainable and resilient future.

#WAIFC #SustainableFinance #COP #FinancialLeadership #Collaboration

Exploring the Role of International Financial Centers at #COP28 🌿

During COP28 UAE, the #WAIFC convened a pivotal Roundtable discussion, shedding light on the crucial role of international financial centers in advancing sustainability. Our latest report on this critical topic was presented by our Senior Project Manager, Abdul-Rahim Osman, offering insights that can shape the future of global finance.

📊 Achieving Transparency in #ESG Reporting: We presented Liv Watson’s insights on “Achieving Transparency in the Fragmented ESG Reporting Data Flow Ecosystem.” This highlights our commitment to fostering transparency in Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting, a cornerstone of sustainable finance.

▶️ #WAIFC’s Commitment to COP28 UAE: The WAIFC is deeply committed to the discussions and events at COP28, recognizing its significance in propelling the sustainable finance agenda forward.

📲 Report (free): https://lnkd.in/d9v3iBsP (in collaboration with our member DIFC and Z/Yen Group Limited)

#WAIFC #COP28 #SustainableFinance #ESG #Transparency #FinancialCenters

🎤 Our journey to COP28 UAE: Advancing forward 🌱

#WAIFC co-organized with Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and TheCityUK a panel on Finance’s Role in Sustainable Future, hosted by our member DIFC.

▶️ Our WAIFC members, representing several international financial centers, shared their approach to advancing sustainable finance concretely. The exchange between financial centers plays a fundamental role in accelerating success in the challenges.

🗣️ Our speakers: - Chika Muorah, Head, Eurasia, Middle East, and Africa, TheCityUK - Mourad FATHALLAH, Head of Strategy, Casablanca Finance City - Hubertus Väth, Managing Director, Frankfurt Main Finance - Dr. Soongoo Ahn, Senior Manager of the Research Division, Busan Finance Center - Hortense Mudenge, COO, Kigali International Financial Centre - Christian Kunz, Head of Group Strategy and Innovation, DIFC

📲 https://lnkd.in/eb7_CWiQ

H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, delivered a compelling speech at COP28 UAE during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week - ADSW 2023, addressing our planet’s future and the transition to net-zero, committing to delivering lasting change.

⚡️ We are delighted to share with you a recent compilation of the figures and numbers of the AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) in November 2023.

For more detailed information about our work, please visit our official website: https://lnkd.in/ew4Ghrdv

On the sidelines of COP28 UAE, Casablanca Finance City Authority took part in a panel discussion on ‘Empowering financial centers to drive sustainable finance’ hosted by WAIFC, DIFC, and GEFI.

Mourad FATHALLAH, head of strategy and international partnerships at CFCA, shared some of the latest developments in the fields of green and sustainable finance in Morocco and beyond in Africa.

#CFC #COP28 #sustainablefinance

Beyond #COP28, DIFC will continue to be the region’s champion for climate finance.

On #FinanceDay, we announced our legacy program – the Sustainable Finance Catalyst, which will position us as the global hub for sustainable finance and sustainability. The first pillar will see #DIFC facilitate the growth of sustainable financing raised from Dubai to USD 100bn by 2030.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/daDRcQJM

Recognizing the urgent need to address global environmental challenges, Mauritius is actively participating in international platforms like COP28 UAE to showcase its commitment to sustainable development.

During these events organized by the EDB and the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management, and Climate Change, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts from various fields dedicated to finding innovative solutions for mitigating climate change impacts. The discussions will cover a wide range of topics, including renewable energy initiatives, sustainable agriculture practices, waste management strategies, and more.

🌐 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gQpbYkjj

#edbmauritius #cop28summit #COP28UAE #sustainability #greenenergy #RenewableEnergy

Malta’s standing as an international financial jurisdiction took center stage during a high-profile networking event in the City of London on 4 December. The event was conceived by the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council (MFSAC) and organized by FinanceMalta with the backing of 24 sponsors. The support of the private sector was crucial for the success of the reception at the Guildhall that was attended by over 600 international delegates.

Read the PR 👉 https://shorturl.at/eNSU4

#FinancialServices

COP28 marks the two-year anniversary since the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) was created. Climate risks are increasingly having a real effect on companies and capital. Therefore – in response to calls for climate action at COP28 – we support the establishment of market infrastructure to enable consistent, comparable climate-related disclosures at a global level.

We are committed to advancing the adoption or use of the ISSB’s Climate Standard as the global climate baseline.

#ISSBatCOP28

Our Chairman, Laurence Li, recently captivated the audience at the “Hong Kong Economic Summit” organized by Metro Finance. His insightful speech shed light on the rise of family offices (FOs) and their pursuit of alternative investments and emerging markets.

What sets Hong Kong apart is its remarkable wealth of influential families and the government’s dedicated efforts to attract FOs. Laurence emphasized that FOs, as astute asset owners, seek more than just professional services; they yearn for collaborative partnerships with experienced investors and the sharing of wisdom.

Hong Kong stands out by providing a unique platform for families worldwide, offering invaluable insights and experiences to tackle the challenges of succession planning. Moreover, Laurence highlighted Hong Kong’s proactive approach to talent attraction, exemplified by the establishment of ‘The Hong Kong Talent Engage’ by the Government of the HKSAR, serving as a one-stop platform for talent engagement.

FSDC has always regarded talent engagement as a priority – we expanded our annual Career Day into a Career Festival this year, integrating students with the dynamic financial market.

#FSDC #FamilyOffices #AlternativeInvestments #EmergingMarkets #WealthManagement #HongKongFinancialCenter

Our UK Director, Robert Moore TEP, hosted our last Spotlight Roundtable event of 2023 at The Gherkin. We were joined by a number of experts from the Private Client sector, who discussed the challenges and opportunities within the theme ‘Working with the Next Generation and the Changing Expectations of the Private Client Community.’

This morning at #COP28, KIFC and UNDP Rwanda co-hosted an investor roundtable discussion on “Rwanda – an Emerging Hub for ESG Investment” that convened different investors and key stakeholders to introduce Rwanda’s positioning as a hub for sustainable finance.

#GreenRwanda 🇷🇼🌿

There’s a raft of upcoming changes on the financial services regulatory agenda for 2024, from stepping up the green agenda with CSRD and new reporting requirements relating to the EU Taxonomy, MiCAR provisions enforcement on the digital asset side, and more in both the payments and asset management sector.

Explore Benoît Theunissen’s latest blog article, where he takes a look at the financial services regulatory radar for 2024: https://lnkd.in/eZjN3G9K

#regulatory #EU #finance #article #financialservices

I was delighted to co-chair the 2023 session of the Franco-Italian Financial Services Dialogue. It was an opportunity for particularly rich exchanges on the major European issues of the day.

On the agenda: ➡️ Capital Markets Union and Retail Investment Strategy ➡️ Sustainability and transition financing ➡️ Innovation and digital with FIDA

A big thank you to the Italian Embassy in France for hosting the dialogue launch dinner. On all these subjects, I noticed a great alignment of points of view on both sides of the Alps, and a shared objective of making Europe an attractive and competitive area. Together, we are stronger!

Exciting developments at the #Pakistan-Qatar IT Conference, a dynamic platform for #tech collaborations. It showcased cutting-edge products and services! 🌐

Hosted by the Pakistan Business Council - Qatar in collaboration with #QFC, the event successfully convened IT professionals and decision-makers from both nations. 🇵🇰🇶🇦

The conference featured expert insights from H.E Umar Saif, Minister of IT & Telecommunication, H.E Muhemmed Aejaz, Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar, and Yousuf Al-Jaida, CEO of QFC. Industry leaders like Systems Limited, NETSOL Technologies Pakistan, United Sol, and Shields shared impactful presentations.

The collaborative spirit prevailed in the conference’s #B2B meetings, fostering meaningful interactions and paving the way for potential partnerships. 🚀

Our CEO, Miles Celic, reflects on his participation at #COP28. The financial and related professional services industry has a crucial role in driving the transition to #netzero.

As a world-class international financial center, the UK has a huge opportunity to harness the industry’s full potential to enable green growth.

We will be hosting a virtual member briefing on 13 December 2023 to discuss the key takeaways for the financial and related professional services industry from #COP28. More information and registration details here: https://lnkd.in/epVJ8SGq

#TheCityUK