Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), in conjunction with hosting the 50th Annual Meeting of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), is organizing on May 15, 2025, its annual conference accompanying the IOSCO meeting.
The one-day conference will bring together many global specialists, advisors and experts in the conference topics and themes, which focus on the accelerated digital transformation in capital markets, where they will discuss how technology can enhance the efficiency of markets and open investing in the future, as well as the value proposition of Islamic finance and its role in the growth of capital markets, and how Islamic finance can contribute to promoting sustainable investments and supporting the growth of the economy.
All who wish to attend the conference can register via the following link: https://iosco2025qatar.com
The conference will also discuss empowering SMEs and bridging markets, by highlighting the importance of supporting SMEs, and how to link them to capital markets to promote innovation and economic growth, in addition to discussing current market conduct and ways to enhance investor protection, in order to ensure a secure and sustainable investment environment.
The conference will be remarked by H.E. Governor of QCB and Chairman of QFMA Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al-Thani, and Mr. Rodrigo Buenaventura, Secretary General of IOSCO.
The opening session of the conference will include a keynote address by the IOSCO Board Chair, Mr. Jean-Paul Servais, Chairman of the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium. Mr. Masamichi Kono from MUFG Bank, Senior Advisor at IFRS and former President of IOSCO, will also deliver a keynote adress entitled: "Investing in the future, accelerated digital transformation in capital markets".
The conference includes three working sessions with the participation of experts and speakers from different countries around the world.
The first working session, titled "Value Proposition of Islamic Finance and its Role in the Growth of Capital Markets," will be moderated by Dr. Ahmet Aysan from Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
Speakers will be Mr. İbrahim Ömer Gönül, Chair of Capital Markets Board of Türkiye; Mr. Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Securities Commission of Malaysia; and Mr. Paula Redondo Pereira, Luxembourg Stock Exchange Head of listing and Regulatory Affairs.
This session will be followed by a general discussion on "Aligning Islamic Finance Principles with the Sustainable Development Goals". Explore the role of green sukuk and its impact on capital markets."
The second working session will be titled "Empowering SMEs and Bridging Markets" and will be moderated by Mr. Ali Beraik Shafeea, Acting Director of Securities Offering & Listing Affairs at QFMA.
The session will be addressed by Ms. Nezha Hayat, Chairman of AMMC, Morocco; Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Chairman of Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority; Mr. Carmine Di Noia, Director of Financial and Enterprise Affairs at OECD; and Ms. Maha Al-Saadi, Head of Regulatory Affairs Financial Services Sector at QFC.
This session will be followed by a discussion on addressing the credit gap for SMEs, and strategies to improve capital deployment, and discussing attracting foreign investors and the key fundamentals of market development.
The third working session will be held under the title "Market Conduct and Investor Protection", moderated by Dr. Reem Al-Ansari, Law Professor.
Speakers will be delivered by Derville Rowland, Chair of the Retail Investor Coordination Group (RICG), Deputy Governor of the Consumer and Investor Protection at Central Bank of Ireland; Ms. Elisa Cencing, Norges Bank Investment Management, Head of Policy Engagement; Mr. Neil Acris, Global Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs; and Mr. Khalid Al-Sulaiti, Director of Governance and Disclosure at QFMA.
The discussion will focus on market conduct standards, financial literacy, and capacity building drivers to instill investor confidence, and the unique challenges and opportunities presented by innovations, AI and virtual assets.
The conference will conclude with a speech by H.E. Dr. Tamy Bin Ahmad Al-Binali, CEO of QFMA, and a similar speech by Mr. Tajinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General of the IOSCO.
The conference will be preceded by the 50th IOSCO Annual Meeting, which will be hosted by QFMA from 12 to 14 May.
In this context, QFMA announced the completion of its preparations for the upcoming international meeting, which will bring together a group of decision-makers, regulators, and capital markets experts, where they will meet to exchange experiences and discuss best practices in facing global challenges, including cybersecurity and market sustainability.
A team from the IOSCO recently visited Doha to find out the latest preparations for hosting the meeting.
The IOSCO is one of the key international organizations concerned with regulating and developing capital markets and enhancing cooperation between market regulators around the world. Its membership includes more than 130 regulators around the world, working to enhance transparency, protect investors, and ensure the stability of international capital markets.
The 5th IOSCO Annual Meeting is an opportunity to enhance international cooperation in the field of regulating and developing capital markets, especially considering the rapid challenges facing the sector globally.
