Financial Center News #149

The Ministry of Finance of Oman has launched a training initiative, called ‘Jisr’, to prepare Omani talent for careers in the financial sector, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor. Developing national talent and re-skilling existing talent are exactly the right steps to improve the performance of a financial center in the long run. This is one of the so-called “Enabling Conditions” in my new working paper, titled “Measuring the Performance of International Financial Centers.” It is almost ready, and I look forward to publishing it in the coming days.

Shortly after Easter, many of us have understandably focused on geopolitics. I hope we can move ahead soon and address some of the other challenges we face, for instance, financing the net-zero transition and getting AI governance right.

I look forward to traveling to Tallinn next week, where the EU Roundtable of Financial Centers will meet, one of the regional chapters of the World Alliance.

🔔 Easter reminds us that renewal is not just a moment, it is a mindset.

As we enter this season of hope, resilience, and unity, we are invited to reflect on how we move forward: together, with purpose, and with a shared ambition to build stronger, more connected financial ecosystems.

At the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), this spirit of renewal fuels our commitment to collaboration, innovation, and long-term impact across our global network.

To all our members, partners, and observers we wish you a joyful, peaceful, and inspiring Easter.

In the UAE, the bond between leadership and people has long been its most enduring foundation.

And it is this alignment that turns challenges into collective resolve, and ambition into meaningful progress.

Here, whether in times of growth or uncertainty, citizens and residents stand together as one community to always emerge stronger.

Shariah Governance Rules have been approved within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), establishing a unified approach to Islamic finance operations in the jurisdiction.

The Rules are designed to enhance transparency, strengthen governance standards and build investor confidence. They introduce clear requirements for Shariah boards and scholars, compliance and audit functions, disclosure standards, and oversight of Shariah compliance, in line with international best practice.

The decision was taken during the second meeting of the Islamic Finance Advisory Board (IFAB), which brings together leading international experts from key Islamic finance jurisdictions.

Islamic finance in Kazakhstan is entering a phase of active growth. According to AIFC and Islamic Development Bank Institute estimates, the potential size of the Islamic retail finance market exceeds KZT 3.9 trillion, while Islamic deposits could reach KZT 2.8 trillion.

AIFC continues to build a comprehensive ecosystem, including financial institutions, Shariah advisory, legal expertise and screening services. Recent legislative changes enabling Islamic windows are further supporting market expansion.

Through ongoing regulatory development and international collaboration, AIFC is reinforcing its position as a regional hub for Islamic finance.

The Rules will enter into force upon their approval by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA).

We're back for year two.

The Bahamas Global Wealth Summit returns on April 29–30, 2026 at the Baha Mar Convention Center, Nassau, The Bahamas.

This year's theme: "Wealth Preservation Strategies in a Recalibrating World" Join global investors, family offices, legal and financial advisors, and private wealth leaders for two days of high-impact content, powerful connections, and curated access to strategic partners and international clients.

Registration and sponsorship opportunities are now open.

Learn more and register: Read More

The Casablanca Arbitration Days will return on April 24–25, 2026, in Casablanca. This landmark anniversary edition is co-organized by Casablanca Finance City Authority and the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CIMAC).

This year, we gather world-class speakers, distinguished jurists, and leading practitioners to explore the critical pillars of modern dispute resolution:

International standards: aligning practices with global excellence.

The role of institutions: strengthening governance and transparency.

Investment attractiveness: leveraging legal security to drive growth.

At the heart of this momentum, CIMAC stands as a central pillar of the Casablanca Finance City value proposition. By offering a reliable, neutral dispute resolution framework aligned with international standards, Casablanca Finance City provides a genuine “safe landing” for investors looking to expand across Africa and the Middle East.

Register now to take part in this anniversary edition. https://lnkd.in/ebwC8CXF

Dubai shows strength across every sector on the Global Financial Centres Index.

Significant gains across banking, insurance, investment management and professional services highlight the depth of Dubai’s financial ecosystem.

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

[ Mauritius at the forefront of Digital Partnership and Collaboration ]

Mauritius has reaffirmed its position as a leading digital partner for Africa following the successful conclusion of the ICT roadshow across 3 key African markets, namely Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.

The mission which was led by the Economic Development Board and comprised of representatives of 11 private ICT companies, aimed to promote business growth, deepen collaboration between Government and industry and also unlock opportunities for digital partnership and collaboration in those 3 countries.

The roadshow also provided a dynamic platform for Business – to- Government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) engagement, resulting in strengthened strategic partnerships, concrete collaboration opportunities and new pathways for Mauritian ICT operators in the African markets. Overall, more than 300 people attended the business forum in respective cities Windhoek, Gaborone and Lusaka and more than 150 one to one business engagement meetings were held.

🌐 Learn more - https://lnkd.in/d6Amtmb9

Easter is a profound reminder that renewal is the heartbeat of progress.

As we celebrate the hope and joy of the season, we reiterate our commitment to the growth and transformation of our community and the nation at large.

May this Easter bring a fresh perspective and the strength to build a future of limitless possibilities. From all of us at EnterpriseNGR, we wish you a joyful and blessed Easter celebration.

While the global CEO outlook hits a 5-year low, Malta's CEOs remain upbeat: 69% reported stronger results in 2025 and 92% expect stable or improved conditions ahead.

Read the PwC survey insights: https://lnkd.in/dEkKGMhY

Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/enTAhHwa

Completion of the final phase of the Jisr initiative to develop national talents and enhance their readiness for the labor market in the Insurance sector. The initiative aims to train and employ 20 Omani nationals, reflecting the FSA’s commitment to empowering national talent and ensuring the sector’s sustainability.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀

What skills and capabilities are most in demand in today’s insurance industry? And what career opportunities lie ahead?

Evolving trends such as climate change, demographic shifts, and rapid technological advancement are transforming not only the insurance landscape, but also the talent and skills required by the sector. The FSDC’s forthcoming report will examine key trends in insurance talent development, including skill gaps and emerging career opportunities across the industry.

Join our upcoming webinar to hear directly from industry leaders as they share insights from the report and discuss how the insurance workforce is evolving:

📅 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 28 April 2026 (Tuesday)

⏰ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 3:00 – 4:00 PM

🌍 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲: English

💻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: Virtual (Zoom)

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 👉 https://lnkd.in/gdkZBUfQ

🎤 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀:  • Mr Alger Fung, Chief Executive Officer, AIA Hong Kong and Macau  • Mr Eric Hui, Chief Executive Officer, Zurich Insurance (Greater China)  • Mr Fred Ngan, Co-Founder and Director, Bowtie Life Insurance Company Limited  • Prof Anna Wong, Professor of Practice in Finance Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong

🎙 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿:  • Dr Rocky Tung, Executive Director, FSDC

🐣 Happy Easter from the Frankfurt Financial Center

The holidays offer a chance to recharge and let ideas blossom—for a dynamic start to spring.

We wish all our partners, colleagues, and friends a relaxing and inspiring Easter. 🌷

“Digital assets, real economy. The potential of financial instrument tokenization in Poland and implementation recommendations” report is now ready and we are delighted to invite you to its official presentation! 💥🚀

➡️ This report is the result of work carried out within the Digital Assets specialization, developed with Accenture as a knowledge partner. The report presents diverse perspectives on the tokenization of financial instruments - it provides a comprehensive overview of technologies, business models, and legal barriers, culminating in specific implementation recommendations for public administration.

Co-creators of the report: Accenture Poland, Bird & Bird, Grupa KDPW, Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW), Bank Pekao S.A., PKO Bank Polski

During the event, we will present key findings and invite you to an engaging discussion on how digital assets, the DLT and the regulatory environment are shaping the future of Poland’s financial sector.

🎤 Speakers include: 🔹Antonina Karwasińska, Bank Pekao S.A.  🔹Piotr Lesinski, Kancelaria Bird & Bird 🔹Daria Ringwelska, Polish Financial Supervision Authority 🔹Piotr Rutkowski, Ministerstwo Cyfryzacji 🔹Beata Tylman-Nowakowska, Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) 🔹Rafał Wawrzyniak, Grupa KDPW 🔹Pawel Widawski, Future Finance Poland 🔹Adam Wdowczyk, Accenture Poland 🔹Mateusz Zaród, PKO Bank Polski 🔹Mariusz Ziemba, PKO Bank Polski

⚠️ Limited spots available!

👉 Register now to secure your spot: Read More

The event will be held in Polish.

Trust is built on structural excellence. Istanbul Financial Center provides a world-class environment protected by exclusive legal and financial frameworks designed specifically for international investors. Secure your growth within an ecosystem that prioritizes stability and professional prestige.

Begin your journey today: https://ifc.gov.tr/

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Ellen Watkins from Highlands College, Jersey as part of her work placement.🎓

It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm, professionalism and willingness to learn that Ellen brought to the workplace.

Opportunities like this not only help students apply their knowledge in a real-world setting but also allow businesses like ours to support and shape the next generation of talent.

We’re proud to be part of Ellen’s career journey 👏

🐣🌿 Happy Easter !

May this season of hope and renewal inspire fresh beginnings, bringing prosperity, success, and fulfillment.

🌱 The rise of green finance over the past decade, combined with European reporting requirements and the scale of funding needed for the energy transition, is bringing financial institutions and technology innovators closer together.

In our new Portfolio article, we explore how Luxembourg has increasingly become a hub for green FinTechs, supported by its established ecosystem and its position as a leading centre for sustainable finance.

One example is SPONSOR, a Luxembourg-based company founded by Michael G.. Launched in August 2025, SPONSOR’s digital marketplace connects project developers, investors and advisors, and already supports over €35 billion in climate mitigation projects. Its approach focuses on improving efficiency in project finance by enabling stakeholders to build on existing transaction experience and streamline execution.

https://bit.ly/4snGM7L

Sending our warm Easter wishes from all of us at NIFC Africa!

QFC recorded a 57% year-on-year increase in firm registrations in Q1 2026, with more than 800 new firms licensed between January and March. 📈

This sustained momentum is reflected in QFC’s global standing, climbing 14 places in the Global Financial Centres Index (now at 48) and ranking 3rd in the MENA region.

The European Finance Forum cordially invites you to its next EFF meeting in Stuttgart.

💬 Between Pressure and Momentum: How the Automotive Supplier Industry Is Navigating Multiple Crises

🗓️ April 15, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m.

📍Börse Stuttgart

The focus will be on how the automotive supply industry is holding its own in an increasingly challenging environment marked by geopolitical tensions, technological upheavals, and economic pressure.

As a speaker, Jumana Al-Sibai, Supervisory Board member of the Atlas Copco Group and member of the Advisory Board at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, will draw on her C-level perspective to illustrate how the global automotive supply industry should address these challenges.

Look forward to interesting insights, practical perspectives, and an in-depth exchange with experts from finance and industry. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity for networking, as usual.

➡️ Registration is available via the following link: https://lnkd.in/danAhbg5

We are delighted to announce that Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, will deliver the keynote address and take part in an in-conversation at the Future Skills Conference 2026, organised in partnership with the Financial Services Skills Commission.

The conference, sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group and KPMG UK, will explore how disruptive technologies are reshaping financial and related professional services, the skills required to harness this change and the actions needed to secure the UK’s longterm competitiveness.

Also sponsored by Nationwide Building Society, the conference will engage delegates in discussions on the pace and scale of innovation, how to adapt to it and practical lessons for the workplace.

Find out more and register to attend on our website: https://lnkd.in/ewyzQnzT

A timely discussion, and exactly why we convened the BPO & ICT Side Event at #KIICO26. The gap is not talent. Kenya has that at scale. The real challenge is how we position, package, and present that talent to the global market.

At TRIFIC SEZ, our focus is on bridging this by creating an environment where global companies can seamlessly access Kenya’s workforce and scale with confidence.