Financial Center News #150

I just returned from Tallinn, where our EU Roundtable of Financial Centers met for its spring meeting, to discuss EU competitiveness. Finance Estonia was an excellent host, and it was wonderful to see such a strong commitment to improving the EU’s financial markets.

One of the areas where the EU needs to become strong is undoubtedly AI. Luxembourg, a clear frontrunner in developing a credible AI in Finance ecosystem, has just launched an AI Experience Centre by The LHoFT - Luxembourg House of Financial Technology, where firms should be empowered to learn, test, and scale AI solutions. Congratulations!

🌍 The EU Roundtable of Financial Centres — a regional chapter of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) — held its spring meeting in Tallinn 🇪🇪 yesterday and today.

An intense and forward-looking discussion around key priorities shaping the future of finance in Europe: 💶 #EUSavings & Investment Union (#SIU) 📚 Financial Education 🚀 EU Competitiveness 🔓 Open Finance / #FIDA 🪙 #Stablecoins, Tokenized Deposits & #CBDCs 🛡️ Anti-Financial Crime / #AML 💻 #Cybersecurity

👏 Many thanks to our Chair for 2026, FinanceEstonia, and its outstanding team: Kaarel Ots, ANU MÜÜRSEPP, Kaido Saar, Rauno Klettenberg

🏛️ Special thanks as well to Trinity Law Firm for hosting us.

🤝 We were honored by the presence and contributions of distinguished guests: Alessandra Guion - Gambrill Karsten Wenzlaff Andres Sutt Andrus Alber Rainer Olt Taavi Tamkivi

🌐 And of course, great to reconnect with our members: Jochen Biedermann - World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) Bernice Buttigieg — FinanceMalta Véronique Ormezzano — Paris Europlace Pawel Widawski — Future Finance Poland Hubertus Väth — Frankfurt Main Finance Gert Heynderickx & Simon Vervaet — Febelfin Jan Korte — Finanzplatz Hamburg gianfrancesco rizzuti — FeBAF - Federazione Banche Assicurazioni e Finanza

Congratulations to Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and TotalEnergies on the formation of their $2.2 billion renewable energy joint venture.

We are pleased to welcome them to ADGM as the headquarters for this global platform. With around 200 professionals to be based in ADGM, this milestone underscores Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a trusted jurisdiction for structuring and scaling international investment and infrastructure initiatives.

⛏️ The Junior Mining Platform was introduced at the inaugural meeting of the Mining Experts Council, an advisory body established under the AIFC to support the development of Kazakhstan’s mining and metals sector through the introduction of modern financial instruments and the attraction of private capital.

The Council brings together representatives of national companies, international investors and industry experts.

Council members include Nariman Absametov, Chairman of the Management Board of Tau-Ken Samruk National Mining Company JSC; Yerlan Galiyev, Chairman of the Management Board of National Geological Service JSC; Aida Alzhanova, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Solidcore Resources; Said Sultanov, Founder of Aurora Minerals Group; Tim Barry, Chief Executive Officer of Arras Minerals Corp.; Zhanbolat Kakishev BEng, MBA, MPA Chief Officer of the AIFC Authority, and others.

How do you secure a family's legacy when members and assets are based across continents?

This is the challenge for modern wealth management, as outlined by Bimpe Nkontchou, Founder of W8 Advisory during our discussion at the Global Wealth Summit 2025.

Bimpe explained that for today's global families, especially those with roots in dynamic African economies, the picture is incredibly complex:

“When we talk about wealth from Africa today, it's a truly global story. You'll find families who have built incredible success on the continent, but their children are living in the US, their grandchildren in the UK, and their assets are spread across so many different countries. For those advising them, it's about understanding this multi-faceted, multi-jurisdictional reality, and how to bring all those disparate pieces together in counsel.”

This multi-jurisdictional reality she describes is why having partners that can bring together the legal, financial and personal threads of family wealth into one coherent strategy is so important for families across Africa.

These crucial discussions are still relevant and will be explored further at this year's summit taking place between April 29-30, 2026.

Join us this year! https://lnkd.in/eqQiHpAq

🌏 Expanding Busan–Tashkent Financial & Investment Dialogue

We continue to deepen our global engagement with emerging investment hubs. President Myongho Rhee met with Han ilhan of Catalis Strategies, TMK (Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex) to exchange views on #Uzbekistan’s evolving investment landscape and opportunities for collaboration.

Discussions highlighted: ▫️ The importance of building trusted international networks to support cross-border investment ▫️ Opportunities for Korea–Uzbekistan cooperation through complementary strengths in finance, technology, and industrial ecosystems

Building Morocco’s future as an innovation nation.

How do we turn innovation into our primary driver for national competitiveness? Join us at the CFC First Auditorium to discover the results of the 2025 National Survey on Innovation.

The panel: Hamid Bouchikhi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic), Lamiae Benmakhlouf (TECHNOPARK Maroc (MITC)), Lamia Hannaoui (W Advisors), OMAR ALAMI (ORA TECHNOLOGIES), Tarik Haddi (GEN J Foundation) and Anas Laabi (BCG X).

Moderator: Dr. Reda TALEB (رضى الطالب) (Vice-President, GEN J.)

🗓 Thursday, April 16 🕔 17:30 (Welcome) | 18:00 (Conference) 📍 CFC First Auditorium 🎟 Register now: https://lnkd.in/epQW-NVJ

#Dubai is recognised today and leading tomorrow through #DIFC.

Ranked 1st globally for future potential and reaffirmed as a global leader among the world’s top financial centres on the Global Financial Centres Index.

Dubai is not waiting for the future. It is shaping it. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dzWpHmVs

Q1 2026 Newsletter

Join us in Warsaw on 21 May for Digital Asset Funds and MiCA: Malta’s Established Advantage, organised by FinanceMalta and the Malta Asset Servicing Association(MASA).

📅 Date: 21 May 2026

⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM

📍 Venue: Sheraton Grand Warsaw 🏨

💡 Designed for fund managers, investors, operators, and industry professionals interested in Malta’s established digital asset ecosystem.

🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dDgxPNnN

The #FSA organized a specialized workshop on investigating money laundering via cryptocurrencies, enhancing professionals’ capabilities and strengthening the detection of suspicious transactions in line with international best practices.

𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗴

In a recent visit to Beijing, the #FSDC engaged in productive and insightful dialogues with industry stakeholders to reinforce key partnerships and explore further opportunities.

At the 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺, hosted by the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Dr Rocky Tung shared insights on Hong Kong’s contributions to the national strategy of high-quality development, as well as emerging dynamics in long-term capital allocation and debt markets amid global shifts.

Furthermore, during the #ICMA 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺, Dr Tung (FSDC) moderated a discussion on China’s pivotal role in recalibrating global capital markets. Joining the panel were Mr Domenico Nardelli (AIIB), Ms Annie Wang (Asian Development Bank), Mr Xin Zhao (赵昕) (NAFMII), and Ms Toby Cheung (HKEX). The panel explored China’s growing relevance to the global financial landscape and the mobilisation of long-term institutional capital.

We look forward to building on these meaningful exchanges and pursuing deeper collaboration opportunities to further strengthen financial connectivity with Mainland counterparts.

New momentum for small and medium-sized enterprises: Frankfurt School and Commerzbank launch joint institute 🏢

We are pleased to announce the establishment of the new SME Institute in Frankfurt by our members, the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and Commerzbank AG.

The institute creates a platform for practical research and strategic exchange and supports companies in tackling transformation, innovation, and financing in a targeted manner.

Read more about the announcement and background here: https://frankfurt-main-finance.com/en/commerzbank-sme-institute-established-at-frankfurt-school/

🔐 European Business Wallets – a new standard for companies in the EU?

On 1 April 2026, the European Parliament published its draft of the legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of European Business Wallets.

European Business Wallet is a digital wallet for companies that enables secure identification, document signing and power of attorney management – in B2B and B2G relationships.

This is an early stage of the legislative process, but the document already shows the direction.

📌Key assumptions:

• built-in roles and representation/mandate system

• integration with eIDAS 2.0 and the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI)

• acceptance of the EBW by public administrations

• interoperability across all EU Member States

🔎What else stands out from the draft?

• “Once-only” principle in practice – no repeated submission of the same data

• Data control by design – companies decide what, when, and with whom they share

• Harmonised technical standards enabling real cross-border use

• Trust infrastructure expansion (e.g. verifiable credentials, trust services)

• Potential for automation

🚀Why is this important?

This could fundamentally reshape how companies operate in the EU: less bureaucracy, faster cross-border processes, and a truly digital single market.

As Future Finance Poland we believe this initiative has the potential to become a cornerstone of Europe’s digital infrastructure for businesses, provided that interoperability works in practice and adoption reaches critical mass across EU Member States and the private sector.

📄The draft is available here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVNxNPa5

We encourage you to take a closer look.

We are pleased to host VakıfBank—a bank that has always stood by our country and remains at the heart of the financial sector—at the Istanbul Financial Center; we celebrate the 72nd anniversary of VakıfBank, one of the cornerstones of our economy.

From today, updates to the Control of Borrowing legislation are in effect, marking another step forward in enhancing Jersey’s competitiveness as an international finance centre.

Speaking about the updates, Joe Moynihan, CEO, Jersey Finance, said:

“This is a significant step as part of our programme of activity as a jurisdiction to streamline Jersey’s regulatory environment. We welcome the Government’s recognition of the need for these changes in response to a landscape that has evolved considerably since the original legislation.

“This Order, and the changes still to come over the coming year, are indicative of our focus on bolstering our competitiveness as an IFC and on enhancing the ease of doing business here in Jersey. The changes this programme will bring are far reaching, and will provide benefits across the investment, funds and private wealth space, making it quicker and more efficient to undertake transactions through Jersey.”

Building Africa’s next generation of capital ecosystems requires more than investment; it demands trusted platforms, innovative financing models, and stronger cross-border capital frameworks.

As Africa’s capital markets evolve, the conversation is shifting access to how capital is structured, mobilized, and scaled efficiently across jurisdictions, a critical lever for unlocking sustainable growth.

Aligned with this year’s theme, “Africa Accelerated: Powering Africa’s engines of growth,” we are pleased to join the KPMG Private Enterprise Africa Venture Summit 2026 as an Ecosystem Partner, contributing to shaping the future of trade, investment, and financial innovation.

AI has emerged as a driving force for financial services and a clear priority for firms.

With the launch of Luxembourg’s AI Experience Centre by The LHoFT - Luxembourg House of Financial Technology, Luxembourg has taken a concrete step towards turning this shift into value.

The centre offers a platform for firms to learn, test, and scale AI solutions, with use cases tailored to finance. It brings collaboration and experimentation into a hands-on environment.

The objective is clear: Accelerate adoption across the economy, strengthen financial services, ensure AI delivers meaningful, responsible outcomes, and continue to position Luxembourg as the place where the future of finance is being built.

Nasir Zubairi Alex Panican Esli Spahiu Tom Théobald Simon Gorbutt Lynn Robbroeckx Luca MANCUSO Annabelle Fonteneau Antony Martini Gilles Roth Jenny de Nijs Ministry of Finance, Luxembourg

We recently hosted Etica Capital Ltd for an engagement on the Nairobi International Financial Centre framework and the opportunities it offers to firms seeking to establish, structure, and scale within a globally competitive financial ecosystem.

Led by NIFC Africa CEO Daniel Mainda and Etica Capital Ltd CEO Maurice Oduor, alongside their respective teams, reflecting a shared commitment to building meaningful collaboration within the NIFC Africa ecosystem.

The session provided a comprehensive overview of the certification categories under the NIFC Act, including their definitions, eligibility criteria, and strategic relevance across diverse business models. It also reinforced the importance of a clear, predictable, and globally aligned framework in enabling firms to establish, operate, and grow with confidence.

The discussions further examined the range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives available to certified firms, with particular emphasis on targeted tax incentives designed to attract, support, and expand high-value financial services activities within the Centre.

A central focus of the engagement was how Etica Capital Ltd could optimally align within the NIFC Africa framework, with particular consideration given to its operating structure, regulatory positioning, and broader strategic value in advancing the Centre’s objectives of deepening capital markets, mobilising investment, and strengthening Kenya’s role in regional and international finance.

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

Jean Kambuni Munzher Rana Nelly Wanjohi, ACIFA DAVID MASAKU Jeremiah Chunge Munyasa Kenneth Maina Alice Kamau, MCSI

What happens when a critical resource like helium faces disruption?🤔🎈

Beyond energy markets, helium plays a vital role in electronics, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. With supply concentrated among a few producers, even short-term disruptions can have global consequences.

Our latest article breaks down the risks, implications, and what this means for supply chain resilience.

Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dZgu-xtm

Following last week’s inaugural UK–ASEAN consultation alongside the ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Deputies’ Meeting (AFMGM), we were pleased to conclude the UK’s debut and wider industry engagement program.

Delivered in partnership with the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) and building on our Memorandum of Understanding, the program brought together UK industry and ASEAN Finance and Central Bank Deputies from all 11 ASEAN Member States for their first structured dialogue. Despite the late shift to a virtual format, Nicola Watkinson (she/her), our Managing Director, International, and Ian Gibbons OBE, Chief Executive of UKABC, co‑convened a delegation of 23 senior representatives from 12 institutions.

Discussions focused on areas of shared priority, including AI in financial services, sustainability reporting, mobilising long‑term capital, deepening capital markets, and cross‑border payments. Set against a challenging global backdrop – including ongoing geopolitical conflict which led to the AFMGM meetings moving online – exchanges highlighted both the spillover effects on Southeast Asian economies and the region’s continued resilience.

Alongside the main consultation meeting, bilateral engagements with H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary‑General of The ASEAN Secretariat, and regional policymakers – including YB Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Malaysia’s Minister of Finance II, and Dato’ Sri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) – enabled candid discussions on priority themes such as the ASEAN Power Grid, progress on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, and future agendas on skills, Islamic finance and payments.

You can read the Joint Statement of the 13th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ here: https://lnkd.in/eDVhaHNV

Thank you to members, Megan Otway, Financial Services Attaché to Singapore at the FCA, Natasha K., Economic and Trade Counsellor; the UK Mission to ASEAN , and the team at UKABC for jointly developing and co‑hosting the UK’s business engagement during AFMGM. We look forward to supporting the Philippines’ chairmanship and to bringing the UK industry delegation back in 2027.

HSBC | Standard Chartered | ACCA | Howden | PwC  Qiuyu Chen | Ben Raby | Allen Lai

Had the privilege of participating in the stakeholder engagement on the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2026, convened by the National Assembly of Kenya through the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on 1st April 2026.

I made submissions on behalf of TRIFIC SEZ through the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), contributing to discussions on the proposed legal and fiscal framework for oil and gas-related SEZ activities and its implications for Kenya's broader investment landscape.

It is always encouraging to see meaningful engagement between policymakers and the private sector in shaping legislation that is both responsive and competitive.