Financial Center News #163

This week, I had the special pleasure of preparing the travel arrangements for the three finalists of our 2026 Young Academic Award. Our international jury finished its work last week, after we received a record number of applications this year.

The finalists from Poland, Canada, and Korea will present their work at our Annual General Meeting in Busan, before receiving their awards the following day at the BIFC Global Finance Symposium. I am already looking forward to meeting them in person.

Our international jury has decided on the three finalists of our World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) Young Academic Award 2026:

- Wiktoria Chrzanowska, a student at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland.

- Natalie Playford, a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Toronto, Canada.

- Won Woo, a graduate-level researcher at Hanyang University, Korea

Please find all details here: https://lnkd.in/eKAqRitW

Congratulations to the three finalists and a big thank you to our international jury!!

You can find more information about our Young Academic Award in this presentation: https://lnkd.in/e_yaTEKK

We never stand still. That has always been how I think about this business, and about the community we are supporting and building here in Abu Dhabi. We don't just think about 'What' we do for clients, but - critically - 'How' we do it. The team at J.P. Morgan are committed to being local to our clients and delivering first-class business outcomes for clients and the community.

With that in mind, this is a short video series to share some of the conversations featuring the people shaping the ADGM Treasury platform and the momentum J.P. Morgan is putting behind it.

To begin, I caught up with Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, to talk about why the global treasury community is looking to Abu Dhabi. Over the coming weeks I will also bring in some of the people across our own team who make this work day to day.

At J.P. Morgan we are proud to be part of the ADGM community, and to support its people, its ambition and its momentum.

More to come.

Aruna Yessenzhanova, Head of PR and Marketing at Atlas Capital, shares how Astana Finance Days strengthened the company’s engagement with the #AIFC #ecosystem and created new #opportunities for strategic #partnerships, #investment dialogue, and regional #growth.

The Bahamas Essentials 🇧🇸

What defines the ideal environment for High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) seeking to live, work, and invest?

As explored in the Bahamas Global Wealth Journal Issue 1 article, 'Living the Investment,' the decision goes beyond mere financial considerations. It's about finding a jurisdiction that harmonizes lifestyle, accessibility, and robust service offerings.

Mark Hussey comments that, "For HNWIs, the promise of year-round sunshine, proximity to major markets, and access to premium services make it an ideal environment to live, work remotely, and invest."

The Bahamas consistently delivers on these promises, offering a unique blend of unparalleled quality of life and a sophisticated financial services ecosystem. We provide the stability, expertise, and connectivity that HNWIs require for both personal and financial growth.

Explore more by reading the full article in the Bahamas Global Wealth Journal: https://lnkd.in/erS_FPpg

Morocco’s green transition is turning ambition into action.

Last week at Casablanca Finance City, more than 50 stakeholders from the public and private sectors gathered for the latest Green Assets Cluster meetup to advance corporate decarbonization and environmental asset markets.

A key milestone was reached as the Green Assets Cluster was officially designated the Local Issuer of the I-REC standard in Morocco by the I-TRACK Foundation, alongside Xpansiv and Evident.

Special thanks to Wiam Samir, President of the Green Assets Cluster, for opening the event, and to Travis Caddy, Director of Business Development at Evident (Xpansiv Group), for his insights into I-REC mechanisms.

With many organizations already interested in joining the Cluster, momentum for sustainable finance in Morocco continues to grow.

Ready to take part in Morocco’s sustainable transition? Learn more and join the momentum here: https://lnkd.in/e-Y4HgZA

The RiskPoint Group joins #DIFC, bringing its international underwriting expertise to one of the world’s leading financial centres.

As it continues to expand its global presence, RiskPoint Group has chosen DIFC as the home for its regional presence, recognising its world class ecosystem, international connectivity and leadership as a global hub for insurance and reinsurance.

Nigeria's capital market is evolving.

What's driving greater liquidity, stronger investor confidence, and increased market participation?

Get these insights and more from the State of Enterprise 2026 Report.

📥 Download the report: https://lnkd.in/dwrSaiyH

EnterpriseNGR Meristem Nigeria

As the sun set over the Grand Harbor, our members gathered at Villa Bighi for this year's Sunset Soirée.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of good conversation and networking in a great setting. The evening also marked the presentation of our Annual Report, a chance to reflect on the past year and look ahead to what's next for Malta as an international financial center.

Our thanks to the members and partners who continue to support the work we do. It was a pleasure to have you with us.

Your journey toward safe investing starts here…

Safe investing is built on knowledge and dealing with licensed entities, but it is never entirely risk-free.

Visit the Safe Investment Journey and enjoy an informative, interactive experience designed to strengthen your investment awareness and help you make more confident financial decisions.

📍 Gardens Mall – Salalah

📅 25 July – 2 August 2026

🕔 5:00–10:00 PM

Muscat Clearing & Depository Company S.A.O.C.

Muscat Stock Exchange S.A.O.C

𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗼𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝘂𝗯

Our Vice-Chairman Ms Chen DING and Executive Director Dr Rocky Tung delivered keynote speeches at the inaugural Sina Finance Global Capital Summit 2026.

Ms Chen noted that Hong Kong’s asset management industry reached a record high in 2025, with assets under management exceeding HKD 42 trillion. Of this, 54% originated from international investors, demonstrating Hong Kong’s ability to attract, retain, and grow global capital through its deep international connectivity.

Dr Tung emphasized Hong Kong’s role as a trusted gateway for international capital into the Chinese Mainland and highlighted the city’s potential to become a leading global hub for gold trading, clearing, and reserves. With the Mainland being the world's largest commodity buyer and settlements still reliant on third-party currencies, Hong Kong should seek a greater role in commodity pricing and settlement amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.

The Istanbul Financial Center (IFC), which blends Istanbul’s long-standing commercial culture and dynamism with contemporary architecture, offers a workspace designed to enhance productivity. With its seamless operational infrastructure and prestigious architecture, the Istanbul Financial Center serves as a hub for the international business community.

For more information and to apply: https://ifm.gov.tr/basvur

University or straight into work? There’s no right or wrong path into finance. 🚀

In our latest podcast, Jeevan Singh Bhangu from RBS International and Elizabeth Woodward from KPMG in the Crown Dependencies reflect on their own career journeys after school and share practical insights to help young people make informed decisions about their future.

🎧 Listen now: https://jsy.fi/4vE3wSk

Conference Highlights | Alternative Investments Conference 2026

Africa's next phase of growth will be driven by strong institutions, regional collaboration, and the ability to attract long-term capital.

In her keynote address, Anita Mutesi, Chief Strategy Officer at the Kigali International Financial Centre, highlighted the importance of building trusted financial ecosystems that position East Africa as a competitive destination for global investment.

Key takeaways:

• Alternative investments will play a critical role in financing Africa's sustainable growth.

• Capital follows credibility, underpinned by strong governance, predictable regulation, and trusted institutions.

• Investing in financial talent is essential to attracting, managing, and deploying capital effectively across the continent.

Her address underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and human capital in shaping a globally competitive African financial ecosystem.

Old Mutual Uganda, VAAL Real Estate Uganda, National Social Security Fund, Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Uganda, Trade and Development Bank Group - TDB Group, Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda (DPF), UGANDA SECURITIES EXCHANGE, GenAfrica Asset Managers Uganda, Kweli Capital Group, CountryWealth, Pearl Marina Estates, Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme, Absa Bank Uganda, Centenary Bank, BDO in Uganda, ACCA, Cornerstone Asset Managers, Bank of Uganda, Blockchain Association of Uganda (BAU), Africoin, Kenbright, Nairobi Securities Exchange PLC

John Okumu, CFA®, CA(SA), Julie Akello, CFA, George Jato Otim, CFA, ACCA, Gilbert Twinamasiko, FCCA, David Mwaura, CFA, Escar Namirembe, CFA, Annamaria Edward, CFA®,MCSI , Fassil Gebretsadik, CFA, Happy Msale CFA, Annette Mumbi, CFA, Ruth Amongin, CPA Grace Njiru, Kaleb Mekonnen Bogale, lucy shantiwa, Jean Bosco Muhire, Al L.

For the second year in a row, Luxembourg has ranked first for quality of life among 69 cities worldwide in Deutsche Bank Research Institute’s "Mapping the World’s Prices 2026" report. The country also ranked among the strongest cities for disposable income.

The ranking takes into account factors such as purchasing power, safety, healthcare, commuting times, housing affordability and pollution.

The result highlights one of Luxembourg’s key strengths: the opportunity to build an international career in a leading financial center while enjoying a high quality of life.

We are building Nairobi into Africa's capital of capital. The place where global capital meets the African opportunity. Where funds are domiciled, businesses are scaled, innovation flourishes, and the continent's future is financed.

Interested in becoming an NIFC Africa Certified Firm? Visit nifca.go.ke or contact us at info@nifca.go.ke.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶.

⚽️ Cash Cow or Money Pit? What economic opportunities and challenges do major international soccer events present for stadium operators?

This question was the focus of yesterday’s European Finance Forum at the Stuttgart Stock Exchange. Together with Jan Räker, Director of Operations & Infrastructure at VfB Stuttgart, our guests gained fascinating insights into the economic realities behind events like UEFA EURO 2024.

Three surprising takeaways for the guests:

📈 A Business Gamble: Major events require years of advance planning, create operational uncertainty for the club, involve complex collaboration with numerous stakeholders, and often entail significant investments.

💰 Financial Impact: While revenue is generated from venue rentals, catering, and events, security and infrastructure measures, in particular, incur the highest costs.

🔑 The long-term success of a stadium does not depend on individual major events, but rather on a sustainable utilization concept and viable business models.

A heartfelt thank you to our speaker Jan Räker for the fascinating insights, as well as to M. Asim Soysal and the European Finance Forum for their excellent collaboration.

The UK has a clear opportunity to lead the next phase of tokenized wholesale financial markets, but ambition now needs to become delivery.

In our latest blog, Bee Thakur, Manager, Tech and Innovation Policy, explores how tokenization can reinforce the UK’s leadership in financial and related professional services and why the focus must now shift from vision to implementation. As momentum builds behind the UK’s wholesale digital markets agenda, the challenge is to turn innovation into market-wide adoption, supported by the right infrastructure, standards and regulatory clarity.

Read Bee’s blog on why tokenization could be a major opportunity for the UK’s future competitiveness.

👉 https://lnkd.in/eRxQSNsN