Financial association to host ICSA annual conference in Seoul

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Finance

Sat, September 30, 2023 | 06:30

Markets

Financial association to host ICSA annual conference in Seoul

Posted : 2023-05-25 14:45

Updated : 2023-05-26 09:01

Head office of the Korea Financial Investment Association on Yeouido in Seoul / Yonhap

By Lee Min-hyung

The Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA) will host the annual conference of the International Council of Securities Associations (ICSA) in Seoul next month to discuss the latest issues in the global capital market.

The ICSA's 36th Annual General Meeting will take place in the Korean capital for three days from June 18. Officials from financial associations from across the world will discuss the next paradigm in the global financial industry. Experts from here and abroad will take part in diverse panel discussions on key issues ― such as the digital paradigm shift, crypto markets and transaction platform diversification.

Members of the ICSA will hold two-day closed sessions for talks on the administrative procedures of the associations. Under the theme titled "Future-proofing the Financial Industry," partner companies and market participants will participate in an international conference on the final day of the event.

In Korea, ranking officials from the government and the National Assembly will deliver their speeches for the three-day conference. They include Rep. Baek Hye-ryun of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Kim So-young, Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Bok-hyun and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

Major overseas speakers also include Peter Matheson, managing director of the U.S. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, and Swedish Securities Markets Association CEO Urban Funered. KOFIA will support one-on-one meetings between the speakers at the event and working-level officials from the industry.

"We expect the upcoming ICSA annual conference to help raise the awareness of the Korean capital market," KOFIA Chairman Seo Yoo-seok said. "The event will also be a priceless opportunity for member companies to stay updated with the latest trends concerning global regulations and financial services."

Kim Jin-eok, head of KOFIA's external policy, expressed hopes for the ICSA conference to serve as a connecting point for Korean financial players so as to expand their footing abroad.

"KOFIA has long supported the ICSA as one of its members," Kim said. "We hope the event helps facilitate international cooperation between the local financial market and its overseas counterparts."

The ICSA was established in 1988 with a view to developing the international capital market. Its members consist of a group of 20 associations handling tasks on securities and capital markets from developed and emerging countries across the world.

The ICSA's Annual General Meeting is a key venue for its members to share opinions about opportunities and risks in the global financial market. This marks the third time that KOFIA has hosted the event since 1997 and 2008.

mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr