CSE to host conference for regional exchanges

Monday, 20 April 2015 00:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in association with the South Asian Federation of Exchanges (SAFE) will host the South Asian Investment Conference and SAFE Annual General Meeting on 26 and 27 April, in Colombo. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Deputy Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs Dr. Harsha De Silva, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Tilak Karunaratne and CSE Chairman Vajira Kulatilaka, will grace the inauguration ceremony on 27 April. SAFE current Chairman Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid (Chairman of the Chittagong Stock Exchange, Bangladesh) and SAFE Secretary General Aftab Ahmad (CEO of the Lahore Stock Exchange, Pakistan) will preside over the conference and AGM. Chairmen, CEOs and senior representatives of 14 member Stock Exchanges from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, Maldives, United

Arab Emirates and Bhutan will be attending the conference. Furthermore, investment banks and brokerages from the region and stock exchange technology providers will also attend the event. A delegation from the China Kunming International Logistics and Finance Association from the Yunnan Province in China will also be attending the conference. SAFE is a regional platform of exchanges within the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region providing a forum to promote the exchange of technology and experiences in order to support the growth and development of capital markets within the region, while also increasing regional and global integration. The conference would provide an opportunity to share operational experiences in formulating common standards for listing, trading, clearing, settlement and investor protection and best practices in accounting standards and regulation. The event will bring together capital market regulators and intermediaries from within and outside the region. “The CSE was proud to host the first AGM of SAFE as a founder member nearly 14 years ago and we are happy to be able to facilitate this conference for regional integration and investment in order to create a stronger network of regional ties between stock exchanges. Sri Lanka has historically been seen as a geo-political centre point in the region and we now hope to expand and develop this role in terms of the capital market,” Vajira Kulatilaka said. “SAFE seeks to promote South Asia as an important asset class and investment destination. Robust market infrastructure coupled with the potential for the future domestic growth; mark South Asia as one of the most attractive emerging investment markets of the world. Therefore through each subsequent conference we hope to take greater strides in collectively uplifting regional standards,” Dr. Abdul Mazid said. “SAFE believes in the development of our human capital alongside regional market infrastructure, therefore we facilitate education and awareness in the region through publications, seminars and conferences and provide facilities for educational and skills development, human resources training and the spread of capital market knowledge in the region. Conferences of this nature create a networking platform that allows for collaboration amongst exchanges for the purpose of knowledge sharing,” Aftab Ahmad said.