Background: In our next Esop Sofa webinar, the Esop Centre’s panel of experts will look at AGM notices, which UK listed companies are publishing, to see what changes are coming through in remuneration policies and share plan design to reflect the recent updated guidance from institutional investors – and look …

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eCommerce in MEA is growing fast — but growth alone isn’t enough. As eCommerce surges across the Middle East and Africa, payment leaders face a unique challenge — building infrastructure that’s as dynamic as the markets they serve.From mobile-first consumers to regional preferences in payment methods, success in MEA means …

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We will walk through the hidden and secret gardens which tell the story of the City of London.Including:A herbal garden associated with the Barber SurgeonsA wild field beside the Roman WallA park in the centre of the City dedicated to everyday heroesFlowers and shrubs flourishing around a destroyed church and …

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In this webinar, we launch the eleventh edition of the Smart Centres Index (SCI 11). The SCI is designed to track the development of technology and financial centres across the world in their support for and readiness for new technology applications.Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, media, academics, governments, and regulators can attune …

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Background: More to follow.Speaker:Dr Sara Abdaless is an Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance at Northeastern University London, where she also serves as Deputy Academic Director of the Centre for Apprenticeships. She earned her PhD in Accounting from Henley Business School at the University of Reading and is a Fellow …

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One thing that is still uncertain is AI's future impact on finance. The plurality of regulatory approaches around the world will lead to an asymmetric development of the technology. The AI Action Summit in Paris earlier this year, failed to find a resolution to this problem, without reaching consensus on …

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The Global Financial Centres Index has been tracking the development of the world’s financial centres since 2007 and is the authoritative guide to financial centre success.In this webinar, Z/Yen will formally launch the 38th edition of the index.Programme:09:00 Introduction & Welcome – TBC09:05 Opening Remarks - TBC09:15 GFCI 38 Results …

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Background: We'll be starting from near the Law courts and visiting pubs with legal, literary, and very many historic connections.The oldest pubs date back 500 years and have been visited by politicians, writers and key people in the history of London.Dr Johnson, Christopher Wren, George Orwell are amongst some of …

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Background: The sixteenth edition of the Global Green Finance Index provides the world’s most authoritative measure of the performance of financial centres in delivering green finance services.The report, assembled by combining the views of financial professionals from around the world, with quantitative data commissioned and curated from over 130 sources, …

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In this webinar, we launch the twelfth edition of the Smart Centres Index (SCI 12). The SCI is designed to track the development of technology and financial centres across the world in their support for and readiness for new technology applications.Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, media, academics, governments, and regulators can attune …

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Background: The fifteenth edition of the Global Green Finance Index (GGFI 15) provides the world’s most authoritative measure of the performance of financial centres in delivering green finance services.The report, assembled by combining the views of financial professionals from around the world, with quantitative data commissioned and curated from over …

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The thirty-seventh edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 37) was published on 20 March 2025. GFCI 37 provides evaluations of future competitiveness and rankings for 119 financial centres around the world. The GFCI serves as a valuable reference for policy and investment decision-makers.China Development Institute (CDI) in Shenzhen …

The Global Financial Centres Index is produced in partnership with the China Development Institute. We are very grateful to our colleagues at the Institute for their support and their assistance in translation of the GFCI 37 Report into Chinese.

The tenth edition of the Smart Centres Index was published on 26 November 2024. SCI 10 rates the innovation and technology offerings of leading commercial centres, tracking their ability to create, develop, and deploy technology.The SCI is a factor assessment index, combining a number of instrumental factors - data measures …

Focus On Gift City 2024 provides a short update on the progress being made in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). The aim of this update is to provide readers with news about the exciting progress being made by GIFT City.In April 2015, the Government of India took the initiative …

The fourteenth edition of the Global Green Finance Index (GGFI 14) was published on 24 October 2024. GGFI 14 evaluates green finance offerings from 97 major financial centres around the world. The GGFI serves as a valuable reference into the development of green finance for policy and investment decision-makers.There appears …

We invite young academics to submit papers or essays on the future of a sustainable and inclusive financial sector, addressing one of the following topics: We invite young academics to submit papers or essays addressing one of the following topics: The role of international financial centers in promoting collaboration and channeling climate change finance. How financial centers can support harmonizing and proliferating sustainable reporting standards. The role of IFCs in financing the circular economy. The role of the financial sector in fostering a sustainable blue (maritime) economy. The role of the financial sector in designing products/services and due diligence practices to specifically foster social enterprises. How financial centers can foster gender equity in the financial industry. The impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on the financial sector. The impact of Quantum Computing on the financial sector. The role digital and tokenized assets will play in the coming

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On December 27, 2024, Busan became the first metropolitan city in South Korea to be designated as an "Opportunity Development Zone" for the second time. Following its initial financial-focused designation in June 2024, the newly designated zone covers 57.5 million square meters and targets advanced industries such as power semiconductors, rechargeable batteries/secondary cells, and auto parts. More than 40 companies have already plan to invest approximately USD 4.79 billion in this zone. The "Opportunity Development Zones" provide substantial tax incentives, cash subsidies, and regulatory exemptions to attract investment. With two such zones in place, Busan is positioned as a prime destination for competitive businesses, expected to create new jobs and improve the local living conditions. The synergy between high-tech industries and the financial sector is expected to strengthen Busan’s standing as a global financial hub, driving economic growth and enhancing its competitiveness on the

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Seoul Financial Hub, managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is currently inviting esteemed overseas financial institutions to join our global financial epicenter in Yeouido, Seoul. Benefit from exclusive office space, expert consultation on market entry, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Stay ahead with insights into the Korean Financial market. For further details about Seoul Financial Hub, click here.

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On March 5, the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance (TABF), in partnership with the Securities and Futures Institute (SFI) and the Taiwan Insurance Institute (TII), successfully hosted the 2nd Sustainable Finance Evaluation Awards Ceremony. The event highlighted Taiwan’s advanced evaluation framework, designed to accelerate financial institutions’ sustainability transformation. Dr. Jin-Lung Peng, Chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), underscored the financial sector’s pivotal role in driving sustainable finance and the net-zero transition. TABF President Dr. Yi-Cheng Kao recognized top-performing institutions for their leadership in ESG, climate governance, and financial innovation. With participation from 79 financial institutions, the awards celebrated excellence in green finance, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainable investment strategies. Stay connected with TABF for more insights

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Busan is making significant strides to become Asia's top tech startup hub with the launch of the Busan Startup Investment Agency(BSIA) in March 2025. BSIA provides tailored support throughout the startup journey, from ideation to scaling up. BSIA is dedicated to shaping Busan into a global innovation powerhouse by: Identifying and fostering promising tech startups Cultivating a vibrant venture investment ecosystem Expanding infrastructure for tech-driven investments Through ongoing innovation and strategic partnerships, BSIA is building a dynamic startup ecosystem where entrepreneurs and investors thrive, positioning Busan as a leading destination for startups in Asia.

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Mauritius has established itself as a premier destination for insurance and reinsurance business, distinguished by its strong adherence to international best practices and regulatory standards under the Financial Services Commission. Contributing 2% to the country’s GDP in 2023 [Statistics Mauritius - National Accounts - December 2024 Issue], the insurance sector benefits from a robust legislative framework, including the Insurance Act, the Captive Insurance Act and the Insurance (Structured Investment Linked Insurance Business) Rules 2022. Recent enhancements to the captive insurance framework, introducing diverse captive categories and permitting third-party risk exposures, demonstrate Mauritius' commitment to innovation and growth. The strategic use of Protected Cell Companies further enhances business structuring opportunities. With an insurance penetration rate of 4.3% in 2024 [Bank of Mauritius - Financial Stability Report December 2024], the sector shows resilience and attractiv

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Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has unveiled a draft Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act, setting clear rules for the issuance and trading of stablecoins. Only domestic banks will be allowed to issue stablecoins, and they must be backed by fiat currencies (e.g., TWD, USD). Foreign stablecoins (like USDT) will be treated as commodities and must gain FSC approval before being listed on local exchanges. Existing VASPs must register by the end of March or cease operations. The draft law is expected to be submitted to the Executive Yuan by the end of June. Taiwan is moving toward a new era of regulated, innovative digital finance! Follow us on LinkedIn for more details.

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GFT, Engine by Starling and Salt Bank have won the “Financial Services Collaboration of the Year sponsored by Maveric NXT” and “Best Use of IT in Consumer Finance” categories at the prestigious 2025 FS Tech Awards, and “Best Digital Bank” at the Fintech Breakthrough Award. The accolades recognise the three partners’ transformative collaboration which showcases leadership in digital banking innovation. The winning project revolved around developing Romania’s first 100% digital banking platform for Salt Bank, using Engine by Starling's cloud-native technology. This platform allowed Salt Bank to create optimal operations, a customer centric experience, and introduce new financial products suited to current consumer requirements. The project has attracted great attention in the industry as the new bank was built in less than twelve months. Read more here. New GFT thought leadership: Lifting the lid on hyperpersonalised banking: Brand-new GFT thought leadership paper on hyperpersonalised ba

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The report explores important aspects of building a green economy, with a particular focus on Kazakhstan. International experience demonstrates that emissions trading systems in developed and industrially emerging countries operate on a model of the partial distribution of allowances through auctioning, which helps establish a market price for carbon. In Kazakhstan, the national Emissions Trading System was launched in 2013 and currently covers 47% of emissions, generated by 135 companies from the energy, mining and manufacturing sectors. Also the AIFC has established the Green Finance Centre to advance sustainable finance tools and encourage investment in environmental and social projects in Kazakhstan and Central Asian region”.

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With flexible options to suit your business needs. Co-ops are immersive student work placements aligned to areas of their study, matching the skills and extra support you might be looking for. For your organisation, co-op means bringing in talent from diverse backgrounds and with outstanding skillsets, to shape the future of your workforce. Benefits to employers: Flexible resource for your organisation’s needs A sustainable recruitment pathway A dedicated team providing tailored recruitment support To find out more, register your interest with our partnerships team today.

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In this software-defined era there is a new type of Wide Area Network (WAN) – the SD-WAN. It’s described by World Wide Technology as “the next generation of WAN technology,” which forms the foundation of today’s WAN infrastructure. This is positive for industry overall, sinceorganisations often offer this as a service and it can be hosted in a multitude of locations – changing where applications are located. With traditional network infrastructure, a hub-and-spoke approach is deployed, with organisations renting leased lines “from service providers, to interconnect remote locations or central data centre hubs,” explains the firm. It then explains that traffic flowed from a remote location (spoke) to a central hub in order to reach applications services and the public internet, provided from central locations. This network architectural model was favoured for years, as organisations became more interconnected, as services became highly centralised. David Trossell, CEO and CTO of Bridgew

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