ASIFMA Annual Conference 2025

February 17th, 2025 | The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Hong Kong

OVERVIEW

About the event:

This year, the highly anticipated ASIFMA Annual Conference will be focused around the central theme of “Exploring New Growth Corridors in Asia Pacific,” which will delve into the new dynamics changing the contours of financial markets around the region, from India and the Middle East to Southeast Asia, Korea and China. We hope to tap into the industry’s leading experts to discuss new developments in these markets and how the Asian-Pacific region is adapting to the changing shape of global connectivity.

Language:

English

Program Format:

1-day engaging program through keynote addresses, panel discussions, case studies & fireside chats.

For more details about the event or if you would like to join the speaking faculty, please contact Claire Souleyman at csouleyman@asifma.org

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joy Balboa at jbalboa@asifma.org

Media contact

This event is open to the press. For media inquiries, please contact Corliss Ruggles at (cruggles@asifma.org).

AGENDA

MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2025 / MORNING SESSION: 08:50 - 12:25

08:50 –09:05	Welcome Remarks: Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA
09:05 –09:20	Keynote Address: Eddie Yue, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
09:20 – 10:00	Fireside Chat: Geopolitics 2025 2025 will usher in a new era of challenges as ongoing conflicts and increased trade tensions between two economic giants – China and United States – unfold. Global businesses will be closely examining their strategies which will be shaped by tariff and supply chain risks, evolving regulatory fragmentation, modest economic growth projections complicated by the uncertain geopolitical landscape.
10:00 – 10:40	Coffee Break
10:40 – 11:35	CEO Panel: Viewpoints from the top Moderator: Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA Confirmed Speakers: Cecile Bartenieff, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, Societe Generale Ajai Kaul, Head, Asia-Pacific Client Group, Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific, Alliance Bernstein Sjoerd Leenart, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Banking for Asia-Pacific, J.P. Morgan
11:35 – 12:25	Session 1A: Inside the India Market India is becoming a key hotspot in the region for investors and market participants who are all looking at the opportunities this fast-growing economy will offer. According to ASIFMA’s Annual Capital Market Survey India was the market with the biggest growth potential in the region. – How will India’s capital markets capitalize on the country’s rapid economic development and positive investors perception? – Where are the key opportunities for growth? – The role of GIFT City – a complimentary tool or a channel for international investors? – What are the key challenges and roadblocks that market participants encounter when scaling their business in India? Moderator: Diana Parusheva, Managing Director – Public Policy and Sustainable Finance, ASIFMA Confirmed speakers: TBC Session 1B: China 2.0? China faces an unprecedented set of challenges with a slowing economy, a sluggish real estate sector and depressed levels of consumer confidence, further exacerbated against a backdrop of geopolitical pressures. – How effective will the anticipated government stimulus bazooka and structural reforms be? – What role can Hong Kong play in attracting capital flows, internationalization of the RMB and the next phase of connect schemes? Moderator: Lyndon Chao, Managing Director – Head of Equities and Post Trade, ASIFMA / Eugenie Shen, Managing Director – Head of Asset Management Group, ASIFMA Confirmed speakers: Thomas Fang, Head of China Global Markets, UBS Xioyan Zhang, Chair Professor of Finance & Associate Dean at PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University
12:25 – 13:25	Networking Lunch

MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2025 / AFTERNOON SESSION: 13:25 - 16:45

13:25 –14:15	Session 2A: Middle East Corridor: Extending the Reach As the Middle East is working on diversifying their economies and revenues from oil production, the trade and financial relationships between the Middle East and Asia – and especially Hong Kong and China – have grown from opportunistic to strategic. – Trends underpinning this development. – What are the opportunities for HK/CN and the Middle East in developing new channels of commercial and financial flows? – How international infrastructure linkages could provide investors cross-border access to investments and liquidity. Moderator: Philippe Dirckx, Managing Director – Head of Fixed Income, ASIFMA Confirmed Speakers: Ian Johnston, Chief Executive, Dubai Financial Services Authority Session 2B: AI: Navigating the opportunity for (generative) AI in Capital Markets – AI in Action: where’s the promised transformative impact of (gen) AI for Fis – What are the challenges and lessons learnt from FI’s implementation journey – How are different regional and global regulators balancing the risks and opportunities of AI and what does the ideal regulatory framework look like? – What is the role of policymakers vs. developers vs. users in managing AI risks. Moderator: Laurence Van Der Loo, Managing Director – Technology & Operations, ASIFMA Confirmed speakers: Hannah Cassidy, Partner, Head of Financial Services Regulatory, Asia, Herbert Smith Freehills
14:15 –14:30	Afternoon Welcome Address:
14:15 – 15:20	Session 3A: Japan’s equity markets: success through reform After underperforming for decades, Japan’s stock market has outshined many global peers in recent years, while regional markets look to emulate its success. What roles have corporate governance reforms and tax incentives played? What is the government doing to promote the asset management industry and will these efforts pay off? Moderator: Peter Stein, CEO ASIFMA Confirmed Speakers: Jutaro Kaneko, Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, FSA Japan Akiko Kubo, Head of Government & Regulatory Affairs Office, MUFG Motonobu Matsuo, Senior Managing Director, Japan Securities Dealers Association Session 3B: International policies’ implementation and extraterritorial effects Increasing geopolitical fragmentation and economic and policy decoupling at the same time as countries and regions are mandating extraterritorial effects of their regulations are causing stress to the global financial systems. – What are the ripple effects for Asia. – Mandatory US Treasury Clearing, – Lessons from the move to T+1 in the US for other markets, – Basel III implementation, – Data regulations, – EU sustainability disclosures. Moderator: Diana Parusheva, Managing Director – Public Policy and Sustainable Finance, ASIFMA Confirmed Speakers: TBC
15:20 – 15:50	Coffee Break
15:50 – 16:40	Session 4A: Singapore and ASEAN How are Southeast Asian markets – a highly diversified block – attracting global investment? From Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia to Vietnam, each are pursuing their own strategies. What are the success stories and what more needs to be done? Moderator: Lyndon Chao, Managing Director – Head of Equities and Post Trade, ASIFMA Confirmed Speakers: Thomas Cheong, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Principal Session 4B: Sustainability Asia is the region with the highest investment needs and region with the highest potential to absorb capital flows in the process of transitioning to net zero. Many projects will need long-term money and multiple investment streams. – Can Net Zero commitments become a catalyst for wider economic development? – What are the key enablers for sustainability linked investments? – How can market forces and capital markets support and benefit from the sustainability agenda? Moderator: Diana Parusheva, Managing Director – Public Policy and Sustainable Finance, ASIFMA Confirmed Speakers: Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Ruth Shapiro, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS)
16:40 – 16:45	Closing Remarks: Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA
16:45 – 18:30	Cocktail Reception (Ballroom Foyer)

SPONSOR

To effectively engage this esteemed audience and connect with the global and regional community, various sponsorship packages with speaking slots and marketing opportunities are available for ASIFMA members and non-members offering unparalleled branding exposure and lead generation. Financial institutions, vendors, consultants and law firms are particularly encouraged to join as sponsors.

For sponsorship, contact Joy Balboa, Manager – Marketing and Business Development (jbalboa@asifma.org).

SPEAKERS

Industry experts and senior representatives from sell-side and buy-side communities, law firms/ consultants/ vendors, global and Asian policy makers, regulators and central banks.

At ASIFMA, we are committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion in our workplace and this policy is applied in all areas of our business including speaker roles at our events and conferences. We wish to work with members and partners who share this same commitment and are willing to support this policy. For more details about the event or if you would like to join the speaking faculty, please contact Claire Souleyman at csouleyman@asifma.org

REGISTRATION

TICKET INFORMATION
	Early Bird Rate (until 17th January 2025)	Standard Rate *(from 18th January 2025)*
ASIFMA Members / Endorser Members	USD 240.00	USD 300.00
Non ASIFMA Members	USD 300.00	USD 350.00

*By registering to this event organised by ASIFMA, you agree that your contact details will be made available to ASIMFA, our event sponsors, and partners. Your contact details may be used to inform you of future related events, products, and services.

*All registrations require final approval by ASIFMA and ASIFMA reserves the right to cancel or decline any registration at any time.