The ‘Future of Finance’ conference began on Wednesday at the Expo 2020 Exhibition Centre in Dubai…reports Asian Lite News
The event, being organised by the CBUAE over two days, aims to shape the future of the financial sector with the participation of leading policy and decision makers figures from local and global supervisory authorities, financial institutions, government agencies and central bank governors from GCC countries and around the world.
“The Future of Finance Conference stresses the importance of digitisation, cross-border co-operation and the exchange of knowledge and experience with our local and global partners to achieve our goal of a sustainable financial future,” said Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, in his opening remarks.
“We want to make a qualitative leap in the financial system during the next fifty years, especially after COVID-19, which had a profound impact on all financial systems in the world.”
“The UAE, represented by the Central Bank and its regulatory and government agencies, is committed to achieving sustainable economic growth by engendering qualitative change and innovation in the financial sector, boosting financial inclusion, and adopting strategies, regulations and policies that mitigate the effects of climate change,” he added.
Balama also spoke about the opportunities and challenges, pointing out the critical supervisory issues of the rapid digital transformation process taking place, and the importance of choosing the right digital solutions to meet the aspirations of the UAE and its financial industry.
In his speech, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), confirmed the importance of taking a forward-looking approach during the digital transformation process in the financial sector.
One of the most highly-anticipated panels focused on digital transformation, and featured Dr. Andreas Dombret; Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority wtc.
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They addressed the financial sector’s opportunities and challenges, including regulatory concerns about the rapid pace of digitalisation, stressing the importance of selecting prudent digital solutions, to reach a sustainable financial system, study the risks of these solutions, and setting relevant strategic regulations and frameworks for the coming years.
The conference also highlighted the importance of co-operation between central banks, notably on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and cross-border payments.
In a group discussion on greening the financial system, Aisha Al Abdooli, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Green Development and Climate Change Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change, addressed the association between environmental, social and financial costs of climate-related risks.
This panel included contributions from Dr. Mohammed Omran, Executive Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority in Egypt; as well as Tobias Adrian, Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the International Monetary Fund.
The panelists explored the implications of the accelerating pace of regulatory change, and the need to design policies and legislation promoting the transition to a green economy. They also discussed strategies to develop sustainable finance products and regulatory actions to manage and mitigate climate-related risks in the financial sector.
Abdul-Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of UAE Bank Federation, concluded the first day with an invitation to re-imagine the world of finance, including game-changing payment innovations and cross-industry value platforms, linking traders and financiers in one portal. Data and A.I. would govern this cashless new world, in which consumers would demand speedy, safe transactions and sustainable financial solutions.
Day two of the Future of Finance conference promises an engaging agenda of keynote addresses and panel discussions on Islamic finance and the UAE’s National Payment System.