KOFIA, the association that represents South Korea’s financial markets, hosted members of the International Council of Securities Associations (ICSA) and many other capital market participants from around the world at a two-day gathering in Seoul in June. AMAFI was there, represented by Chief Executive Stéphanie Hubert and Director of European and International Affairs Arnaud Eard. The event comprised two distinct parts: the Annual General Meeting on 19 June, which was reserved for ICSA members, and the international conference on 20 June, which opened up to a wider audience.

Members were able during the AGM to go over their priorities in areas ranging from sustainable finance to the digitalisation of financial services and post-trade topics, especially the switch by some jurisdictions to T+1 settlement. Urban Funered, CEO of the Swedish Securities Markets Association (SSMA), was named Chairman of the ICSA and Stéphanie Hubert was appointed to the Board.

The international conference was an opportunity to recognise the rise of Asia’s financial centres. Stéphanie Hubert represented AMAFI in two panel discussions, on sustainable finance and the EU Listing Act, respectively. During the Listing Act discussion, she underlined AMAFI's position on sponsored research, explaining how the association had spearheaded the creation of a national code of conduct to support the growth of sponsored research, which was a major initiative for SME and mid cap market financing.