Background: Seoul has been designated and developed as a global financial hub, continuously refining its legal, regulatory, and physical infrastructure to attract international capital and talent. To share the latest progress and future directions of these initiatives, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, in collaboration with the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), is …

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Background: As artificial intelligence, automation, and digital platforms reshape our lives, one commercial and human question becomes increasingly important: what will make clients stay when machines can compare, recommend, negotiate, and switch on their behalf? This webinar will explore the future of loyalty in a market where machines can process …

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With a solid industrial and economic foundation, a continuously open and optimized regulatory framework, and strong potential to connect with global capital markets, Taiwan is actively positioning itself as an asset management hub in Asia. Amidst the global transition toward sustainability, Taiwan is also placing "sustainable finance" and ESG investing …

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Background: A regular speaker at the FS Club, EU Regulatory Expert David P. Doyle is back to give a mid-year update on the EU financial services regulatory agenda.He will be covering some of the most contentious and game-changing pieces of EU legislation in the financial services space, notably:A strategic insight …

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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.During a Symposium on the Future of Global Financial Centres in Busan, South Korea, Z/Yen will formally launch the 40th edition of the index.

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Mark Mason doesn’t want to be just another magician doing tricks to fool you. Instead he loves the way magic can develop your thinking. So he does the tricks for you – then helps you to work out how he did them. Cards, coins, iPhones, wallets: all these and more …

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Background: The eighteenth edition of the China Construction Bank 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 …

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In this webinar, we launch the fourteenth edition of the Smart Centres Index (SCI 14). 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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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 41st edition of the index.Programme:09:00 Introduction & Welcome – TBC09:05 Opening Remarks09:15 GFCI 39 Results - Mike …

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Background: The nineteenth edition of the China Construction Bank 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 …

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Background: In this episode, Brian discusses how philosophy can help shape the development of trustworthy AI, drawing on his work in ethics, misinformation, and AI governance, as well as Northeastern's interdisciplinary Master's programme in Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence. The conversation explores how philosophical concepts such as knowledge, reasoning, metacognition, and …

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The thirteenth edition of the Smart Centres Index was published on 28 May 2026. SCI 13 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 …

The seventeenth edition of the China Construction Bank Global Green Finance Index (CCB GGFI 17) was published on 23 April 2026. CCB GGFI 17 evaluates green finance offerings from 92 major financial centres around the world. The GGFI serves as a valuable reference into the development of green finance for …

The thirty-ninth edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 39) was published on 26 March 2026. GFCI 39 provides evaluations of future competitiveness and rankings for 120 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 39 Report into Chinese.

The Z/Yen Group today released a publication titled “The Role of Finance in Addressing Sustainable Development” as commissioned by the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC).The global financial system is evolving from a passive allocator of capital to an active force shaping growth pathways that foster resilience and inclusion. Global financing …

Dr. Paul Lei, Chairman of the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance (TABF), recently led a delegation to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, where the team held discussions with Director General Amino Chi on regional economic developments across Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The exchange focused on evolving regional economic trends and the broader implications for Taiwan’s financial sector. In an increasingly dynamic global environment, maintaining close engagement with international developments remains essential for strengthening institutional resilience and strategic foresight. TABF values opportunities to engage with overseas representatives and diplomatic professionals, whose frontline perspectives contribute meaningfully to enhancing global awareness and cross-border insight within Taiwan’s financial community. TABF will continue to deepen international dialogue and cooperation, supporting Taiwan’s financial sector in strengthening its global

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Mauritius has adhered to the IMF’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) Plus effective 16 March 2026, the highest tier of the IMF’s Data Standards Initiatives. Mauritius is the first country in Africa and the 32nd country worldwide to have accomplished this landmark achievement in data transparency. By adhering to the IMF SDDS Plus, Mauritius commits to meeting the most rigorous requirements for disseminating key macroeconomic and financial statistics. This step reinforces Mauritius’ dedication to publishing comprehensive, reliable, and timely data. Robust data coverage and enhanced data transparency further improve economic policy making and analysis as well as reinforce the credibility of Mauritius on the international capital markets, as affirmed by the IMF.

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Over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s capital markets have become increasingly accessible to households and retail investors. Report provides an integrated overview of the current state of retail investing in Kazakhstan. It examines how individuals engage with local capital markets through major exchanges and intermediaries, and how landmark IPOs and new products have shaped this engagement.

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The China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) is the world's largest trade exhibition, held biannually in Guangzhou. Renowned as the "Barometer of China's Foreign Trade," this delegation offers participants direct access to global suppliers, buyers, and industry trends across consumer goods, electronics, and machinery.

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Following the municipal election on June 3, Busan has launched a new era of governance. The city administration has established the "Global Maritime Capital" initiative as its primary policy mandate. Moving forward, the city is set to integrate Busan’s existing port infrastructure with advanced maritime administration, specialized shipping services, a robust legal framework, and a dedicated financial ecosystem. A series of institutional reforms underpins this implementation strategy. The administration is currently reviewing the creation of a specialized Maritime Vice Mayor position to streamline high-level decision-making. Concurrently, Busan is advancing preparations for the Northern Sea Route, strengthening regional maritime public institutions, and working to attract global maritime corporations and business functions. The city is also leading efforts to establish a dedicated Maritime Court. Together, these initiatives are designed to expand Busan’s institutional framework and auth

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COMPUTEX 2026 concluded successfully on June 5. The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) once again participated in this premier global technology event under the theme “Beyond the Exchange, Behind the World's AI,” achieving significant results.

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Invest Seoul is an agency established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to make Seoul the top choice for global companies and investors, transforming the city into a trusted 'business partner' worldwide. Founded in October 2025, Invest Seoul focuses on attracting excellent global companies and foreign investments. The primary goal is to help overseas investors succeed. Utilizing Seoul's advanced technology, innovative business environment, and world-class talent, Invest Seoul supports global companies entering Seoul and empowers promising local businesses to grow globally.

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Building Resilience Through Change, the report highlights the structural pressures facing global banking, with profit pools at risk of declining by US$170 billion by 2030 without decisive transformation. It examines how digital?native challenger banks and new operating models are redefining competitiveness, marking the most significant structural shift since the 2008 global financial crisis. AI is emerging as core infrastructure, reshaping productivity and value creation across the sector. Set against rising demand from emerging markets and new client groups, the report underscores how early movers can strengthen resilience and capture future growth opportunities.

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Reinforcing Its Regional Financial Ambitions: Taiwan's wealth management sector continues to gain momentum, underscoring the strength of its financial market reforms and its growing role as a regional asset management hub. According to the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), as of May 2026, 21 domestic banks serve more than 25,000 high-net-worth (HNW) clients, with assets under management (AUM) reaching NT$2.66 trillion. Both client numbers and AUM have grown by more than 70% year over year—an exceptional pace that reflects rising investor confidence, increasing demand for sophisticated wealth solutions, and the rapid evolution of Taiwan's private wealth market.

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Now available from Northeastern University London: As regulators and boards increasingly expect demonstrable AI literacy at a leadership level, the question for financial services organisations is no longer whether to upskill - it's how to do it quickly and cost-effectively. From September 2026, Northeastern University London is launching its first AI Leadership Apprenticeship Unit: AU0009: AI Strategy and Opportunity - a focused five-week programme designed to equip senior leaders with the knowledge and confidence to identify AI opportunities and develop strategy across their organisation. Delivered through a blended model with one in-person day per week, it's built to fit around the demands of busy leadership teams. And with funding available through the Growth and Skills Levy or government co-investment for SMEs, it offers a direct, low-commitment route to building AI capability at the top of your organisation.

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Global cybercrime damage is project to cost more than $12 USD trillion annually by 2031, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. In the face of such of threat, how do organisations evolve at the highest levels to become capable of understanding content, detecting intent and predicting threats? And who within those organisations should be driving the changes needed to get there – and how is that to be achieved to the best effect? In response, Peter Smails, SVP, general manager, cloud native, SUSE, says organisations can’t afford incremental improvements; they need a fundamental shift in how they secure cloud environments. “Modern infrastructure is dynamic, distributed and API driven. Identities outnumber humans and attackers increasingly exploit misconfigurations, over permission roles and exposed control planes, rather than traditional network perimeters.”

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