Doha: The 50th annual meeting of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), hosted by Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) over three days, concluded its schedule in Doha with the participation of delegations of IOSCO member states and capital market experts from around the world. Participants in this important international event discussed the key challenges and opportunities in regulating and developing financial markets, and ways to enhance transparency and financial stability regionally and internationally.
According to Qatar News Agency, during the last day, representatives of IOSCO Member States and participants held a meeting of the IOSCO's Diversity Network and the MMoU MG + signing ceremony. A roundtable meeting was also held between the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the IOSCO. As part of the last day's activities, CEO of QFMA and Chairman of the IOSCO's Presidents Committee, Dr. Tamy Bin Ahmad Al Binali, chaired the meeting of the Presidents Committee, one of the most important strategic meetings on the IOSCO agenda. The meeting was attended by IOSCO Secretary General Rodrigo Buenaventura, IOSCO Board Chair Jean-Paul Servais, and representatives of Member States and international financial institutions.
Dr. Al Binali expressed his happiness at the presence of IOSCO members and participants in Doha, highlighting Qatar as a hub for modern governance and economic transformation driven by strategic vision. He emphasized the significance of the 50th Annual Meeting of IOSCO, noting its evolution from a modest network of national regulators to a global standard-setter representing over 95% of the world's securities markets across 130 jurisdictions.
Throughout the Presidents Committee meeting, Dr. Al Binali stressed IOSCO's commitment to protecting investors, upholding market integrity, and safeguarding financial stability amid rapid technological advancements. He noted that global trading volumes in digital assets reached record levels in 2023, and financial institutions increasingly use AI tools for market functions. IOSCO has responded by issuing global guidance on crypto-assets, decentralized finance, and the responsible use of AI in capital markets.
Dr. Al Binali detailed Qatar's alignment with these global trends through the QFMA's 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, which focuses on FinTech, tokenization frameworks, smart contracts, robo-advisory services, and advanced regulatory technologies. He called for IOSCO to evolve into a leader in building trust within digital capital markets and emphasized the importance of establishing globally relevant principles to protect investors.
During the meeting, IOSCO's 50-year legacy and priorities were addressed, along with general policies and coordination efforts to enhance global capital markets' efficiency and fairness. A public discussion moderated by the IOSCO Secretary General covered Suptech, AI, and Crypto Regulation, with a focus on implementation and capacity building. Participants praised Qatar's organization and hospitality, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation and experience exchange among global capital market regulators.
The meeting was attended by decision-makers, global regulators, and capital market experts. IOSCO, comprising over 130 regulators worldwide, is a key international organization focused on regulating and developing capital markets, enhancing transparency, protecting investors, and ensuring the stability of international capital markets.