On behalf of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers, our partners led a delegation from the World Alliance of International Financial Centers to the Asian Financial Forum 2026 in Hong Kong.
The Africa Roundtable of Financial Centers (ARFC), in collaboration with the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) and the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), highlighted the accelerating economic integration between Africa and Asia. Over the past two decades, financial hubsโled by Hong Kong and Africa's leading financial centersโhave emerged as the primary gateways for capital, innovation, and sustainable growth between the two continents.
Vietnam is moving forward with an ambitious vision โ establishing an international financial center as a gateway for global capital and foreign investors. The ambition is clear, but the path is less certain. Our managing partner gave a keynote at the Bloomberg Businessweek conference in Ho Chi Minh City.
Financial centers play a crucial role in national and global economic development by providing high-quality financial services and facilitating economic connectivity. To thrive, financial centers must adapt to technological advancements, sustainability challenges, and geopolitical shifts, while ensuring strong political support, a favorable business environment, robust infrastructure, and talent development.