Recently, the team from China Innovation Finance Institute visited the Middle East and Central Asia, conducting a series of roadshows and research activities targeting over 50 representative institutions from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kazakhstan. The meetings and research mainly revolved around core topics and key projects such as the “Belt and Road” cross-border financing and investment, the construction of Cross-border Investment & Finance Digital Platform, integration of business and finance in the Western Financial Centre, and the organization of Chengdu Finance Week.
The Institute engaged in pragmatic and open exchanges with several high-level officials and institutional leaders, including Renat Bekturov, the Governor of Astana International Financial Centre; Yernur Rysmagambetov, the CEO of Astana International Financial Centre Authority; Assel Mukazhanova, the Acting CEO of Astana International Exchange; Saken Abilmazhinov, the CEO of Samruk-Kazyna Investment; Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange; Jiazhong Wang, the Vice President of Financial Services at Qatar Financial Centre; Abdulla Ahmed Al Emadi, the Officer Investor Relations at Qatar Investment Promotion Agency; and Saeed Al Khoori, the Executive Vice President of Sovereign & Strategic Partnerships at Abu Dhabi Global Market. Additionally, senior management from other related institutions also participated in the exchanges.
Discussions focused particularly on strategic issues such as the interconnection of capital markets between China and Arab countries, China and Kazakhstan, as well as investments in the Middle East and Central Asia. The key focus was to promote the implementation of major investment projects and optimize cooperation mechanisms. Substantial consensus was reached on various topics and fields, and the implementation of several key projects was successfully initiated. In regards to key project collaborations such as Cross-border Investment & Finance Digital Platform and Chengdu Finance Week, the Institute has also made significant progress in its joint effort
with several partner institutions.
During this visit, the Institute also attended three major events: the “Make it in Emirates” forum in Abu Dhabi, Astana Finance Days, and Astana International Forum. The Institute gave full support to the “Astana Financial Days 2023” as its very first partner from Western China. Also, at this year’s Astana International Forum, several world leaders, heads of states and leaders of international organizations were in attendance, including Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan; Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar; Sadyr Japarov, the President of Kyrgyzstan; Abdulla Aripov, the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan; Željka Cvijanović, the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; and Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO.
The roadshows and discussions involved representatives from over 50 institutions, including governments, international financial centres, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, stock exchanges, industrial group, financial institutions, international organizations, and industrial parks. Some of the participating institutions are listed below:
- Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT)
- Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
- Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar
- Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Hungarian National Bank)
- Abu Dhabi Global Market
- Dubai International Financial Centre
- Qatar Financial Centre
- Astana International Financial Centre
- Astana International Exchange
- Qatar Stock Exchange
- Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
- Qatar Investment Authority
- Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
- Mubadala Investment Company
- National Welfare Fund “Samruk-Kazyna”
- Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
- First Abu Dhabi Bank
- Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company
- China National Nuclear Corporation (Middle East Subsidiary)
- China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone
- Islamic Development Bank Group
- Visa
- S&P Global Ratings
- Freedom Holding
- Eurasian Resources Group
The roadshow and research during this visit lasted for 6 days and was led by Calvin Fu, the Chairman of China Innovation Finance Institute. The roadshow and research received guidance from the Chengdu Municipal Financial Regulation Bureau and the Global Advisory Committee of the Institute, as well as support from the Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. Local experts and consultants were also invited to attend some of the research activities.
