Category: MENA

Hong Kong SAR’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, speaks at the “2025 Davos-Caixin CEO Luncheon” in Davos, Switzerland.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 January 2025 – Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Paul Chan, is among nearly 3,000 political leaders, financial officials and business elites attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Promoting Hong Kong’s advantages and value as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder”, Mr Chan has met with leaders from finance and business sectors around the world.

In keynote remarks at the “2025 Davos-Caixin CEO Luncheon”, Mr Chan briefed participants on the latest economic situation and development strategies of Hong Kong, particularly regarding how to leverage the city’s advantages of being well connected to Mainland China and to the world, under the “one country, two systems” principle.

Later, in a speech at the “2025 Davos-Tencent Finance Vision Dinner”, the Financial Secretary elaborated on how Hong Kong can play the role of a “super-connector” and “super value-adder” in the face of an increasingly complex international environment. This, he said, would contribute to China’s high-level opening-up and, in the process, create value and opportunities for global businesses and investors.

Mr Chan also informed participants of the WEF Annual Meeting about Hong Kong’s achievements in attracting businesses and talent as well as the city’s strategies and measures for developments in finance, innovation and technology, trade and aviation.

During a meeting with the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Daren Tang, the Financial Secretary shared that with the staunch support of the country, Hong Kong is vigorously advancing to become an international innovation and technology centre and a regional intellectual property trading centre. He expressed gratitude to WIPO for its support in establishing a Technology and Innovation Support Centre in Hong Kong, noting that the city aims to have it operational this year.

Mr Chan, during a meeting organised by the Giving to Amplify Earth Action launched by the WEF, took the opportunity to highlight Hong Kong’s positon as a leading green finance hub in Asia. He explained that the city’s thriving ecosystem of family offices, private equity funds as well as wealth and asset management is conducive to effectively connecting wealth with climate transformation projects.

Mr Chan has met with several representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (right), to further strengthen bilateral co-peration with the region.

On fintech, Mr Chan met the Chief Executive Officer of stablecoin issuer Circle, Jeremy Allaire to learn about the company’s business development strategies in Asia, and Martin Gilbert, the Chair of Revolut, a UK-based fintech company specialising in digital banking services.

Building on the success of the inaugural “Gulf Cooperation Council Chapter” (GCC Chapter) at the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong earlier this month, Mr Chan met several representatives of GCC countries with a view to further strengthening bilateral co-operation and accelerating the signing of a free trade agreement between Hong Kong and the GCC.

He noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government will actively promote more two-way visits of business delegations, thereby facilitating the matching of projects in the digital economy and green transformation, as well as co-operation in the securities markets, Islamic finance, and asset and wealth management between Hong Kong and the Arab States.

Representatives of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the MTR Corporation Limited and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited are also attending the WEF Annual Meeting, which adopts the theme of “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – EQS Newsroom – 22 January 2025 – COFICERT announces the renewal of the University of Dubai’s MSI 20000 certification for a second consecutive cycle, marking its continuous compliance with the standard requirements.

Late 2020, the University of Dubai undertook an in-depth assessment of its financial governance in accordance with the MSI 20000 Standard, to become the first educational institution in the region to obtain this international certification. The certificate was awarded by the French certification body COFICERT, with the technical support of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG. Global), a technical partner for the MSI 20000 certificate in the Middle East.

At the end of the first 3-year certification cycle, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, UD has entered a second certification cycle, once again demonstrating its continuous compliance with international financial quality standards, which reflects both the strength and stability of UD, as well as its financial performance and sustained growth over the past few years. Leveraging the MSI 20000 expertise and the renewal of its certification cycle, UD is once more engaging in a process of continuous improvement and refinement of its financial governance through regular evaluation diagnostics, which serve as essential internal management tools.

As a reminder, MSI 20000 is the international standard dedicated to the quality of the financial governance of companies and institutions, regulated by the IGSF (International Group for Sustainable Finance). The standard is a comprehensive measurement and evaluation model of the financial situation that is based on sectorial normative benchmarking, and it focuses on two main aspects, the financial solidity and financial performance.

During a ceremony held at UD’s headquarters, in the presence of its Leading Directors, His Excellency Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, President of UD, received the MSI 20000 compliance certificate from an official delegation of COFICERT France, led by its Secretary General, Mr. Cristian Mocanu, and Mr. Souheil Skander CEO of COFICERT MENA region.

“By confirming its compliancy for a second consecutive cycle UD’s reinforces its commitment to financial excellence and its rigorous governance and risk management practices. The renewal not only reflects the University’s sustained efforts to improve its financial position but also highlights its performance, ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness in global markets. As UD continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, this certification strengthens its reputation among different stakeholders, nationally and internationally” stated His Excellency Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, President of UD. His excellence pointed out as well that the certification had consolidated and continues to reinforce the University’s exerted efforts in developing and supporting its financial strategies.

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of TAG. Global, expressed his pride in this major achievement for the UD by confirming its continuous conformity to the MSI 20000 standards, allowing UD to renew its certification cycle. This achievement proves the extent of the Arab institutions’ commitment to the global best practices, as well as, their keenness on the quality financial performance, financial governance, disclosure, and transparency, stated His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – EQS Newsroom – 22 January 2025 – COFICERT announces the renewal of the University of Dubai’s MSI 20000 certification for a second consecutive cycle, marking its continuous compliance with the standard requirements.

Late 2020, the University of Dubai undertook an in-depth assessment of its financial governance in accordance with the MSI 20000 Standard, to become the first educational institution in the region to obtain this international certification. The certificate was awarded by the French certification body COFICERT, with the technical support of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG. Global), a technical partner for the MSI 20000 certificate in the Middle East.

At the end of the first 3-year certification cycle, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, UD has entered a second certification cycle, once again demonstrating its continuous compliance with international financial quality standards, which reflects both the strength and stability of UD, as well as its financial performance and sustained growth over the past few years. Leveraging the MSI 20000 expertise and the renewal of its certification cycle, UD is once more engaging in a process of continuous improvement and refinement of its financial governance through regular evaluation diagnostics, which serve as essential internal management tools.

As a reminder, MSI 20000 is the international standard dedicated to the quality of the financial governance of companies and institutions, regulated by the IGSF (International Group for Sustainable Finance). The standard is a comprehensive measurement and evaluation model of the financial situation that is based on sectorial normative benchmarking, and it focuses on two main aspects, the financial solidity and financial performance.

During a ceremony held at UD’s headquarters, in the presence of its Leading Directors, His Excellency Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, President of UD, received the MSI 20000 compliance certificate from an official delegation of COFICERT France, led by its Secretary General, Mr. Cristian Mocanu, and Mr. Souheil Skander CEO of COFICERT MENA region.

“By confirming its compliancy for a second consecutive cycle UD’s reinforces its commitment to financial excellence and its rigorous governance and risk management practices. The renewal not only reflects the University’s sustained efforts to improve its financial position but also highlights its performance, ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness in global markets. As UD continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, this certification strengthens its reputation among different stakeholders, nationally and internationally” stated His Excellency Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, President of UD. His excellence pointed out as well that the certification had consolidated and continues to reinforce the University’s exerted efforts in developing and supporting its financial strategies.

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of TAG. Global, expressed his pride in this major achievement for the UD by confirming its continuous conformity to the MSI 20000 standards, allowing UD to renew its certification cycle. This achievement proves the extent of the Arab institutions’ commitment to the global best practices, as well as, their keenness on the quality financial performance, financial governance, disclosure, and transparency, stated His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – EQS Newsroom – 22 January 2025 – COFICERT announces the renewal of the University of Dubai’s MSI 20000 certification for a second consecutive cycle, marking its continuous compliance with the standard requirements.

Late 2020, the University of Dubai undertook an in-depth assessment of its financial governance in accordance with the MSI 20000 Standard, to become the first educational institution in the region to obtain this international certification. The certificate was awarded by the French certification body COFICERT, with the technical support of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG. Global), a technical partner for the MSI 20000 certificate in the Middle East.

At the end of the first 3-year certification cycle, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, UD has entered a second certification cycle, once again demonstrating its continuous compliance with international financial quality standards, which reflects both the strength and stability of UD, as well as its financial performance and sustained growth over the past few years. Leveraging the MSI 20000 expertise and the renewal of its certification cycle, UD is once more engaging in a process of continuous improvement and refinement of its financial governance through regular evaluation diagnostics, which serve as essential internal management tools.

As a reminder, MSI 20000 is the international standard dedicated to the quality of the financial governance of companies and institutions, regulated by the IGSF (International Group for Sustainable Finance). The standard is a comprehensive measurement and evaluation model of the financial situation that is based on sectorial normative benchmarking, and it focuses on two main aspects, the financial solidity and financial performance.

During a ceremony held at UD’s headquarters, in the presence of its Leading Directors, His Excellency Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, President of UD, received the MSI 20000 compliance certificate from an official delegation of COFICERT France, led by its Secretary General, Mr. Cristian Mocanu, and Mr. Souheil Skander CEO of COFICERT MENA region.

“By confirming its compliancy for a second consecutive cycle UD’s reinforces its commitment to financial excellence and its rigorous governance and risk management practices. The renewal not only reflects the University’s sustained efforts to improve its financial position but also highlights its performance, ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness in global markets. As UD continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, this certification strengthens its reputation among different stakeholders, nationally and internationally” stated His Excellency Dr. Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, President of UD. His excellence pointed out as well that the certification had consolidated and continues to reinforce the University’s exerted efforts in developing and supporting its financial strategies.

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of TAG. Global, expressed his pride in this major achievement for the UD by confirming its continuous conformity to the MSI 20000 standards, allowing UD to renew its certification cycle. This achievement proves the extent of the Arab institutions’ commitment to the global best practices, as well as, their keenness on the quality financial performance, financial governance, disclosure, and transparency, stated His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh.