Introduction
The momentum for greater financial integration to support the real development in economic integration is picking up pace. Countries in the Asia region are doing more business with each other and regional countries like China, India and Indonesia are becoming increasingly significant trade partners to other emerging markets, superseding the role that was once dominated by the US.
Greater integration of markets, payments infrastructure and banking systems is a natural facilitator to this development, but integration isn’t a given, and the elements that facilitate or hinder them are need to be considered carefully in order to ensure a win-win proposition for all participating economies.
Countries that have much to gain by regionalising their economies are moving along much faster. Countries that are still working out the mechanics by which they want to be more fully integrated in the regional economy have to work out alternative models which would work for them.
The Financial Integration Forum at The Asian Banker Summit is intended as a working session for leaders in the industry to “imagine the future”, without boundaries in their minds, and to offer their deliberations as a thought leadership document that can be used in future forums, such as APEC, and other Trans Pacific Partnership (TTP).
The forum takes into account current realities and future possibilities, especially those brought about by technology and innovation. It’s designed as an empty canvas where leaders in the industry can paint what the region would look like in a borderless setting.
The program will be facilitated by Prof. Alain Chevalier, professor of finance, ESCP Europe, a man known for contributing to a lot of the thought that goes into making Europe think about its own integrated future.
The program will feature a panel of CEOs and senior decision makers in commercial banks, financial market infrastructure, funds and related payments infrastructure players across Asia who will be required to answer the following questions over five sessions:
Dialogue 1: Imagining the Future – based on tomorrow’s rules
Dialogue 2: Payments Integration: How to achieve integration?
Dialogue 3: Financial Markets Integration: The illusion of inter-connectedness
Dialogue 4: Regulation and the desired policy response – tying it altogether
We have also invited experts from other jurisdictions with the greater experience in creating an integrated banking system to help us think through a workable Asian model.
Who should attend
Attendance to this “imagining the future” session is by exclusive invitation only. Invitations are being sent to the following senior executives:
- Regulators and government officials of Asian countries
- CEOs of commercial banks and/or their senior representatives
- CEOs, COOs of commodities/mercantile exchanges
- Senior representatives of hedge funds, asset management companies and investors
- Leading corporate CFOs
- Heads of payments infrastructure
- Representatives from other markets whose experience can facilitate the dialogue.
Agenda 22 May 2014
The sessions will be highly experiential with presentations, supporting research and engaging facilitators to keep the discussions highly interactive.
| The Financial Integration Forum Agenda 22 May 2014, Thursday | |
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08:30 – 09:00 |
Registration |
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09:00 – 10:30 |
Dialogues Chaired by: Alain Chevalier, Professor of Finance, ESCP Europe and Emmanuel Daniel, Chairman, The Asian Banker Opening Comments by: Alain Raes, chief executive Europe, Middle East, Africa & APAC, SWIFT Dialogue 1: Imagining the Future – based on tomorrow’s rules Participants at this session will be asked to imagine how the agenda for greater integration is being embraced by the financial community of the region, through trends such as:
The participating panel will be asked to respond to what they see to be emerging trends from these developments and to offer their open suggestions on what this should mean for the financial services sector. With comments from Deborah K. Elms, Head at Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade and Negotiations |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Morning Break |
| 11:00 – 12:30 |
Dialogue 2: Payments Integration: How to achieve integration? Sovereignty, local currency and monetary and fiscal policies at the national level must remain intact while factors such as the asset spill over effect, liquidity and systemic risk are addressed at the regional level. Trends in global payments are such that real time payments and alternative channels are starting to emerge in the market. Does this affect the relevance of financial institutions in the payments sector? Are these alternative models sustainable and if so, structurally sufficient to comply with and satisfy domestic and international regulation and guidelines? How can ASEAN ensure that a regional model is something that will be meaningful and cost efficient for its participants while facilitating economic activity without affecting the abilities of individual countries to manage their own monetary and fiscal policies? How has this happened in other parts of the world? What are the lessons learned? The discussion will be built focusing on the recent developments of the following types of organisations:
The forum will be asked to imagine the scenario that includes the role of bank-led infrastructure amidst all the innovations currently underway.
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12:30 – 14:00 |
Luncheon |
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14:00 – 15:00 |
Dialogue 3: Financial Markets Integration: Where are the dividends of inter-connectedness Asia has been, and poses to be, a hot-bed of activity in payments, securities and trade and the notion of integration of financial markets poses the possibility of a great advantage to increase margins by saving on costs of doing business. The notion of compounded growth and benefits as a result of greater cooperation is not self-evident. Competition necessitates that market participants guard trade secrets. Is there a greater benefit to collaborating on harmonizing and if so, what is that greater benefit comprised of? The discussion will revolve around the various integration initiatives in the Asia Pacific region:
Even though each market has its own growth objectives, could financial integration increase liquidity or growth? With comments from:
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15:00 – 16:00 |
Dialogue 4: Regulators and the desired policy response – tying it altogether Given some of the scenarios that could evolve in creating greater regional interaction, what are
The forum will end with a belief statement on both unique and general elements the panel believes are important for policy makers to focus on as they respond to an increasingly borderless world. It is hoped that the recommendations from these “clean slate” discussions will be able to find their way to other intergovernmental forums. With comments from
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| 16:00 – 16:30 | Afternoon break |
| 16:30 – 17:30 |
The Asian Banker Summit Closing Keynote Session
With comments from
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* Please note that the attendees are in various stages of invitation and confirmation. Updated list of participants will be provided, as these are available.
For more details, please contact:
Muhammad Usama
Program Manager
Email: musama@theasianbanker.com
Tel: +86 10 5869 3492
Register Now
For speaking and content related inquiries please contact:
Muhammad Usama
Program Manager
Email: musama@theasianbanker.com
Tel: +86 10 5869 3492
