Muscat Securities Market (MSM) will host the 2018 edition of the World Exchange Congress, billed as the preeminent platform for global bourses and financial trading houses, in the Omani capital during February 27-28, 2018. Welcoming the privilege granted to the Sultanate and its official bourse as hosts of the prestigious event, Ahmed al Marhoon, Director-General of Muscat Securities Market, said: “The World Exchange Congress is unofficially the biggest annual meeting for CEOs and senior executives of the world’s trading venues. Each year, at a different location around the world we are joined by around 300 C-level and executive representatives from Stock, FX, Futures, Commodity and Energy Exchanges as well as Clearing Houses, Investment Banks and Regulators.”

It marks the first time that Oman will be hosting the World Exchange Congress. Over the last 12 years, the event has visited London, Madrid, Monaco, Istanbul, Barcelona, Doha, Dubai and most recently Budapest in 2017. “For 2018, the event will be coming to Muscat, Oman and I sincerely hope that you will join us there,” he said.

The World Exchange Congress, Al Marhoon said, is unique in its ability to attract C-level representation from all different sizes of exchanges around the world, from tier one to frontier.

“In 2018 and in response to demand, participation will be expanding to include representatives at exchanges responsible for Technology, Cyber Security, Innovation and Risk.

Our 90-strong speaker faculty will be discussing all aspects of the challenges facing the exchange community today, from global political developments to integrating new technologies such as blockchain and the world of RegTech.”

New growth opportunities Delivering the welcome address on February 27 will be Rainer Riess, Director-General of the Federation of European Securities Markets. The keynote speech, focusing on the theme, ‘Where will tomorrow’s growth come from: technology, data or market services?’ will be presented by Stéphane Boujnah, Chairman and CEO, Euronext. Offering his perspective on the financial role of GCC stock markets in the light of declining oil prices will be Ahmed al Marhoon of the Muscat Securities Market.

The opening session will focus on how exchanges can become more attractive to investors by diversifying into technology, data and analytics revenue streams. Participating in this discussion are: Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO, Colombo Stock Exchange; Khaled AbdulRazzaq AlKhaled, CEO, Boursa Kuwait; Petr Koblic, CEO, Prague Stock Exchange; Aleš Ipavec, President of the Management Board, Ljubljana Stock Exchange; Rashed al Baloushi, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange; and Renuke Wijayawardhane, Chief Regulatory Officer, Colombo Stock.