Doha, May 14 (QNA) - The 50th annual meeting of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), hosted by Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) over three days, concluded its schedule in Doha on Wednesday, with the participation of delegations of IOSCO member states and capital market experts from around the world.

Participants in this important international event discussed the key challenges and opportunities in regulating and developing financial markets, and ways to enhance transparency and financial stability regionally and internationally.

During the last day, representatives of IOSCO Member States and participants held a meeting of the IOSCO's Diversity Network and the MMoU MG + signing ceremony.

A roundtable meeting was also held between the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the IOSCO.

As part of the last day's activities, CEO of QFMA and Chairman of the IOSCO’s Presidents Committee, Dr. Tamy Bin Ahmad Al Binali, chaired the meeting of the Presidents Committee, which is one of the most important strategic meetings on the IOSCO agenda.

The meeting was attended by IOSCO Secretary General Rodrigo Buenaventura and IOSCO Board Chair Jean-Paul Servais as well as the presence of the chairs of the IOSCO Committees and bodies, representatives of Member States, and many international financial institutions.

During the Presidents Committee meeting, Dr. Al Binali expressed his happiness at the presence of IOSCO members and participants in Doha, welcoming them to Doha, the capital city of a nation famous for its rich heritage, strategic vision, and solid commitment to progress.

"Today, Qatar stands as a regional and global hub where traditions dictate modern governance, and economic transformation is driven by a long-term vision, stability, and innovation," he said.

"It is particularly fitting that we are gathering in Qatar to celebrate a significant milestone in the global regulatory landscape — the 50th Annual Meeting of IOSCO. For five decades, IOSCO has upheld the integrity of capital markets, promoting transparency, fairness, and resilience across various jurisdictions.

"As we look back on IOSCO’s 50-year journey, let’s consider how far we’ve come—from ticker tapes and trading pits to tokenized assets and decentralized exchanges. What used to take days now happens in seconds.

"What was once regional is now immediately global. IOSCO’s evolution reflects this transformation. From a modest network of national regulators, it has become a global standard-setter, representing over 95% of the world’s securities markets across 130 jurisdictions".

Dr. Al Binali continued, saying that throughout financial crises, systemic shocks, and waves of innovation, IOSCO has remained committed to its mission: to protect investors, uphold market integrity, and safeguard financial stability. Now, as we reach the frontier of artificial intelligence, crypto-assets, and real-time supervision, we are once again called to lead rather than simply react.

He added that in 2023, global trading volumes in digital assets reached record levels, with some months exceeding USD 10 trillion. This trend highlights the rapid changes occurring in the market. At the same time, many financial institutions have reported using AI tools for various market functions. Regulators are also increasingly adopting AI to improve surveillance, compliance oversight, and data-driven supervision. These developments are not future trends; they are current realities.

Dr. Al Binali explained that in response, IOSCO has taken significant action by issuing global guidance on the regulation of crypto-assets, decentralized finance, and the responsible use of AI in capital markets.

"However, the work ahead involves more than just creating rules. It is important to focus on implementation and capacity building. Most importantly, we must ensure that investor protection remains our top priority throughout this rapid transformation.

"From Qatar's perspective, our digital transformation is a strategic initiative that is closely aligned with our National Vision 2030. This vision places digital innovation at the core of a knowledge-based and globally connected economy. The Third Financial Sector Strategy supports this vision by highlighting the importance of fintech, digital resilience, and agile regulation".

He added that in line with these national strategies, the QFMA’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan focuses on several key areas, including a FinTech Sandbox, tokenization frameworks, smart contracts, robo-advisory services, and advanced regulatory technology (RegTech) and supervisory technology (SupTech) systems. Additionally, we collaborate with regional and global partners to ensure that our frameworks remain adaptive, compatible, and driven by innovation. This approach reflects Qatar’s commitment to leading the way in establishing credible and future-ready digital regulations.

Dr. Al Binali expressed that he strongly believes that IOSCO must evolve into the leader in building trust within digital capital markets. "We need to establish principles that are not only relevant on a global scale but also prepare for the future, with a strong focus on protecting investors in every jurisdiction, regardless of size," he said.

"Let this meeting mark an important moment where we commit to guiding the digital age with courage, clarity, and a united determination. The future of global capital markets is being shaped now; Let us write it together — wisely, boldly, and in the service of those we are here to protect".

During the Presidents Committee meeting, they addressed IOSCO’s 50-year legacy and priorities.

The meeting dealt with the IOSCO general policies and ways to coordinate efforts among members to contribute to enhancing the efficiency and fairness of global capital markets.

They also discussed the presentation of the IOSCO leadership report on IOSCO’s work since the last Annual Meeting.

The Presidents Committee meeting also witnessed a public discussion moderated by the IOSCO Secretary General covering Suptech, Artificial Intelligence, and Crypto Regulation—including implementation and capacity building.

For their part, the participants in the meeting praised the good organization and hospitality of Qatar, stressing the importance of continuing such meetings to enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences among the global capital markets regulator.

The 50th IOSCO annual meeting was attended by a group of many decision-makers, representatives of global regulators and experts in capital markets.

IOSCO is one of the key international organizations concerned with regulating and developing capital markets and enhancing cooperation among global capital market regulators. Its membership includes more than 130 regulators around the world, working to enhance transparency, protect investors, and ensure the stability of international capital markets. (QNA)