The future of global financial centers was the focus of a high-level roundtable held during the BIFC Global Finance Symposium 2026 in Busan, South Korea.
Organized by the World Alliance, the roundtable brought together senior representatives from across the Alliance network under the theme “The Future of Global Financial Centers: Competitiveness, Cooperation and New Opportunities.”
The panel featured:
- Lamia Merzouki, Chair of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers
- Bakhtiyar Tleubekov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)
- Hubertus Väth, Vice-Chair of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers
- Jochen Biedermann, Managing Director of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers
The discussion examined how international financial centers can strengthen their competitiveness while deepening cooperation across markets and regions.
Participants explored the role of financial centers in connecting markets and ecosystems, as well as the opportunities for closer collaboration to facilitate the movement of capital, support companies and attract international talent.
The discussion also reflected the changing role of financial centers within the global economy. Increasingly, they serve not only as destinations for capital, but also as platforms connecting governments, financial institutions, businesses, investors, innovators and international markets.
Against a backdrop of rapid technological, regulatory and economic change, panelists highlighted the importance of cooperation between financial centers and the potential for stronger international networks to support new opportunities across markets.
The roundtable formed part of the broader program of the BIFC Global Finance Symposium 2026, which brought together representatives from financial centers and the international financial community to discuss the future development of global financial markets.