The Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority said its chair, Islam Azzam, in his capacity as chair of the International Organization of Securities Commissions Growth and Emerging Markets Committee, led the committee’s first virtual general meeting of 2026 and outlined a work agenda more closely tied to emerging market needs. The update highlights a focus on investor protection, market integrity and financial stability, with capacity building, experience sharing and cross-border cooperation presented as core tools for dealing with risks that can weigh more heavily on less mature markets, including higher interest rates, refinancing pressures, fintech and artificial intelligence. The meeting included the International Organization of Securities Commissions board chair Jean-Paul Servais and secretary general Rodrigo Buenaventura, and reviewed the organization’s capacity-building activities and the results of a March 2026 market development survey used to identify future priorities. Discussions also drew on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Global Debt Report 2026 and the International Organization of Securities Commissions Risk Outlook 2026, covering pressures in global debt markets, the need to deepen local bond markets and attract long-term investors, exchange-traded funds, greater retail participation in private markets, changing market behaviour, AI use in financial products and services, and regulatory challenges linked to digital assets and cross-border activity. Participants also discussed stronger supervisory and oversight tools, greater use of supervisory technology, and flexible risk-based, technology-neutral regulatory frameworks. Azzam said the committee will work with the International Organization of Securities Commissions secretariat so that upcoming meetings and workshops reflect the priorities identified for emerging markets, with support from partnerships including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and regional development banks.
Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority 2026-05-12
Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority head chairs IOSCO Growth and Emerging Markets Committee meeting and sets 2026 priorities on capacity building and risk oversight
The Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority said its chair, Islam Azzam, in his role as chair of IOSCO’s Growth and Emerging Markets Committee, led the committee’s first virtual general meeting of 2026 and set a work agenda aligned with emerging market needs. The meeting focused on investor protection, market integrity and financial stability amid higher interest rates, refinancing risks, fintech, AI, digital assets and cross-border activity, and reviewed capacity-building, supervisory technology and flexible, risk-based, technology‑neutral regulation. Azzam said the committee will work with the IOSCO secretariat and partners including the World Bank and IMF to ensure future meetings and workshops reflect these priorities.