Global Financial Community Optimistic to Overcome Market Challenges and Build Stronger, Tech-Driven, Sustainable Future Economy
18.3.2023 12:23:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
The second edition of the Financial Sector Conference (FSC 2023) has concluded in Riyadh, with a mood of optimism and energy to overcome market challenges to build a stronger, technology driven and sustainable economy of the future.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230317005086/en/
Courtney Powell, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner, 500 Global (Photo: AETOSWire)
Over 3200 participants from 82 countries, and 180 media, assembled in the Saudi capital to discuss the way ahead for the global financial community under the conference theme of “Promising Financial Prospects.”
Representatives from some of the biggest global financial institutions joined Government Finance Ministers met to identify the most effective road map for future growth and prosperity for the sector – enabling greater use of technology, diversification, cross border cooperation and embracing the green economy.
The conference also saw multiple MOUs and agreements signed to support real estate development; FinTech development and digital financing solutions worth billions of dollars and the National Bank of Iraq announced the start of operations in Saudi Arabia.
Concluding the conference, Saudi Central Bank Governor HE Ayman Mohammed Alsayari highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to provide an attractive environment for FinTech companies in line with the goals of Vision 2030 goals, and the vital role they play to support the growth of the private sector, to diversify the economy, and to stimulate saving, financing and investment.
Debating the important role of Venture Capital, Courtney Powell, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner, 500 Global, said: “Since we made our first investment in the Middle East in 2012, we have seen incredible growth and we have 14 companies today valued at over $100 million. The willingness of the government to support entrepreneurs combined with the opening up of the Kingdom shows it has the potential of becoming a leading global hub for entrepreneurship.”
In discussion about the future of global money flows, HE Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italian Minister of Economy and Finance stated: “In the financial sector, fragmentation induced by geopolitical tension will have strong implications by affecting global and financial stability, the cross-border allocation of capital, international payment systems, and asset prices.”
Financing for the SME sector was a key debating point on the final day of the conference with the enormous growth of the sector both in the Middle East and internationally. Tala Al Jabri, Board Member, Middle East VC Association (MEVCA) identified a major financing gap for the sector. He said: “95% of enterprises in the region are SMEs and the loan profile that goes to them is only 7% – which is the lowest in the world, indicating a massive gap.”
The FinTech sector in Saudi Arabia meanwhile is flourishing as Ziad Alyousef, Deputy Governor for Development and Technology, Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) explained: “In 2018, there were less than 10 companies operating in the FinTech community. Now, there are over 155 companies operating in the space in Saudi Arabia and this has led to increased investments and job creation."
*Source: AETOSWire
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230317005086/en/
Contact information
Nawied Jabarkhyl
njabarkhyl@apcoworldwide.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Corient Accelerates European Growth With the Addition of Letus Private Office30.6.2026 08:15:00 EEST | Press release
Corient today announced an agreement to acquire Letus Private Office (“Letus”), an independent multi-family office and wealth advisory firm serving entrepreneurs, founders and other ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families across France and Europe. The acquisition, subject to closing, builds on recent transactions that have made Corient the world’s largest multi-family office and non-bank wealth manager focused on ultra-high-net worth and high-net-worth clients. Paris-based Letus was founded in 2016 and is led by Managing Partners Anice Chlagou, Stephen Lasry and Alexandre Tsouli, and Partner Sacha Levy. It manages and administers approximately €4.1 billion (about US$5 billion). Letus serves ultra-high-net worth clients, primarily entrepreneurs and their families, providing comprehensive, bespoke services that integrate all aspects of wealth management and family office functions, including investment management, wealth and estate planning, financing, legal and tax support, and ph
Hengrui’s Heng Yi ® Approved in China as an Innovative Cyclosporine Ophthalmic Solution for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease30.6.2026 08:00:00 EEST | Press release
Hengrui Pharma, a global pharmaceutical company focused on scientific and technological innovation, and Novaliq GmbH (“Novaliq”), a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on its unique EyeSol® water-free platform technology, announce today that on June 23, 2026, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved Heng Yi® (0.1% cyclosporine ophthalmic solution) for the treatment of patients with dry eye disease, aiming to increase tear secretion in patients with reduced tear production and improve the sign of the disease. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260629052295/en/ Heng Yi Heng Yi® is the first and only water-free 0.1% cyclosporine ophthalmic solution and the second dry eye disease drug product approved in China based on the EyeSol® platform technology, following the approval of Heng Qin® (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution) in 202
“BOCCHI THE ROCK!” SeisyunComplex Premiered on June 20!30.6.2026 08:00:00 EEST | Press release
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been presenting year-round projection mapping displays on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, using light and sound to showcase a wide range of artistic expressions as part of its efforts to create new nighttime tourism attractions in Tokyo. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260625185578/en/ We are pleased to announce that the first screening of “BOCCHI THE ROCK!” SeisyunComplex, a new projection mapping work inspired by the highly popular anime “BOCCHI THE ROCK!”, was held on Saturday, June 20. Following its premiere, the work will be screened throughout the year as part of the weekday and weekend lineup of “TOKYO Night & Light”. Since its launch in February 2024, “TOKYO Night & Light” has welcomed visitors from Japan and around the world, with total attendance surpassing 1.4 million. As one of Tokyo’s emerging landmark attractions, the project continues to captivat
Nebex Raises $30M Seed Round Led by GV to Build Market Infrastructure for the Global Space Economy29.6.2026 18:38:00 EEST | Press release
Nebex, the market infrastructure platform for the global space economy, announced a $30M seed investment led by GV (Google Ventures), with participation from other top-tier venture funds. The company also announced a banking relationship with J.P. Morgan. The capital raise and new banking relationship will help Nebex scale its platform and connect sovereign space programs with the founders and companies building new technologies to serve the space industry. "We built Nebex because we've seen firsthand that ambitious space founders struggle to deliver complex sovereign programs due to the lack of capital markets infrastructure that supports revenue and cashflow. This is something that exists in nearly every other industry," said Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Nebex. "Support from these organizations gives Nebex the additional leverage and financial infrastructure to build the global space economy at the scale it demands.” Since its inception, the space industry has run on a closed loop with a h
Medisca Enters Its Next Chapter Under Founder Antonio Dos Santos29.6.2026 17:19:00 EEST | Press release
For more than 35 years, Dos Santos has helped shape Medisca into a global leader in pharmaceutical compounding. As Chief Executive Officer, he will lead the company's long-term strategy, with a focus on expanding Medisca's global reach, investing in new areas of growth, strengthening strategic partnerships, and continuing to advance the products, services, education, and expertise that healthcare professionals rely on every day. "When I founded Medisca, my vision was to raise the standard of pharmaceutical compounding by bringing pharmaceutical-grade quality to the industry and giving healthcare professionals access to the products, knowledge, and innovation they needed to deliver better patient care," said Antonio Dos Santos, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Medisca. "That purpose continues to guide us. As we begin this next chapter, we'll keep investing in our people, our partnerships, and the innovation that will help shape the future of Medisca and the pharmaceutical compound
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom