Muscat
Stock Exchange Hosts Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges Conference

Muscat,
Oct 13 (ONA) — Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX), in cooperation with the Federation
of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS), hosted today the Federation of Euro-Asian
Stock Exchanges Conference “ConFEAS 2026,” with the participation of
an elite group of capital market officials, decision-makers, experts, and
specialists from various countries across the world.

The
opening of the conference was held under the auspices of Qais Mohammed Al
Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free
Zones (OPAZ).

The
ConFEAS 2026 conference witnessed the participation of more than 200
participants, 4 panel discussions, and an elite group of international speakers
who discussed several key topics in the capital markets sector. These included
regional cooperation between financial markets, facilitating access to emerging
markets, technological developments and recent trends in financial
technologies, alongside best practices in investor relations and market
attractiveness.

The
Muscat Stock Exchange’s hosting of this international event falls within its
efforts to enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s presence on the global capital
markets map and expand horizons of cooperation with international stock
exchanges and financial institutions. This contributes to supporting the development
of the Omani capital market and boosting its attractiveness for local and
foreign investments, in line with the targets of “Oman Vision 2040.”

During
the working sessions, developments in capital markets, investment
opportunities, and topics related to capital market development, enhancing
investment prospects, digital transformation, and investor relations were
reviewed, with the participation of officials and experts from regional and
international financial institutions and stock exchanges. Muscat Stock Exchange
reviewed opportunities to develop the market and strengthen regional
cooperation.

The
first session, titled “Omani Capital Market and Regional
Cooperation,” addressed the economic development journey in the Sultanate
of Oman in light of the targets of Oman Vision 2040, and the role of the
capital market in supporting economic diversification and attracting
investments.

The
session also reviewed efforts to develop the Omani capital market, progress
toward fulfilling requirements for its classification among emerging markets,
initial public offering (IPO) opportunities, and the importance of enhancing
cooperation and integration between capital markets at both regional and
international levels.

The
second session, titled “Accessing Emerging Markets: Investors’ Challenges,
Opportunities, and Interests,” discussed investment opportunities offered
by emerging and promising markets and the challenges facing investors upon
entering them, focusing on ways to facilitate cross-border investment and
trading, and strengthening connectivity between stock exchanges and financial
institutions.

The
session focused on the importance of developing market infrastructure and
aligning regulatory frameworks to facilitate capital movement, the role of
global indices in attracting institutional investments, and international
investors’ requirements when evaluating investment opportunities in emerging
markets.

The
third session, titled “Technological Developments and Trends in Capital
Markets,” touched upon the latest innovations and technical solutions
contributing to the development of financial market infrastructure, as well as
the role of digital transformation in enhancing operational efficiency,
transparency, and market resilience.

The
session also addressed modern trends in trading technologies, surveillance, and
post-trade operations, along with the importance of deploying advanced
technologies to improve investor experience and enhance the capacity of
financial markets to keep pace with global developments.

Meanwhile,
the fourth session, titled “Enhancing Communication with Investors:
Investor Relations and Research,” focused on the importance of investor
relations and financial research in strengthening trust and transparency within
capital markets, as well as the role of disclosures and providing financial
information and analytics in supporting investment decisions.

The
session also discussed best practices in communicating with investors,
enhancing the attractiveness of listed companies, and expanding the investor
base, thereby contributing to elevating the efficiency of financial markets and
supporting their growth and sustainability.

Haitham
Salim Al Salmi, CEO of Muscat Stock Exchange, explained that hosting the
conference enhances the presence of the Muscat Stock Exchange on the
international stage. He noted that hosting the ConFEAS 2026 conference
reflected the exchange’s commitment to reinforcing the Sultanate of Oman’s
standing as a promising investment destination and expanding horizons of
cooperation with regional and international capital markets and financial
institutions. He added that the conference represented an important platform
for exchanging expertise, reviewing global best practices, and discussing
opportunities and initiatives that contribute to developing financial markets
and raising their efficiency and competitiveness.

He
emphasized that the Muscat Stock Exchange has continued its efforts to develop
the market and enhance its attractiveness to investors by supporting innovation,
expanding investment opportunities, and reinforcing interconnectivity with
regional and international markets. The conference provided new opportunities
for dialogue and exchange of insights on capital market development, and the
exchange looks forward to building upon its outcomes to strengthen cooperation
and partnerships while supporting the development journey of the Omani capital
market in line with the targets of “Oman Vision 2040.”

For
his part, Radu Hanga, President of the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock
Exchanges, stated that the conference represented an important international
platform that brought together capital market officials, experts, and financial
institutions to discuss prominent developments in the sector, exchange
expertise and experiences, and explore cooperation opportunities among member
markets and international partners.

He
added that this hosting reflected the importance of enhancing communication and
integration between regional and international markets, as the conference sessions
provided an opportunity to exchange insights on supporting innovation,
developing market infrastructure, facilitating access to investment
opportunities, and strengthening linkages between emerging and promising
markets.

Konstantin
Saroyan, Secretary General of the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges,
said: “The ConFEAS conference has proven once again the great importance
of regional cooperation. Amid the technological transformations and global
changes facing capital markets, the meeting of key stakeholders in Muscat
provided an opportunity to align strategic visions, enhance market
transparency, and build stronger cross-border cooperation ties between markets
in the Euro-Asian region.”

The
ConFEAS conference received support from several leading financial and
investment institutions within the strategic partners and lead partners
categories, reflecting the interest of institutions operating in the financial
sector to participate in initiatives that contribute to developing capital
markets, enhancing cooperation, and exchanging views and expertise.

Muscat
Stock Exchange’s hosting of the ConFEAS conference reaffirmed its role in
enhancing communication between capital markets, financial institutions, and
investment entities, opening new horizons for cooperation, knowledge exchange,
and expertise sharing, as well as introducing developments occurring in the
Omani capital market and investment opportunities available in the Sultanate of
Oman.

The
conference also contributed to enhancing dialogue among regulatory bodies,
stock exchanges, investors, and financial institutions, discussing initiatives
that support market development and facilitate cross-border investment flows,
thereby reinforcing the Sultanate of Oman’s presence on the map of international
economic and financial events.

—Ends/AG