Borsa İstanbul will host the 64th World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) General Assembly and Annual Meeting in İstanbul on October 21-23, 2025
This prestigious event, bringing together leading actors of the global capital markets, stands out as an important and reputable platform where strategic issues that shape the future of the sector are discussed and collaborations are developed.
The program, which is held every year with the participation of approximately 250 senior representatives from 90 countries around the world, facilitates discussions around the latest developments in capital markets. Attended by top executives of global exchanges and clearing houses, the event will address the industry's priority topics.
As an active member of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) since 1992, Borsa İstanbul has been closely monitoring global industry priorities and contributing to the sector's development. Alongside the WFE General Assembly and Annual Meeting, WFE Board of Directors Meetings and WFE Working Committee Meeting will be hosted by Borsa İstanbul. The gathering in Istanbul will also contribute to the promotion of İstanbul Financial Center among the leaders of world exchanges.
In recent years, Borsa İstanbul has gained prominence for its international accomplishments and its strategic influence in global capital markets. At the WFE General Assembly meetings held in 2021 and 2024, Borsa İstanbul was elected as a member of the WFE Board of Directors for two consecutive three-year terms, representing the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, with the support of the majority of members. This accomplishment is regarded as a testament to Borsa İstanbul’s growing international reputation and active engagement in the sector.
International Activities of Borsa İstanbul
Borsa İstanbul’s international activities include the development and export of exchange infrastructure and technology, fostering mutually beneficial relationships with foreign exchanges and industry organizations, and transforming these relationships into concrete collaboration projects. Additionally, it provides training and consultancy services to foreign exchanges and institutions, promotes Türkiye’s capital markets to international stakeholders - particularly foreign investors, responds to inquiries, and addresses challenges. Through these efforts, Borsa İstanbul serves as a key hub for knowledge and technology transfer within its region, making significant contributions to the industry within the country and at regional and global levels.
- Partnerships in Technology
Borsa İstanbul takes important steps in the development of exchange infrastructure and technology. It provides technology support to various exchanges abroad running Nasdaq infrastructure. Among the services provided are the development and sale of the Pre-Trade Risk Management (PTRM) application interface, the development of the Index Management System and the provision of data auditing services to Nasdaq customers by Borsa İstanbul. As part of the technology renewal support provided to Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, comprehensive software development services provided on testing, data migration, integration, order transmission and access to trading processes. In addition, training and testing support was provided on surveillance systems among other topics. With advancements in technology sales to foreign exchanges and through the recent proposals in the pipeline, Borsa İstanbul continues to broaden its regional and global outreach.
- Partnerships with Foreign Investors
Borsa İstanbul organizes investor meetings in major financial centers such as Toronto, New York, Chicago, London, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and explains Türkiye’s capital markets to foreign stakeholders, especially foreign investors. These meetings feature comprehensive discussions with investors and industry professionals. Additionally, Borsa İstanbul actively participates in investment events held within the country, promoting Türkiye’s capital markets and addressing stakeholder concerns. Mutually beneficial relations with foreign exchanges and sector organizations are being turned into concrete cooperation projects. The Chimera S&P Turkey Shariah Exchange Traded Fund was established in Abu Dhabi to invest in Turkish stocks traded on Borsa İstanbul and currently traded on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Local and international efforts are under way to expand Islamic financial instruments including gold, lease certificates, and participation finance products.
- Partnerships with International Organizations
Borsa İstanbul follows the global agenda of the sector and contributes to the formation of ideas in light of its own experiences. As a member of World Federation of Exchanges since 1992, it actively participates in the executive meetings and working group activities of the WFE engaging in discussions around global sector priorities. As the secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Exchanges Forum since 2005, it brings together OIC exchanges to facilitate discussions on the latest topics such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, sustainability and others. Through the coordination of Borsa İstanbul and within the scope of the OIC Exchanges Forum, S&P OIC/COMCEC Shariah International Fund was established and opened for trading. The fund includes companies from Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Malaysia and Indonesia. Also, within the scope of the Forum, the OIC Gold Exchange project aims to facilite gold trading and transfer among member countries by utilizing blockchain infrastructure. Borsa İstanbul closely monitors developments in these sectors through its multilateral memberships in London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB).
- International Training Activities
Borsa İstanbul offers international training and consultancy programs to foreign exchanges and has provided training and consultancy services especially on derivatives market, real estate investment trusts and crowdfunding. Furthermore, within the framework of the Gold Academy activities established in cooperation with the World Gold Council (WGC), one of the most important international organizations in the gold sector, trainings on gold banking and the gold market were organized for sector stakeholders in Indonesia and Egypt. In addition, Borsa İstanbul organized trainings on the gold market to many African and Middle Eastern countries through various meetings, seminars and conferences. In cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the largest global development institution for the private sector in emerging markets within the World Bank Group, the Green Bond training was organized for senior finance executives from various countries around the world. A capacity building program was delivered to Mongolian Stock Exchange on how to establish derivatives market. Borsa İstanbul plans to continue increasing its international training and consultancy activities at regional and global level.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Exchanges representing the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Borsa İstanbul aims to continue its activities in all areas with the aim of strengthening relations with exchanges, shaping the future of the sector and seizing common opportunities.
The WFE General Assembly and Annual Meeting, hosted by Borsa İstanbul, will support Türkiye's strategic vision to become a global financial center and provide an opportunity to reinforce Türkiye's financial reputation in the international arena.
