The South Pacific Stock Exchange made its debut at the 63rd General Assembly and Annual Meeting of the World Federation of Exchanges held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking a significant step in the exchange’s global re-engagement. 

This year’s event brought together over 300 leaders, regulators and institutional representatives from more than 50 organisations, creating a pivotal platform for high-level discussions on the future of capital markets.

SPX’s participation is noteworthy as it was the first time the exchange attended as an invited guest. 

The WFE Annual Meeting is typically exclusive to WFE member and affiliate exchanges, making SPX’s inclusion a key moment for the Fijian exchange, which had been absent from such global gatherings for several years.

The event featured several important sessions, including a keynote address by Malaysia’s Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and a fireside chat with Malaysia’s Finance Minister II, YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. 

A standout moment of the meeting was a session with renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, who discussed the intersection of financial systems and sustainability, emphasising the role of stock exchanges in promoting biodiversity and environmental responsibility.

Throughout the event, panel discussions addressed key topics such as modernising market infrastructure, the evolving role of stock exchanges, the future of Initial Public Offerings and the global transition to T+1 settlement. 

These discussions offered valuable insights into the changing dynamics of international capital markets.

SPX CEO Sheraj Obeyesekere engaged in several productive meetings with peer exchanges, focusing on adopting cooperation, sharing knowledge and exploring ways to develop Fiji’s stock market infrastructure. 

Commenting on SPX’s participation, Obeyesekere expressed that the event was an important opportunity for SPX to reconnect with the global stock exchange community, marking the beginning of a new era for the Fijian market. 

He emphasised that strengthening international relations and collaborating with industry leaders were key strategic priorities for SPX. 

In the coming months, SPX plans to unveil formal collaborations with WFE member exchanges as a direct result of its participation in this event.

The WFE, representing exchanges home to more than 55,000 listed companies with a combined market capitalisation of over $111 trillion, plays a vital role in promoting fair and transparent global markets. 

The Federation works with regulators and policymakers worldwide to ensure the stability and efficiency of financial systems.

This year’s WFE meeting also marked a historic return to Malaysia, which last hosted the event in 1998.