Switzerland has emerged as a Fintech friendly jurisdiction and home to many blockchain-focused financial services firms. The country has long been an important banking center and the Swiss government is keen to maintain its status in a world that is going through a digital transformation.
In a sign of the importance of Fintech, Switzerland Finance Minister (Federal Department of Finance) Ueli Maurer will lead the Swiss participation in the forthcoming Singapore Fintech Festival, sponsored by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, that is scheduled to take place next month.
Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and the Swiss Business Hub ASEAN say that Asia remains an important market for the organization’s clients, internationally oriented Swiss SMEs. S-GE is the official Swiss organization for export and investment promotion supporting Swiss SMEs in their international business and helps innovative foreign companies to settle in Switzerland.
A Swiss delegation will again be present at this year’s Singapore Fintech Festival 2020 with a digital Swiss Pavilion. The goal of S-GE is to enable Swiss and Lichtenstein SMEs to realize their international business potential in new and existing markets. Singapore is, of course, a top Asian Fintech hub.
Maurer will lead the Swiss participation with a keynote speech titled “Fintech, Sustainable Finance and Innovation” followed by a panel discussion on the strengths of the Swiss financial center that includes the participation of: Thomas Gottstein, CEO Credit Suisse Group AG; M Ralph Hamers, CEO UBS AG, and Herbert J. Scheidt, President of the Swiss Bankers Association presenting their views. This session will be telecast “live” from the SIX Convention Point in Zurich on 7 December (5 pm SGT).
Registration for the Swiss satellite event can be completed here and is free to the public.
According to S-GE, seven Swiss Fintech companies will highlight their strengths in financial services technologies including regulation technology (Regtech), blockchain solutions, big data and analytics, algorithm trading and cybersecurity. The event presents an opportunity for Swiss Fintechs and their interested stakeholders in Asia to connect and build business linkages in a seamless manner.
The Swiss Fintech industry is said to be highly interested in Singapore, which is seen as a gateway into Asia. Interest in garnering a greater presence in Singapore arises from the Switzerland’s Fintech cooperation framework and agreements with ASEAN, China, India, Japan, and South Korea.
H.E. Fabrice Filliez, Ambassador of Switzerland to Singapore, says:
“The participation of the Swiss Pavilion at the annual Singapore Fintech Festival is an anchor initiative. In 2020, the participating companies will reflect the robustness of the Swiss finance ecosystem, paving the way for collaborations and partnerships in co-innovation and fresh ventures. With Singapore being Switzerland’s most important trading partner in Asia, Swiss fintech companies view the republic as an important gateway to the wider Asian economic region.”