‘ASEAN+3 International Forum on Bond Markets’ Opens in Busan; Sustainable Finance on the Agenda

[Financial News] Busan will host a forum to discuss directions for the sustainable development of Asian financial markets and ways to cooperate.
Busan City said the ‘ASEAN+3 International Forum on Bond Markets’ opened on the 2nd at the BNK Busan Bank Convention Hall, beginning a five-day program running through the 6th.
The event is hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), organized by BNK Financial Group and the Busan Finance Center, and supported by the city, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and the Busan Tourism Organization (BTO).
Under the theme ‘Building a Sustainable Blue City,’ about 150 participants, including officials from financial authorities and central banks, as well as representatives of international organizations and financial institutions from Korea and abroad, will discuss key issues and cooperation measures for Asian financial markets.
The event brings together the 4th Digital Bond Market Forum (DBMF), the 36th Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure Forum (CSIF), and the 47th ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum (ABMF). A special Busan session and an ASEAN+3 capacity-building seminar organized by the Ministry of Finance and Economy will also be held.
Financial authorities, central banks, securities regulators, exchanges, depository and settlement institutions, and financial companies from various countries will take part in discussions on standardizing and harmonizing regulations, market practices, and financial infrastructure related to cross-border bond transactions.
On the first day, the 2nd, the special Busan session will explore the role of finance in supporting the sustainable transition of the maritime industry and ways to foster international cooperation.
Jeon Gi-hwan, a department head at Korea Ocean Business Corporation, will deliver a keynote address on ‘Decarbonizing Shipping Through Blue Bonds and Busan’s Opportunities as a Global Maritime Finance Hub.’
This will be followed by presentations from PanStar Director Jeong Heon-jung, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) Associate Research Fellow Ahn Yong-seong, and Marine Stewardship Council Representative in Korea Seo Jong-seok on topics including Arctic shipping routes, decarbonizing the shipping industry, sustainable fisheries, and blue finance.
Jo Yeong-dae, a division head at the Busan Finance Center; Lee Yeong-jik, head of the Korea-ASEAN Financial Cooperation Center; and Moon Ho-jin, a deputy department head at BNK Busan Bank, will also speak, introducing plans for developing Busan as a maritime finance hub, Korea-ASEAN financial cooperation, and BNK Financial Group’s maritime finance strategy.
A welcome reception will be held that evening at the Avani Central Busan Hotel, offering domestic and international participants an opportunity to connect.
The forums and seminars following the special Busan session will discuss policy measures to drive the digital transformation of Asian bond markets and expand sustainable finance.
The joint meeting of the Digital Bond Market Forum and the Cross-Border Payment Infrastructure Forum will cover carbon markets, cross-border carbon trading, tokenized deposits, and digital bonds. The ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum will share updates on regional capital markets, cross-border payments and settlements, and directions for advancing sustainable finance.
The ASEAN+3 capacity-building seminar organized by the Ministry of Finance and Economy will examine risks arising from the digitalization of finance and the impact of advances in artificial intelligence (AI) on financial stability, among other issues.
The city plans to use the forum to expand its international financial network linking major financial centers around the world with Asian countries, strengthen the foundations for cooperation in maritime and digital finance, and enhance its standing as an international financial center.
[email protected] Kwon Byeong-seok Reporter