IIFA Marks 30th Anniversary and Focuses on Better Serving Investors in Changing Global Economic and Regulatory Environment

October 26, 2016

Osaka, Japan - October 26, 2016 - Leaders of the global investment funds industry gathered in Osaka, Japan this week to discuss challenges and opportunities in today’s global economic environment, as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of the International Investment Funds Association (IIFA). More than 80 people representing 30 fund associations and guests from around the world attended the IIFA conference.

The investment funds industry, now reaching more than US$39 trillion in assets under management, plays an indispensable role in the economy through enhancing retirement savings for the investors worldwide, diversifying the channels of financial intermediation, and strengthening the function of financial markets through promoting good corporate governance of public companies over the past 30 years amid the changing economic, social, demographic and regulatory environment.

“The global investment industry will play an even more important role in the next 30 years and beyond, with increasingly integrated financial markets and rapid technological innovation, as well as significant demographic changes projected in many jurisdictions,” said Mr. Shirakawa, Chairman of Japan Investment Trusts Association (JITA), which hosted the conference.

“We recognize the need to proactively respond to the increasingly important global regulatory initiatives in identifying and dealing with systemic risks in the financial system, as well as the need to strengthen investor protection in light of the increasingly important cross-border investment flows,” said Mr. Paul Schott Stevens, Chairman of the IIFA and President and CEO of Investment Company Institute (ICI).

The leaders discussed many issues affecting their businesses, including fund distribution, fund governance, fiduciary duty and socially-responsible investing. They also discussed demographic trends and their implications to the pension systems and the funds industry, as well as the recent changes in business environment, focusing, in particular, on the fund passport initiatives, information technology, cybersecurity and the increasing role of the ETFs.

IIFA’s 31st Annual Conference will be held in Zurich, Switzerland in October 2017.

About the IIFA

IIFA (www.iifa.ca) is an association with membership of more than 40 national and regional investment fund associations from around the globe. Members of IIFA collectively represent managers holding US$39 trillion in assets at the end of the second quarter of 2016. For further information, please contact Ralf Hensel, IIFA Secretary, +1-416-309-2314, rhensel@iifa.ca.

About IFIC

The Investment Funds Institute of Canada is the voice of Canada’s investment funds industry. IFIC brings together 150 organizations, including fund managers, distributors and industry service organizations, to foster a strong, stable investment sector where investors can realize their financial goals. By connecting Canada’s savers to Canada’s economy, our industry contributes significantly to Canadian economic growth and job creation. The organization is proud to have served Canada’s mutual funds industry and its investors for more than 50 years.

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For more information:
Ralf Hensel
Secretary, IIFA
General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and VP Policy, Investment Funds Institute of Canada
rhensel@ific.ca


For more information contact:
Ralf Hensel
Secretary, IIFA
International Investment Funds Association (IIFA)
Phone: 1-416-309-2314
Email: rhensel@iifa.ca
Website: www.iifa.ca

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The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC)

Topics:

• Financial Services
• Funds Management
• Investment Funds
• Investment in Canada
• Investments
• Mutual Funds
• Mutual Funds Industry
• Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)
• Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)