On the sidelines of the 27th Annual Conference of ASEA (African Securities Exchanges Association), held in Gaborone, Botswana, on November 28 and 29, 2024, Dr. Félix Edoh Kossi AMENOUNVE, Director General of the Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM ), spoke during a panel entitled: « The Future of Capital Markets – A Provoking Prediction by Thought Leaders ».
In his speech, the financier analyzed the current evolution of capital markets and the global financial system, which is changing under the combined effect of technological innovationsof the increasing demands for sustainability and geopolitical crises.
“Re-globalization is reshaping capital flows, giving rise to new economic blocks and new circuits. Deregulation, favored by certain economic actors wishing to make their own decisions and assume their risks, is intensifying, because it is seen as a means of reducing intermediation costs. Furthermore, artificial intelligence is emerging as a real catalyst for transformation for financial markets,” he declared.
Dr. Félix Edoh Kossi AMENOUNVE also highlighted another determining factor for the future: youth.
“In many parts of the world, this dynamic, daring population hungry for new opportunities is showing a growing interest in risk and gain. Capital markets must adapt to this new social reality,” he added.
Faced with these transformations, the global financial system and capital markets must evolve in depth. They must become more digital, more inclusive and more oriented towards total investor satisfaction. For the Director General of the BRVM, the integration of ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles is essential, in particular through the development of products and services promoting the well-being of populations while strengthening economic resilience.
In addition, new actors, such as cybertradersTHE cyberasset managers and the finfluencerswill redefine traditional models. Financial markets must now integrate these trends into their development strategies.
For the African continent, Dr. Félix Edoh Kossi AMENOUNVE identified three strategic axes:
-Financial education and capacity building : Raise awareness among populations, particularly young people and women, about financial and stock market opportunities, while strengthening the skills of entrepreneurs in order to build a solid and sustainable private sector.
-Innovation : Develop an ecosystem adapted to support African initiatives, in particular those led by young people, in order to reduce the gaps with other regions of the world.
-Continental integration : Go beyond trade to include banking sectors and capital markets in a coherent pan-African vision.
“The future belongs to those who will be able to exploit their socio-economic strengths while mitigating their historical, geographic and geopolitical weaknesses. Africa has all the assets to play a central role in this global transformation,” the conclusion Drs. Felix Edoh Kossi HELLO NINE.
