The Amman Stock Exchange, represented by its CEO, Mazen Wathaifi, participated in the activities of the annual conference of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM) and the 50th Ordinary General Assembly meeting of the Federation. The conference was organized by the Arab Federation of Capital Markets in cooperation with the Tunis Stock Exchange and the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) during the period from May 12 to 14, 2025. More than 300 participants from member stock exchanges, capital market regulatory bodies, brokerage firms, and investment fund managers participated in the conference.
This conference addressed the most prominent current challenges and future opportunities facing the financial markets through eight discussion sessions and more than 45 speakers. The conference highlighted a number of pivotal topics related to capital markets, most notably: ways to enhance regional integration and strengthen the role of capital markets as a key driver of growth and economic diversification in the Arab region; sustainability issues and net zero initiatives; data governance and depository and settlement centers and their role in facilitating cross-border investment flows; the role of financial derivatives markets in strengthening the region's capital markets and sovereign wealth funds; the future of retail trading platforms; and other topics.
Wathaifi participated as a keynote speaker at the annual conference in a panel discussion titled "Accelerating Climate Change Disclosure." The session highlighted the role of stock exchanges in developing the necessary frameworks and raising awareness regarding climate change disclosure, as well as the efforts of the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) in this area. He pointed out that the ASE, in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), launched the regulatory framework for climate disclosure as part of its efforts to implement the latest standards in the field of sustainability across its three pillars: environment, social responsibility, and governance. Mentioning that this achievement is the first of its kind in the Middle East and is in line with Jordan's economic modernization vision, which enhances disclosure, transparency, and sustainability, boosts investor confidence in the economy and the national capital market and increases its competitiveness. The ASE also prepared a guide for companies on how to disclose climate-related issues, in addition to a policy that clarifies the justifications and requirements for climate disclosure, in accordance with international best practices, particularly the sustainability disclosure standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), namely IFRS S1 and S2.
Wathaifi also emphasized the ASE's continued communication with listed companies, specifically the top twenty companies listed in the ASE20 index and holding capacity-building training workshops and seminars in cooperation with international experts. He emphasized the ASE's commitment to supporting listed companies through continuous training and providing guidance. He also affirmed that the ASE will continue to work on implementing the projects included in the Economic Modernization Vision and its strategic plan, as well as everything that would enhance its competitiveness and that of its listed companies and develop electronic systems and legislative frameworks in accordance with the latest international standards and practices. He pointed out that the ASE has achieved positive performance indicators, including a rise in the general index by more than 6% since the beginning of the year and a rise in the total return index by more than 14%. He also noted that listed companies achieved the second highest net profits in history for the year 2024, with the net profits of these companies increasing by 7.6% for the first quarter of 2025.
