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DFSA strengthens ties with Securities and Exchange Board of India

  • United Arab Emirates: Thursday, October 29 - 2009 at 11:06
  • PRESS RELEASE

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) entered yesterday into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The MoU was signed on behalf of the DFSA by Chief Executive, Mr Paul Koster, and Mr Shri CB Bhave, Chairman of SEBI, on the eve of a Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) seminar entitled, 'The India-UAE Partnership: Investments, Opportunities and Synergies'.

The seminar was held in Mumbai on Thursday 29 October, led by the Governor of the DIFC and Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank HE Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, and Union Cabinet Ministers, Their Excellencies Vayalar Ravi and Kamal Nath.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India was established in 1992 to regulate the securities markets in India, to protect the interest of the investors and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

Mr Paul Koster, Chief Executive of the DFSA said:
"As the supervisor of one of the largest capital markets in the world, SEBI is an active member of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and acknowledged as one that is committed to world best practice. SEBI is, like the DFSA, a signatory to IOSCO's multi-lateral MoU and, as such, has already shown its ability and willingness to co-operate and share information to international standards. This bi-lateral MoU is a significant initiative, recognising the importance of these arrangements for co-operation and information sharing between the two regulators."


"There are already a number of branches of Indian firms operating in the DIFC so this agreement, which reflects the responsibilities of both agencies, will enhance information sharing and co-operation between the DFSA and SEBI as regulators of these firms. As more financial services firms join the DIFC from India, this bi-lateral relationship will assume increasing importance as both regulators rely on the quality of regulatory standards administered in the other's jurisdiction."

"In the past year, the importance of effective co-ordination and co-operation between regulators cannot be overstated. We are looking for better ways of working together to resolve current problems and prevent their repetition. Agreements such as this will make a difference", Mr Koster said.

Mr Shri CB Bhave, Chairman of SEBI said, "This arrangement establishes a framework for mutual assistance, strengthening of cross-border co-operation and contributes towards efficient performance of the supervisory functions and effective enforcement of the laws and regulations governing the markets in our respective jurisdictions."
from left to right: Mr Paul Koster, Chief Executive - DFSA; Mr Shri CB Bhave, Chairman -SEBI; and Mr Mark McGinness, Director of International Relations - DFSA.
from left to right: Mr Paul Koster, Chief Executive - DFSA; Mr Shri CB Bhave, Chairman -SEBI; and Mr Mark McGinness, Director of International Relations - DFSA.
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The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) is the independent regulator of financial and ancillary services conducted in or from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a purpose-built financial free-zone in Dubai. The DFSA's regulatory mandate covers asset management, banking and credit services, securities, collective investment funds, custody and trust services, commodities futures trading, Islamic finance, insurance, an international equities exchange and an international commodities derivatives exchange.

Paul M Koster is the Chief Executive of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). Mr Koster's priorities as Chief Executive include enhancing the DFSA's standing as an internationally respected regulator; building capability, particularly in relation to developing regulatory skills in the UAE; and further developing the DFSA's approach to risk-based regulation

Prior to becoming Chief Executive, he was Commissioner and Member of the Executive Board of the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets), the national, integrated conduct of business financial services regulator for the Netherlands where he was identified as one of the four leaders shaping the conscience of Dutch business. Mr Koster joined the AFM in March 2001 and in addition to his duties as a Commissioner he chaired, from May 2006 until December 2007, CESR-Fin, the permanent working party of the Committee of European Securities Regulators that co-ordinates the endorsement and enforcement of financial reporting standards in Europe. For the previous two years he had chaired CESR's Subcommittee on International Standards Endorsement. During his time with the AFM, he was also a member of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Chairs' Committee and, as Chief Executive of the DFSA, he remains actively involved in the work of IOSCO.

Mr Koster previously served as Executive Vice President (Corporate Internal Audit) at Royal Philips Electronics (1998-2001); as Managing Partner Corporate Finance, Coopers & Lybrand (1988-1998); and as Chief Compliance Officer and Acting Commissioner of Quotations, Amsterdam Stock Exchange (1986-1988); and carried out a number of senior finance functions in his earlier career, having trained as an accountant with Arthur Andersen.

Mr Koster is a licensed Register (Chartered) Accountant having qualified through the Royal Dutch Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1977 and been certified RA in 1983.

In May 2009 Mr Koster joined the Advisory Board of Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the UAE's federal securities regulator, and in July 2009 he was appointed to the Consultative Advisory Groups of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA).

Paul Koster is a Dutch national, married and has two adult children.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India was established in 1992 to regulate the securities markets in India. The objectives of the Securities & Exchange Board of India are to protect the interest of the investors, to promote development of and to regulate the development of the securities markets in India.

The main functions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India include registration, regulation and supervision of intermediaries operating in the securities market, promoting and regulating self regulatory organisations, prohibiting fraudulent and unfair trade practices relating to securities markets, calling from or furnishing agencies such information necessary for the efficient discharge of their functions.

CB Bhave was appointed chairman of SEBI in February 2008. He had, from 1992 until 1996, been Executive Director at SEBI where he worked closely with the former chairman G V Ramakrishna to manage regulatory transition of the Indian stock market. In 1996 Shri Bhave was appointed inaugural Chairman and Managing Director of the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL).

Before joining SEBI he was additional Industries Commissioner of Maharasthra. He had earlier served as Undersecretary in the Ministry of Finance and Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum. Prior to joining SEBI, Shri Bhave also served as an independent Director on the Board of two listed companies.

International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is recognised as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators. The organisation's wide membership regulates more than 90% of the world's securities markets and IOSCO is the international co-operative forum for securities regulatory agencies.

IOSCO members regulate more than one hundred jurisdictions and aims through its permanent structures: to co-operate together to promote high standards of regulation in order to maintain just, efficient and sound markets; to exchange information on their respective experiences in order to promote the development of domestic markets; to unite their efforts to establish standards and an effective surveillance of international securities transactions; and to provide mutual assistance to promote the integrity of the markets by a rigorous application of the standards and by effective enforcement against offenses.

For further information please contact:
Ms. Angharad Irving - Jones
Manager, External Communications
Dubai Financial Services Authority
Level 13, The Gate
Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel: +971 (0)4 362 1661
Fax: +971 (0)4 362 0801

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