ASIAN BOND MARKETS CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER COMMON STANDARDS NEXT WEEK

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Asian Bond Markets Conference will be
held here from on Dec 2-3, 2009 to consider common regulatory standards and
market practices to help bolster the industry's development and facilitate
cross-border transactions.

A statement from Securities Commission (SC) said the conference would serve
as an important platform for the governments and industry to deliberate and
consider issues that are critical for the development of the primary and
secondary bond markets in Asia.

"This will help pave the way for greater financial integration in the Asian
bond markets as envisaged under the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI)," it
said.

ABMI is an initiative endorsed by the Asean+3 Finance Ministers, and
supported by Asian Development Bank (ADB).

About 100 Asian policymakers and bond market participants are expected to
attend the conference that is jointly organised by the SC, Ministry of Finance
and ADB.

Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Mohamed Hanadzlah is
scheduled to officiate the conference.

ADB vice-president Bindu N. Lohani and SC managing director Ranjit
Ajit Singh will also address the conference, themed “Gearing up Regulatory
Framework and Regional Cooperation - for New Era of Growth in Asian Bond
Markets”.

Other speakers include Shi Wenchao, executive president of China National
Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors; Toshihiko Sasaki,
executive advisor of Japan Securities Dealers Association; and Surinder
Kathpalia, managing director of Standard & Poor’s Singapore.

-- BERNAMA