The Asia-Pacific Central Securities Depository Group (ACG) was established in 1997 to promote information exchange and mutual assistance among central securities depositories in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, ACG has thirty five full members and five associate members. As a member of the ACG Executive Committee, TDCC actively participates in various activities and promotes ACG as a platform for prosperity and mutual growth among member institutions. Moving forward, TDCC will continue to facilitate exchanges within the Asia-Pacific capital markets, strengthen cooperation and interaction among members, and enhance the international visibility of Taiwan’s market. In this way, we can showcase Taiwan’s financial ecosystem in terms of digital innovation, resilience, sustainability, and cybersecurity.

ACG regularly holds mid-level management seminars (ACG Cross Training Seminar) to strengthen members’ relationships and share the latest industry insights and achievements. From July 23 to 26, 2024, TDCC sent representatives to attend the 24th ACG Cross Training Seminar, hosted by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). The theme of this year’s seminar was “Promoting Financial Infrastructure Development and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region”. In addition to ACG member institutions, the event attracted over 100 representatives from 32 other organizations, including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the U.S. Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Euroclear, HSBC, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, and Digital Asset. This seminar aimed to provide a significant platform for leaders in the settlement and custody industry to share insights, discuss challenges, and explore innovative solutions.

As the convener of the ACG Investor Services Task Force, TDCC hosted an investor services session at the seminar. The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed the way people communicate. In this post-pandemic era, digital finance development has accelerated; user experiences and scenario applications have become a focal point in fintech development. Developing the ability to adapt quickly to a changing external environment and addressing various emerging challenges have become a key lesson for the financial industry. Central securities depositories worldwide cannot remain indifferent; they focus on digital transformation and technological innovation to provide investors with appropriate and diversified services.

To exchange achievements on post-pandemic digital transformation in different countries, TDCC invited a total of eight speakers from securities depositories across Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, including representative from TDCC, to discuss how integrating digital technologies with innovative thinking can shape the future development of the industry and optimize investor services in the post-pandemic era. The session attracted many ACG member representatives to exchange views. TDCC colleague also gave presentations and shared development experiences regarding 3e (electronic voting: e-voting, shareholders’ meetings with video conferencing: eMeeting, and electronic notifications for shareholder services: eNotice) and the ESG IR (Investor Relations) platform businesses. The presentations received enthusiastic responses from representatives of various countries, and the results can be considered highly fruitful.

In addition, during the New Business Initiative Task Force session, TDCC staff introduced the new dynamic information inquiry platform for bonds and bills settlements, SyncOnline. This service is based on the delivery tracking services of ICSDs and SWIFT, combined with TDCC’s years of experience in assisting the market in managing the settlement processes between counterparties. Since its launched on March 25, 2024, this service has built a whole new communication bridge for the market. Bonds and bills dealers can access a single interface to instantly obtain updates on the settlement status of their counterparties and relevant information from various financial intermediaries in the market. Without the need for intensive phone tracking inquiries, the service has significantly enhanced settlement efficiency. After the session, several representatives expressed strong interest in this service and inquired about further details.

Since initiating the establishment of the Investor Services Task Force at ACG in 2018, TDCC has served as its convener. TDCC has worked to create a platform for investor services exchanges among ACG member institutions by continuously organizing international seminars, conducting thematic survey analysis, and compiling information into newsletters. Through information exchange and experience sharing, TDCC aims to expand cooperation opportunities, promote the mutual prosperity and growth of the central securities depository industry in the Asia-Pacific region, and actively showcase the diverse growth momentum in Taiwan’s capital market. In the future, TDCC will continue to deepen international cooperation and exchanges, share experiences in sustainable finance development, and enhance the global visibility of Taiwan’s capital market.