ICMA named Industry Association of the Year at Regulation Asia Awards 2026
5 November 2026 The International Capital Market Association (ICMA) has been named Industry Association of the Year at the Regulation Asia Awards for Excellence 2026, pesented in Hong Kong on 5 November.
Now in their ninth year, the awards recognise organisations and initiatives contributing to regulatory and market development across Asia-Pacific.
The Industry Association of the Year award recognises contributions to sound regulation and market integrity, including through policy engagement, standards development, education and harmonisation.
Recent initiatives illustrate the breadth of ICMA's contribution to market development in Asia-Pacific.
In repo and collateral markets, ICMA's engagement with Chinese authorities contributed to the People's Bank of China's recognition of the Global Master Repurchase Agreement (GMRA) in January 2026 for relevant transactions involving bonds held in the China Interbank Bond Market. This followed recognition by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for certain offshore RMB repo transactions and represents an important step towards closer integration between Chinese and international repo markets.
In innovation and digitalisation, ICMA's Bond Data Taxonomy has moved from standard development into practical market application, notably through its adoption in Hong Kong Government digital green bond issuance. The taxonomy is also being used in initiatives involving the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Project Guardian, helping promote greater automation and interoperability in bond markets.
In sustainable finance, ICMA continues to support the development of internationally recognised principles and guidelines, including the Climate Transition Bond Guidelines introduced in November 2025. Its engagement with authorities across Asia-Pacific, including Japan's Green Transformation programme, supports the development of credible transition finance and greater consistency between regional and international standards.
ICMA's contribution also extends to education and capacity building. In November 2025, it partnered with Indonesian financial regulators to deliver a three-day repo market development programme, bringing together more than 200 policymakers, market participants and infrastructure providers to share international best practice and support the development of local secured funding markets.
These achievements demonstrate ICMA's ability to bring together regulators and market practitioners, develop internationally recognised standards and support their practical implementation across jurisdictions.
ICMA works closely with its members, regulators and other stakeholders across the region to promote internationally consistent market practices and support the development of efficient and resilient debt capital markets.
