It will be an honor for me personally and for the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC)   to welcome you to the forthcoming IOSCO Annual meeting, in May 2024, which will be hosted in the historical city of Athens, which is a milestone and a landmark at the same time. 

A landmark because Athens is a city with rich and ancient culture and monuments. A milestone because it is considered as the birthplace of art, theatre, science, philosophy, and systematic methodology.

In a few months from today, we shall gather and share our thoughts regarding a series of matters that are important in today’s capital markets, financial sector, and our societies, in general, worldwide. We shall engage constructive dialogues aiming at tackling challenges such as sustainable finance, climate related risks, new technologies, crypto and digital assets, financial stability, investor protection issues and shape strategies to support further gender equality and diversity.

Our discussions will take place nearby the places where Plato & Socrates conceived the notions of Political & Social Science. Our meetings will be hosted close to Pnyx - the parliament of the first democracy in human history - not far from the School of Aristotle who set the foundations of Politics, Political Economics as well as analysis where terms like value, market, exchange, commodities & resources were introduced and scientifically approached. Furthermore, Aristotle was the first to set the foundations of weather forecasting science by studying individual natural elements, their interactions and impact on climate itself.

Please let me wish that our efforts be inspired by the works of these major thinkers whose thoughts and concepts although they are more than 2000 years old, they remain valid and modern. Let’s collectively raise the challenge and follow these ancient mentors and innovate in our turn in front of the challenges we face today.

Yours sincerely, 

Vasiliki Lazarakou

Chair