The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) will open its second annual conference today in Montego Bay and JSE general manager, Marlene Street, says that the conference is still very much focused on how the regional stock exchanges can integrate into a single index.

"We feel that as a region we have to look at what is happening globally and to respond to those [issues] as a region. At the conference we will be looking at where we are know vis-à-vis where we were in 2006 in realising the goals of a regional stock exchange. So, we will be demonstrating to our participants where we are now ... the steps where we are now," noted Street.

The three-day conference, whose theme is 'The Global Response: Strategy and Innovation for Regional Capital Market Growth,' will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay and runs through to Friday.

It launches off with a banquet to be attended by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, as well chairman of the JSE, Curtis Martin, and managing director of investments at Oppenheimer and Company, Gregory Fisher.

Conference focus

On Thursday, the conference will focus on regulation, integration and governance and will feature presenters and moderators such as IMF Mission chief for the Caribbean, Sanjaya Panth, former diplomat, Richard Bernal, Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies, as well as the heads of the Barbados, Bermuda, Eastern Caribbean and Jamaica stock exchanges.

The final day, Friday, will see discussion on alternative investments and raising capital and will feature presenters such as acting president of Jampro, Sancia Bennett-Sempler, Trinidad and Tobago Securities Commission's Osbourne Nurse and Director of Merrill Lynch's Global Private Client Group, Mundi Martinez.

"This year we will be looking at practical demonstration. for example, we are going to have a live demonstration on regional connectivity and for the first time persons will see how we intend to connect," said Street.

business@gleanerjm.com