Irish Funds Zurich Seminar: Event Highlight

Irish Funds recently hosted an in-person seminar in Zürich, kindly sponsored by SIX, bringing together industry participants to explore key themes shaping the international funds landscape. Discussions throughout the morning focused on ETFs, sustainable investing, and Ireland’s continued development as a global investment hub.

The event began with introductory remarks from Dragan Mircov (SIX Group) and Natasha Haugh (Irish Funds), followed by an address from Aoife McGarry, Ambassador of Ireland to Switzerland, who highlighted the strong and growing financial ties between Ireland and Switzerland.

Discussions first turned to Ireland’s role in the global ETF market, with panellists examining the factors underpinning its continued success. Ireland’s scale, innovation, and international reach were central themes, with particular emphasis on the global distribution of Irish-domiciled ETFs and the country’s significant share of the European ETF market.

Attention then shifted to sustainable investing, where insights were shared on how the ESG landscape is evolving. The session explored the challenges and opportunities facing asset managers as they respond to regulatory change, shifting investor priorities, and increasing demand for transparency.

A further panel examined the breadth of Ireland’s investment ecosystem, highlighting its attractiveness across a wide range of fund structures. Speakers noted Ireland’s efficient regulatory frameworks, global connectivity, and the strength of its service provider network as key enablers of continued growth.

The final session broadened the discussion to consider wider global dynamics, including geopolitical developments, economic uncertainty, and regulatory complexity. Panellists reflected on how these forces are influencing markets internationally and the practical steps firms can take to remain competitive and resilient.

Key takeaways from the seminar included Ireland’s strong position in the ETF sector, the growing complexity of the sustainable investing landscape, and the importance of adaptability in navigating global market change.

Irish Funds thanks all speakers and attendees for their participation, and extends particular appreciation to SIX for hosting the event at SIX ConventionPoint.