Image Source Jul 31, 2021 10:01 IST · 1 min read
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) released a framework for setting up and operating an international trade finance services platform (ITFS) to provide trade finance services at international financial services centres (IFSCs).
The framework will enable exporters and importers to avail various types of trade finance facilities at competitive terms, for their international trade transactions through a dedicated electronic platform ITFS.
What is "IFSCA" ?
IFSCA was established in April 2020, under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019. It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar (Gujarat).IFSCA is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
Currently, GIFT IFSC is the maiden international financial services centre in India.
Prior to the establishment of IFSCA, the domestic financial regulators RBI, SEBI, PFRDA and IRDAI regulated the business in IFSC.
The main objective of IFSCA is to develop a strong global connect and focus on the needs of the Indian economy as well as to serve as an international financial platform for the entire region and the global economy as a whole.
IFSCA (Capital Market Intermediaries) Regulations, 2021
IFSCA proposes to enact a regulatory framework for the intermediaries in the capital markets operating in IFSC, focusing on ease of doing business and consistent with the fundamental principles laid down by International Organization of Securities Commissions.The IFSCA (Capital Market Intermediaries) Regulations, 2021 provide for regulatory requirements in respect of registration, obligations and responsibilities, inspection and enforcement of various types of capital market intermediaries.
Capital market intermediaries includes broker dealers, clearing members, depository participants, investment bankers, portfolio managers, investment advisers, custodians, credit rating agencies, debenture trustees and account aggregators.
Further, the proposed Intermediaries Regulations envisage registered capital market intermediaries to undertake cross-border business in capital markets in India and foreign jurisdictions, subject to certain conditions.
