SEC Completes Largest-Ever Global Training Program

76 Nations Participate in Securities Regulatory Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2008-73

Washington, D.C., May 2, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission completed its 18th Annual International Institute for Securities Market Development on April 17, 2008. Record attendance at this year's training program totaled 192 senior securities officials from 76 foreign jurisdictions, including four jurisdictions attending the Institute for the first time.

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said, "With three-quarters of U.S. investors owning foreign securities, cross-border cooperation is more important now than ever before. The Institute is an invaluable opportunity for the SEC and our overseas regulatory counterparts to cooperate on a wide variety of securities regulatory and enforcement issues. The record-setting number of participants at this year's Institute shows the strong interest among regulators from around the world in strengthening securities regulation for the benefit of investors as well as economic growth in their countries."

Ethiopis Tafara, Director of the SEC's Office of International Affairs, added, "The record attendance at this year's Institute speaks volumes about the commitment of our counterparts to developing high quality securities regulation and to forging cooperative relationships with one another and with the SEC. As our fellow regulators return to their home countries, we look forward to continuing to work with them both bilaterally through cooperation in securities enforcement matters, and multilaterally through a variety of ongoing international initiatives."

The two-week, senior-level Institute is one of the SEC's flagship global training programs. It provides a wide ranging group of participants from countries with emerging markets an opportunity to discuss the core principles of securities regulation and features lectures, panels, and workshops that focus on the development, operation, and regulation of securities markets. The Institute's faculty includes senior SEC officials as well as representatives of other governmental agencies, securities exchanges and other key securities industry participants.

For more information on the Institute or on the SEC's technical assistance program, contact Dr. Robert M. Fisher or Z. Scott Birdwell in the SEC's Office of International Affairs at 202-551-6690 or OIA@SEC.gov.