FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             2000-42

       SEC Announces Tenth Annual International Institute

     Washington, DC, March 31, 2000 -- The Securities and
Exchange Commission is hosting its 10th annual International
Institute for Securities Market Development, beginning on Monday,
April 3, 2000.  The two-week, executive level program is the
cornerstone of the SEC's international technical assistance
program. The Institute provides an opportunity to discuss the
core principles of securities regulation among a wide-ranging
group of participants from emerging markets.  It features panels
and workshops conducted by SEC staff and officials from the
securities industry, the private bar, and international
development organizations.

     This year, the Institute audience will include over 100
senior securities officials from 64 emerging market countries.
Prior Institutes have provided training for nearly 800 officials
from all five continents.  A list of countries represented at
this year's Institute is attached.

     The program will commence at 9:30 a.m. with welcoming
remarks by SEC Commissioner Isaac C. Hunt, Jr.  David Ruder,
former SEC Chairman and currently Professor of Law at
Northwestern University, School of Law, will give the keynote
address at 11:30 a.m.  Each of these talks is open to the press
and will be delivered at the SEC's headquarters in Room IC30, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

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        Countries Participating in the 2000 International
           Institute for Securities Market Development
                                
   1. Albania                  33. Macedonia
   2. Bahamas                  34. Malaysia
   3. Bangladesh               35. Mexico
   4. Bolivia                  36. Moldova
   5. Bosnia and Herzegovina   37. Mongolia
   6. Brazil                   38. Montenegro
   7. Bulgaria                 39. Morocco
   8. Cayman Islands           40. Namibia
   9. China                    41. Nigeria
  10. Colombia                 42. Oman
  11. Costa Rica               43. Pakistan
  12. Croatia                  44. Panama
  13. Cyprus                   45. Peru
  14. Czech Republic           46. Philippines
  15. Ecuador                  47. Poland
  16. Egypt                    48. Romania
  17. Estonia                  49. Russia
  18. Fiji Islands             50. Saudi Arabia
  19. Georgia                  51. Slovakia
  20. Ghana                    52. Slovenia
  21. Hungary                  53. South Africa
  22. Iceland                  54. Sri Lanka
  23. India                    55. Taiwan
  24. Indonesia                56. Thailand
  25. Jamaica                  57. Trinidad and Tobago
  26. Jordan                   58. Turkey
  27. Kazakhstan               59. Uganda
  28. Kenya                    60. Ukraine
  29. Korea                    61. Uruguay
  30. Kyrgyz Republic          62. Venezuela
  31. Latvia                   63. Vietnam
  32. Lithuania                64. Zambia