Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), Dr Andreas Barckow arrived in the Maldives on Wednesday, marking the first official visit by an IASB delegation to the island nation.
Dr Barckow was warmly welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA) by key representatives of the Chartered Accountants of Maldives (CA Maldives), including its President Mohamed Haleem, Vice President Ali Faris Mohamed, and members, along with Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) CFO Ahmed Assad Hashim.
In an exclusive interview with PSM News, Dr Barckow expressed his enthusiasm for the visit, stating that its primary objective is to strengthen ties with Asian and Oceanian accounting bodies and enhance global accounting standards.
“The IASB is deeply committed to fostering stronger relations with Asian nations to better understand their adoption of accounting standards and identify areas for collaboration. This visit underscores our dedication to advancing the accounting sector through meaningful dialogue and regional partnerships,” he said.
CA Maldives is set to host two major international forums this week—an event of significant prestige for the country’s financial sector. The first, the Asia-Oceanic Standard-Setters Group (AOSSG) Annual Meeting, will take place from 26 to 28 November at Villa Nautica Maldives Resort, bringing together over 40 delegates to discuss international accounting developments and regional priorities.
Following this, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Forum will commence on 29 November, uniting more than 25 global accounting standards leaders to deliberate on key financial reporting challenges and innovations.
The visit of Dr Barckow and the hosting of these forums mark a pivotal step in elevating the Maldives' accounting sector on the world stage, reinforcing its growing influence in international financial governance.