Republic of China Vice Premier Paul Chiu addressed the global financial crisis to more than 100 select invitees representing elite financial institutions, exchanges, corporations, government agencies and universities from around the world at the 19th Asia-Pacific Futures Research

The APFRS is one of the most respected derivatives research conferences in the world, having begun when the Chicago Board of Trade Foundation hosted its first Asian Symposium in 1991. Today’s symposium is organized by Kent State University’s Center for Financial Engineering, home to a financial engineering master’s program ranked 13th in North America by Global Derivatives.com, along with numerous sponsors. 

Vice Premier Chiu, a distinguished leader in the Republic of China and in the field of finance, is the APFRS 2009 honorary chairman.

“The Taiwan government is fully and carefully responding to the financial crisis and will assist the private sector,” Dr. Chiu said as he welcomed the attendees at the symposium’s luncheon ceremony. “I look forward to the output of this symposium and the great minds assembled here to provide research to assist in this recovery process.” 

Dr. Chiu began his career in the 1970s with the Central Bank of the Republic of China, becoming the director general in 1981 and then deputy governor in 1988. He gained national recognition in 1996 when he was named minister of finance of the Republic of China, and then in 2008 was appointed vice premier. 

“We are very privileged to have Vice Premier Chiu as the APFRS 2009 honorary chairman,” said Dr. Timothy Chandler, Kent State University’s senior associate provost. "There has never been a more appropriate time for this symposium than now, given the current state of market conditions around the world. The balance of practitioners and academic minds attending the conference is unprecedented. This conference is the appropriate forum for discussion about the outlook of futures. We are all looking forward to the panel discussion on today’s financial tsunami."

The two-day symposium continues with innovative research presentations by financial engineers in four in-depth sessions with original, peer-reviewed papers and discussant sessions.  In addition, distinguished keynote speakers include Dr. Sheng-Cheng Hu, former chairperson-minister of the financial supervisory commission of the Republic of China, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Donald R. van Deventer, founder of the Kamakura Corporation.

“We are delighted with this year’s symposium,” said Dr. Mark Holder, director of Kent State University’s Center for Financial Engineering. “From the gathering of influential financial leaders and respected scholars representing organizations in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the United States, to Vice Premier Chiu’s dedicated involvement, the 19th APFRS is an impressive success.” 

The accomplishments of the APFRS, in large part, are due to generous funding and support from local and global sponsors; including The Institute for Financial Markets, National Chung Hsing University, National Taiwan University, The Financial Engineering Center of Taiwan, Xiamen University, Myongji College, Hong Kong Baptist University, The Journal for Futures Market and Review of Futures Markets.

Kent State University’s Center for Financial Engineering is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in derivatives and is a catalyst for the development of the field of financial engineering through education, training, and research. The Center for Financial Engineering hosts the Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MSFE) program, the Olga A. Mural Financial Engineering Trading Floor, the Asia-Pacific Futures Research Symposium and the Review of Futures Markets journal.

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Media Contacts:

Michelle Parrish, Kent State University, Center for Financial Engineering, mparris3@kent.edu,330-672-2717     

Kevin Brosien, Kent State University, University Communications and Marketing, kbrosie1@kent.edu, 330-672-8589