The International Compliance Association (ICA), the leading professional body for the global regulatory and financial crime compliance community, announces today its partnership with the Asia Compliance Officers Association (ACOA) as part of its commitment to advance compliance standards and qualifications in the Chinese market.
The Asia Compliance Officers Association (ACOA) is an international organisation dedicated to the professional development and exchange of compliance officers, with a strong presence across the Asia-Pacific region. ACOA provides a platform for multinational corporations, financial institutions, law firms, and senior executives in sectors such as compliance, law, strategy, and finance to connect, share insights, and collaborate on advancing compliance standards. With a focus on Mainland China, ACOA aims to empower professionals through cutting-edge compliance education and initiatives tailored to the region's unique regulatory landscape.
Productive discussions in Singapore
From left to right: Mr Steve Chen (ACOA Deputy Secretary-General), Ms Lim May May (ICA APAC Managing Director), Mr David Wan (ACOA Vice President), Ms Viki Wu (ACOA Head of Training Education Development)
In a significant step forward, ICA hosted ACOA representatives at its new Singapore office to discuss strategies for expanding the availability of ICA qualifications in China. The meeting was marked by a meaningful dialogue on leveraging ACOA’s regional expertise to promote ICA’s globally recognised qualifications. Discussions also covered the growing need for compliance professionals to adapt to evolving regulatory landscapes and the ways this partnership can help address these challenges.
The exchange of ideas reaffirmed the shared vision of both organisations to foster a stronger compliance community in the region. By introducing ICA’s robust suite of qualifications and professional development opportunities, the collaboration aims to empower financial institutions and industry professionals to build sustainable compliance practices.
Strengthening ties in Shanghai
From left to right: Mr David Wan (ACOA Vice President), Mr Peter Corne (ACOA President), Ms Lim May May (ICA APAC Managing Director), Mr Pekka Dare (ICA President), Mr Steve Chen (ACOA Deputy Secretary-General)
To further solidify this partnership, ICA President Pekka Dare and May May Lim, Managing Director, ICTA, met with ACOA Chairman Peter Corne and his team in Shanghai. The meeting underscored the mutual commitment to supporting compliance professionals in China and highlighted practical steps to implement joint initiatives. Both parties explored tailored strategies to align ICA’s qualifications with the unique needs of the Chinese market while maintaining global standards.
The discussions also laid the groundwork for a co-branded Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) between ICA and ACOA. Leveraging ACOA’s expertise, the course will be translated into simplified Mandarin and adapted to reflect the new AML regime in China. This qualification is set to launch by the first quarter of 2025 and is designed to equip compliance professionals with essential knowledge and skills to navigate the evolving regulatory environment.
Looking ahead
As ICA and ACOA deepen their collaboration, future plans include introducing more ICA qualifications into the Chinese market and hosting events to raise awareness about the importance of compliance. ACOA is playing a key role in this partnership by leveraging their expertise to help translate ICA’s Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) into simplified Mandarin. This translation takes into account the new AML regime in China and will culminate in the launch of a co-branded certificate in AML between ICA and ACOA by the first quarter of 2025. Both organisations remain committed to fostering a compliance culture that is both globally informed and locally relevant.