THE impact of monetary and financial economics – a key pillar of any country – stretches far and wide.
To this end, the Asia School of Business (ASB) recently launched the Tun Ismail Ali Center of Excellence (Tiacoe) to advance rigorous scholarship and thought leadership in this field.
Named in honour of the late Tun Ismail Mohamed Ali, the first Malaysian governor of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the centre – endowed by BNM and based at ASB – serves as a hub for research on central banking issues, particularly in emerging markets.
Its initiatives include hosting central bankers, scholars and graduate students conducting research aligned with its mission; fostering knowledge creation and exchange through conferences, seminars, workshops, a grant programme and public lectures; and offering training and advisory services to central banks and other relevant institutions in support of its broader objectives.
It also aims to strengthen the capacity of local higher education institutions and broaden outreach through active engagement with local academics, students and the public.
At the launch ceremony held at ASB, BNM governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the central bank has long been a proponent of evidence-based policymaking.
“We trust the centre shares this mission and will become a leading voice in monetary and financial economics, both in the region and globally, especially in areas we have long pioneered and championed,” he said in a press release dated Aug 14.
ASB board of governors founding chair and co-chair, and former BNM governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, who also officiated the launch, said it is vital that local understanding and innovation in financial and monetary economics continue to progress.
“In these uncertain times – with the climate crisis, geopolitical tensions and disrupted supply chains – it has become more important than ever for Malaysia to maintain monetary and financial stability as best it can,” she said.
The launch of the centre was held in conjunction with ASB’s 10th anniversary.
Ahead of its launch, Tiacoe has carried out a series of initiatives, including research seminars featuring notable international speakers such as Prof Hélène Rey of the London Business School; the appointment of research fellow Prof Refet S. Gürkaynak from Bilkent University and his subsequent public lecture; research presentations at local universities such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak; and the launch of a grant programme.
