It is with great disappointment that FIA has decided to cancel its 45th Annual Boca International Futures Industry Conference on March 10-12 due to concerns for the health and wellbeing of our conference attendees surrounding the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. After discussions with FIA’s board of directors this morning, as well as with key stakeholders in the industry, it has become clear that cancellation is the right thing to do to protect the health of our members and participants.
The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control continue to escalate the threat levels surrounding the Coronavirus, with experts predicting that cases will grow materially in the U.S. leading up to next week’s meeting. In addition, many of FIA’s members have implemented non-essential travel restrictions that make it difficult for panelists, speakers and participants to attend the conference, including key stakeholders within investment banks, asset management firms, exchanges, clearinghouses and regulators.
We did not make this decision lightly. For four decades, Boca has served as the place where our industry comes together to share ideas, broker deals, foster relationships and reacquaint with friends. We cannot fully express our disappointment.
We can now focus on ensuring our markets remain open to manage the volatility surrounding these events--and importantly, on the health of the people critical to keeping these markets working. We appreciate the understanding and support of our members and look forward to Boca 2021 on March 16-18.
