On November 8-9, the 2024 "Qianfan Lead Navigation" Investment Banking Equity M&A and Investment-Financing Skills Competition Final, hosted by the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), was grandly held in Hefei. The International Institute of Finance (IIF) and its Research Center for Integration of Industry, Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship provided robust support for the event by leveraging their strengths in platform resources, data-driven finance, and talent development. Wang Zhiheng, President of ABC, attended the final and delivered a speech. Ye Qiang, Executive Dean of the School of Management, Executive Dean of the School of Technology and Business, and Dean of IIF, was invited to participate, while Weng Qingxiong, Vice Dean of IIF, served as a judge.

The competition was organized to implement strategic decisions by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to invigorate the capital market, support venture capital, optimize mergers and acquisitions, accelerate the development of new productive forces, and cultivate a high-quality professional talent pool in investment banking. Prior to the event, ABC experts visited IIF to coordinate planning and ensure seamless execution.

This year, IIF has reinforced its positioning by focusing on financial innovation and service capabilities, deepened collaboration with financial institutions, and synergized the School of Management’s expertise in finance with the School of Technology and Business’s innovative talent development model. These efforts have driven high-value interactions with regional bank headquarters and leading financial institutions. Moving forward, IIF will continue to advance cooperative initiatives, enhance the efficiency of financial services in supporting the real economy, and provide robust financial support for regional high-quality development.