Lombard Odier has announced it is opening its E-MERGING FinFair 2014 online trade fair to private investors for the first time, as part of its drive to harness digital technology in private banking. (To view this publication's recent interview with the bank in Asia on this issue, click here.)

The launch comes after the online fair was held for financial experts in October last year. This autumn, the fair spans two days – 24 September for professionals and 25 for private investors.

The use of such digital technology was explained by the Swiss private banking firm in a recent interview with this publication. The network is present in 52 countries and is free of charge. It has over 1,038 members already together managing $360 billion of AuM. Lombard Odier has described this network as “a professional Facebook for independent financial experts”.

The “Virtual FinFair”, in 3D, is being run in partnership with the Swiss investment trade fair anlagewelt.ch.

“This virtual financial hub will allow private investors, independent portfolio managers, banking and insurance consultants, asset managers and other financial professionals hear about investment opportunities, market trends and innovations; and also to interact with their peers in the investment world,” it said.

The online environment allows visitors, represented by their avatars, to attend live stream presentations, browse exhibitors’ booths, swap business cards, make Skype calls or chat with other participants and interact with speakers.

Last year, the event attracted 33 exhibitors and over 600 avatars from 30 countries during a period of 13 hours - with average time spent in the FinFair of 3 hours and 40 minutes. Participants exchanged 5,400 business cards and 4,000 messages or Skype conversations.