ICMA is a not-for-profit membership association, headquartered in Switzerland, that serves the needs of its wide range of member firms in global capital markets. As at October 2019 it has more than 580 members in 62 countries.

Among its members are private and public sector issuers, banks and securities houses, asset managers and other investors, capital market infrastructure providers, central banks, law firms and others.

Through its committees, ICMA brings together members from all sectors of the wholesale and retail debt securities markets to inform its work on regulatory and market practice issues, which impact all aspects of international market functioning. ICMA prioritises four core fixed income market areas – primary; secondary; repo and collateral; and green, social and sustainable.

The objectives of the association are:
 

1. to promote good relations among its members and to provide a basis for joint examination and discussion of questions relating to the international capital and securities markets and to issue rules and make recommendations governing their operations; and
2. to provide services and assistance to participants in the international capital and securities markets.