In this episode of the Cover Mindshift Series, Tony interviews Omar Gemei, the head of Global Placement and Bowing at Marsh for India, Middle East, and Africa. Omar discusses the recent 4% decline in commercial insurance market rates as reported in the Q2 Marsh Global Insurance Index, attributing the decline to increased competition and higher market capacity. He highlights the specific trends in the South African market, noting even greater rate reductions for large, risk-managed clients due to competition between local and London wholesale markets. Additionally, Omar touches on the resilience of the EA region's casualty market compared to the US. He also explains the growing role of alternative risk financing through self-insurance and captive insurance, particularly among sophisticated, multinational companies. The discussion extends to the dynamic cyber insurance market, where increased competition and better understanding of risks have led to declining rates in South Africa. Omar addresses concerns about the industry's capacity to underwrite cyber risks, emphasizing the significant learning and experience gained over recent years.