MANAMA: The Kingdom of Bahrain remained leader in financial services sector, thanks to its sophisticated ICT sector and attractive business climate.
Bahrain has many positive stories to tell including the state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure, one of the key drivers of banking and financial growth, Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), said.
He was speaking during a Press conference held at Four Seasons Hotel on the sixth annual GCC Financial Forum, co-hosted by Euromoney Conferences and the EDB which begins on Monday in Manama, Bahrain.
Eminent speakers from the regional and international financial communities will convene in Manama for two days of high-level discussions. The Forum will focus on the outlook for GCC economies, the development of the region’s financial sector and innovative solutions to today’s financing challenges.
This year we have confirmed participation of over 800 policy makers, regulators and C-level financiers and business leaders from 23 different countries are registered to attend, says Victoria Behn, Director Euromoney for Middle East and Africa.
Experts, bankers, policy makers and regulators will deliberate upon the global economic trends with focus on the region’s economic challenges as well as political arena of the region which essentially play a key role in the economic stability and growth of the region, adds Victoria.
The participating countries include Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, as well as a significant proportion from the UK and some from as far as China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.
The high profile key participants include, Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance, Bahrain; Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain; Zayed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji, Chief Executive Officer, Mumtalakat; Adel A. El Labban, Chief Executive Officer, Ahli United Bank; Francis Fukuyama, Political Commentator, Futurist and Author; Bassel Gamal, Group Chief Executive Officer, QIB; Jean Lemierre, Group Chairman, BNP Paribas; Rita Liu, Head of EMEA, Alipay; Chris Skinner, Fintech Commentator and Author Lord Adair Turner, Chairman, Institute for New Economic Thinking .
