Over 500 professionals participated in Euromoney GCC Financial Forum

The 4th Euromoney GCC Financial Forum, co-hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), concluded today. The event featured the participation of over 500 financial services professionals from the region, discussing key topics such as the corporate governance of the financial sector and the oil prices.
Sessions on the last day covered key drivers of the financial and investment industry in Bahrain, the role of SMEs in creating a sustainable economic growth and private capital impact in the economic development.
Dr. Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economist of Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) said: "This forum represent the importance of Bahrain as a financial centre in the region with leading regulations and exceptional human resources that offer added value to investors and financial institutions to access the GCC markets."
The second day of the forum also featured keynote interviews with Mr. Mahmood Al Kooheji, CEO of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company; Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain Bourse and Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CE of Nogaholding, The Oil and Gas Holding Company B.S.C.
On the first day, the forum hosted key speakers including H.E. Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj the Governor of Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB); Dr. Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economist, EDB and Mr. Richard Banks, Euromoney Director of Emerging Markets. Keynote interviews featured the participation of Mr. Abdul Razak Al Qassim, CEO and director of NBB; Mr. Abdulkarim Bucheery, CEO of BBK; and Dr. Ahmed Al Mutawa, GFH Chairman.
The forum was sponsored by the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) and The Oil and Gas Holding Company (Nogaholding). Islamic Banking Partner of the event was Gulf Finance House (GHF), while Mumtalakat, Bahrain Bourse and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) were co-sponsors and Tamkeen were the strategic partner. Meanwhile, exhibitors at the event included Baker & McKenzie and CITI and had BNP Paribas and Sico Investment Bank and Standard Chartered be part of the supporting organisations.
Euromoney is the world’s leading organiser of conferences for cross-border investment and capital markets for portfolio and direct investors, financial intermediaries, corporations’ governments,’ banks and financial institutions. Since the late 1970s, Euromoney Conferences has run events in more than 60 countries.