Main Conference Agenda

Day 1: Monday 16th June 2008

08:00    Conference Registration & Coffee

09:00    Chairmans Opening Remarks

09:10   Examining the economy of the Middle East in 2008; understanding the implications for equity markets and the strategy decision of local and international institutions

• The oil picture and regional growth prospects.
• The investment climate:  Where regional capital is directed?
• Regional stock markets: Liquidity, volatility, and the link to international markets.

Dr. Soliman Demir,
Head of Economics and Strategy Division,
Gulf Investment Corporation

09:40    Regulatory Address: How are the regulatory authorities of the Gulf nations encouraging continued prosperity in the regions capital markets?

• Understanding the regulatory environment of the gulf region; reviewing the work of the regulators in local capital markets
• How are the regulatory bodies of the region fostering favorable environment for market growth in the region?

Martin Kinsky, Head of Markets, DFSA

10:10    Keynote: Gaining The Advantage In MENA – Using Regulation And Market Conditions Across Different Gulf Regions To Your Advantage

• Identifying and exploiting opportunities throughout Gulf markets
• Understanding how differences in local markets can be turned to your advantage
• Navigating the barriers to successful trading in the region

Muhammad al Ballaa,
Chairman,
Mubasher

One of the largest 50 largest companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, NTG is a multinational conglomerate group of consisting of over 15 specialised companies. Mubasher, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTG has become a pioneer and leader in providing the MENA region with real time stock market information online trading capability and interactive information tools to investors in the Arab world. As well as Chairman of the Al Ballaa Family Business Group, Mr. Ballaa is an active member of E-Commerce advisory committee to the Government of Saudi Arabia.

10:40    Morning Coffee & Networking Break

11:30    Electronic Trading in Turbulent Markets

• Defining electronic trading – its limits and its potential
  
• Exploring strategies for electronic trading in volatile market conditions

Robert Flatley, Managing Director, Global Head - Autobahn Equity, Deutsche Bank

12:00   Panel Discussion: Exchange Consolidation – Where Next For The Middle East?

• Exploring the trend of exchange consolidation and the implications for market participants
• How can exchange consolidation benefit the trading community?
• How should institutions be adapting and investing to ensure they capture the opportunity?

Joe Gawronski. President & CEO, Rosenblatt Securities
Peter FitzGerald, Head of Market Operations, DIfX
Manaf A. Alhajeri, General Manager, Kuwait FInancial Centre (Markaz)

13:00    Lunch & Networking Break

14.30    Trading Strategy Panel: Ensuring Efficient Trading & Investment; Successful Strategies for the Gulf Region

• Accessing and making effective use of liquidity
• Hedging risk in the right way, using the right markets
• Optimising your trading strategy through effective use of market knowledge

Zeeshan Ali, Senior Portfolio Manager, Argent Dubai Simon Eaves, COO, The GCC Energy Managers Fund

15.15    Secure your competitive advantage – Increasing margin and reducing costs through smarter trading & investment strategies

• Accessing liquidity and balancing this liquidity with margin utilisation
• Integrating liquidity management in your trading strategy

Rakesh Shah, Chief Executive Officer, Ten PoInt Trading

15:45    Afternoon Coffee & Networking Break

16:30    Trading Technology Panel: Maximising competitive advantage through technology investment

• Investing in technology to capitalize on the growing internationalization of capital markets
• Integrating data systems into your trading strategy
• Accessing The Right Data For Your Trading Operations

Ayman Ghassan El-Saheb, Director Of Operations, Darahem Financial Brokerage
Martin O’ Regan, Operations Manager, Apex Fund Dubai
Eric Karpman, Vice President, BNY Mellon Asset Management

17:00    Maximising your trading potential through your trading platform

• Finding the right trading platform – are current platforms meeting the needs of traders?
• Understanding how the right platform can give you the advantage
• Directing investment and building your platform in the region

Eric Karpman,
Vice President,
BNY Mellon Asset Management

Eric has over 15 years of a broad financial industry experience and is currently a Vice President at BNY Mellon Asset Management, an investment management unit of The Bank of New York Mellon, with more than $112 billion in assets under management offering equity, fixed-income and alternative investment products. Eric has worked on the equity trading sell-side at Fuji Bank, on the fixed income trading sell-side at JJKennyDrake trading unit of Standard & Poor’s, on various trading desks at Bear Stearns as well as on the buy-side at his current position with BNY Asset Management. Throughout his career, Eric and his teams have successfully implemented electronic trading systems with direct interfaces to the Street as well as the algorithmic, program and direct market access trading platforms for instant market analysis, decision-making capabilities and straight-through processing.

17:30    Chairman’s closing remarks

18:00    Drinks Reception and Networking

Day 2: Tuesday 17th June 2008

8:30      Conference Registration & Coffee

09:00    Chairman’s Opening Remarks

09:15    Keynote: Creating a Single Market – Forging Cross Border Co-operation In The GCC

• Realising a single market for the Middle East – examining the implications for all market participants
• Do brokers and investors want single rules for the whole region?
• How should the regions institutions be preparing?

Salah Al Fulaji,
Chief Executive Officer,
NBK Capital

Salah Al-Fulaij took over from George Nasra as chief executive officer (CEO) of NBK Capital, the investment banking unit of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK). Al-Fulaij was previously group general manager of investment services and treasury at NBK, and his appointment marked the consolidation of the subsidiary and brought investment services, including merchant banking and asset and wealth management, into the unit. NBK Capital is now expanding and planning to establish an office in Cairo to add to its offices in Kuwait, Dubai and Istanbul. Al-Fulaij continues to supervise the NBK’s treasury department, in addition to NBK’s private banking subsidiary in Switzerland and its London-based investment management joint venture with Morgan Stanley.

09:45  Exploring the Role of the Asset Management Industry in a Vibrant Capital Market

• How can the asset management industry affect change in the capital markets?
• The drive for greater transparency and implications for the wider market – Brokers, Exchanges and Regulation
• Towards an improved investment infrastructure throughout the Gulf region.

Imran Ahmed,
Managing Director, Asset Management,
Mashreq Bank

Imran Ahmed joined Mashreq as the Managing Director of the Asset Management division in January 2004. He is responsible for the establishment of Mashreq’s Asset Management business, including the Makaseb family of five mutual funds and the discretionary managed account business, with the launch of the Makaseb Emirates Equity Fund in February 2005. As Managing Director of Asset Management, Imran is responsible for the strategic growth and developments of Mashreq’s fiduciary investment management business. He is also a member of the Asset Allocation Committee which provides investment guidance for the portfolios under Mashreq’s management.

10:15  Towards integrated trading in the GCC: Developing the regional brokerage

• The need for integrated trading in the gulf
• Direct market access – making the region work for you
• Foreign ownership limitations and restrictions
• How a truly regional brokerage can benefit investors

Mohammed Ali Yasin,
Managing Director,
Shuaa Securities

Mohammed Ali Yasin, Managing Director of SHUAA Securities, is a member of the select brokerage committees nominated by the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority, Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) which help in drafting new laws and regulations and advise on new market developments. He has led Emirate Securities since 1998 to become the largest private brokerage firm in the UAE, and now a part of SHUAA Securities. During that time he grew the company from AED 1 million in capital to a phenomenal AED 120 million in equity and five offices.

11.00    Morning Coffee & Networking Break

11:30   Exploring the trading patterns of GCC markets – Understanding the trends and capitalising on the opportunities

• Which asset classes are proving popular, and with which investors?
• Where does the volume of trade on the regions exchanges originate?
• Which countries and sectors are set to perform best over the next 12 months?
• What patterns are emerging from trade outside the region

Manaf A. Alhajeri,
General Manager,
Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz)

Manaf Alhajeri joined Markaz as General Manager in March 2004. For 10 years he was Deputy Director - Investment Department at “Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development” (KFAED), where he represented the Boards of Directors and Advisory Committee in Kuwait and Internationally. He also served as technical advisor to KFAED on project financing activities in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Master’s – Civil Engineering – Kuwait University Certified Finance Manager – Institute of Management Accountant (New Jersey – USA).

12:00   Market focus panel: Driving Improvements in the Capital Markets of the Middle East – What will the Regions Markets Look Like in the Future?

Salah Al Fulaji, Chief Executive Officer, NBK
Imran Ahmed, Managing Director, Asset Management, Mashreq Bank
Manaf A. Alhajeri, General Manager, Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz)

Christophe Durand,
Head of Alternative Investments,
Abu Dhabi Investment Company (ADIC)

Christophe Durand is Head of Alternative Investments in ADIC (Abu Dhabi Investment Company). Prior to that, he was Hedge Fund Manager for a private investment company in Andorra. He also worked as an Equity Fund Manager for MAAF Assurances and Barclays Asset Management in Paris. Christophe has 7 years of investment experience. He graduated from Paris Dauphine University with a Master in Finance.

12:45    Lunch & Networking Break

14:15   Using Advanced Trading Tools To Revolutionise Your Trading Strategy

• Exploring how technology can influence strategy
• Turning technology to your advantage
• Integrating advanced

Tim Wildenberg, European Head Of Direct Execution, UBS

14.45    Beyond E-brokerage – How Can Brokers Exploit Technological Developments To Differentiate Themselves?

• Gaining a competitive advantage from your technology investment
• Directing your investment to ensure maximum return and maximum value
• Technology solutions for client interface and order processing

15:15    Afternoon Coffee & Networking Break

16:00    Eliminating The Need For Phone And Fax Based Orders – Drivers For Fix Connectivity Across The Region

• Identifying and understanding the drivers for implementing fix
• How the region is preparing for the change – is your organisation prepared?
• The benefit potential of Fix – how you will gain

FIX representative speaker

16:30    The Future Of Clearing And Settlement

• Reducing costs, increasing economies of scale and creating efficient markets
• What is in the regulatory pipeline?
• Adding value to client service with a fully integrated sales process through front, middle and back office
• Global custodians and their role in the Middle East

17:00    Chairman’s closing remarks

17:15    Close of conference