CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS OF MALAYSIA AND BAHRAIN CONFIRMED AS KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

HE Rasheed M. Al Maraj, the Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, Hon. Burhanuddin Abdullah, the Governor of the Bank of Indonesia, and Professor Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim, Secretary General for the Islamic Financial Services Board have been confirmed as the keynote speakers of the 14th World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) from 8 to 10 December 2007 at the Gulf International Convention Centre. The conference which being held under the patronage of HH Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain will focus on the financial and regulatory architecture to enable industry growth and containing risks.

The theme of WIBC 2007 looks at new international growth markets and with 1,000 delegates from more than 35 countries gathering at the conference, this year it is truly about the World Comes to WIBC. The launch of the new Country Focus session will explore the increasing interest and opportunities for Islamic finance in non-Islamic geographies; and for the first time WIBC will feature the UK Pavilion led by UK Trade & Investment. Featuring a high-powered delegation of decision-makers representing major banks and institutions in the UK, this will be a dynamic opportunity to meet with the players who are shaping the future of London as a key European centre for Islamic finance.

The incredible growth story of Islamic banking is set to continue through 2008 in an increasingly dynamic market characterised by landmark deals and bold strategies. Significant new players have entered the market, while some well established institutions have expanded their geographic footprint and the major international conventional players have further sharpened their Islamic finance capabilities. This has set the stage for discussions over the next two days as WIBC 2007 has assembled an unprecedented line-up of more than 60 outstanding speakers from the Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia to share new insights into the growth potential of Islamic banking & finance.

Providing new research insights into industry trends and performance, The WIBC McKinsey Competitiveness Report 2007/08, now in its 4th year, has rapidly established itself as an indispensable reference resource for decision-makers as they map out their strategies for competitive excellence and performance improvement. This year’s Competitiveness Report, to be launched on the 9th of December 2007 at WIBC, focuses on how institutions can capture the trillion dollar opportunity - as the Islamic banking industry heads to new growth records.

WIBC 2007 delegates will engage in stimulating debates on these significant issues with a distinguished faculty of sixty five speakers and panelists, including leaders of international and regional institutions, through a mix of highly interactive plenary sessions, break-outs and private closed-door meetings.

In addition to knowledge transfer, WIBC is also about high-level networking and this year there are many features on the Sidelines of the conference that will facilitate informal discussions. From the Executive Business Lounge hosted by BFSD; to the large-scale exhibition; the VIP Networking Room hosted by Bank Muscat International; and culminating in the Gala Dinner & Awards ceremony hosted by JP Morgan, with Ernst & Young as the Award Auditor; there are many opportunities to engage in quality interactions with the market leaders assembled at WIBC.

-ENDS-

About Middle East Global Advisors (MEGA)
Middle East Global Advisors (MEGA) is the leading business information firm focused on achieving business results for the Islamic banking & finance industry since 1993. The portfolio of MEGA brands represents the landmark industry conferences and our clients are the leading players in the international financial markets.

For media information, please contact Sharon Pereira or Adil Jaouhari:
Matrix Public Relations
Tel: 0097143430888or media information, please contact Sharon Pereira or Adil Jaouhari:
Sharon@matrixdubai.com; adil.j@matrixdubai.com

For Further Information, Please Contact:
Zainab Hasan
Head – Business Development
Middle East Global Advisors (MEGA)
Tel: +9714 3431200
Email: zainab@megaevents.net

Matrix Public Relations is an independent public affairs consultancy based in Dubai, the dynamic commercial and media centre of the Gulf.

We specialise in providing PR counsel and services to help our clients enhance their brand equity and corporate reputation in the region. By marrying international PR expertise with perceptive local knowledge we are able to plan and implement strategic communications initiatives that really make a difference.

This release was published on openPR.