Forum to showcase financial sector response to National Development Plan

KUWAIT: The Euromoney Kuwait Conference in 2016. — KUNA file photo

KUWAIT: Euromoney will celebrate its 10th annual Euromoney Kuwait Conference on 25 September. The conference will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait, a new venue to mark this special anniversary year. The agenda has been designed to give an update on New Kuwait and in particular the financial sector's response to the National Development Plan. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance, we are honored to welcome Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf, Minister of Finance to the Euromoney stage.

A stellar line-up of speakers will discuss the sustainability of Kuwait's macro-economic model and how Kuwait can expand revenues, consolidate and focus spending, finance capital expenditures and enhance the private sector's role in the economy. "Reform is crucial for unlocking the economy's potential," says Faisal Al-Hamad, Chief Executive Officer of NBK Capital and a speaker on the opening panel. "Capital market reform is a clear example, as it has facilitated Kuwait's ascension to Emerging Market status. The expected inflows will make it more attractive for local companies to raise capital and expand." Lazard Asset Management's Director and Portfolio Manager, Fadi Al-Said, Kuwait University's Associate Professor, Nayef Al-Shammari and IMF's Director of Middle East Centre for Economics and Finance, Oussama Kanaan will join Al-Hamad as they explore Kuwait's macro-economic stability.

This year will look to the future of financial services with a keynote presentation from Ripple's Sagar Sarbhai and a special session on fintech and blockchain. According to Ahli United Bank's Tareq Muhmood, "The recent proliferation of technology affecting the financial services industry is akin to the invention of the car. The horse and carriage industry survived for a while, but the change was inevitable. Banks in Kuwait are not waiting to see what will happen, they are keen to be part of the change".

The final session of the conference will examine the deployment of private capital in Kuwait's infrastructure - in vital sectors including: transport and trade; energy; electricity and water. What are the vectors for private sector involvement? What are the structures to attract private capital? Is the legislation fit for purpose? And what role does co-investment with regional and international capital play?

For more information, to view the agenda and to apply for your place to join senior government officials, bankers, corporate treasurers and CEOs, and investors, please visit the conference website - www.euromoneyconferences.com/kuwait. Euromoney Conferences invites interested participants to join the debate and to voice their opinions on the conference themes on Twitter, using the hashtag #emKuwait.