Chartered accountants from around the Gulf are to meet in Bahrain and discuss the global financial crisis.

The GCC Regional Conference of Chartered Accountants will be held on January 30 and 31 at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, Residence and Spa.

The event is being organised by the Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (BCICAI), under the patronage of Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro.

BCICAI is affiliated with the Bahrain Accountants Association (BAA) and is an official Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which is celebrating its diamond jubilee - 60th anniversary - this year.

The BCICAI has completed 10 years of its existence in Bahrain, said chairman P S Balasubramanyam.

'The GCC regional conference coincides with the BCICAI's 10th anniversary celebrations,' he told a Press conference at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, Residence and Spa yesterday.

The theme of the conference is 'Chartered Accountants - Adding Value to Global Economies.'

'The conference will promote professional development as well as the growth of analytical expertise in strategic planning, market analysis, compliance, change management and the use of information technology,' said Balasubramanyam.

'All of these are keenly required by companies, institutions and governments, in today's challenging economic situation.

'We believe that the current economic environment poses many issues in the financial and accounting world and chartered accountants have a great role to play in advising management and investors.'

A prime session of the conference will discuss the global financial crisis and the role of the chartered accountants.

'The conference will offer an opportunity for all professionals to enhance their knowledge by providing a forum to exchange views and ideas to meet the challenges of the times,' said Balasubramanyam.

BAA chairman Abbas A Mushin Al Radhi, who is also the chairman of the Arab Federation of Accountants, said that the BCICAI is an integral and valuable part of the Bahrain economy.

'They have been conducting several programmes in the past and this mega event of the GCC conference will also see the participation of the BAA members as well as members from other accounting bodies in the GCC,' he said.

'The conference will enhance Bahrain's image as the regional financial centre.'

The event will bring together a varied selection of top speakers and accounting professionals from India and the region, who will share their views and in-depth experience on a wide range of topics.

The participants include ICAI president Ved Jain, past presidents of ICAI and other prominent professionals and leaders from the region.

In addition to the educational sessions, there will be an entertainment evening followed by a gala dinner.

A special one-day Bahrain site-seeing outing is also planned for spouses of the delegates.

BCICAI membership is restricted to qualified chartered accountants from India and it has more than 400 members.

The conference has already received a very encouraging response, said Balasubramanyam.

Interested people should contact T D Balraj on 39944907, C K Jain Kurian on 36077012 or C Ragunathan on 39246231 for registration.-TradeArabia News Service