Leading Arab bankers will attend a key conference which begins today in Bahrain under the theme "Requirements for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development."

The two-day Arab Banking Conference 2013 will be held at the InterContinental Regency.

Organised by the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), in co-operation with the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the event is being held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Ministers, governors of central banks, representatives of public and private organisations as well as diplomats are also expected to attend.

The conference will be held on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Arab Banking Federation and its board meeting.

"We welcome the holding of the conference and the presence of leading personalities of Arab banking," Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Rasheed Al Maraj said yesterday.

"The patronage of HRH the Prime Minister is evidence of his support and keen interest in the financial sector and banking, which remains a key contributor of Bahrain's growth," he added.

The governor will be speaking during the opening session of the conference.

The theme of the conference this year is: "Requirements for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development:.

"The choice of Manama as the venue of the conference is due to Bahrain's pioneering role in finance and banking, as well as the logistical advantages of the kingdom," said UAB secretary general Wissam H Fattouh, who will also address participants later today.

Other key speakers include, International Union of Arab Bankers chairman Dr Joseph Tarabay and UAB chairman Adnan Ahmed Yousif.

The conference aims to shed light on the significance of socio-economic development in the Arab world, boosting inter-Arab investments, creation of job opportunities for Arab youth, combating poverty and mobilising the public and the private sectors to usher in reconstruction and restoration in countries that suffered from unrest.

Investing in human and natural resources, making capital funds available, facilitating investment, boosting the private sector as a key partner in development and benefiting from giant Arab banks' potential for promoting development in Arab countries, are some of the other topics on the agenda.-TradeArabia News Service