Euromoney Conferences, the world’s leading organiser of conferences for cross-border investment and capital markets and co-host, the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), have announced the return of the GCC Financial Forum.

The sixth annual event, which has grown to become the leading conference for financial services in the GCC since its inception in 2012, will take place in Manama on February 27 and 28.

A total of 600 financiers, economists, investors, bankers and policy makers are expected to attend the Forum to debate and discuss how the Gulf countries can fund their future.

Khalid Al Rumaihi, chief executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said: “Diversification agendas across the GCC are generating exciting new opportunities for the private sector to offer sustainable solutions.

“In Bahrain, where financial services are the second largest contributor to the economy, we are particularly committed to working with the industry to facilitate sustainable long-term growth. Bringing together representatives from across industry and government, the GCC Financial Forum provides decision-makers with a unique platform to share the ideas that will shape the region’s response to the challenges and opportunities ahead, and we are delighted to be working with the Forum for a sixth consecutive year.”

Victoria Behn, head of Middle East and Africa at Euromoney Conferences said: “We are proud to host the GCC Financial Forum for the sixth consecutive year in partnership with the Bahrain Economic Development Board and we are excited to present a significantly upgraded event for 2017. Our flagship Forum has uniquely established itself as a truly international gathering which provides an ideal platform for financial experts, business leaders and policy-makers to exchange ideas, develop new contacts and participate in informed, impartial and leading-edge discussions.”

“This year, our objective is to look at how the financial markets in the Gulf are evolving, to examine the region’s financing challenges and to explore how the creation of vibrant and innovative approaches to financial intermediation can provide effective solutions to these challenges,” Behn added.

Topics to be discussed at the event will include; the impact of global political events on the economic outlook; oil market dynamics with regards to demand, pricing and supply scenarios; fiscal strategy on tax, fees, non-hydrocarbon revenues; liquidity constraints, the financial sector outlook; capital markets development; Fintech and innovation in payments; the role of private capital and the search for new sources of funding. - TradeArabia News Service