Euromoney Conferences and the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) has announced a stellar line-up of leading international and regional industry experts to speak at the sixth annual GCC Financial Forum in Bahrain.

More than 600 high-level delegates will participate and discuss how the GCC region will fund its future at the event set to take place on February 27 and 28. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Finance, will address the forum for the very first time.

Delegates will have the unique opportunity to participate in an open ‘town-hall’ session with Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) – in what has now become one of the well-established highlights of the annual forum.

The illustrious line-up of speakers will include Francis Fukuyama, the world-renowned political commentator, futurist and author of The End of History and the Last Man, as well as Lord Adair Turner, chairman of the Institute for New Economic Thinking and former head of the UK’s financial regulator, the FSA.

The forum audience will also hear from two of the regions’ leading bank chief executives: Adel A. El Labban, chief executive of Ahli United Bank and Bassel Gamal, group chief executive of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB).  On the second day, keynote interviews will be held with Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji, chief executive officer of Mumtalakat, and Chris Skinner, a well-known fintech commentator and author.

Victoria Behn, head of Middle East and Africa at Euromoney Conferences said:  “As GCC countries seek to reduce their dependence on oil revenues and to diversify their economies, the region’s leaders are setting a new trajectory for the region’s future development.

“At the height of this pivotal phase, we are proud to host such a diverse and high-calibre line-up of speakers who will share their experience and expertise. We believe the presentations, keynote interviews and panel discussions will provide our participants with valuable insights and ideas to enable them to find real solutions to the current challenges they face.” – TradeArabia News Service