A key conference will focus on what lies ahead this year as economies emerge from the worst global financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression.

'Global Financial Markets: The Road Ahead', is the theme of this year's Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Bahrain Chapter GCC regional conference.

Participants in the conference, which runs from January 14 to 15 at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, comprise officials from the finance and economic sectors as well as business leaders from international financial organisations.

The conference will cover the GCC markets, emerging markets, outlook on currencies and commodities as well as personal portfolio strategies.

It offers companies as well as individuals the opportunity to listen, learn and interact with professionals in the field.

'The conference will provide a great backdrop for local businesses and authorities as well as individuals to hear the views of leading experts which can help them to formulate their strategies for the coming year,' said the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Bahrain Chapter chairman Alok Gupta.

'This is an opportunity not to be missed.'

Key dignitaries at the event include Institute of Chartered Accountants of India president, Uttam Prakash Agarwal, who also is the conference chairperson, India's ministry of corporate affairs secretary R Bandopadhyaya and Bahrain Accountants' Association chairman and Arab Federation of Accountants and Auditors president Abbas Al Radhi.

Key speakers include investment gurus and leading experts from the international financial community such as Anand Rathi, Anthony Mallis and Nick Bishop amongst others.

There would also be a separate presentation of Bahrain Vision 2030 by the Economic Development Board.

The sponsors of the event include title sponsor Standard Chartered Bank, event sponsorErnst & Young and co-sponsors include t'azur, SICO, BNI, Deloitte, American Express, Al Manaratain, BNP, Sakana Holistic Solutions, Al Baraka Bank, Zayani Otis, Al Rashid Group and Xerox.

The event is held under the patronage of Industry and Commerce Minister Hassan Fakhro and supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Indian chartered accountants who attend this conference are eligible for 10 hours CPE Credit towards their Continuous Professional Education requirement.-TradeArabia News Service