Ernst & Young to host the World Islamic Infrastructure Finance Conference 2006 Powertable

Given the high-level discussions to take place, the Conference will be inaugurated by HE Yousef Hussein Kamal, the Minister of Finance of the State of Qatar and the Chairman of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority.

Driven by expert debate on the key issues, "Assessing Opportunities for the Islamic Financing of Infrastructure Projects" is the theme of the WIIFC 2006 PowerTable, to be held at The Four Seasons Hotel, Doha, Qatar on the 6th of November 2006. Ernst & Young, leader in the auditing and business advisory field, will host this panel of leading international and regional specialists including policy makers, business leaders, project developers and financial experts. The PowerTable is a high-powered debate of the latest developments, challenges, risks and opportunities for Islamic Infrastructure Finance by the assembled panel of industry experts, thought leaders and scholars representing a cross-section of disciplines that tackles the most significant issues raised during the preceding sessions.

The panel will see experts like Sameer Abdi, Executive Manager Islamic Financial Services Group, Ernst & Young, Terry A. Newendorp, Chairman and CEO Taylor - DeJongh, Rajeev Singh, Partner, Ernst & Young, Musadag El Melik, Executive Manager, QNB Al Islami, Prof. Abdul Latif Al Meer, Head of Business Group, Qatar Islamic Bank, Andrew Steel, Managing Director, Head of Energy, Utilities & Project Finance, Fitch Ratings, and Lilian Le Falher, Senior Manager, Head of Treasury, Financial Institutions and Asset Management, Kuwait Finance House discuss on key issues such as:
What does the near future hold for infrastructure finance using Islamic mechanisms?
How can conventional and Islamic banks work more effectively together? And What significant new deals are in the pipeline?

The PowerTable will answer pre-determined and supplementary questions posed by the audience and will be moderated by Dina Salem, Program Editor & Presenter of Al Arabiya News Channel.

The WIIFC conference is delighted to have secured the support of the leading players, including Platinum Partners QNB Al Islami, Qatar Islamic Bank, and Kuwait Finance House. The Conference is also delighted to announce Al Safa Islamic Bank - a division of Commercial Bank, Qatar's leading private sector bank as Gold Sponsors and Luncheon hosts of the first day of the conference; Masraf Al Rayan - a commercial and investment bank with an entirely Sharia'a compliant portfolio of products as Gala Dinner & Refreshment Break host; Doha Islamic Bank - the Islamic banking unit of Doha Bank servicing the Islamic banking segment with a comprehensive set of products as luncheon hosts for the second day of the conference & VIP Networking Sponsors; and Kuwait Investment Company - one of the leading investment companies in Kuwait with strong access to regional and international markets as International Investments Partner.

The 1st Annual World Islamic Infrastructure Finance Conference (WIIFC) will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Doha, Qatar on 5 -6 November 2006. This prestigious industry event, which is being held under the theme of 'Conventional & Islamic Institutions Working Together to Deliver Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects'.