Mr. Balls was greeted by Assem O. Kabesh, Chief Business Development Officer of DIFC and Board Member of the DIFC Authority, and Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chief Economist, DIFC.
Mr. Balls was educated in the United Kingdom before graduating from Harvard in the United States. He began writing for the Financial Times in 1990 and then moved into government, becoming Economic Adviser to the then Shadow Chancellor Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP in 1994 and Economic Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1997. Ed Balls has written a number of economic publications and is a member of the TGWU, Unison and the Co-operative Party. Mr. Balls was voted a Member of Parliament for Normanton in 2005 and was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury in May 2006.
The DIFC enjoys a long-standing commercial relationship with the United Kingdom and many British companies have established operations in the DIFC to take advantage of the attractive business environment and expand throughout the MENA region. A number of leading British companies now have offices in the DIFC, including Barclays, Lloyds TSB, HSBC, Prudential and Standard Chartered.
Assem O. Kabesh commented: "The UAE and the UK have always had close links, particularly in trade and business. In recent years, we have seen a growing number of British businesses set up offices in the DIFC while an increase in flow of investment from the UK underlines our significant on-going partnership. We would like to welcome Mr. Balls to the DIFC as a representative of the British Government, and we look forward to the continuation of this cooperation which we are certain will lead to sustained economic growth for both countries."
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Strengthening of business links between UK and the DIFC
- United Arab Emirates: Saturday, November 11 - 2006 at 14:45
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The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) today welcomed Ed Balls MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury of the United Kingdom, to Dubai and the UAE, highlighting the strong ties between the two countries.
(from right to left): Assem O. Kabesh, Chief Business Development Officer, DIFC and Board Member DIFC Authority , Mr. Ed Balls MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury of the United Kingdom and Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chief Economist, DIFC
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Posted by Lara Lynn Golden, News EditorSaturday, November 11 - 2006 at 14:45 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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This article was updated on Tue Nov 14 2006.
Notes and Media Contacts »
Media enquiries:
Amira Abdulla
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2433
Shaima Al Zarouni
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2432
About the DIFC:
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centers of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services.
In just under two years, over 260 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.
The DIFC is made up of the following core bodies:
1. The DIFC Authority (DIFCA) - Responsible for the Companies and Security Registries and attracting financial as well as non-financial institutions to set up in the DIFC. The DIFC Authority is also responsible for developing the financial services industry. (www.difc.ae)
2. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) - An independent, unitary regulatory authority, responsible for the regulation of all DIFC operations. Its principle-based primary legislation is modeled on that used in London and New York and its regulatory regime operates to standards that meet or exceed those in major financial centers. (www.dfsa.ae)
3. The DIFC Courts - An independent court system set up to uphold the provisions of DIFC laws and regulations, the courts provide comprehensive legal redress in civil and commercial matters within the DIFC. The DIFC Courts system is especially designed to deal with all of sophisticated transactions that will be conducted within DIFC. The DIFC Court laws, based on the common law, not only sets out the jurisdiction of the court but also provides for a dispute resolution services, including arbitration and mediation, thus allowing for the independent administration of justice in the DIFC. ( www.difccourts.ae)
DIFC Investments- The creation of DIFC Investments will result in the allocation to it of all non public administration activities previously carried out by DIFC Authority. This will include amongst other things all commercial and other activities such as the operation and management of any current and future subsidiaries, the development of the centre's investment strategy and relevant policies and any other strategic investments or alliances which will further the goals and objectives of the Dubai International Financial Centre and contribute to the fulfillment of the Centre's vision. Some of the companies and organizations that DIFC Investments owns include:
1. The Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) The DIFX is the region's first international financial exchange for equities, bonds, Islamic products, funds, index products and (subject to regulatory approval) derivatives. The target areas of the DIFX for seeking issuers include the Middle East and North Africa, as well as South Africa, Turkey and the Indian sub-continent. The regulator of the DIFX is the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The DIFX is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its owner is the DIFC Authority. (www.difx.ae)
2. Hawkamah- the first Institute for Corporate Governance in the region, has been established in partnership with a group of international institutions, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry, Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Dubai School of Government (DSG), Young Arab Leaders (YAL), and the Institute of Management Development (IMD). (www.hawkamah.org).
Amira Abdulla
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2433
Shaima Al Zarouni
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2432
About the DIFC:
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centers of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services.
In just under two years, over 260 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.
The DIFC is made up of the following core bodies:
1. The DIFC Authority (DIFCA) - Responsible for the Companies and Security Registries and attracting financial as well as non-financial institutions to set up in the DIFC. The DIFC Authority is also responsible for developing the financial services industry. (www.difc.ae)
2. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) - An independent, unitary regulatory authority, responsible for the regulation of all DIFC operations. Its principle-based primary legislation is modeled on that used in London and New York and its regulatory regime operates to standards that meet or exceed those in major financial centers. (www.dfsa.ae)
3. The DIFC Courts - An independent court system set up to uphold the provisions of DIFC laws and regulations, the courts provide comprehensive legal redress in civil and commercial matters within the DIFC. The DIFC Courts system is especially designed to deal with all of sophisticated transactions that will be conducted within DIFC. The DIFC Court laws, based on the common law, not only sets out the jurisdiction of the court but also provides for a dispute resolution services, including arbitration and mediation, thus allowing for the independent administration of justice in the DIFC. ( www.difccourts.ae)
DIFC Investments- The creation of DIFC Investments will result in the allocation to it of all non public administration activities previously carried out by DIFC Authority. This will include amongst other things all commercial and other activities such as the operation and management of any current and future subsidiaries, the development of the centre's investment strategy and relevant policies and any other strategic investments or alliances which will further the goals and objectives of the Dubai International Financial Centre and contribute to the fulfillment of the Centre's vision. Some of the companies and organizations that DIFC Investments owns include:
1. The Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) The DIFX is the region's first international financial exchange for equities, bonds, Islamic products, funds, index products and (subject to regulatory approval) derivatives. The target areas of the DIFX for seeking issuers include the Middle East and North Africa, as well as South Africa, Turkey and the Indian sub-continent. The regulator of the DIFX is the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The DIFX is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its owner is the DIFC Authority. (www.difx.ae)
2. Hawkamah- the first Institute for Corporate Governance in the region, has been established in partnership with a group of international institutions, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry, Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Dubai School of Government (DSG), Young Arab Leaders (YAL), and the Institute of Management Development (IMD). (www.hawkamah.org).
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