Crans Montana Forum Middle East signs agreement with GEOC as international networking partner for April 2008 forum

The event will be organised by Crans Montana Forum Middle East and the Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCC) in association with Crans Montana Forum, United Nation for Industrial Development (UNIDO), Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) from 8th to 10th April 2008 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama.

GEOC is the Federation of GCC Chamber Official Delegate to Eurochambres and the exclusive link in liaising and facilitating communication between Eurochambres' 19 million enterprises and FGCCC's 700,000 companies. GEOC will co-operate with Crans Montana Forum Middle East as "International Networking Partner" for this specific forum.

Additionally, it has been agreed that the FGCCC and G.E.O.C. France will announce the publication of the series of books "The Business Gateway to the Gulf Countries", during the forum which books will be presented and offered to the VIP present to the Forum.

The series of books is the first step issued to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Eurochambres and the FGCCC and instigated by GEOC France, which held several communications and information tools and designed to step-up co-operation between the two organisations and ultimately bring companies from Europe and the Gulf Region closer together.

This International economic and investment forum will be the first serious step for these two major regions of the world to meet, network and do business. During its sessions, the latest economic strategies, policies and the available investment opportunities will be highlighted. In addition to the exchange of professional experiences and dialogue in the field of several important topics of mutual interest for both regions like: common market, commercial arbitration, free economy, common currency, economic cooperation, investment promotion, and prospect of the proposed Free Trade Agreement with European Union.

The key sectors which will be included in the Program are : energy, renewable energy, natural resources, transport, infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, housing, telecommunication, IT, tourism, public health, trading, financial services and banking, manufacturing, etc., which will be discussed through plenary sessions, specialized and national sessions, round tables, national and corporate presentations.

This forum will also provide a platform to showcase and promote investment and business development opportunities in various economic sectors for potential GCC's financial institutions, institutional investors, corporate, traders, developers and high net-worth individuals to develop business opportunities.

It is well known that The Central and Eastern Europe - including CIS States - represent a huge market with steadily expanding economies and some of the highest growth rates among European and OECD member countries. The last few years have seen significant improvements in the business and foreign investment climate of most of Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, including CIS States.