Crans Montana 'strengthening GCC-Africa cooperation in the Gulf' Forum commences today

This high profile economic and investment forum is organised by Crans Montana Forum Middle East, in association with OFID OPEC Fund for International Development, and will draw African Government Officials and Businesses, to network with the GCC region's key bankers and investors to discuss recent developments and business opportunities and to promote foreign direct investment and trade.

Today's program will comprise the following sessions: "The Management of Natural Resources", "Oil & Gas: prospects in the framework of the World crisis", "The Mining Industry", "Tourism: the African & GCC Potential", "The Foreign Investment Climate : Rule of Law and Management of Public Affairs", "Towards more secured Investments in Africa", "The role of International Organisations : World Bank, IFC, International Monetary Fund, UNIDO, African Development Bank, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, UNECA, OFID, ECOWAS, and "The new role of Islamic Banking".

The Official Forum Dinner will be sponsored by Baytik Industrial Investments. Other sponsors of the Forum are Zain as Platinum sponsor.

Notable attendees from the GCC include Her Highness Sheikha Hissah bint Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, Chairperson of the Arab Businesswomen's Council (ABC), and H.E. Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Foreign Trade Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

Confirmed attendees from the African continent include H.E. Maria da Luz Guebuza, the First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, H.E. Mr. Eriya Kategaya, several African Ministers and Secretary Generals of regional African organisations, as well as many other high-profile governmental and corporate personalities. A number of high-profile African delegations are also participating in this important Forum, in addition to several key business personalities from Bahrain's private sector and many senior-level governmental and corporate representatives from Saudi Arabia, and the GCC.