Bahrain Financial Harbour sponsors the 9th GCC Banking Conference

The conference is organized by the Central Bank of Bahrain in cooperation with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretariat General and will be held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa in the Kingdom of Bahrain from the 24-25 March 2009 under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

This conference has been taking place over 15 years and is hosted by each of the GCC countries in rotation and this year it is Bahrain's turn to host this important event.

The conference topics will focus on the GCC legislative regulatory Industry and provide participants the opportunity to discuss with regulators and legislators the most significant issues and their impact on regional markets.

"The GCC Banking Conference will allow Bahrain to showcase its world-class infrastructure facilities as well as the incentives it offers, to investors and entrepreneurs from all over the World and we believe BFH is a prime example of Bahrain's commitment to providing world class living and working facilities to local and international companies and their staff. We have been making concerted efforts to establish strong business alliances with leading companies from various countries, and our participation in this important conference comes within this broader strategy," said Dr. Omar Al Mardi, Managing Director, BFH

"We are pleased to support the 9th GCC Banking Conference. We believe that Conferences of such international repute and significance will further reinforce Bahrain's leading position as the region's financial hub," he added.

The Conference will feature two keynote speakers: Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics (LSE); and Dr. Martin Feldstein, Professor of Economics at Harvard University and President Emeritus of the National Bureau of Economics.

This important financial forum will be attended by all the governors of the GCC Central Banks and Monetary Agencies, Heads of GCC Capital Markets, senior bankers from the region, as well representatives of the world's leading international financial institutions.

A New Era in International Banking Practices: Implications for the GCC Markets aims to provide a platform for participants to discuss the most pertinent challenges currently affecting the GCC financial markets, in addition to opportunities for growth, and to discuss overall industry trends within the global economy.