DFM encourages dialogue on investor relations best practices

This initiative is the latest of DFM's ongoing efforts to promote transparency and highlights the importance of greater dialogue between listed companies and the investing community.

Titled 'Making Your Story Heard', the bespoke workshop was exclusively organized for DFM listed companies in association with the Middle East Investor Relations Society and addressed some of today's key themes in global IR practices, with a focus on the increasing importance of IR in the Middle East.

DFM proactively championed efforts to promote IR amongst its listed companies and provided listed companies' CEOs, CFOs, Investor Relation Officers and industry consultants the opportunity through this Workshop, to discuss openly amongst peers and industry experts the latest developments related to IR best practices.

Essa Kazim, Executive Chairman, Dubai Financial Market, said:

"Although investor relations is relatively a new practice in this part of the world, it is one of the fastest growing sectors in public joint stock companies today. Increasingly, public companies are responding to new developments in the regional markets and increased investor's expectations through IR."

"Since its inception, DFM has been committed to encourage our listed companies to embrace IR best practices as a top priority, through various DFM initiatives such as our MOU with the Middle East IR Society and the establishment of IR department at DFM, in addition to the annual international road shows the market has organized to actively promote listed companies, since 2007," Essa added.

"DFM's model role as the first exchange to go public in this part of the world, ignited a concerted effort to encourage the adoption of international best practices in IR and corporate governance. Listed companies started to realize the benefits of IR to distinguish themselves, to have a well diversified shareholder base and enhance their relations with investors. We are delighted with the steps taken to date and look forward for more to come as the active role of our listed companies is a cornerstone to DFM's leading efforts to reinforce transparency within the market," he added.

The workshop covered a number of key topics and questions on: the winning IR strategies for effective communication, the role of technological advancements in improving IR practices, lessons learnt from today's trends in guidance and disclosure, and the adoption of IR in the middle east region as compared to the West. The workshop included informative presentations and interactive panel discussions involving expert speakers from companies including: Bell Pottinger, Capital MS&L, Citi, Emirates NBD, Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance, NASDAQ Dubai, Al Tamimi & company, Shuaa Capital, Arabtec, and Thomson Reuters.