Mashreq's CEO leads discussion on future of Arab banks

Held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, the prestigious event will take place on November 1st and 2nd at the Sheraton Kuwait Hotel.

The two days event, organized by the Al-Iktisad Wal-Aamal Group in cooperation with the Kuwait Central Bank and the Kuwait Bank Association, will provide over 600 leading financial figures and influencers, a forum through which they can engage in dialogue on the current economic and financial environment. The event will also be attended by top international, regional and local players in the banking industry.

In the lead-up to the event, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair said, "The sheer scale of the financial crisis has demanded that world leaders and governments to re-evaluate the economic policies and philosophies and work towards a more sustainable and responsible economic approach. Despite such a challenging financial climate, the Mena region still presents a viable and attractive investment opportunity."

"The region's banks are in good shape but it is important that we realize the significant role we ought to play in bringing back market confidence. This forum will open a new channel of communication amongst key players in the banking industry, a significant step towards a stronger economy," Al Ghurair concluded.

Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair will be leading the 'Challenges Facing Arab Banks' panel, and will also address asset quality, liquidity, risk management and how it can be improved, in addition to the growth of regional institutions verses international institutions in light of the current market conditions.

Other topics that will be tackled at the forum include; key learning from the global financial crisis, the future of the Arab economies and the financial market trends. The forum will also feature workshops on the latest IT applications in banking services, payment systems and risk management.

One of the most successful bankers in the region, Abdul Aziz also holds a position as Speaker of the House at the Federal National Council. As CEO of Mashreq Group, he was responsible for the bank's international transactions and assisted in opening branches in New York, London, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, India and Pakistan. He was appointed director in 1989 and became the CEO the next year. Since then the bank has grown and expanded across the region to offer its customers high quality and prompt services. Under his 20 year tenure the bank's assets have risen to Dhs96.7bn, making it a world-class financial services institution.