Investment opportunities highlighted as 'MENA Investors Summit' kicks off today in Riyadh

Organized by Naseba, the Summit is considered as the first ever investor focused, deal flow initiative in the MENA region and will host 28 companies which will be allowed to present investment opportunities to up to 350 of the most dynamic, influential and decision making investors in the world, in an exclusive, private business meeting format.

Carefully selected companies will be present at the investor gathering to offer sustainable returns on investment for all attending investors. The Summit will feature detailed discussions of the latest investment trends and strategies which can instigate capital flow in the region. Discussion topics include investment prospects, business dynamics in the emerging markets, burgeoning sectors and regions in the world, understanding returns on capital injection private business and development project under the current financial circumstances, financial institutions and long term and short term investment vehicles.

Commenting on the event, C. Scott Ragsdale, Chairman of Naseba Group said:

"We are looking forward to a successful first edition of MENA Investors Summit especially with the profiles of the companies and investors participating. Through the Summit, our objective is to support the growth of various industries by offering the ideal venue for key players to meet, discuss and agree on essential approaches in terms of investment."

Extensively pre-qualified investors including sovereign funds, institutional, ultra high net-worth individuals, family business owners, and royal families will attend the summit and discuss the latest investment strategies and access cutting edge global investment opportunities. Moreover, the event will feature debates on key topics by regional executives including: Loay Jassim Al-Kharafi, Chairman & Managing Director, Al Mal Investment Company; Basil Al Ghalayini, Chairman and CEO, BMG Financial Group; Rami Alturki, President, Alturki Group; Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, Chairman, Commercial International Bank; Dr. Saleh M. Alshuaibi, Chairman, Daralmansour Group; Saad Ibrahim Almojel, Vice Chairman of the Board, Riyadh Chamber of Commerce; Walid Basoudan, President & CEO, Saudi Masader Co.; Mohamed Qaryan Al-Qahtani, Chairman, Al Qaryan Group; Brad Bourland, Chief Economist, Jadwa Investments; Georges Schorderet, Chief Financial Officer, Almarai Company; John Sfakianakis, Chief Economist, Banque Saudi Fransi - Credit Agricole; Dr. Adnan Soufi, Managing Director, SEDCO; Ron Chandiramani, President, Al Midas Group of Companies; Rizwan Shakoor, Group CFO, Noor Islamic Bank; Zulfi Hydari, Co-Founder, HBG Private Equity; Muneer A. Alshehri, Chief Executive Officer, Khalijia Invest; Eyad Abdelrahim, Managing Director - Finance, DEPA; Peter Grant, CEO, Grant Management; Eric Pathé, Investment Director, Greenpark Capital; Marwan Barakat, Senior Manager, Group Chief Economist, Bank Audi sal - Audi Saradar Group; Rui Cardoso Santos, President and CEO, Cabo Verde Investimentos; Masroor Haq, Head of Middle East and Africa, VTB Capital.

The Summit will include the prestigious MENA Investor Awards 2009' which will award investors for their
• Best Investor In Technology
• Private Equity Company Of The Year
• Best Investor In Real Estate
• Best Investor In Healthcare
• Leading Institutional Investor
• Investment Professional of the Year Best Investor In Energy
• MENA Businessperson Of The Year
• Asset Management Firm Of The Year
• Leading Shariah Compliant Investor