Sixth Annual Gulf Insurance Forum to commence today

The Forum is held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), hosted by Bahrain Insurance Association and is organized in cooperation with the Co-ordination Commission for Gulf Insurance & Reinsurance Companies and the Bahrain Insurance Association, under the theme: 'Developing GCC Insurance Markets & Products'.

The Sixth Annual Gulf Insurance Forum will cover four important industry issues which aim to bolster GCC insurance markets and promote their continued resilience and development. The primary focus of event proceedings will be: Inter - GCC Regulatory, Web-based Insurance Applications, Developing and Retaining Insurance Human Resources: the Bahrain experience, and the Image of the Insurance Industry in the GCC.

Welcome Speeches will be given by H.E. Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain; H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Chairman, Coordination Commission for Gulf Insurance & Reinsurance Companies, Abu Dhabi; and by Mr. Ashraf Bseisu, Chairman, Bahrain Insurance Association.

The session entitled 'Inter GCC Regulatory' will comprise Mr. Fareed Lutfi, President, Dubai Group - a member of Dubai Holding, Dubai; Mr. Bassam Chilmeran, General Manager, Al Wathba National Insurance Company; Mr. Tariq Bin Gaith, Secretary General, Union of Insurance Companies, Kuwait; Mr. Murtadha Al Jamalani, Executive Director, Oman Re-Insurance Company, Oman.

The session on 'Web Based Insurance Applications', which will discuss the emerging use of the internet as applied to insurance, will be led by Mr. Jonathan Abela, Assistant General Manager, Bahrain National Holding (BNI); Mr. Chris Wallis, Assistant General Manager, Solidarity Family Takaful; and Mr. Simon Cox, Director - Information & Communication Systems, ARIG, Bahrain.

'Developing & Retaining Insurance Human Resources - The Bahrain Experience' panellists include Mr. Mark Greenwood, Head of Regional Business Development - MENA Region, Chartered Insurance Institute, London; Mr. Hussain Al Ajmi, Head, Center of Insurance, BIBF, Bahrain; and Mr. Silvan Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, GII, Bahrain.

'Image Of The Insurance Industry', which reveals how the insurance industry is being perceived from different perspectives, will be led by Mr. Hussain Hadi, Editor, Policy Magazine, Dubai; Mrs. Nasreen Al Qaseer, Risk Manager, Addax, Manama; and Mr. Jithesh Gopi, Research Analyst, SICO, Manama.

Further to the presentations and panel discussions, the Forum will provide ample networking opportunities. The Sixth Annual Gulf Insurance Forum will be attended by professionals from the Insurance, financial services sector, market regulators, officials of central banks and monetary agencies, corporations, industry experts, and academics.

Takaful International Co. will be hosting a welcome gala dinner, whereas The CBB will be hosting the first day lunch of the Forum and Bahrain Insurance Association (BIA) will be hosting the second day lunch.

The Forum has secured solid organizations which includes; TRUST as the Silver Sponsor, BKIC as the Bronze Sponsor. Coffee Break Sponsor is Bahrain National Holdings, and the Media sponsors are: POLICY Magazine, MiddleEast Insurance Review, Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance Magazine, Trade Arabia, Amoraqb, Abayan Aleqtsadi Alinmy, Alaswaq, and Alwatan.