Top industry figures high praise for Channels banking forum

HE Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Director General of Dubai's Department of Economic Development, said the event is "a comprehensive banking conference complete with leading strategies for the Middle East financial service sector."

And Khalid Al-Alkami, E-business Division Manager, Banque Saudi Fransi, Saudi Arabia, was also full of praise.

"This is one of the most content-rich events I have come across," he said.

And Raed Charafedd, Regional Manager, Byblos Bank SAL Lebanon, added that Channels is, "a uniquely comprehensive event - the best of its kind in the Middle East."

They were speaking in the run-up to Channels April 25-28. The event covers globalisation, profitability and technology.Experts are flying in from Europe, Asia, Far East, Australia and South Africa. Channels also includes an exhibition catering for the top level of the financial services industry.

Speakers will include Abdulrahim Mohammed Al Awadi, Assistant Executive Director and in Charge of Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit, Central Bank of the UAE and Mishal Kanoo, Deputy Chairman, Kanoo Group UAE.

Experts in the globalisation field will deal in depth with the often contentious issue of the Gulf States and the WTO, another often difficult field of cross-border banking as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Profitability subjects will cover multi-channel delivery strategies, banc-assurance, branding, product innovations and Islamic finance. Technology covers everything from risk mitigation to customer retention and operational efficiency.

More than 55 experts of international standing in the global financial sector will take the stage at the Channels strategy forum over the four days as either speakers or panelists.

Venue for the forum and exhibition is the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Sheikh Zayed Rd. The exhibition was sold out months ago. Executives in the region are ultra-keen to attend the strategy summit.

Cordelia Henry, Conference Director for IIR, the organiser of Channels said Channels is a unique forum and will "clearly be the biggest event of its type in Dubai this year."

"Channels presents a superb occasion for networking. The financial services industry's top management and decision-makers will be there."