KIPCO in the spotlight at major regional business forum

KIPCO, a leading diversified holding company in the Middle East and North Africa with US$ 10 billion under management or control, has a major presence at the annual event, which this year has HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE defence minister as its senior VIP guest, and former Malaysian prime minister HE Dr. Mahathir Mohamed among its speakers.

KIPCO's core operating companies United Gulf Bank (UGB); Gulf Insurance Company (GIC); Burgan Bank; Wataniya Telecom; and Showtime will be showcased in an exhibition staged alongside the three-day conference. At the conference itself, to be attended by some 900 delegates from throughout the Arab world and beyond, KIPCO managing director & CEO Faisal Al Ayyar will be a member of distinguished panels leading discussions on major regional business issues.

"We are indeed honoured to be participating so prominently in this important event, which will debate issues of great significance to future regional economic development," said Faisal Al Ayyar. "As an organisation with activities throughout the Arab world in a wide variety of business sectors, we believe the conference is vital to enhancing the region's business and investment environments," he said.

Mr. Al Ayyar will speak on "Challenges of Political and Economic Reform in the Region" as part of a discussion panel with HE Dr. Ghassan Salameh, special advisor to the secretary general of the United Nations, Iraq; HE Dr. Mohammed Halaiqah, Jordan's deputy prime minister for Economic Affairs and minister of Industry and Trade; HE Fouad Siniora, Lebanon's minister of Finance; HE. Dr. Ibrahim Al Assaf, Saudi Arabia's minister of Finance; and Sheikh Salih Abdullah Kamel, chairman of the Dallah Al Baraka Group, Saudi Arabia.

He will also join Sheikh Salih Abdullah Kamel on a panel to discuss "The Challenge of Mobilising Investment" with HE Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of EMAAR Properties of the UAE; Hussein Al Nowais, chairman and managing director of Emirates Holdings; and Khalid Janahi, board member of Bahrain's Economic Development Board.

KIPCO, with more than 10,000 employees in Kuwait and internationally, has a portfolio of around 70 companies in the sectors of financial services, media & telecommunications, management & advisory, and real estate and industry. KIPCO is the largest private company in Kuwait and its shares are the most actively traded on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.