Global business experts to converge in Manama for Gulf Excellence Forum 2005

The Forum, which is organized by the US$1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C. (c) and the Kuwait-based Gulf Excellence Consultancy Company, will be an exclusive regional platform for the regional business community to exchange ideas and imbibe from expert views on benchmarked global business practices and their relevance to regional business in the light of increasing competitiveness and globalization.

Commenting on the choice of the Gulf Excellence Forum 2005 speakers, Mr. Esam Janahi, Chairman, Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company (c) said: "It is important that the regional business community grooms itself to be competitive globally. The speakers at this Forum through their presentations and sharing of their success stories will throw light on the many salient factors that will help regional business pursue excellence in business."

"Gulf Excellence Forum 2005 is an opportunity for regional businesses to enhance their knowledge base on global best practices and corporate governance so that they could put these into practice in their business environment to evolve into leaders," he said.

The expert sessions of the Forum starting February 22 2005 will have Professor John Quelch, Senior Associate Dean of the US-based Harvard Business School. He will be presenting a paper on the success of Harvard University as a global brand. Other speakers during the day are Dr. Sa'ad Al Barak, Director General, Mobile Telecommunication Company, Mr. Hisham Al Razzuqi, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Investment Corporation, both from Kuwait, Dr. Silver Silverstein, President of the US-based Breakthrough Management Group and Mr. Hussein Rifai, Chief Executive Officer, Injazat Technology Fund, UAE

The last day of the Forum on February 23 2005 will start with a paper by Prof. Jeremy Cripps, Professor of Business Management, American University of Kuwait, Mr. Raed Al Saleh, Assistant General Manager, Assets Manager, Kuwait Investment Company, Mr. Waleed Khalaf, Manager - Corporate Communications, AMEX Middle East and Dr. Thomas Addington, Co-founder, Cornerstone International Group of the US.

In addition to the panel of expert speakers, the winners of the Gulf Excellence Awards 2005 will also present working papers at the Forum.