DM and GGI to organise GGI World Conference

The conference would mark the Swiss group's tenth anniversary.

GGI is one of the leading global networks of independent well-established and experienced accounting, management & tax consulting and law firms. Based in Switzerland, it has more than 200 member firms and over 280 offices with around 9000 employees worldwide.

The conference, to be held during 10-13 November 2005 at Madinat Jumeirah Resort, will offer the right platform for the group's member firms who represent over 130,000 clients across the globe to chart out their future course of action. The conference will enable GGI members from all over the world to meet each other personally and exchange experiences, knowledge and develop further business relations. The conference will also provide an opportunity for new potential members from all over the world to introduce their firms to GGI and to experience the network. There will be particular focus on the Middle East, Asia- Pacific and Africa, to which Dubai is the most important financial and trading hub.

The agreement was signed on behalf of Dubai Municipality by Munther Akram Juma, Director of Public Relations and Organisations Department, and on behalf of GGI by Peter Kaeser, Regional Manager and Member of the Executive Committee, in the presence of Claudio Cocca, founder of GGI, Peter Vogler, Swiss Ambassador to the UAE, Peter Harradine, President of the Swiss Business Council, and Beat Schmid, Deputy Head of Swiss Business Hub. Also present were representatives of GGI member firms in Dubai, Vasant Lad of BLS Behl, Lad & Al Sayegh and Mohammed R. Al Suwaidi of Al Suwaidi & Company.

Mr. Juma said Dubai Municipality is pleased to be associated with one of the world's top 10 business networks in organising this significant conference, which would familiarise the city with a wide range of professional firms and investors across the globe. It would go a long way in promoting Dubai's financial and economic potentials to a wider audience.

"This is a great opportunity for us to join hands with Geneva Group International and we are sure that this is just the beginning of a long-lasting and fruitful partnership from which we both can benefit," said Mr. Sultan.

He added that the Municipality would present a paper in the conference introducing the infrastructure services and facilities offered by the city to potential investors.

Addressing the gathering, Peter Kaeser, Regional Manager of GGI for Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa, said the group, which was founded in 1995, is the only Swiss network covering multi-disciplinary services and has grown to be one of the leading networks worldwide.

"The GGI's strength and unique multi-disciplinary practice enable its members and their clients to select firms all over the world with confidence. Choosing a GGI firm means being connected to high quality standards, local market knowledge, and recognized resources worldwide," he said.

He noted that the GGI is expanding with new members from the UAE into Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon...etc. Apart from the annual world conference, the group organises regional conferences in areas where it has a substantial presence. The upcoming GGI World Conference is a right opportunity where potential members can know from very close what GGI is all about. There will be brief presentations on a variety of activities and services offered by the group to its members.

Peter Kaeser said the conference would be attended by prominent personalities including Geneva Mayor, Mr. Pierre Mueller and Chairman of GGI, Dr. Anton Blatter. One of the main attractions of this prestigious event would be speeches of prominent personalities from abroad and Dubai as well as specialised workshops, which would be of interest to professionals in law firms, audit firms and management consultants.

A golf tournament will also be organised on 10 November 2005 as part of the conference in Jebel Ali.

The GGI and Dubai Municipality would hold the next press conference on June 26 in the City Hall with the focus on the presence of local and international sponsors of the GGI World Conference.