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Hawkamah stages inaugural conference on Corporate Governance in the MENA region

  • United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, October 18 - 2006 at 16:55
  • PRESS RELEASE

Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance (Hawkamah), a subsidiary of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, today announced that it will hold the first ever conference focusing on corporate governance in the MENA region to take place in Dubai on 26-27 November 2006.

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  • His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre
    His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre
The conference follows the mounting emphasis on the importance of developing a robust corporate governance framework in the Middle East and North Africa, to ensure the region can reach its full potential as an international financial market.

Hawkamah is a regional entity whose mission is to assist countries and companies of the wider MENA region in developing sound and globally well-integrated corporate governance frameworks and practices. It takes part in regional and international initiatives to support open and transparent markets and sound corporate governance regimes.

The theme of the conference "Towards Sound and Efficient Financial Markets and Banking Systems" responds to the challenges faced by the region's countries in modernizing their corporate sector. Addressing the financial markets and banking systems are keys to advancing corporate governance in the region. The draft agenda of the conference also includes sessions on the governance of family owned enterprises, state owned enterprises, and on shari'ah compliant corporate governance, information technology governance, and insolvency frameworks. Expert contributions will come from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development , World Bank's Global Corporate Governance Forum, International Finance Corporation, Bank for International Settlements, International Corporate Governance Network, Center for International Private Enterprise, Financial Services Volunteer Corps, INSOL International, ISACA (IT Professionals), Union of Arab Banks, Jordanian Corporate Governance Association, Egyptian Banking Institute, Egyptian Institute of Directors, among others.

This unique event will provide an opportunity for the region's business community, and local and international media, to hear and interact with government officials, policy makers and business leaders about significant corporate governance issues. Topics to be discussed will include the key findings from the Hawkamah-IFC MENA survey of regional CEOs on standards of corporate governance in companies and banks. The session will examine the extent of corporate governance implementation in the region and initiate discussions on the next steps for reform. The conference will explore corporate governance development in the MENA region in relation to international trends, with focus on key issues and benefits for banks, family-owned enterprises and state owned enterprises in implementing good governance. The two-day event will conclude with a MENA OECD Working Group meeting.

His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre, said:
"Since corporate governance is an integral part of the regulatory framework necessary for any successful financial market, this conference will be vital to further economic growth across the region. As the region is now recognised as a hub for global businesses and investment, the DIFC is focused on the implementation of international standards and reforms, in line with its objectives for growth and continued regional prosperity."


Dr. Nasser Saidi, Executive Director of Hawkamah, outlined the value of the conference:
"Central to the strategy of Hawkamah has been interacting and networking with the region's banking and financial communities and key decision-makers on the significance of a solid and relevant corporate governance structure. Whilst the subject of corporate best practice has certainly gained momentum, the findings from our recent GCC corporate governance survey, produced together with the IIF, highlight the fact that the region's policy makes in the public and corporate sectors have to act to remedy the region's 'gap' in corporate governance compared to international best standards and practices. This conference provides an opportunity for people to share their views and gain insight from some of the world's leading experts on corporate governance in emerging markets in order to advance this process."

The conference will be held on 26-27 November, 2006 at the DIFC, Dubai, UAE.
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Notes and media contacts

Media enquiries:

Amira Abdulla
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971.4.362.2433
Shaima Al Zarouni
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971.4.362.2432

About the DIFC:

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centers of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services.

In just under two years, over 260 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.

The DIFC is made up of the following core bodies:

1. The DIFC Authority (DIFCA) - Responsible for the Companies and Security Registries and attracting financial as well as non-financial institutions to set up in the DIFC. The DIFC Authority is also responsible for developing the financial services industry. (www.difc.ae)

2. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) - An independent, unitary regulatory authority, responsible for the regulation of all DIFC operations. Its principle-based primary legislation is modeled on that used in London and New York and its regulatory regime operates to standards that meet or exceed those in major financial centers. (www.dfsa.ae)

3. The DIFC Courts - An independent court system set up to uphold the provisions of DIFC laws and regulations, the courts provide comprehensive legal redress in civil and commercial matters within the DIFC. The DIFC Courts system is especially designed to deal with all of sophisticated transactions that will be conducted within DIFC. The DIFC Court laws, based on the common law, not only sets out the jurisdiction of the court but also provides for a dispute resolution services, including arbitration and mediation, thus allowing for the independent administration of justice in the DIFC. ( www.difccourts.ae)

DIFC Investments- The creation of DIFC Investments will result in the allocation to it of all non public administration activities previously carried out by DIFC Authority. This will include amongst other things all commercial and other activities such as the operation and management of any current and future subsidiaries, the development of the centre's investment strategy and relevant policies and any other strategic investments or alliances which will further the goals and objectives of the Dubai International Financial Centre and contribute to the fulfillment of the Centre's vision. Some of the companies and organizations that DIFC Investments owns include:

1. The Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) The DIFX is the region's first international financial exchange for equities, bonds, Islamic products, funds, index products and (subject to regulatory approval) derivatives. The target areas of the DIFX for seeking issuers include the Middle East and North Africa, as well as South Africa, Turkey and the Indian sub-continent. The regulator of the DIFX is the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The DIFX is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and its owner is the DIFC Authority. (www.difx.ae)

2. Hawkamah- the first Institute for Corporate Governance in the region, has been established in partnership with a group of international institutions, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry, Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Dubai School of Government (DSG), Young Arab Leaders (YAL), and the Institute of Management Development (IMD). (www.hawkamah.org).

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