Under the patronage of HE President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon
Mr. Fuad Siniora
The 15th Arab Economic Forum
4-5 May 2007
Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel
Beirut, Lebanon
Thursday: May 3, 2007
16:00-19:00 Registration of participants at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel
Day One: May 4, 2007
08:00-09:30 Registration of participants at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel
09:30-11:30 Opening Session:
· Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki, General Manager, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal
· Dr. Francois S. Bassil, Chairman, Association of Banks in Lebanon
· H.E. Riad Salamé, Governor, Central Bank of Lebanon
· H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, Secretary General, The Cooperation Council for the Arab State of the Gulf
· H.E. Fuad Siniora, President of the Council of Ministers, Lebanon
The Opening Session includes the AEF 2007 Lifetime Achievement Awards to Honor:
· H.E. Ali Bin Ibrahim Al Noaimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia
· H.E. Badr Al Humaidi, Minister of Finance, Kuwait
· Mr. Faisal Hamad Al Ayyar, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Projects Co. (Holding)
· H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of the Government of Abu Dhabi, CEO and Managing Director, Mubadala Development Company
· H.E. Dr. Ali Zumae, Chairman and Managing Director, AREF Investment Group, Kuwait
· Dr. Naaman Al Azhari, Chairman General Manager, BLOM Bank, Lebanon
· Dr. Jospeh Torbey, Chairman, Union of Arab Banks
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-12:00 Keynote Address: “The Oil and Gas Industry in Saudi Arabia and its Role in Developing the National Economy”
· H.E. Ali Bin Ibrahim Al Noaimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia
12:00-12:15 Keynote Address: H.E. Badr Mashari Al Humaidi, Minister of Finance, Kuwait
12:15-13:15 First Panel: Assessing the New Oil Boom: Could it lead to building the future base for the Arab economies?
· Can the oil led boom continue in coming years?
· What are the options for utilizing the growing oil boom financial surpluses?
· What are the main reforms needed in the near future?
· What economic role is required from Arab governments in the future?
· Is the Arab private sector ready to be the main engine for growth?
· How can inflationary forces arising from rapid growth be contained?
Chairman: H.E. Bader Mashari Al Humaidi, Minister of Finance, Kuwait
Panelists:
· H.E. Dr. Ali Zumae, Chairman and Managing Director, AREF Investment Group, Kuwait
· Dr. Hilal H. Al-Tuwairqi, Chairman, Al-Tuwairqi Group of Companies, Saudi Arabia
· Dr. Kamal Hamdan, Chief Economic Division, CRI Consultation & Research Institute, Lebanon
13:30-15:00 Lunch hosted by BankMed at Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel
15:30-16:30 Second Panel: Building up the Competitiveness of the Arab Countries in Attracting Foreign Investment.
· Are the Arab countries developing their abilities to attract foreign investments?
· Types of investments that can help Arab countries increase their competitiveness in the global economy.
· Main obstacles facing an increase in FDI flows to the Arab countries.
· Will free trade agreements help increase investments?
Moderator: H.E. Dr. Mohamad Halaika, Member, The Upper House of Parliament, Jordan
Panelists:
· Mr. Faisal Hamad Al Ayyar, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Projects Co. (Holding)
· H.E. Dr. Mokhtar Abdel Moneim Khattab, Chairman, Horizon for Investment and Industrial Development, Egypt
· Mr. Nabil Itani, Chairman and Managing Director, Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL)
· Mr. Hossam El Mestikawi, Chief Financial Officer, Olympic Group, Egypt
16:30-16:45 Keynote Address: “An overview of the British Arab Investment and Trade Relations”
· Sir Roger Tomkys, Chairman, Arab British Chamber of Commerce
· Introduction by: Mr. Brent Sadler, CNN Bureau Chief in Beirut
16:45-18:00 Third Panel: An Outlook on Economic Prospects in Lebanon from the Viewpoint of Young Business Leaders
Keynote Speech: H.E. Dr. Jihad Azour, Minister of Finance, Lebanon
Moderator: Mr. Brent Sadler, CNN Bureau Chief in Beirut
Panelists:
· Mr. Salah Osseiran, Chairman, Business Projects Company (Holding)- BPC and Head of Economical Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount-Lebanon
· Dr. Marwan Kaddoura, Chairman & CEO, Credit Card Services Company, Lebanon
· Mr. Tony Georges Salameh, Chairman and CEO, Aïshti, Lebanon
· Mr. Robert Fadel, Director, ABC, Lebanon
· Dr. Walid Mouneimne, Chairman, Nokia Siemens Networks, Middle East and Africa Region
· Mr. Nehmetallah Ephrem, Managing Director, Indevco Group, Lebanon
· Mr. Nader Hariri, Director, Umniah Holding, Lebanon
20:30 Reception hosted by Bank Audi -Audi Sardar Group at Villa Audi, Sofil Gardens
Day Two: May 5, 2007
09:30-09:45 Keynote Address: "The Gulf Banking Industry: Facing Up to the Challenges of Fast Economic Growth and Open Markets"
· H.E. Sheikh Salem Abdul Aziz Al Sabbah, Governor, Central Bank of Kuwait
· Introduction by: Mr. Brent Sadler, CNN Bureau Chief in Beirut
09:45-10:30 Fourth Panel: The Arab Banking Industry: Challenges of Growth and Expansion
· Prospects and challenges of fast economic expansion and its impact on banks.
· The potential for mergers within the Arab banking sector.
· Prospects of regional expansion for Arab banks.
· The challenge of developing and widening the region’s financial markets.
Moderator: Mr. Faysal Abou Zaki, Deputy General Manager, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal
Panelists:
· Dr. Robert Eid, Chief Executive Officer, Arab National Bank, Saudi Arabia
· Mr. Saad Al Azhari, Vice Chairman and General Manager, BLOM Bank, Lebanon
· Dr. Makram Sader, Secretary General, Association of Banks in Lebanon
10:30-10:45 Coffee Break
10:45-11:30 Fifth Panel: The Real Estate Boom the Arab Region
· Impact of Mega projects on the real estate market
· Sources of potential demand for real estate projects.
· Impact Mega real estate projects on the development of capital markets.
· Is there any price adjustment expected?
Keynote Address: Dr. Faysal Al Aquil, Director of Business Development, CPC Holding, Saudi Arabia
Moderator: Mr. Faysal Abou Zaki, Deputy General Manager, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal
Speakers:
· Mr. Sulyman A. Al Majed, President, Tanmiyat Group, Saudi Arabia
· Mr. Salah Al Mayyal, Managing Director of Levent Holding and Chairman of Al Tharawat Co., Kuwait
· Mr. Toufic Al Khamiri, Chairman, Yemen Hotels and Investment Co., Yemen
11:30-12:30 Sixth Panel: Private Equity and its Role in Opening Up New Growth opportunities for Arab Companies
Moderator: Dr. Florence Eid, Partner & Head of MENA, Pantera Capital Management LP, UK
Panelists:
· Mr. Khaled Hassan Rashed, CEO & Board Member, CORECAP, UAE
· Mr. Fawzi E. Farah, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Finance House, Lebanon
· Mr. Karim A. Souaid, General Manager, GrowthGate, Bahrain
13:00-14:30 A lunch hosted by the President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon, H.E. Fuad Siniora at the Grand Government Saraya, followed by an interactive session with His Excellency which will be transmitted live on Al Arabiya TV Network.
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