Under the High Patronage of HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani,
Emir of the State of Qatar
The Second Qatar Economic Forum
Sheraton Hotel and Resort, Doha – Qatar
21-22 May 2007
SUNDAY, 20 MAY 2007
15:30–19:30 Registration of participants at the Sheraton Hotel and Resort
DAY ONE: MONDAY, 21 MAY 2007
08:00–10:00 Registration of participants at the Sheraton Hotel and Resort
10:00–11:30 Opening session:
· H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar
· H.E. Abdallah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar
· H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasim Al Thani, Chairman, Qatari Businessmen Association
· Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki, General Manager, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group, Lebanon
· Award Ceremony for Business Leaders in Qatar:
§ H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasim Al Thani, Al Faisal Holding
§ Mr. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, Acting Chief Executive, National Bank
§ Eng. Nasser Al-Ansar, Chief Executive Officer, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
§ Mr. Hussein Al Fardan, Chairman, Al Fardan Group
§ H.E. Shiekh Nawaf Bin Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, Chairman Nassir Bin Khaled Al Thani & Sons Holding Co.
§ Mr. Issa Abu Issa, Chairman and CEO, Salam International Company
· Opening of the forum exhibition
11:30–12:45 Panel I: The Future Vision for the Qatari Economy
The panel will focus on:
· Future reforms.
· Options and choices for investing the financial surplus.
· Controlling the inflationary pressures of rapid growth.
· Development choices: Which main sectors are targeted for development, and what are the best means to develop them and transform them into competitive sectors?
Moderator: Mr. Robin Oakley, CNN European Political Editor, United Kingdom
Panelists:
· H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al Thani, Secretary General, Planning Council, Qatar
· Eng. Nasser Al-Ansari, Chief Executive Officer, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
· Mr. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, Acting Chief Executive, Qatar National Bank
· Dr. Gerard Lyons, Chief Economist and Group Head of Global Research, Standard Chartered Bank
→ Discussion
12:45-14:00 Panel II: The Investment Environment and Future Role of the Private Sector
The panel will focus on:
· Investment incentives in Qatar.
· Requirements for developing the legal investment environment.
· Obstacles to investment.
· Role of the private sector in promoting investment and motivating foreign investment.
Moderator: H.E. Sheikha Hanadi Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director, Amwal, Qatar
Panelists:
· Mr. Philip Thorpe, Chairman and President of the Regulatory Authority, Qatar Financial Center
· Mr. Issa Abu Issa, Chairman and CEO, Salam International Company, Qatar
· Mr. Manaf Al-Hajri, General Manager, Kuwait Finance Center
· Mr. Andrew Wingfield, Managing Partner, Simmons & Simmons Co.
→ Discussion
14:00–15:30 Lunch hosted by Qatar National Bank at the Sheraton Doha Hotel & Resort (Dafna Hall)
15:30–16:30 Panel III: The Road Ahead for Oil and Gas
The panel will focus on:
· Development choices in the oil fields, oil production facilities and related sectors.
· The next development phase in the natural gas sector.
· Options for the development of basic industries
· Role of the private sector in the oil and gas sector.
Chairman: Mr. Faysal Al-Suwaidi, Chairman and Director General, Qatar Gas Operating Company Ltd.
Speakers:
· Mr. Nasser Khalil Al-Jeida, CEO, Qatar Petroleum International Company
“Development and Investment Plans in the Oil Sector”
· Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Director of Oil & Gas Ventures, Qatar Petroleum
“Investments Opportunities in the Oil and Gas Sector”
· Mr. Ahmed Bin Hamad Al Noaimi, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), Saudi Arabia
“Financing Requirements of New Capacity Expansion Projects in the Oil and Gas Sector”
→ Discussion
16:30-17:30 Panel IV: Investing in the Knowledge and Technology
The panel will focus on:
· The role of information technology role in promoting economic knowledge in Qatar.
· Vision for the development of education in Qatar and resultant investment opportunities.
Moderator: Mr. Robin Oakley, CNN’s European Political Editor, United Kingdom
Panelists:
· H.E. Dr. Ali Zumae, Chairman and Managing Director, AREF Investment Group, Kuwait
· Dr. Hisham Sharif, Chairman, IT Venture, Egypt
· Mr. Mohamad Hamoudi, Director, Microsoft, Qatar
· Dr. Eulian Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Science & Technology Park
20:30-22:30 Dinner hosted by the Ministry of Economy & Commerce at Sheraton Hotel and Resort (Dafna Hall)
DAY TWO: 22 MAY 2007
09:30-10:00 Interactive Session: H.E. Youssuf Hussein Kamal, Minister of Finance & Acting Minister of Economy Commerce, Qatar
Introduced by: Mr. Robin Oakley, CNN European Political Editor, United Kingdom
10:00-11:00 Panel V: The Future of Qatar as a Regional Financial Center
The panel will focus on:
· Prospects and possibilities of Qatar as a financial center in a saturated a regional market.
· Reviewing the control framework of the Qatar Financial Center and its achievements to date.
· Available opportunities in special banking services and wealth management.
· Opportunities in private banking, asset management and project finance.
Moderator: Mr. Adnan Ahmad Youssuf, Chairman of Union of Arab Banks and Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Banking Group, Bahrain
Panelists:
· Mr. Philip Thorpe, Chairman and President of the Regulatory Authority, Qatar Financial Centre.
· Mr. Stuart Pierce, Director General and CEO, Qatar Financial Center.
· Mr. Khaled Rashed, Chief Executive Officer, CORECAP, United Arab Emirates
→ Discussion
11:00-11:15 Break
11:15–12:15 Panel VI: Opportunities in Real Estate Development
The panel will focus on:
· The reality and potenial of the real estate market in Qatar.
· Mega projects in real estate and urban development.
· The contracting market and expected projects.
Moderator: Eng. Nasser Al-Ansari, CEO, Qatari Diar for Real Estate Investment
Panelists:
· H.E. Sheikha Hanadi Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer of “Al Waab City” Real State Development Project, Qatar
· Mr. Walid Al-Saadi, Chief Executive Officer, United Development Company, Qatar
· Mr. Hesham Al Emadi, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Business Development, Energy City-Qatar
· Eng. Elie Gebrael, Chairman & General Manager, Erga Group, Lebanon.
· Mr. Craig Oldfield, Chief Development Officer, Gulf Holding Company, Bahrain
→ Discussion
11:00-12:00 Workshop Organized by Qatar National Bank and Ansbacher (Al Dukhan Hall):“Prospects for the Qatar Economy and Doha Securities Market, and Performance of Al Watani Funds»
Addressed by:
· Mr. Ajay Kumar, Senior Manager Funds and Portfolio, Qatar National Bank
· Mr. Ranga Swamy, Acting General Manager - Operations and Custodian Al Watani Funds, Qatar National Bank
· Mr. Mike Hollings, Chief Investment Officer, Ansbacher
12:15–13:15 Panel VII: The Infrastructure Initiative
The panel will focus on:
· Development plans for electricity, water and waste treatment facilities.
· Development plans for the road network and transportation.
· Ongoing phases of the airport and ports projects.
Moderator: Mr. Faysal Abou Zaki, Deputy General Manager, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group
Panelists:
· Eng. Mohamad Ali Darwish, Director of Building Affairs, Public Works Authority, Qatar
· Mr. Ahmad Al Abdullah, Director of Technical Affairs, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation “KahraMa”, Qatar
· Mr. Iyad Malas, Chief Executive Officer, Maf Trust, United Arab Emirates
· Mr. John Craig, Vice President, Boeing International - Middle East
→ Discussion
13:30–15:30 Lunch hosted by the organizers at the Sheraton Doha Hotel & Resort (Dafna Hall)
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