The upcoming SWIFT Middle East Regional Conference in Abu Dhabi will feature eminent speakers who will share their views on overcoming challenges created by uncertainty in the global financial markets.

The conference will be held on March 27 and 28 at the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Eminent speakers sharing their views will include, Huda Al Maskati, executive director for corporate services, Central Bank of Bahrain, Alain Raes, CEO, EMEA, SWIFT, Patrick Gutmann, head of global transaction services, CIB, Fathi M Skaik, general manager for the Emirates Banks Association, Osama Al Rahma, general manager, Al Fardan Exchange, Tariq Mateen Khan, general manager, Habib Bank and Sudhir Shetty, COO, global operation, UAE Exchange, among others.

The programme will address a number of key questions. How should the region’s banks position themselves to most effectively capitalise on the opportunities available in the current financial landscape?

What has been the impact of the turmoil of recent months on banks’ compliance and know your customer practices – and what is the best way to deal with this challenge? And, given the uncertainty that remains in the marketplace, where should banks be competing, and where should they collaborate for mutual success?

Specific discussions will ask how corporate treasurers can improve the efficiency of cash management activities at the same time as improving liquidity management. What are the key trends impacting the region’s securities business and how can market participants make the most of them?  What can financial institutions do to reduce cost and operational risk?

Discussions will also explore the new businesses that are challenging existing models. In the global remittances business, for example, have banks lost out to new entrants or can they fight back?

In what promises to be a provocative debate, SWIFT will bring together traditional players and the new contenders in this space to find out the real state of play and look at the future of the remittance industry.

Sido Bestani, head of Mena, SWIFT, says: “We are delighted to welcome so many highly-expert speakers to the conference programme for Abu Dhabi, for what promises to be a must-attend event for anyone with an interest in developments in the financial markets of the Middle East.”

“SWIFT looks forward to working with its customers at the conference and beyond to help them transform challenges into opportunities in the coming months,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service