Bahrain-based United Gulf Bank (UGB) will co-sponsor the Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) reception at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings to be held in Tokyo from October 12 to 14.

The BAB's formal reception will be held on October 13 at the Tokyo Kaikan conference facility with Bahrain's delegation expected to be led by Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Rasheed Al Maraj.

The IMF-World Bank annual meetings are a prestigious forum of international co-operation on financial and economic issues and are attended by global financial leaders and banking delegations and decision makers from all over the world to discuss the most relevant issues facing the banking and the financial industries.

This year's event is of special importance in view of the continuing financial and banking crisis.

"The Banks in Bahrain Reception offers a once a year opportunity to promote to the international community Bahrain's continuing strength as a financial services hub," said UGB chairman Masaud Hayat.

"Bahrain's regulatory and legal regimes are well developed. Bahrain remains true to its promise and vision of being a business-friendly place," Hayat stated.

"We are delighted to once again sponsor this event which aligns with our commitment to contribute to the regional banking and financial services sector," he added.-TradeArabia News Service