SWIFT to hold regional conference in Jordan
AMMAN/DUBAI, March 2, 2015
Hundreds of top Arab and international bankers and financiers will be attending the annual Middle East regional conference, organised by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) in Jordan.
The two-day conference on the Dead Sea on March 30 will bring together policy makers, industry leaders and key speakers to discuss the opportunities presented by the region’s growth and expansion and examine the challenges posed by an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environment.
The event will also explore the role of financial infrastructure in underpinning economic vitality and in facilitating regional and global trade, and get an economic viewpoint of Middle East development. In addition, the conference will discuss financial inclusion and the importance of diversity in the region, as well as developments in financial technology innovation, the continued impact of new global regulations and the rising threat of cybercrime.
Christian Sarafidis, deputy chief executive, EMEA, at SWIFT said: “Despite the geopolitical headwinds and industrial unrest in the last year or so, banks in the Arab region have shown growing resilience and reach and capital markets have enjoyed rising international attraction.”
“For example, companies raised almost $18 billion in the Middle East’s equity markets in 2014, more than three times the previous record for a year.
“This bumper 12 months comes ahead of plans by Saudi Arabia to open its doors to direct foreign investment in its $500 billion stock market. This bodes well for the region’s economic growth.”
Sido Bestani, head of Mena and Turkey at SWIFT, said: “The Middle East Regional Conference will provide a unique platform for discussion and high-level networking for a crucial dialogue about the future of our industry in the region.”
“Banks in the Middle East are expanding across the region and beyond. They are looking for ways to minimise risk and maximise opportunities. The Middle East Regional Conference is a great venue to discuss these issues,” Bestani added. – TradeArabia News Service