Public and private sector leaders from across the region will gather today in Bahrain for the 'Meed Project and Infrastructure Finance Conference'.

Sponsored by the Finance Ministry and the Economic Development Board (EDB), the conference focuses on the most relevant issues affecting the region's project and infrastructure finance market and will showcase market-driven success stories including working with project uncertainty, risk allocation and reduced involvement from European banks.

Opening the event, Finance Minister and Minister in charge of Oil and Gas Affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa will deliver the keynote address. The two-day event is being held at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain.

A key panel discussion on the first day is "Bahrain Spotlight: the resurgent project and infrastructure market in Bahrain."

Chairing the session is BNP Paribas regional head of structured finance Christophe Mariot, who will provide an overview of the Bahrain projects market for the next five to 10 years.

In addition, the session will explore the crucial role played by private finance in meeting the long-term low cost housing needs of Bahrain, as well as a review of the headline deals in the energy and non-energy markets.

"To have so many public and private sector leaders in one place to look at the challenges and opportunities facing the regional infrastructure landscape is a significant achievement," said Kamal Ahmed, the Transportation Minister and EDB acting chief executive.

"Bahrain and the wider GCC boast a strong track record in delivering infrastructure projects that not only benefit the people but also showcase world leading technology and aspiration. This conference will enable participants to identify a roadmap for future projects," he added.

In addition to the panel sessions, a series of GCC-focused roundtables with key clients from high opportunity countries will enable participants to discuss specific challenges and solutions associated with securing project finance.

The roundtables will cover: challenges and opportunities in Saudi Arabia's project finance market: rail, water, power and petrochemicals; challenges and opportunities in Qatar's infrastructure finance market; Kuwait's first public-private partnership independent water and power project programme; and Oman's airport, port and water projects, said the report.

"The conference is to be addressed by more than 35 top-quality local, regional and international speakers," chairman Edmund O'Sullivan said.-TradeArabia News Service