Saudi Arabia Trade & Export Finance Conference

Event Review

A strong delegation of local business figures gathered in Riyadh for Exporta's first Saudi Arabia Trade & Export Finance Conference, held at the Riyadh Marriott on April 19th.

Having enjoyed enormous success in regularly hosting its annual Dubai conference every February, Exporta has chosen the Saudi market as a specific area of focus, drawing on the country's economic stability, GDP growth and consumer appetite.

As with all Exporta events, much focus was placed on the importance of networking between delegates, while the various discussions and presentations provided the opportunity for much debate.

The conference was sponsored by the Bank of New York Mellon, Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, Saudi Export Program and China Systems. An evening reception was held at the close of the day.

Description

With 25% of the world's proven oil reserves, Saudi Arabia is the Middle East’s leading economic power and one of great importance globally. With an estimated half of its population under the age of 20, and with encouraging GDP growth, macroeconomic stability and growing consumer confidence, Saudi Arabia offers foreign trade opportunities aplenty.

Exporta’s ‘Saudi Arabia Trade & Export Finance Conference 2010’ in Riyadh in April 2010 will bring together the leading specialists on Saudi trade and economy to discuss the kingdom’s outlook for 2010 and beyond.

Areas covered:

• Pointers and trends in the Saudi economic and trading outlook
• Life after the credit crisis for Saudi Arabia
• Supply chain innovations and solutions for the Saudi trading community
• The oil and gas markets in Saudi Arabia
• Opportunities in the non-oil exporting sectors
• Import finance: making the most of a growing population and consumer demand
• Domestic financial players and co-operation with non-Saudi banks
• Insurance and other receivables-based financing solutions
• The role of Islamic finance in trade
• Building networking contacts in Saudi Arabia and the region

Who should attend:

• Importers/exporters
• Trade, export and commodity financiers
• Corporates and traders
• Export credit agencies
• Multilateral institutions
• Credit and political risk insurers
• Lawyers
• Brokers
• Advisors and consultants

As with all Exporta events, much emphasis will be placed on networking opportunities for conference delegates, including a reception after the conference to maximise this process.

This unrivalled event should not be missed for those companies serious about trade and export opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

08.15 Registration and refreshments

09.10 Chairman’s opening remarks
Tarek Elrefai, Managing Director & Head of Client Management MEA, BNY Mellon

09.30 Keynote address: Accessing a dynamic market
Waleed Al Wohaib, CEO, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)
· Assessing the effects of the recent stimulus package in aiding trade
· Attempts to move away from oil dependency and likelihood of success
· How has WTO membership in 2005 boosted the private sector?

10.00 Panel discussion: Outlining trading opportunities within Saudi Arabia
Moderator: Shaheryar Ali, Vice President, BNY Mellon
Ahmed Mohammed Al-Ghannam, Director General, Saudi Export Program (SEP)
Shehzad Sharjeel, Trade Finance Specialist, Middle East & North Africa, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Digby Bennett, Regional Sales Director, ME, Africa & Australia, China Systems
· Tracking the progress of recovery of trade flows in late 2009
· Diversification of national income through financing of non-oil exports
· Initiatives in place to assist local exporters and global importers of local products
· Stimulating private sector growth through increased access to the global supply chain
· The return to open account trading as market confidence increases

11.00 Networking break

11.30 Panel discussion: The growth of Islamic finance: a safer model for difficult times?
Moderator: Hani Salem Sonbol, Deputy CEO, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)
Raed G. Al-Barakati, Vice President, Senior Corporate Finance Officer, Investment Banking, Riyad Capital
Neil D Miller, Partner, Global Head of Islamic Finance, Norton Rose
Kamal Mian, Head of Islamic Banking, Saudi Hollandi Bank
Imran Mufti, Of Counsel, Lovells
Khaled Moharem, Senior Account Director, Swift
Abd El Aziz Lotayef, EVP Special Projects, Path Solutions
· How well positioned are shariah-compliant banking models to lead the region’s economic recovery?
· Assessing how Islamic markets have managed greater returns compared to conventional ones
· Outlining the latest challenges faced in developing competitive, shariah-compliant products
· Considering how IF values/principles have proved comforting for investors in ‘weathering the storm’
· The role of IT in Islamic Banking

12.30 Lunch

14.00 Case study: Regional initiatives for increasing national exports
Saleh A Al-Addad, Director, Marketing & Information, Saudi Export Program (SEP)
· Examining the role of SEP in increasing GDP through promotion of non-oil exports
· Implementing government initiatives to improve production quality and export volumes
· Provision of guarantee/insurance facilities needed to increase competitiveness

14.30 Panel discussion: Liquidity concerns and challenges in treasury management
Moderator: Representative, BNY Mellon
Gerry Barber, Managing Director and Regional Head of IMG, BNY Mellon
Arup Roy, Head of Transaction Banking, The Saudi British Bank (SABB)
· Optimising working capital processes to manage risk and maintain efficiency in a complex region
· Application of best practice to meet international standards and reassure potential partners
· The impact of Basel II on trade financing within the Saudi Arabian market and beyond
· How is the planned adoption of the petro currency likely to affect cash management in the region?

15.15 Networking break

15.45 Aligning technological solutions with trade finance demands
Digby Bennett, Regional Sales Director, ME, Africa & Australia, China Systems
· ISO's role in defining messaging standards

16.45 Closing remarks followed by evening reception hosted by BNY Mellon Treasury Services

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodatin.  A preferential rate has been negotiated for you at the hotel.  Upon registration a booking form will be provided so that you may take advantage of the special discount.  If you require this information in advance of making your booking, please contact events@exportagroup.com.

Sponsors

Sponsorship opportunities including exhibition stands are available for this event.

To become a sponsor, please contact Tom Whitehead, Head of Sponsorship Sales at twhitehead@exportagroup.com.

Exporta's events have a global reputation, renowned for superb networking opportunities and educational presentations by high-profile speakers.

Time after time our events attract the leading companies in our market as sponsors.

See below for a full list of our Event Sponsors, Institutional Partners and Media Partners and click on the logo to visit their web site. 

Delegate Packs