5th Middle East Trade & Export Finance Conference

Event Review

A broad sweep of subjects was tackled, providing attendees with the latest expert insights into the region's trade finance and risk perspectives.

An evening reception on the hotel lawn added to the networking benefits for the delegates.

Description

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

Day One: February 26, 2008

09.00 Keynote speaker
Jason Peers, Group Chief Executive, Jasper Capital

09.30 MENA Hotspots: Sudan & Syria
Anoushka Marashlian, Senior Middle East Analyst, Global Insight

Sudan:
• Is an end to the Darfur conflict in sight?
• North-South tensions: assessing the durability of the peace agreement

Syria:
• A canny operator: assessing Syria's ability to weather domestic and regional storms
• Prospects for a revival of Syrian-Israeli peace talks

Iran:
• Iran's regional influence
• How real is Iran's nuclear threat?
• How effective is the sanctions campaign? • Payments and trade record
• Will the US/Israel bomb Iran? What if it did? Yemen:
• President Ali Abdullah"s rule and the issue of succession
• The risk posed by tribal disputes and southern protest politics
• How significant is the terrorist threat to foreign business?

11.30 Update on the economic and political situation in Iraq
Zaid A Mahdi, Business Development Director, Trade Bank of Iraq
• Progress of the Iraqi financial sector
• Deals case studies
• Outlook for Iraq

12.10 The development of trade flows between Europe and the Middle East
Rowan Austin, Head of Commodities & Trade Finance, Europe Arab Bank
• The role of Europe in the Middle East’s dramatic economic development
• Financial institutions and the development of trade finance in the Middle East
• What does the future hold?

Corporates

14.00 Expert corporate panel
Chair Alida Scholtz, Finance Director, Goodyear
Jaikishin Godwani, Trade Finance Advisor, Sony
Suresh Vaidhyanathan, CFO, Platinum Corporation FZE
• Capital products offered to corporates • How Islamic products can be applied in financing working capital requirements
• How are UAE exporters coping with the dirham being pegged to the US$?
• Evidence of a move towards open account trade?
• How corporates are managing working capital and what are the adverse market conditions that prevent them from reducing working capital?
• Corporate expectations of trade finance services and solutions

Basel II

14.50 Working and balance sheet implications of Basel II
Robert Parson, Partner, Clyde &Co
• Effects on Middle East trade finance
• Impact on banks in the region

Trade Services & the Supply Chain

16.00 Overcoming the complexities of global trade management
Scott Lander, JPMorgan Chase
• Being prepared for and managing international trade change in a dynamic environment
• Integrated supply chain management - uncovering hidden working capital opportunities
• Capital utilisation in the global supply chain
• Integration of the physical and financial supply chain
• Opportunities for capital efficiency

16.40 Creating a new asset class in trade finance
Stuart Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, EZD Ltd
• Why present day trade finance is restrictive
• What can we learn from the logistics arena?
• The underlying value of goods in transit
• Innovative solutions are key in creating new, rather than alternative, sources of supply chain finance

17.10 Update on documentary issues
Vincent O’Brien, First Director, EBSI
• International Trade Banking Rules - snapshot of latest developments
• UCP 600: Post-implementation benefits and challenges
• International Standard Banking Practice: global application
• The new Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees: current developments and expected impact
• The United Nations Convention on Guarantees and Standby Letters of Credit: practical application

17.40 Optimising the back office for open account trade
Joel Schrevens, Solutions Director, China Systems
• The open account trend
• Why is it needed and what are the benefits?
• Role of SWIFTNet Trade Services Utility (TSU)
• The corporate connectivity challenge

Day Two: February 27, 2008

Islamic Finance

09.30 Islamic banking experts panel
Kazi Hussain, Director, Islamic Finance, Europe Arab Bank
Sohail Zubairi, Senior Vice-President & Head of Sharia Co-ordination Dept., Dubai Islamic Bank
Jean-Christope Desaintfuscien, BNP Paribas
• Products available to trade and export financiers
• Key issues for consideration
• Innovations in Islamic trade finance
• Case studies

10.15 Role of multilateral developmental banks in trade finance
Hani Salem Sonbol, Deputy CEO, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)
• The role of ITFC
• Bringing greater efficiency, better resource optimisation/allocation and service delivery
• IsDB’s financing activities
• New structures

Financial Solutions

11.30 Innovative means of accessing bank finance
Ali Hosseini, Managing Director, Abu Dhabi Metal Pipes & Profiles Industries Complex
• Inventory financing needs for new manufacturing units
• Challenges encountered
• Innovative solutions through DCR
• Brief case study

12.10 Trade and commodity finance: growth and innovation in the Middle East
Ashok Das, Commodity Finance Director, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
• Regional trade and financing trends
• Dubai: regional trade and financing hub
• Innovative warehouse receipt technology platform
• Trade finance risk mitigation: case study

12.50 Alternative financing solutions in the MENA region
Sudeb Sarbadhikary, CEO, Menafactors Ltd
• Formal flexible financing options
• Factoring
• Why it will grow significantly as a product in the MENA region

Insurance Solutions

14.40 Application of political risk insurance products
Nila Davda, Vice-President & Senior Underwriter, Sovereign
• Portfolio management tool
• Credit committee considerations
• Enabling large syndications
• Basel II considerations

15.20 Middle East trade risks
Toby Heppel, Partner, FirstCity
• Credit crunch implications on the Middle East
• What is the trade risk insurance market and what does it do?
• Western insurers and Islamic trade finance
• Changing perceptions

16.30 Role of export credit and political risk insurance in mitigating risks in Islamic finance structures
Abdel-Rahman Taha, General Manager, ICIEC
• Islamic finance structures in ECA financing
• Case studies

17.00 Export credit guarantees as a basis to finance national exports
Hany A. Ellatief, Dubai Export Development Corporation

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodation. Please reserve your room directly with the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Please see below for an alternative list of hotels:

Le Royal Meridian
Beach Resort & Spa (5*)
P. +971 4 399 5555
F. +971 4 399 5999
www.lemeridian.com

Royal Mirage Hotel (5*)
P. +971 4 399 9999
www.oneandonlyroyalmirage.ae

Metropolitan Hotel Dubai (5*)
P. +971 4 227 0000
F. +971 4 227 9993
www.methotels.com

Crowne Plaza Dubai (5*)
T. +971 4 331 1111
F. +971 4 331 5555
www.crowneplaza.com

Shangri-La Hotel (4*)
P. +971 4 343 8888
F. +971 4 343 8886
www.shangri-la.com

Sheraton Four Points Hotel Dubai (4*)
T. +971 4 397 7444
www.starwoodhotels.com

Holiday Inn Downtown Dubai (4*)
T. +971 4 228 8889
F. +971 4 228 0033
www.icihotelsgroup.com

Palm Beach Rotana Inn Dubai (3.5*)
T. +971 4 393 1999

Admiral Plaza Dubai (3*)
F. +971 4 393 3236
www.admiralplazahotel.com

Landmark Plaza (3*)
T. +971 4 228 6666

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