Alrazi Albudaiwi, VP - Media & Communications, ‘Markaz’

KUWAIT: Kuwait Financial Centre "Markaz" is sponsoring "The Euromoney Kuwait Conference 2016" that will be held tomorrow, September 27th at J W Marriott under the theme of "Meeting the Challenge of Financial Innovation and Reform". The conference's keynote speakers will include Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Anas Al-Saleh; Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, Mohammed Al-Hashel; Chairman and Managing Director of Capital Markets Authority, Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf and Director General of Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al Sabah.

Alrazi Y Albudaiwi, Vice President - Media and Communications at Markaz stated: "Our participation in the Euromoney Kuwait Conference reflects our commitment towards the sustainable development of the financial sector in the state of Kuwait and our keenness to exchanging knowledge with financial experts locally, regionally and internationally."

Albudaiwi noted that Manaf A Alhajeri, Chief Executive Officer at Markaz, will participate with a one-to-one interview where he will discuss the latest updates in the financial and investment sector in Kuwait and the region, Kuwait's position compared to the same time last year and the greatest challenges facing Kuwait's economy, his outlook for growth in 2016-2017, his views on the reforms to the capital market in Kuwait, the most attractive sectors and investment opportunities locally and internationally and his outlook to re-invigorate the economy.

Ali H Khalil, Chief Operating Officer at Markaz, will also participate in the conference through a discussion panel addressing Kuwait's Macro-Economic outlook with the participation of other expert panelists in which they will discuss some of the recent issues in the market such as: energy prices, a widening deficit and the need for reform, monetary and economic diversification policies, re-defining Kuwait's public sector and other opportunities for reform, the role of the public sector in the financial system, strategy and reform in the banking sector and encouraging the private sector.

It is worth mentioning that many government institutions and financial companies from the private sector will participate in the conference through interviews and interactive panels. The conference topics include:

* Kuwait's macro-economic outlook

* Lower for longer: energy prices, a widening deficit and the need for reform

* Fiscal, monetary and economic diversification policies

* Kuwait's public sector and opportunities for reform

* Innovation, Digitalization and the Future of Kuwaiti Business

* Kuwait's existing digital ecosystem

* The role of SMEs in localized innovation