Guernsey Hosts Middle Eastern Investment Conference

by Philip Morton, Investors Offshore.com

18 March 2005

Guernsey Finance revealed this week that more than 100 representatives of the Island's financial services industry attended a recent conference staged by the agency to explore business opportunities in the Middle East.

Seven overseas speakers were invited by Guernsey Finance to talk to delegates. These included Khalid Yousaf, the Director of Islamic Finance at the Dubai International Financial Centre; Ahmed Suleiman, former advisor to the UK Department of Trade and Industry on trade with Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and Nicholas Moy, chairman of Gryphon Emerging Markets and Chairman of the Arab Business Council of Europe.

Ian Atkinson, who until recently headed the Middle East Team at Credit Suisse Trust in Guernsey, and is now resident in Dubai, also addressed the audience on 'Strategies and Tips for accessing the Middle East Market'.

Deputy Stuart Falla, Minister for Commerce and Employment, introduced the conference by observing that: "The numbers here today are tangible evidence of the very real interest that there is in Guernsey in developing relationships with the Middle East. It is never sensible to rest on one's laurels and we're very keen to attract new quality business and build new quality relationships."

Among the topics covered at the event were 'The Development of Private Equity in the Middle East', 'Islamic Banking and Funds' and 'Trusts with an Islamic Framework'.

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