Syrian Banking and Financial Services Conference

UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF SYRIAHE Bashar al-Assad

The Syrian Banking and Financial Services Conference 2006

 'Integrating Syria into the Global Economy'

 Damascus, Four Seasons Hotel, 3-5 November 2006

Major government reforms in Syria are rapidly changing the country’s economy and opening it up to international banking, insurance and other financial services.

The reforms have seen ten privately owned banks licensed - the first batch in over forty years of exclusive public sector banking and plans for a stock market are well underway.  At a major conference in Damascus in November, key speakers from the international finance sector and representatives from the Syrian government will discuss the new economic liberalisation and the implications for Syria in the global market place.

The conference, organised by the British Syrian Society, under the patronage of President Bashar al Assad will be building on the acknowledged success achieved by the first Syrian Banking Conference held in Damascus in May 2004.That event broke new ground in introducing to a enthusiastic Syrian business audience the opportunities and challenges of the approaching era of financial and economic liberalisation. The frank, open and sometimes controversial issues aired at that meeting left an enduring mark, which will necessarily stimulate interest in the follow-up Conference in November.

Speakers will include:  

• Mohammed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, UAE
• Dr. Khaled Al-Fayez, CEO, Gulf International Bank, Bahrain
• Sir Gavyn Arthur, Lord Mayor City of London 2002-2003, UK
• Samer Aita, Consultant, Public Banking Sector, Paris
• Angus Blair, Beltone Financial, Cairo
• Abdulla Dardari, Deputy Prime Minister, Syrian Arab Republic
• Rowan Douglas, Executive Director, Willis Analytics  & Solutions, UK
• Guy Gantley, MENA Economic Advisor, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK
• David Hale, Chairman, Hale Advisors, USA
• Khalid Hassan, CEO, Gulf Insurance Company, Kuwait
• Cliff Knuckey, RISC, UK
• Jane Macpherson, Head ME Division, European Investment Bank, Luxembourg
• Professor Colin Mayer, Dean of the Said Business School, Oxford University, UK
• Firas Samman, MD of Regulatory Platforms in NYSE Group, Inc.
• Sir Roger Tomkys, Chairman, Arab British Chamber of   Commerce, UK
• Peter Young, Adam Smith Group, UK
• Adnan Yousef, CEO, Al Baraka Banking Group, Bahrain

The Conference will also be addressed by Syrian government ministers as well as senior operatives from the rapidly expanding private banking sector. This important gathering of international bankers, business leaders, and government officials offers a  unique platform for regional and international Chief Executives and decision makers from major financial organisations and insurance companies to learn more about the far-reaching economic and legal reforms that are shaping Syria's economic future. They will be able to grasp at first-hand the opportunities to participate in a new, promising and potentially lucrative investment and business environment.

For Programme details - Click here

For registration form - Click here

For further information contact:

The British Syrian Society

T+44 (0) 207 839 1637 F+44 (0) 207 839 1638

britishsyriansociety@btconnect.com

www.britishsyriansociety.org