08:00 – 09:00
Registration
09:00 – 10:00
Opening Panel Session: Developing Kuwait as an Islamic Investment Center
- Structure of the capital markets in Kuwait and comparison with other markets
- Key drivers for sustainable growth of Kuwait’s Islamic investment industry
- Significance of recent financial reform to potential Islamic investors
- Scope of the new laws on Islamic finance initiatives within Kuwait
- Discussing an industry-wide strategy required to encourage inward investments
Jawad Ali – Managing Partner, Middle East Offices, King & Spalding
Panelists:Abdul Aziz Al-Yaqout – Regional Managing Partner, DLA Piper
Ahmed Fayed AlGebali – Director & Global Head, Islamic Financial Services, Islamic Development Bank
Emad Al Monayea – Board Director & Chief Executive Officer, KFH Investment Co., Kuwait
Issam Al Tawari – Chairman & Managing Director, Rasameel Structured Finance Company, Kuwait
10:00 – 10:20
Presentation: Meeting Kuwait's Infrastructure Needs through Islamic Project Finance
As Kuwait continues its rapid infrastructure development an abundance of opportunities exist for market players to fund housing, road, water and power projects through Shariah compliant project financing. This session will cover the trends, structures and opportunities available
Alex Saleh – Partner and Head of Kuwait Office, Al Tamimi & Company
10:20 – 10:35
Presentation: Enabling Regulations: Developing the Legal, Tax and Regulatory Landscape to Promote Inward Islamic Investment in Kuwait
In a bid to create a supportive environment for economic development the Kuwaiti government recently passed legislation to enhance corporate governance and encourage inward investment. What impact will this have on establishing a domestic Islamic investment market?
- A discussion of recently passed legislation and its impact on Kuwaiti based businesses
- Creation of a legislative and tax framework to promote Islamic finance transactions: Lessons learnt from mature markets
Hossam Abdullah – Partner, ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners
10:35 – 11:05
Coffee and Networking
11:05 – 11:50
Global Real Estate Roundtable: Opportunities for Kuwaiti Investors
Real estate projects currently underway in the GCC have been estimated to exceed US$1 trillion with Gulf nations accounting for approximately 87% of the investments. Investors in the Middle East are expected to spend a further US$180 billion in commercial real estate markets outside the Middle East over the next 10 years. As real estate continues to be a key driver for economies globally, what trends are expected to unfold in Shariah compliant financing to capitalize on and support this growth?
- Innovation in real estate financing structures and products
- Which real estate markets are expected to outperform and why?
- Investment trends, strategies and risks for the global real estate market
Abdulkader Thomas – Chief Executive Officer, SHAPE Financial
Panelists:Fahed Boodai – Executive Chairman, Gatehouse Bank
Imam Qazi – Partner, Foot Anstey, United Kingdom
Jean Philippe Besse – Founder, Parisian Real Estate Advisor, France
Paul Devonshire – Director, Pramerica Real Estate Investors, Germany
11:50 – 12:05
Presentation: US Real Estate Investment Opportunities for Islamic Investors
12:05 – 12:50
The Islamic Investment Landscape: Market Trends and Strategies for 2015
Investment experts and advisors offer their perspectives on potential growth sectors in the Islamic investment universe. What Shariah compliant investment instruments are available? Which classes and sectors will deliver favorable returns?
- What will the year ahead hold for Islamic investors and fund managers
- Which asset classes are expected to outperform and why
- Risk vs. opportunity: Understanding the risks and impact on the Islamic asset management industry
- The changing face of the institutional investment market: Discussing investment strategies and product trends for 2015
- Capitalizing on opportunities in the rapidly evolving Halal sector
- Prospects for investment in the global Islamic real estate and property industry
- Outlook for Islamic asset management and investment funds: i-ETFs, private equity funds
Lawrence Oliver – Deputy Chief Executive Officer, DDCAP Group, United Kingdom
Panelists:Badria Al Humaidhi – Vice President & Head of Asset Management, Boubyan Capital
Kavilash Chawla – Managing Director, Nur Global Strategies, and Visiting Scholar, International Business Program, Drake University, USA
Mohamed Mokhtar – Vice President, IdealRatings, Egypt
Patrick Rochette – Director & Principal Representative, Bank of London & The Middle East, UAE
12:50 – 13:30
Investors Roundtable: Assessing Established and Emerging Islamic Investment Destinations
While established Islamic investment hubs such as Asia and the Gulf have been tried and tested new and emerging Islamic markets have much to offer investors looking for new opportunities and to diversify their portfolios. This session will offer a risk/reward analysis on key investment markets and what they have to offer Islamic investors.
Moderator:Lawrence Oliver – Deputy Chief Executive Officer, DDCAP Group, United Kingdom
Panelists:Chahir Ben Halima – MENA Regional Manager – Business Development & Partnerships Department, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, IDB Group
Ravi Abeysuriya – Director & Chief Executive Officer, Candor Group, Sri Lanka
Tom Guest – Associate Director, Eiger Trading Advisors, United Kingdom
Valérie Mantot – Director, Head of MENA, SANNE, UAE
13:30 – 14:30
Luncheon
14:30 – 16:30
The Kuwait Dialogue
