Maximizing Islamic banking and finance opportunities in Kuwait’s robust economic landscape
Date: 19th October 2015 Venue: JW Marriott Hotel, Kuwait City

Agenda

08:00 - 09:15
Registration
 
09:15 - 10:00
Opening Panel Session: Outlook for Islamic Finance in Kuwait
  • Prospects for the Islamic banking industry in Kuwait
  • Developing a domestic Sukuk market : Progress and challenges
  • Infrastructure and mega projects under the new five-year development plan: An opportunity for Islamic finance?
  • Investment in real estate: What’s next for the Kuwaiti investor?
  • How important is capturing the SME financing market segment for Islamic financial institutions in Kuwait and the GCC?
  • New PPP Law: Utilizing Islamic infrastructure financing in public-private partnership ventures
Moderator: Abdulkader Thomas – CEO, SHAPE Financial
Panelists: Emad Al Monayea – Board Director and CEO, Kuwait Finance House Investment
Fahed Boodai – Chairman, Gatehouse Bank
Hossam Abdullah – Partner, ASAR-Al Ruwayeh & Partners
Issam Z Al Tawari
 – Chairman and Managing Director, Rasameel Structured Finance Company
Paul McViety – Legal Director, Head of Islamic Finance, DLA Piper
 
10:00 - 10:15
Presentation: Macroeconomic Outlook for Kuwait and the GCC
Tariq Al-Rifai – Head of Research and Investor Relations, Kuwait Finance House
 
10:15 - 10:45
Coffee & Networking
 
10:45 - 11:15
Treasury and Liquidity Management in the GCC’s Islamic Financial Institutions
  • Recent developments in capital adequacy norms for Shariah compliant banks
  • How can Kuwaiti banks join the GCC in the issuance of Tier 1 and 2 securities and what will a lack of investment grade issuances mean for the market?
  • The outlook for liquidity management products and investments to enable financial institutions to manage short-term funds. How to convert excess liquidity inbanks’ accounts into tradable papers?
  • The use of global Islamic commodity platforms in liquidity management
Moderator: Qasim Aslam – Partner and Head of Islamic Finance – Middle East, Dentons
Panelists: Abdulkader ThomasCEO, SHAPE Financial
Ahmed Abbas
CEO, Liquidity Management Center, Bahrain
Philippe O Piette – Chairman and CEO, WVB Global Financial Intelligence

 
11:15 - 11:30
Presentation: Shariah compliant Securitization Challenges under Kuwaiti Law and Practice
Alex Saleh – Partner and Head of Kuwait Office, Al Tamimi & Company
 
11:30 - 11:55
Mapping Kuwait’s Shariah compliant Investment Landscape
  • CMA Law No. 7 of 2010, foreign funds placement and the rise of Islamic funds in Kuwait
  • Where are Kuwaiti Shariah-compliant dollars being invested?
  • Which asset classes are preferred among Kuwaiti investors? What trends are we likely to see in the future?
  • What do emerging markets have to offer Islamic investors in Kuwait?
Moderator: Jawad Ali – Managing Partner, Middle East Offices, King & Spalding
Panelist: Cassim Docrat – Director, DDCAP Group, UAE
Emad Al Monayea – Board Director and CEO, Kuwait Finance House Investment
Mohammad Al-Qahtany – Managing Director, Abwab Capital
 
11:55 - 12:15
Deal Dialogue: National Industries Group KWD105 million (US$ 347.4 million) Syndicated Financing
Moderator: Rizwan Kanji – Partner, King & Spalding
Panelist: Mubasher Sheikh – Chief Financial Officer, National Industries Group
Yusuf Chorghay – Manager-Investments, Warba Bank
 
12:15 - 13:00
Sector Investment Opportunities for Kuwaiti Investors
  • Investment trends, strategies and risks for the global real estate market
  • New investment sectors: Outlook for investments in renewable energy, environmental assets , aviation and the transportation sector
  • Exploring private equity in education and health care as emerging asset classes
  • Venture capital and regional startups
Moderator: Kavilash ChawlaPartner, Bâton Global and Visiting Scholar, International Business Program, Drake University, USA
Panelists: Bishr Al Boukai – Senior Associate, Al Markaz Law Firm
Mohamed Mokhtar – Vice President, IdealRatings, Egypt
Mohammed Jaffar – Former Chief Executive Officer, Talabat
Moulay Omar Alaoui – 
President and CEO, International AirFinance Corporation
Muhannad Al-Sane – 
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Al Riyada Finance & Investment Co.
 
13:00
Luncheon
 
14:00
End of the Forum