Date: 19th November 2017 Venue: JW Marriott, Kuwait City

Agenda

08:30 – 09:30 Registration
09:30 – 09:40 Welcome Remarks
09:40 – 10:40 New Kuwait and Islamic Finance and Investment 
Considering Kuwait’s external borrowing, structural reforms and prospects for privatization in the era of global market volatility and low oil prices, key industry players discuss the future of Islamic finance, capital markets and investment in Kuwait. What opportunities could arise for the industry in the coming year?
Moderator: Qasim Aslam  – Partner, Head of Islamic Finance - Middle East, Dentons
Panelists: Bashar Al-Natoor – Global Head of Islamic Finance, FitchRatings
Faisal Hasan – Chief Business Development Officer, Head of Investment Research,KAMCO Investment Company
Hossam Abdullah – Managing Partner, Al Hossam Legal 
Tariq Alrifai – CEO, Quorum Center for Strategic Studies, the UK
Thuwaini Al Thuwaini – Deputy Chief Investment Banking Officer, Investment Banking Group, Warba Bank
10:40 – 11:10 Islamic Banking Roundtable: Hastening Growth through Technology and Innovation in the GCC
As the global banking system embraces significant innovation, how are Islamic banks in Kuwait and the region embracing digitization and how does this influence the development and placement of banking products?
Moderator: Sanjeev Gupta – Retail Banking Consultant and Advisor
Panelists: Cassim Docrat – Director, DDCAP (DIFC)
Mohamed Ghandour – Group Deputy General Manager - Products, Kuwait Finance House
Robert Hahm – CEO, Mashreq Capital 
11:10 – 11:40 Coffee Break
11:40 – 12:20 Opportunities for Infrastructure and Social Welfare Project Financing in Kuwait and the Region
With the launch of the New Kuwait plan and mega projects in the pipeline, we ask deal-makers to examine the role financial service providers - Islamic and conventional - can play to make these plans a reality.
Moderator: Rajwah Al Kuhaymi – Associate, Winston & Strawn
Panelists: Faisal Hijazi – Vice-President, Relationship Management, Middle East and Islamic Finance, Moody's Investors Service
Qasim Aslam – Partner, Head of Islamic Finance - Middle East, Dentons
Yusuf Chorghay – Senior Manager, Structured and Syndicated Finance Department, Investment Banking Group, Warba Bank
12:20 – 13:00 A Closer Look at Kuwait’s Investment Flows and Investment Trends
While attracting inward investments is climbing up the regulatory agenda, Kuwaitis invest billions into overseas markets every year. This panel looks at local, regional and international investment flows and opportunities for the year ahead. We also examine the opportunities presented by the inclusion of Kuwait in a leading Emerging Markets Index.
Moderator: David Testa – Executive Director, DDCap Group
Panelists: Faisal Hasan – Chief Business Development Officer, Head of Investment Research,KAMCO Investment Company
Raghu Mandagolathur – Head of Research, Kuwait Financial Center (Markaz)
Umera Ali – Partner, Michelman & Robinson
13:00 – 15:00 Refreshments