Press Release Zurich, March 2016 The Swiss Arab Network (SAN) has initiated and is organizing a new dialogue and networking platform, the Arab Banking and Finance Forum. The forum is taking place on Wednesday, 4 th of May 2016 at the 5-star hotel Atlantis by Giardino in Zurich from 13:30 to 21:00. Introduction and objective Despite a constant growth and strong confidence in its future prospects, Arab Banking and Islamic Finance has received only limited attention in Switzerland so far. This forum has set the objective to create a dialogue and networking platform and bring more than 100 Swiss and Arab financial professionals together to discuss and exchange on present perspectives, upcoming opportunities and challenges, share best practice and benefit from a high level business networking. World leading institutions are partnering with the forum World leading institutions are attending the forum and so fare 70 seats are allocated to them. The following are the partners and supporters: Founding, Knowledge and Media Partners: Alexander & Partner (Founding Partner) Amicorp Switzerland AG (Founding Partner) Brasidas Group (Founding Partner) Economic Development Board Bahrain (Founding Partner) Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance (Knowledge Partner) GTLaw (Founding Partner) IsFin Emerging Markets Advisors (Media Partner) Safa Investment Services (Founding Partner) Swiss Finance Institute (Knowledge Partner) Translingua (Founding Partner) University of Business & Technology Saudi Arabia (Founding Partner) Zoccolillo & Partner (Founding Partner) Supporters: Arab-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CASCI) Bank Kader Verein Zürich (BKV) Department International Business of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) Group of Companies of H.H. Sheikh Al Hassan Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi (Ajman, UAE) International Arab Film Festival Zurich (IAFFZ) Swiss Arab Network (SAN) 8000 Zurich www.
Program with top international speakers The program with international top speakers is designed in three blocks. The first block starts with a key note speech followed by panel discussions on Arab financial centers as emerging hubs with a focus on the financial centers Bahrain and Morocco. The second block will focus on Islamic banking and finance with reference to the situation in Switzerland followed by knowledge sessions on Islamic law and best practice sharing. The third block will be a panel discussion on finance knowledge as prospect entry point, export and reputation factor outlining opportunities and challenges for Swiss institutions in collaboration with the Arab world. Finally, the program will give enough space for networking and a culinary Arabic food experience. Registration is open for the public and participants will have the benefit of getting free online education session Through the website or directly with this link, registration is available for the public. To foster participant s deeper understanding and know-how, the forum s knowledge partner Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance is providing participants after registration free access to selected online training modules, their 800 page electronic handbook of Islamic Finance and a 20% discount on selected programs. Contact Information For cooperation possibilities or more information please contact: Mounir Khouzami (Co-Founder & President of the Swiss Arab Network) Mounir.khouzami@ +41 79 407 38 41 www. Swiss Arab Network (SAN) 8000 Zurich www.
Switzerland Wednesday 4th May, 2016, from 13:30 to 21:00 Hotel Atlantis by Giardino, Döltschiweg 234, 8055 Zurich www.atlantisbygiardino.ch/en/ INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Despite a constant growth and strong confidence in its future prospects, Arab and Islamic Banking has received only limited attention in Switzerland so far. This forum has set the objective to create a dialogue and networking platform and bring Swiss and Arab financial professionals together to discuss and exchange on present perspectives, upcoming opportunities and challenges, share best practice and benefit from a high level business network. TARGET AUDIENCE More than 100 Swiss and Arab wealth and asset managers, lawyers, government and non-government organisations, academia and successful business people with a relation or strong interest in the Arab Banking and Finance industry. PRICE CHF 300.- CHF 250.- for members of the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI), Arab-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CASCI), Swiss Arab Network (SAN).
Partners Wednesday 4th May, 2016, from 13:30 to 21:00 Hotel Atlantis by Giardino, Döltschiweg 234, 8055 Zurich www.atlantisbygiardino.ch/en/ ONLINE REGISTRATION www.. Only limited seats are available. Registration is valid once confirmed by the organizer. http://www./events/next-events/arabbanking-finance-forum/ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Mounir Khouzami (President and Co-Founder of the Swiss Arab Network) Tel +41 79 407 38 41 Mounir.Khouzami@ FOUNDING PARTNERS KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS MEDIA PARTNER SUPPORTERS Arab-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Group of Companies of H.H. Sheikh Al Hassan Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi (Ajman, UAE), Department International Business of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), International Arab Film Festival Zurich (IAFFZ), Bank Kader Verein Zürich (BKV).
Program 11:30 VIP: Private networking lunch Speakers, founding, knowledge and media partners 13:30 All: Registration and reception 14:00 Welcome speech and guest networking round Mounir Khouzami, President and Co-Founder of the Swiss Arab Network 14:30 Arab financial centres as emerging hubs Keynote speech Dr. Sayd Farook, Vice Chairperson, Board of Trustees, RFI Foundation Middle East Hub: Bahrain Panel discussion between Sebastian Gerlach, Economic Development Board of Bahrain and a Swiss financial institution based in Bahrain North Africa Hub: Morocco Panel discussion between Said Amaghdir, president of the Moroccan Association for Participative Finance Professionals and secretary general of RMA capital and Joël Rochat, Managing Director and Partner at ONYX Wealth Management (Geneva) with a booking centre in Casablanca 15:50 Networking and refreshment break 16:30 Islamic banking and finance Islamic Wealth & Asset Management: A new hope for Swiss private banking John A. Sandwick, General Manager of Safa Investment Services S.A. (Geneva), Teacher of Master Classes on Islamic wealth and asset management for corporate groups and universities Understanding and navigating through the Islamic legal framework Nicolas Bremer, Partner at Alexander & Partner in Berlin with office associations in Qatar, UAE, Oman and India Best practice sharing A financial institution sharing best practice experience on Islamic finance 17:30 Finance knowledge as prospect entry point, export and reputation factor Panel discussion between the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) and the University of Business and Technology of Saudi Arabia (UBT) moderated by Khaldoun Dia-Eddine, Head of Regional Competence Center Middle East & Africa at the Department International Business of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) 18:00 Questions & Answers 18:45 Networking and flying Arabic dinner