Opening Session:

• Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki, General Manager, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group
• Dr. Joseph Torbey, President, Association of Banks in Lebanon
• H.E. Riad Salamé, Governor, Central Bank of Lebanon
• H.E. Amro Moussa, Secretary General, League of Arab States
• HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal Al Saud (Guest of Honor), Governor of Holy Makka, and Chairman of Arab Thought Foundation, Saudi Arabia
• HE Georges Papandreou, Prime Minister, Republic of Greece
• H.E. Saad Hariri, President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon

• HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal Al Saud, Governor of Holy Makka, and Chairman of Arab Thought Foundation, Saudi Arabia
• HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Development Affairs and Housing Affairs, Kuwait

First Session: Policies to Ensure Economic Revival in the Post-Crisis Era

The global financial crunch made it an imperative for governments to introduce expansionary budgets and adopt additional measure to stimulate economic activities. However such policies have now shifted the market’s concerns towards new threats especially the threat of growing government deficits and public debt in many countries. Ensuring a sustainable recovery will now depend on a good balance fiscal and monetary discipline and economic stimulation.

• This session will focus on the following
• What Fiscal policies for the post crisis phase?
• Do we need new financial support schemes by governments?
• What will happen to privatization and market liberalization?

Panelists:

• H.E. Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Finance, Turkey
• H.E. Dr. Mohamed Abu-Hammour, Minister of Finance, Jordan
• H.E. Eng. Mohamad Mansour, Former Minister of Transportations and Chairman of Mansour Group, Egypt

Speech: Crisis equal Opportunities

Second Session: The Middle East–Prospects for Stability and Lingering Threats

The Middle East is tantalizingly fluctuating between fleeting chances for peace and brinkmanship that could lead to perilous confrontation. The stalemate in Middle East conflict and the escalating tension about Iran nuclear ambitions are potential flashpoints that might threaten destabilizing the region and its economy. This session will raise the following questions:

• The chances for a settlement or a showdown between western countries and Iran.
• How will the widening gulf between Israel and the United States affect the peace process in the region?
• Can Arab governments develop a united response towards looming conflicts?
• How will conflict in the region affect the economy and business?

Panelists:

• H.E. Amro Moussa, Secretary General, League of Arab States
• HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Development Affairs and Housing Affairs, Kuwait
• HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal, Chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Saudi Arabia
• H.E. Dr. Ghassan Salamé, Former Minister of Culture in Lebanon and Dean of SciencesPo., France

Third Session: Reforming International Banking and its Impact on the Arab Banking

World governments and international regulatory authorities are carrying out a full overhaul of international banking that is meant to take stock of the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. This overhaul which is expected to impose strict constraints on the banking industry will by the same token affect Arab banks and regulatory policies in the Arab region. This section will focus on the following:

• Have we drawn all the necessary lessons from the financial crisis?
• How will the proposed global reforms affect Arab banking and financial industries?
• What are the monetary and banking policies that are best suited to manage the post crisis phase in the Arab region?

Panelists:

• H.E. Racheed Al Maraj, Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain
• H.E. Dr. Adib Mayaleh, Governor, Central Bank of Syria
• H.E. Dr. Umayya Toukan, Governor, Central Bank of Jordan
• H.E. Dr. Sinan Shabibi, Governor, Central Bank of Iraq

• H.E. Dr. Umayya Toukan, Governor, Central Bank of Jordan
• Dr. Jassim Al Mannai, Director General Chairman, Arab Monetary Fund

Fourth Session: The Arab Economy Beyond the Crisis

Two years after the world financial crisis, the Arab economies seem to be gradually getting back in shape. However there are clear signs that things may not go back to where they were as governments re-examine their faith in globalization and open market policies. This session will focus on the following issues:

• Are we witnessing a sustainable economic recovery?
• Will Arab economies need additional stimulus by governments?
• What will happen to privatization, market liberalization and economic diversification?
• How could the European debt crisis affect the Arab region?

Panelists:

• Dr. Henry Azzam, CEO-Middle East & North Africa, Deutshce Bank
• Dr. Jassim Al Mannai, Director General Chairman, Arab Monetary Fund
• Dr. Abdullah El-Kuwaiz, Economist and Former Ambassador, Saudi Arabia
• Dr. Kamal Hamdan, Executive Director, CRI Consultation & Research Institute

Fifth Session: Attracting Investment in Hard Times

One major consequence of the financial crisis has been an shrinkage of investment flows to developing countries including the Arab countries, and a global contraction in capital market activities. This investment gap is expected to affect negatively the financing of much needed infrastructures and strategic projects and thus hit economic growth. This session is expected to discuss the following:

• Will the Arab countries find it more difficult to mobilize local and foreign capital?
• What are the alternatives?
• How and through what additional reforms can Arab countries increase their attractiveness to foreign investment?

Panelists:

• Dr. Faisal Al Alaquil, Director, Business Development & Admin. Affairs, Construction Products Holding Company (CPC), Saudi Arabia
• Mr. Khaled Abu Ismail, Chairman, National Society for Commerce - Sonac, Egypt
• H.E. Dr. Mohammad Halaiqah, Chairman and CEO, Ammoun International Mutilated Investment, Jordan
• Eng. Nabil Itani, Chairman and Managing Director, Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL)
• Mr. Alpaslan Korkmaz, President, Investment Support and Promotion Agency-ISPAT, Turkey

Sixth Session: Challenging Times for Banking and Finance

While signs of a global economic recovery are multiplying and Arab banks are still enjoying government support that helped them contain the storm, the Arab region is still experiencing contraction in bank lending and investment flows. This session will examine the potential impact of the funding gap on economic development and project financing in the Arab region and will consider possible alternatives. In particular this session will focus on the following issues:

• Assessing bank lending trends in 2010
• How are regional projects and investments being affected by the funding gap?
• Infrastructure and project finance: what are the alternatives?

Panelists:

• Mr. Saad Al Azhari, Chairman and General Manager, BLOM Bank, Lebanon
• Mr. Michel Accad, CEO, Gulf Bank, Kuwait
• Dr. Yahya A. Al Yahya, CEO, Gulf International Bank, Bahrain

Seventh Session: The Lebanese Economy – From Crisis Management to Planning the Future

This session is dedicated to examining the remarkable performance of Lebanese economy and financial sector during and after the crisis. The session will also explore the outlook for Lebanon assuming a prolonged phase of regional calm and internal stability. The main topics of this session are:

• What are the inherent strengths that explain Lebanon’s success in riding the crisis untouched?
• Need to speed up reforms to insure sustainable growth and economic stability
• The economy of Lebanon and the economy of Lebanese. The increasing importance of the Lebanese Diaspora as a major driving force or the local economy
• New economic and financial policies to offset potential negative impact of the world financial crisis

Panelists:

• H.E. Mrs. Raya El Hassan, Minister of Finance
• H.E. Fady Abboud, Minister of Tourism
• Mr. Neemat Frem, President, Association of Lebanese Industrialists
• Dr. Freddie Baz, Group Chief Financial Officer and Strategy Director, Audi Saradar Group

Eight Session: Emerging Young Leaders for Changing Times

After the excesses of the boom period and the painful correction we are still witnessing in many markets and countries the question should be asked: How will the young and emerging corporate leaders prepare for tougher times. Will there be a return to basics laid down by the forefathers and a more prudent approach to leveraging and business expansion? This session shall focus on the following:

• Was the young age an issue in the financial crisis?
• How much can we learn from the founding generation and how much it is left for the new leaders to do add of their own talents
• How can we prepare the youth for a more disciplined approach to business?

Panelists:

• H.E. Mohamed Rahal, Minister of Environment, Lebanon
• Dr. Saadeh Al Chami, Middle East Technical Assistance Center, International Monetary Fund
• Mr. Mohammed Johmani, Founder and CEO, O2 NETWORK, UAE