DIFC to Promote Increased UAE-India Trade and Investment at its First Business Conference in the Subcontinent

HE Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of DIFC and Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank to address the event

HE Kamal Nath, Union Cabinet Minister of Road Transport and Highways; HE Vayalar Ravi, Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and HE Mohamed Sultan Abdulla Al Owais, UAE Ambassador to India to speak at the conference

Event will highlight the complementary nature of the two economies, as well as DIFC's role as a gateway for global capital

The bilateral benefits of increased collaboration in banking, finance, investment and trade between the UAE and India will be the focus of a DIFC-organised conference to be held on Thursday, 29 October 2009 in Mumbai.

HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre and Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank, will lead the DIFC delegation, which includes a number of the region's eminent business leaders, at the day-long conference that is co-organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman will deliver a Key Note Address at the event while HE Kamal Nath, Union Cabinet Minister of Road Transport and Highways will deliver the Lunch Key Note Address;and HE Vayalar Ravi, Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs will deliver the Inaugural Note. In addition HE Mohamed Sultan Abdulla Al Owais, UAE Ambassador to India will deliver a Key Note Address.

"The fraternal and commercial relationship between our two nations is already extremely strong and important to both our economies," Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman said ahead of the conference. "Given the exceptionally complementary nature of the Indian and UAE markets, and the changing global economic landscape that enhances the benefits of bilateral engagement, it is an opportune time to explore the many opportunities for greater collaboration in the areas of banking, finance and investment."

Titled "The India-UAE Partnership: Investments, Opportunities and Synergies", the conference will explore ways that Indian companies can tap into Gulf liquidity, benefit from the DIFC's world-class legal and regulatory infrastructure and gain from DIFC's position as a gateway for capital between Asia and Europe. The delegation also endeavours to deepen the banking and financial services links between the UAE and India, and enhance cooperation at the institutional level between the UAE and Indian business communities.

In addition to HE Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, the DIFC delegation to India includes Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIFC Authority; Dr Nasser Saidi, Chief Economist, DIFC Authority; Paul Koster, Chief Executive, Dubai Financial Services Authority, Jeff Singer, Chief Executive NASDAQ Dubai; Essam Al Tamimi, Senior Partner, Al Tamimi & Company; Peter Hodgins, Partner, Clyde & Co; Prarthna Chaddha, Associate, Clyde & Co; and Suresh Kumar, CEO, Emirates NBD Capital Ltd.

The conference seeks to reach a wide audience of Indian banking and financial services market participants, including banks, brokerage houses, law firms, insurance companies and family businesses.