Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman Leads DIFC Delegation to World Economic Forum in Jordan 2005

• Dr Omar to lead senior delegation to global event
• Dr Omar to take part in discussion session on Foreign Direct Investment in the Middle East
• DIFC is a regional summit partner of WEF, Jordan 2005

Joining a prestigious and noteworthy list of public figures, Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Director General of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFCA), will lead a senior delegation to the Dead Sea, Jordan for the World Economic Forum, 2005. Making up the DIFC delegation will be Dr Habib Al Mulla, Chairman, DFSA, David King, Acting CEO, DFSA, Makameh Afkhami (Head, Banking Services), Fetooh Al Zayani (Head, Re-Insurance Services), Kevin Birkett (Director, Asset & Funds Management), Marwan Lutfi (Director, Business Development), Emad Abourahme (Senior Manager, Marketing), and Haytham Kaddoura (Manager, Corporate planning).

The DIFCA enjoys a long and symbiotic relationship with the World Economic Forum and is a regional summit partner of this event. Commencing on the 20 th of May, government ministers, diplomats, economists, academics, business leaders and politicians will discuss and debate issues of global importance and of particular relevance to the Middle East in a series of seminar sessions and presentations.

Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman will be on the panel of a session entitled, ‘The Allure of the Middle East – Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)’. Other panel members include senior government and private sector officials. The panel will discuss how the Middle East can become more investor friendly, how more FDI can be generated and will consider how successful examples of FDI can be replicated in other countries.

Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, DIFCA Director General said,

“At the World Economic Forum in Jordan, we will have the opportunity to discuss and debate issues affecting Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East with an illustrious and prestigious group of attendees.

“It is a fact that what happens in the Middle East has an impact on the world. For many years this was because of oil, now our oil wealth just plays a part. Dubai is the epitome of this transformation of the Middle East and I am proud to represent the Dubai International Financial Centre at this vital and prestigious event. It is essential that we are a part of any such major fora - we must be seen to be driving thought leadership in the region.”

He continues,

“FDI is important because it contributes to the diversification of economies and creates jobs. The UAE is listed as the world’s 17 th most attractive market for FDI. This top quartile position led to nearly half a Billion US dollars of FDI to come into the country in 2003. Benefiting from sound macro economic policies, political and economic stability, a modern and developed infrastructure, the UAE is clearly well established as a favourable market for FDI .”