DOHA – Qatar is bidding to become the Gulf region's financial hub, introducing a new regulatory framework for financial institutions and other initiatives to facilitate growth in the banking sector. The MEED Qatar Banking Summit 2013, to be held on Sept. 9-11, 2013 at the Renaissance Doha City Centre Hotel, will gather over 100 senior decision-makers from leading domestic and international lenders, insurance and financial institutions to discuss the roadmap for achieving its goal of becoming a financial powerhouse in the region. The conference is supported by Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Financial Market Authority and Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority. More importantly, those attending the summit will for the first time be able to discuss the ramifications of new rules introduced by the Central Bank recently, aimed at regulating the anticipated borrowing spree required to fund Qatar's massive infrastructure spending requirements. By putting a cap on banks security portfolios to 25 percent of their capital and reserves, the Central Bank hopes to avoid the mistakes of the global financial crisis which was largely precipitated by the massive debt exposure of banks. Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani, Governor, Qatar Central Bank, will deliver the keynote address at the Summit in which he will discuss the new regulatory framework for local banks as well as international banks looking to set up offices in Qatar. It will then be supported by presentations from the Qatar Financial Markets Authority and the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority to deliver a comprehensive overview of the latest changes and initiatives in key areas of Qatar's banking, finance and insurance sectors. “Among these include the development of Qatar's capital and equity markets to attract global and regional fund managers and investors. The Middle East has long been considered mostly as a source of funds, with some of the world's biggest sovereign wealth funds; however, the region has recently emerged as a source of deals, and this is where Qatar hopes to create a powerful presence,” said Edmund O' Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events, organizers of the summit. Qatar has also announced plans to invest in listed securities in emerging markets through Aventicum Capital Management, a joint venture it established last year with Credit Suisse, once its license is obtained. This is in addition to the $250 million partnership Qatar signed with Barclays Natural Resource Investments, which will look after opportunities related to private equity investments in the natural resources sector. Experts also foresee Qatar developing infrastructure funds and bonds which could be listed and traded in support of the country's massive projects outlay as it enters the next phase of its preparations for the FIFA 2022 World Cup. The MEED Qatar Banking Summit's comprehensive agenda will also help delegates understand the implications of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) sanctions as well as anti-money laundering best practices to ensure full compliance to global and regional regulatory frameworks of the banking and finance industry. — SG
