Global travel & tourism sector eyes Dubai as ATM opens its doors Over 40,000 industry professionals expected from more than 152 countries throughout four-day event

Posted on April 24, 2017 by مشرف

Travel trade professionals from across the world’s hospitality industry will descend upon Dubai today (Monday 24th) for the opening of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017, the region’s leading travel industry showcase.

Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “We have visitors registered from all corners of the globe and all facets of the hospitality industry for what promises to be the biggest show yet in the event’s 24-year history.

“The growth and scale of ATM 2017 is testament to the buoyant travel and tourism industry here in the MENA region. It is no secret the growth we observe in the regional industry is spurred by visionary national agendas and a favourable and thriving business environment. With a series of mega-events scheduled for the coming years, including Expo 2020, this growth will undoubtedly continue.”

Following the success of the 2016 exhibition, where more than 40,000 industry professionals, including 30,000 trade visitors, agreed deals worth US$2.5bn, it is expected ATM 2017 will welcome over 2,600 confirmed exhibitors – with 100 exhibiting for the first time – across 65 national pavilions. The show will also extend across an additional hall, in order to meet growing demand.

Running until Thursday, April 27th, ATM 2017 will look into the latest industry trend of experiential travel as its main theme and feature four days of business networking opportunities, insightful seminars and ministerial meetings, at Dubai World Trade Centre.

In addition to the extended exhibition, ATM 2017 will also offer a full programme of seminar sessions.

On the Global Stage, the opening session “The legacy of Expo 2020” will take place from 12.30pm on Monday 24th April, with a VIP panel including: His Excellency Helal Almarri, Director General, DTCM; Anita Mehra, SVP Communications and Reputation, Dubai Airports; Marjan Faraidooni, Vice President, Legacy Impact and Development, Expo 2020; and Deirdre Wells OBE, CEO, UKinbound.

Chaired by broadcaster Richard Dean, the session will assess the role of Expo 2020 Dubai in delivering the UAE government’s long-term vision for economic

diversification. Panelists will discuss the core theme of sustainability as part of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Year of Sustainable Tourism Development; the potential legacy of the mega project; and the future of the UAE as a knowledge economy, a leading global city, and tourism destination.

Press added: “With Expo 2020 only three years away, we see dozens of ambitious projects being announced across the UAE. From airports to cities-within-cities, the country has a masterplan for growth and development, including a pipeline of 160,000 hotel rooms, and it is vital that such plans are discussed in forums such as the ATM Global Stage 2017.

“What is particularly important to remember is that tourism is a central pillar to the economic diversification of the UAE and its Middle East neighbours, which means tourism will continue to grow after Expo 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.”

From 15.30pm tomorrow, more than 20 ministers will meet with industry leaders from across the MENA region at the UNWTO & ATM Ministerial Forum. Discussions will explore methods of capitalising on tourism growth and building a sustainable ecosystem for the sector to unlock its potential within each country’s National Agenda.

On the first and second day of the show, ILTM Arabia will debut with an invitation-only series of one-to-one pre-scheduled appointments between suppliers of luxury products and destinations from around the world, to an audience of high net worth individuals.

The show will also feature the Wellness and Spa Lounge, the Travel Agents’ Academy, Buyers Club, which is sponsored by Sharjah Tourist Board, and Bloggers’ Speed Networking event.

While in the ATM Travel Tech Theatre, the seminar programme will focus on the show’s 2017 theme. Sessions will include Marketing to Experiential Travellers, Blogging, Social Media, Mobile, Tech and Hospitality Technology.

Exploring the trillion-dollar Muslim lifestyle and food industry, The Global Stage will also host the inaugural ATM Global Halal Tourism Summit 2017, from 12.20pm on Wednesday 26th April.

The global Muslim travel market was valued at $151 billion in 2015, representing around 10% of the global international tourism market and, by 2021, that value is expected to reach $243 billion. The Global Halal Tourism Summit will explore the business opportunities that exist and how the travel industry can stay ahead of the curve.

 

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Swarovski Hosts a Unique Mother’s Day Event in KSA with Bayan Linjawi

Posted on April 24, 2017 by مشرف

On the beautiful occasion of Mother’s Day, Swarovski collaborated with Saudi Social Media star, Bayan Linjawi, to host a lovely Mother’s Day Event in KSA. The event took place on the 15th of March in Riyadh. During the event, Bayan also indulged in an intimate Q & A session that gave guests the opportunity to discover more about her life. Adding to the ambiance of the event was a violinist who was belting out some soothing tunes at the event.

Some highlights of the event were the customization corner where guests decorated lovely greeting cards with special stickers, a photo-booth where they had a gala time taking fun pictures at and the special Snapchat filter created for the event. Spring Rose were responsible for the beautiful blue flowers adorning the venue and also the beautiful gift boxes offered at the Faisaliah boutique that housed the pieces chosen by customers at the event. Finally, the guests also participated in a raffle draw that began with a quiz titled ‘What is her style,’ that helped them associate a particular product style to their mothers. Based on their answers, they got to pick three items and note it down on the coupon that went into the raffle draw.

With this event, Swarovski paid the perfect tribute to the most important woman in every person’s life; Mother.

 

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ETIHAD AIRWAYS AND EMIRATES RED CRESCENT PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES NEW UAE YEAR OF GIVING INITIATIVE

Posted on April 24, 2017 by مشرف

  • Etihad Airways to donate one dirham from every ticket sold in the UAE to Emirates Red Crescent as part of year-long programme
  • A380 engine decals to promote the UAE Year of Giving across Etihad Airways’ A380 route network, including Sydney, Mumbai, London Heathrow and New York
  • One dirham ticket donation part of broad Etihad Airways – Emirates Red Crescent corporate social responsibility partnership

Etihad Airways today confirmed that it will donate one dirham from every flight ticket sold in the United Arab Emirates during 2017 towards the UAE’s Year of Giving causes.

The initiative is one of dozens being rolled out in the air and on the ground by Etihad Aviation Group (EAG), including offering free Etihad Cargo space for humanitarian causes, as part of efforts to touch the lives of those in need around the world.

Each month, the airline will donate all proceeds to Emirates Red Crescent’s local and international projects, including the recently launched campaign ‘For Your Sake, Somalia’ targeting famine in the African nation. Etihad Airways’ guests will also shortly be able to donate to Emirates Red Crescent during flights using a credit card.

Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, Peter Baumgartner, and the airline’s Executive Vice President Commercial, Mohammad Al Bulooki, launched the initiative with a special Etihad Airways dirham podium, inscribed with the message ‘A dirham can go a long way’.

“We are proud to embrace the Year of Giving, a remarkable initiative which truly reflects the Emirati spirit of philanthropy,” said Mr. Baumgartner. “This donation is one of many philanthropic

initiatives we are announcing throughout 2017, in a mission to embed giving within our corporate culture and in the way we do business.”

Secretary-General of Emirates Red Crescent, Mohamed Ateeq Al-Falahi, said: “We are proud to have worked for many years with Etihad Airways. Their unrelenting commitment, whether through donations or volunteering, has been heart-warming. We will continue to work together throughout the Year of Giving to support the UAE’s humanitarian mission.”  

The airline’s Year of Giving drive is visible on its flagship aircraft, the Airbus A380, with all four engines of the double-decker displaying the Year of Giving logo to promote the national initiative overseas in Etihad’s A380 destinations of Sydney, Mumbai, London Heathrow and New York.

This latest initiative builds on the group’s track record as a socially responsible organisation. Annually, EAG conducts dozens of community engagement initiatives among the local community in the UAE and internationally, including earlier programmes in India, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. In 2016, EAG employees volunteered over 4,300 hours of time in support of charities and community causes.

2017 was officially declared as the Year of Giving by the UAE’s President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In support of this national initiative, EAG’s strategy is based on the government’s three Year of Giving pillars: Corporate Social Responsibility, Volunteering and Serving the Nation.

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ETIHAD AIRWAYS ENGINEERING AND DIEHL SIGN DEAL FOR FIRST COMMERCIAL 3D-PRINTED PART RETROFIT PROJECT

Posted on April 24, 2017 by مشرف

Etihad Airways Engineering has signed an agreement with Diehl Aerosystems to jointly design, manufacture and install the first serial produced 3D-printed cabin plastic part on an aircraft for one of its customers.

Additive manufacturing – commonly referred to as 3D-printing – reduces lead time in design, decreases production cost of and enables speedier manufacturing.

Etihad Airways Engineering and Diehl have collaborated to develop and manufacture an inflight entertainment (IFE) cover plate which will be installed in economy seats on several aircraft of a Middle Eastern airline. The two companies plan to create a range of products based on the experience gained from this pilot project.

Jeff Wilkinson, Etihad Airways Engineering Chief Executive Officer, said: “Etihad Airways Engineering is leveraging its Part 21J Design Organisation approval by EASA – with Diehl contributing as a Part 21G Production Organisation – in this pilot project.

“Our partnership with Diehl will help us commercialise this technology and make it available to our customers around the world.”

He explained that the 3D-printed part offered a cost saving of around 20 to 30 per cent, with the added benefit of not requiring tooling and avoiding any permanent modification to the seat.

Etihad Airways Engineering is the first airline maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval to design, certify, manufacture and fly 3D-printed aircraft cabin plastic parts.

Diehl Aerosystems has been working in the field of 3D printing technology for several years, building up knowledge and capabilities to supply EASA-certified 3D-printed aircraft parts to the aviation industry. Diehl can act as design partner and Production Organisation, depending on the customer requirements.

Etihad Airways Engineering is an AS9110 certified organisation and already holds EASA 145 approval, alongside EASA 21J approval for designing and undertaking minor and major changes and repairs. The company is the Middle East’s leading aviation MRO provider.

 

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27 German Companies Exhibiting at German Breakfast and Catalog Show in Riyadh

Posted on April 24, 2017 by مشرف

As every year since 2004, the German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO) invited businessmen from Saudi Arabia to the German Breakfast and Catalog Show. On April 20, 27 German companies exhibited their product and service portfolio to an audience of more than 150 representatives from company, business chambers, and ministries at the Narcissus Hotel and Residence. Co-organized by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event attracted great attention among the local business community and was a huge success.

The opening ceremony was headed by GESALO Delegate Oliver Oehms. He told the guests that “this is the largest catalog show in many years, which demonstrates the importance of the business relations between our two great countries”. He added that “German companies stand ready to support the Kingdom in realizing the Vision 2030 by offering high-tech products and know-how in order to add to the diversification of the economy, especially strengthening the role of small and medium-sized enterprises.”

H.E. Dieter W. Haller, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said that the large number of German companies participating in the Catalogue Show reflects the growing interest of the German private sector in an engagement in the Kingdom.
“The vision 2030 is a most ambitious blueprint for a modern and diversified economy that is not only resource-based but above all knowledge-based.” And he continued: “I am sure that the upcoming visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will give a big boost to take our relations to new heights.”

thyssenkrupp CEO Thomas Dreiling and representatives from Lufthansa, BMW, and V-LINE greeted the guests and wished them a successful event and promising business talks. The event was sponsored by major German companies, which all have been reliable and long-lasting partners of Saudi Arabia. Platinum sponsors are Lufthansa, thyssenkrupp, V-LINE, and coperion. Other sponsors include SSI Schäfer, Dornier, Airbus, Dress & Sommer, Fuchs, Gerolsteiner, Rheinmetall.

Many guests praised GESALO for the perfect organization of the event and confirmed that it becomes better every year. The German Breakfast and Catalog Show is an important platform to strengthen the ties between German companies and their Saudi partners and opens the door for other German companies to showcase their products and services to the largest GCC market.

The German Breakfast and Catalog Show has been a huge success for the last 13 years. It has a long tradition to set the ground for enhanced bilateral trade relations, which amounted to almost 8 billion EUR (32 billion SAR) in the year 2016. This event is only one out of many different efforts GESALO undertakes to strengthen the ties between Germany and Saudi Arabia. This event will continue in Dammam (May 2), Tabuk (May 15), Jeddah (May 16), and Manama, Bahrain (May 17).

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Lufthansa celebrates 30th anniversary in Riyadh Heike Birlenbach, the new Senior Vice President Sales Lufthansa Hub Airlines and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Hub Frankfurt visits the Kingdom

Posted on April 24, 2017 by مشرف

Marking 30 years in Riyadh and nearly 60 years’ presence in Saudi Arabia, Lufthansa strengthens its service to the Kingdom with a total of 24 weekly flights to its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich from key cities in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

For the whole of Saudi Arabia, Lufthansa expects to carry more than 200,000 passengers by the end of the year. Stressing the importance of Saudi Arabia, Heike Birlenbach, the new Senior Vice President Sales Lufthansa Hub Airlines and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Hub Frankfurt joined key partners during the celebration.

“Looking back, our passengers are now greatly enjoying the fruits of our global investments in improved products and services both on the ground and on-board. We are also on our way to meet customers’ personalized and digital needs with the many innovative solutions we now offer our passengers. Our teams are working diligently to provide exceptional service and be ahead of the game. We are furthermore, continuously investing in upgrading our fleet, as we currently have a few of the world most modern and environmentally friendly long-haul aircraft, the Airbus A350, now flying from Munich,” said Birlenbach.

Karsten Zang, Senior Director Gulf, I.R. Iran, Pakistan & Afghanistan, Lufthansa Group noted: “Year-on-year, we have strengthened our services to Saudi Arabia offering utmost flexibility and convenience. To date, we are the only European airline that covers the three major gateways of Saudi Arabia consistently bringing passengers to their preferred destinations in Europe, North America and beyond.”

Lufthansa currently operates daily flights between Riyadh and Frankfurt, daily flights from Jeddah to Frankfurt, daily flights between Dammam and Frankfurt, complemented further by three weekly flights from Riyadh to Munich.  From Frankfurt and Munich, passengers can conveniently connect to 308 destinations in 103 countries on four continents during summer 2017 offered by the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa German Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings).

“Our continued presence in Saudi Arabia is made possible by the support and trust of our partners and passengers especially the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority. Now, we carry more passengers than ever, flying them in comfort and excellent service that we are known for. Some of the key improvements that our customers get to enjoy now include the newly-retrofitted Business Class and the new Premium Economy,” said Mark Pey, Saudi Arabia’s General Manager for Lufthansa German Airlines.

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Three market trends not to miss at ATM this year: online travel, digitalization, and personalization Sabre to showcase latest technology that will transform the travel experience New research to be released into Middle Eastern traveler behavior trends

Posted on April 18, 2017 by مشرف

Sabre Corporation, the leading technology provider to the travel and tourism industry, is exhibiting at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2017), from 24-27 April, 2017 at stand # TT1550.

Sabre will be demonstrating its latest technology, the new Sabre Red Workspace, a modern platform built around its core GDS infrastructure to provide more services and faster value to customers.  The system is considered to be the next-generation travel agency platform, with new decision support tools, predictive data insights and merchandising capabilities that bring agents and suppliers together to create personalized experiences for travellers. It is developed to help customers meet the new, more empowered traveller who increasingly wants personalization, choice and the ability to unbundle every component of a ticket and dynamically re-bundle it to match their needs.

Executive speakers from Sabre and guest customers will also participate in the seminar programme. They will discuss industry challenges and latest technology trends in the travel and hospitality sector, including online travel, personalization, emerging technology, retailing and digitalization.

See below for Sabre’s full agenda:

Sabre panel discussion -Blurring lines in online and offline travel

Tuesday, 25th April, 2017 12:50-13:50 – Technology Theatre

The shift to online and mobile booking channels continues worldwide, shaped in individual markets by a variety of factors such as technology infrastructure, credit card and smartphone adoption, macroeconomic circumstances and demographic conditions. However, despite the growth in online travel, today‘s connected travellers do not limit themselves to either online or offline – they rather seek out benefits from both worlds. Lead by Antonella Vecchio, vice president of online and Western Europe, Sabre, a panel discussion will bring together mature online travel agencies (OTA’s) from Europe and the Middle East, and Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS), to explore the evolving world of travel, both online and offline.

Speakers:

  • Dean Bibb, Interim SVP, Sabre Travel Network, EMEA
  • Antonella Vecchio, VP Online and Western Europe, Sabre
  • Raymond Vrijenhoek, CEO, Otravo Travel
  • Bader Al Bader, CEO, Rehlat Travel

The Most Common Pitfalls of Hotel Websites

Wednesday, 26th April, 2017 -15:15-15:45 – Showcase Theatre

Join the vice president of digital experience at Sabre Hospitality Solutions, Robert Dawson, to learn why many hotel websites fail to drive traffic and conversations with customers and what drives success in direct bookings. If your hotel website is not performing the way you think it should, don’t miss this deep dive into the digital arena and take away key learnings from some of the top digital experts in the hospitality industry.

Power up with Sabre

Tuesday and Wednesday 14:00-15:00

Sabre experts will provide demonstrations of the new Sabre Red Workspace every day during ATM.   Customers will be offered special “power up” sessions to catch up with Sabre experts and leaders from different business units, and to talk about how technology can help them meet their business goals. 

“Travellers are willing to pay extra for a service that is customized to meet their individual needs,” said Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, Sabre Travel Network, Middle East. “The travel industry in the Middle East is unique and has its own specifications that should be considered when designing travel solutions. The Middle Eastern traveller is a high adopter of the latest personal technologies; they therefore expect travel providers to be using the latest technology themselves.  At ATM this year, we’ll be revealing some of these latest traveller trends and behaviours in order to help our customers deliver a personalized service, generate more revenue and create loyal customers.”

ATM brings together leaders from the global travel and tourism industry.  This year, the show expects more than 23,500 visitors and 2,700 exhibitors from technology companies, travel agencies, airlines, hotels, tourism authorities, and many other suppliers from the travel industry.

Don’t miss learning about the latest technology in travel. See you in Dubai at ATM 2017 at Sabre stand # TT1550!

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Saudi Cloud Analytics Market Tops SAR 280 Million by 2019 Al Nasser, Maadaniyah, and Tasnee Drive Connected Manufacturing to Support Saudi Vision 2030

Posted on April 17, 2017 by مشرف

The 15-fold growth in the Kingdom’s cloud analytics market will drive Saudi Vision 2030 industry vertical innovation, business leaders announced today at the SAP Saudi Cloud Day.

Through 2019, the Kingdom’s cloud analytics market will top SAR 280 million in 2019, up from SAR 20 million in 2014, according to a recent Micro Market Monitor report.

“Cloud solutions enable manufacturers to support Saudi Vision 2030 goals of increased localization and diversified economic growth. With the cloud, Saudi organizations can gain real-time supply chain, customer, and employee insights for better decision-making and new digital business models,” said Mohammed Al Nasser, Managing Director and Board Member at the construction conglomerate Al Nasser Trading and Import Company.

Al Nasser Trading and Import Company used cloud solutions from digital transformation enabler SAP to improve materials planning by 40 percent.

Recognizing innovative deployments, Al Nasser Trading and Import Company with partner ISYX Technologies, received a gold award in the SAP Europe, Middle East, and Africa Quality Awards.

Additional Saudi organizations receiving awards at the Middle East and North Africa level included the General Authority for Zakat and Tax with partner Invenio, Maadaniyah with partner BaasKaar IT Company, and Saudi Electric Company and Tasnee both with the partner Cognizant.

“Manufacturing and petrochemicals are incredibly complex sectors that need real-time cloud solutions to enhance operations and cut costs, free up employees to focus on mission-critical operations, and take the customer experience to the next level. Maadaniyah is committed to leveraging the latest cloud solutions to support Saudi Vision 2030 economic localization and diversification goals,” said Shakir Al Otaibi, CEO, Maadaniyah.

SAP is one of the world’s leading digital transformation enablers, with more than 125 million cloud subscribers worldwide and more than 30 cloud solutions across all lines of business.

“Cloud adoption is central for driving Saudi Vision 2030’s nationwide digital transformation and business competitiveness. The strong turnout at our inaugural Cloud Day event shows the demand for real-time cloud solutions for Saudi organizations across all industry verticals. Cloud solutions enable organizations to have real-time visibility and make better decisions that fuel Saudi economic growth,” said Ahmed Al-Faifi, Managing Director, SAP Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen.

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KINGDOM’S BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD PATIENTS TO BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED TREATMENT OPTIONS “Continuous Innovation Drives Improved Clinical Outcomes,” says Cleveland Clinic; Top-Ranked U.S. Hospital to Send Leading Neurosurgeons to Saudi Medical Meeting

Posted on April 17, 2017 by مشرف

Continuous innovation in neurosurgical procedures will be key to the ongoing excellence of healthcare delivery in the Kingdom, U.S.-based healthcare experts said during of the 11th Saudi Arabia Neurosurgical Society (SANS) and Arab Pediatric Neurosurgical Society (APNS) joint conference meeting in the capital.

Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the central nervous system, to include the brain and spinal cord.

The joint conference is one of the largest neurosurgery meetings in the Middle East, and the largest in the GCC region, with more than 1,000 active participants from both local and international institutions expected to attend.

Dr. Essam AlShail, chairman of the event has said that he hopes the meeting will focus on the technical advancement of neurosurgery in the field of inventions and innovation which will lead to more surgical confidence.

Top-ranked U.S. hospital, Cleveland Clinic, will be sending two, leading consultant physicians in neurology – Drs. Hubert Fernandez, one of the world’s experts on movement disorders, and Pablo Recinos, an internationally recognized neurosurgeon – to speak at the gathering.

The leading U.S. healthcare institution enjoys a long and rich history in the Kingdom, dating back to the 1970s, and its ‘patients first’ model of patient care serves as the basis for the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh founded in 1975.

“Every physician in the world wants to deliver the highest possible level of care to his patients, and the deployment of new and innovative technology-based techniques is fundamental to that care, particularly in neurosurgery,” said Dr. Pablo Recinos of the Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center at U.S.-based Cleveland Clinic.

“By sharing clinical best-practice in our field, we are ensuring that patients in need here in Saudi Arabia will benefit from the latest techniques and technologies we employ in the United States.  Continuous innovation drives improved clinical outcomes,” concluded Dr. Recinos.

In addition to fielding expert speakers for medical conferences in the Kingdom, Cleveland Clinic also regularly hosts observerships for Saudi medical students, residents, and for senior-level physicians and surgeons, through its celebrated Center for International Medical Education.

The meeting of the 11th Saudi Arabia Neurosurgical Society (SANS) will take place 7-10 April 2017 at the Kempinski Burj Rafal Hotel in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the theme: “Invention, Innovation, and Technology Transfer”.

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Transformation of SME Sector to be reviewed at The Saudi Euromoney Conference 2017 Special Session at the Conference will Examine the Future of Saudi SMEs and the Role of Private Equity Event to be held in partnership with the Ministry of Finance

Posted on April 17, 2017 by مشرف

While all eyes are on the potential impact of major listings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as the much-anticipated Saudi Aramco IPO, long-term transformative change is likely to come from the small business sector, according to senior experts set to speak at The Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference 2017.

Saudi Arabia will see the growth of a major new investment opportunity in 2017, as new regulations permit the listing of small capitalized Saudi firms, adding new impetus to both the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) sector and the stock market.

In February, Tadawul launched the NOMU-Parallel stock market, with seven firms debuting with an initial market capitalization of SR 1.9 billion. The businesses were from a range of sectors including retail and food services, and all seven hit the maximum daily growth limit on the first day of trading, indicating the strong appetite for SME investment in the Kingdom.

The market, which is open to qualified investors for direct investment, can be accessed by retail investors through specific investment funds, creating new options for diversification.

The private sector, and the SME sector in particular, has a key role in the “Saudi Vision 2030” strategy by diversifying the economy, creating jobs, and promoting growth. Alongside the new rules on listing SMEs, the Kingdom is also empowering the SME Authority and supporting wider economic innovation as part of a series of measures to support the growth of small businesses.

A special session at The Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference, which is held in partnership with the Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia, will look at the measures being taken to drive entrepreneurship across the Kingdom. Speakers will include Nawaf Attaf Alsahhaf, Chief Executive Officer, Badir, and Craig Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Dhahran Valley Technology Development Company.

Victoria Behn, Euromoney Conference’s Head of Middle East and Africa, said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is promoting a wide range of measures to drive the transformation of the economy, and The Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference will enable delegates to examine every angle of this far-reaching programme. The event brings together on-the-ground business and government leaders with international experts and global banking executives to provide insight into the impact of major initiatives like the transformation of the SME sector and the opportunities this is creating.”

Other sessions during the two-day event include panel discussions on Equity Capital Markets and Debt Capital Markets, special sessions on financial technology, and a CEO roundtable with executives from Gulf International Bank; SEDCO Capital and Jadwa Investment. Euromoney is also organising an exclusive ticketed executive briefing on Real Estate Investment Trusts on the day before the conference.

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will officially open the conference, deliver the keynote speech and inaugurate the event. Major speakers from the Kingdom include H.E. Dr Ahmed Abdulkarim Alkholifey, Governor, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency; H.E. Mr Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Housing, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Mr. Mohamed El-Kuwaiz, Vice Chairman, Capital Market Authority; Khalid Abdullah Al Hussan, Chief Executive Officer, Tadawul; and Yousef Abdullah Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SABIC.

The 2017 Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference takes place from 2-3 May in Riyadh. The Executive Briefing on Real Estate Investment Trusts will run on 1 May 2017.

For more information on the Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference, visit www.euromoneyconference.com/saudi.html.

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