Our exlusive ranking reveals the full impact of the global economic crisis upon the region’s biggest companies. although the value of many stock exchanges actually increased during the course of the calendar year, the lion’s share of Middle Eastern firms suffered a fall in market capitalisation over the last 12 months. With oil prices again buoyant, the situation now looks …

MANINDER BHANDARI is managing director & head of Middle east & africa for Treasury services at bny Mellon. Cash & Trade caught up with him to discuss the ways in which the economic crisis has altered Mena trading patterns and the region’s next step in treasury solutions. If money really does make the world go around, then effective treasury management …

Energy companies in the Middle east have been hit hard by the global economic downturn, but a revival is underway. This is putting pressure on treasury departments to improve their operational efficiency and enhance working capital, writes LANCE T. KAWAGUCHI of CITI. In the Middle East have had to cope with a significant fall in demand for their products. This …

As the global economy recovers, the role of export credit agencies in facilitating trade flows in the Middle East is more important than ever. by PIERS CONSTABLE, director of Deutsche Bank’s structured trade and export finance for the Middle East and Africa. The World bank’s global economic outlook for 2010 points to a trade resurgence. In recent months, quarterly growth …

Risk management and liquidity are required in order to meet the global trade rebound, writes ETIENNE BERNARD (left), head of Global Transaction services eurozone & Middle East, and NICOLETTA STELLA, Middle East strategy, Global Transaction services Middle East at RBS. While there are indications that the worst of the credit crisis may be behind us, it is generally thought that …

As a Mena treasury manager of one of the Middle east’s leading corporates, and its biggest pharmaceutical manufacturer, EYAS QUIDEMAT is in a prime position to drive the company’s growth plans – and demand more from its banks. Eyas Quidemat is the MENA treasury manager for Middle East pharmaceutical giant Hikma. As a major manufacturer of drugs, hikma leads the way …

The importance of managing staff expenses efficiently means corporates must consider the use of payment cards. by KAMRAN SIDDIQI, GENERAL MANAGER oF VISA IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Increasing processing efficiency and reducing payroll costs are two priorities common among most companies, particularly in an economic climate where businesses are looking to streamline costs and operate at their most efficient. In …

Alexander R. Malaket, CITP, President Opus Advisory Services International Inc. Transparency is a notion that has received a great deal of attention over the past year in particular, as relating to financial dealings in the GCC, the Middle East and the MENA region more broadly.  Is this simply the latest buzzword to circulate in business and financial circles? Is it …

Bahrain-based Cash Management Matters (CMM), a leading provider of cash management solutions in the Middle east, has launched the nostro Cash Management system (nCMs), a comprehensive ‘one-stop-shop’ secure platform that offers financial institutions complete management and control of nostro accounts worldwide. The launch was announced following a successful certification period of nCMs at the national Commercial bank, one of saudi …

 Despite growing confidence across the global economy, it appears the well-publicised problems in dubai have contributed to a lack of business confidence in the Gulf region. The latest HSBC Gulf business Confidence Index fell from 81.4 to 80.2 between the third and fourth quarters of 2009, illustrating how the burden of debt within some Gulf states has stymied confidence.  “We …

 Citi has announced that its Global Transaction Services business for EMEA has extended its global platform for Citi Prepaid services by launching its payroll services in the uae for Voltas, part of the Tata group. Voltas is an engineering project specialist, and has already successfully undertaken and executed multimillion dollar electro-mechanical projects in the Middle east – along with the …

 The International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) has signalled its commitment to further growth and development by signing a deal with first data to host the bank’s credit card portfolio.  IBQ announced the deal in january, and said that first data will host the bank’s entire credit card operation via its first Vision processing platform. Philip King, head of retail at …

 The International Islamic Trade finance Corporation (ITFC), an autonomous entity within the IDB Group, has lent its weight behind regional and international efforts to launch a determined aid–for-Trade (afT) road Map in cooperation with the united nations economic social Commission West asia (ESCWA) and other regional and international bodies. This was announced in january by ITFC CEO, Dr Waleed Al …

 The merger between the two main trade associations for those engaged in cash management and trade finance was confirmed on 19 january. In a joint statement, the bankers’ association for finance and Trade (BAFT) and the International financial services association (IFSA) said the new organisation would be called bafTIfsa and will take its place as the most significant pressure group …

SWIFT, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, has revolutionised the way banks and corporations communicate with each other. In this exclusive interview for Cash & Trade, SWIFT’s Regional Head, MENA , Sido Bestani, speaks frankly about how the global financial crisis has affected his organisation and explains what measures it is taking to provide for the needs of customers in the Middle East and North …

The Internet, new technology, trade moving East globalisation and then, the financial crisis too! Corporate treasurers have seen it all and many are still reeling from the implications. But one consequence is that they are increasingly taking centre stage in their organisations, and their views are being heard at board level after years of relatively benign neglect. Corporations and their …