Leading names from the world of international finance were at the third annual Falcon Group trade and corporate finance forum held at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel, Dubai. Moderated by BBC World’s Nima Abu Wardeh, the forum brought global CEOs and CFOs together to hear speakers discuss crucial issues for corporate funding. Offering political, economic, banking and corporate perspectives, the list …

Standard Chartered has signed two agreements with Warba Bank to facilitate their transactions in Asia. The announcement comes in light of increased trade activity between MENA financial institutions and companies with Asia in general and China in particular. Warba Bank joined Standard Chartered’s “Asia Express Guaranteed Payments Programme”, which ensures delivery of funds to beneficiaries in Asia on the same …

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, signed a $855m Import Finance Murabaha Agreement with The People’s Republic of Bangladesh (represented by the Energy & Mineral Resources Division) and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC)  for the import of crude oil and refined petroleum products. The agreement brings together a total of 28 financial …

Trade corridors between China and the MENA region carry huge economic growth potential for businesses, offering the greatest prospects in the commodity and energy sectors, HSBC said at its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and China Forum held in the UAE recently. Emphasising the growth of China as a trading powerhouse, HSBC added that China is poised to become …

Transaction banking has never been viewed as an especially glamorous facet of the industry, with most young bankers eschewing careers in this area for high-rolling investment banking positions. Now, however, while investment banking headcount is being pared back, transaction banking is quietly booming.

Governments across the Middle East are embracing change. The social justice agenda, which has been rolled out across most of the region, has seen them place a stronger focus on spending on employment, healthcare and education reform – as well as investing in infrastructure and the private sector to encourage growth. LIZ SALECKA reports Many governments are now seeking to …

The rising levels of transaction banking sophistication throughout the MENA region coincide with an increasing corporate focus on how to better manage risk and working capital throughout the supply chain. SRIRAM IYER, regional head of global transaction banking at Deutsche Bank, discusses the role financial supply solutions can play in facilitating trade against the backdrop of these developments While the …

PAUL MELLY, looks at growing competition in what has traditionally been one of the Gulf’s quieter financial markets News that HSBC is taking a majority stake in Oman International Bank confirms the growing intensity of competition in what has traditionally been one of the Gulf’s less frenetic financial markets. The government’s decision to allow the development of Islamic finance will …

MUSHTAK PARKER looks at a unique new fund raising and liquidity option that has been taking MENA by storm One of the ongoing consequences of the global financial crisis has been a sustained credit crunch in economies all over the world as liquidity remains scarce and financing is targeted at “safe” customers by an over-cautious global financial sector. This, despite …

There have been many approaches to corporate governance over the last 20 years, with new approaches constantly suggested. In the UK there has been the Cadbury Report (1992), the Greenbury Report (1995), the Turnbull Report (1999) and the Higgs Report (2003), among others. New mechanisms are usually introduced in response to corporate scandals, such as Guinness in the 1980s, Maxwell, …

The scars left behind by the 2008 credit crunch and resulting financial crisis have barely faded and yet 2012 already looks as though it will be another highly challenging year for corporate treasurers. MARCUS HUGHES, business development director, Bottomline Technologies, looks at how they can cope The world economy is once again on the verge of a new crisis as …

Governments across the Middle East are now looking for ways to help SMEs. MUSHTAK PARKER, looks at what’s in store Small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of many Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economies. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, governments are seeking to generate employment, especially youth employment, and economic growth to try to mitigate the …

Standard Chartered’s SME Banking Business has been recognised as the “Best SME Internet Banking provider and Best SME Foreign Exchange Service Provider” for 2012 by the Banker Middle East publication. Commenting on the awards, Sadia Saeed, general manager, SME Banking for the Middle East, Standard Chartered, said, “SMEs in UAE have strong international trade needs. Competitive foreign exchange services and …

Qatar has played its part in the debate on development-centered globalisation by hosting the Civil Society Forum in Doha in parallel with the 13th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII). The Civil Society Forum brought together 400 delegates representing social movements, pro-development groups, women’s groups, trade unions, agricultural organisations, environmental organisations, faith-based organisations and …

More than 350 international Islamic funds and investment leaders to gather at the 8th Annual World Islamic Funds and Financial Markets Conference as More Corporate Borrowers Look to Islamic Finance   Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain: 07 May 2012: More than 350 key players, regulators and thought leaders in the global Islamic funds and investments industry are set to gather in …