Last year will probably go down in history as the worst year for natural disasters worldwide. Add to that the ongoing civil unrest in Middle East and a deepening economic crisis in the Euro zone and it becomes increasingly difficult to make sense as to how the world will unfold in 2012.

Investor sentiment continues to be bearish and the focus appears to have shifted towards the region and the wider Asia Pacific to seek out bullish opportunities. To this end, Middle East institutional investors continue to face a variety of challenges, grappling with the market conditions tinged by the European sovereign debt crisis.

Ultimately, has enough been done to encourage stability within the global financial system? With these challenges in mind, the 2012 Investors Conference brings a much-needed discussion among MENA market experts.

“With its theme ‘Capitalising on market opportunities from a Middle Eastern Perspective’, the event brings together experienced international financial market participants to discuss likely investment opportunities and strategy for investors in the Middle East against a backdrop of the European financial stability of the Euro, sovereign debt crisis of some member states and ratings downgrade,” says Tijjay Majiyagbe, a director at event organiser Sarandon.

The conference will feature four panel discussions that seek to define the market outlook, explore the realm of alternative investments and debt capital markets as well as assess the performance of the investor relations function.

Heads of researchers from JP Morgan, City, Standard Chartered, HSBC and the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) will address the outlook on the Middle East markets in light of the volatile landscape.

Alternative investments
With uncertainty abundant in local and international capital markets, MENA investors are prepared to seize opportunities both at home and abroad to ensure portfolio diversity and asset protection. The time for alternate investments may have arrived, but the hunt is on for resilient sectors and geographies.

A second panel discussion will focus on steps taken by institutions and family investors to mitigate risk and explore ways in which Shari-compliant investors in the region seeking to diversify from real estate can capitalise on alternative investment opportunities.
The local currency government debt markets have so far played a limited role in the Gulf region and a third panel discussion will dissect the nascent growth of the region’s debt capital markets.

Managing expectations
Heavily impacted by a downward spiralling economy, investor relations have become a brand new challenge today. Yet, communicating with investors and shareholders, especially during the tough times, results in a resilient shareholder base that can ride the storm. The last panel discussion will focus on successful case studies of US and Singapore-based companies in actively managing investors.

Call 17 216-000.