DOHA, 07 June 2009

Regional experts and regulators are poised to gather in Doha at the 2nd Middle East Advanced Financial Crime Prevention Programme, hosted by the Qatar Financial Centre.

High level representatives from the public and private sector from countries across the MENA region will debate terrorism funding, corporate governance, and effective financial crime prevention techniques.

The three day event will be held at Sharq Village Hotel & Spa, Doha, between 7-9 June 2009.

The 2nd Middle East Advanced Financial Conference will commence on Sunday 7th June at the Sharq Village Hotel. The 3 day event, which is hosted by the Qatar Financial Centre, will focus on in-depth analysis of high profile incidents that have affected the financial sector regionally and globally.

Stuart Pearce, CEO of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, will deliver the opening keynote address. He will give an overview of Qatar’s performance over the last year, explaining how it has maintained operational security for its banks and financial service providers as well as offer an insight into how these measures will be strengthened in the years ahead.

Key to meeting the objective of protecting Doha as a leading financial centre with the highest global standards is the application of the new corporate governance guidelines issued by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority. Siham Ayad, Director of Research, Strategy and International Affairs at the QFMA, and a keynote speaker at the event, will officially launch the English language version of the new corporate governance guidelines. Her address will be supported by experts from the QFMA, who will be on hand to discuss implementation methodology and highlight different approaches to meeting the aims of the new guidelines.

A specially convened press conference will feature experts and regulators from Dubai, Egypt and Qatar itself including Brian Stirewalt from the DFSA and Richard Collins from the QFCRA. These bodies will also be represented in further areas of training and discussion in the week including the highly anticipated debate on market and regulatory discipline in the context of the global financial crisis, which will occur on the opening day.

As part of the official launch of the corporate governance guidelines in English, particular focus will be paid throughout the 3-day event, to developing boardroom efficacy and performance alongside other aspects of enterprise wide risk management. The QFCRA will seek to maintain the improvement in standards of corporate governance in Qatar and the region by moderating a panel discussion on achieving organisation wide compliance culture and gaining boardroom support for such.

The 3-day programme, which has been created by IFCCT* will address a range of topics. There will be forensic analysis of the Mumbai terrorist attacks through assessment of systemic weaknesses which contributed to the funding of the attack. Sessions on these and other areas including fraud, money laundering and corruption will be delivered by IFCCT’s* world leading faculty, headed by former Head of Supervision at the Dutch Central Bank, Gert Demmink, and handpicked regional experts.

Full agenda, faculty profiles and registration information is available on www.faircount.com/tfcctqatar2009

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Notes to editors

International Financial Crime Prevention & Compliance Training, a division of Faircount Media Group, has established a first class reputation for providing comprehensive training to organisations within the public and private sectors. IFCCT’s training programmes are predicated on imparting a more comprehensive understanding of the main areas of organisational risk, specifically those arising from financially motivated crime.

As part of its mission to provide organisations with the means to respond to these and a broad spectrum of interrelated risks, IFCCT has developed curriculums to address not only traditional areas such as money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, regulatory compliance, cybercrime and asset recovery, but also forensic accounting, e-auditing and commercial due diligence.

IFCCT courses enjoy the close backing and endorsement of major international organisations and institutions, such as the United Nations, World Bank, OECD, Council of Europe, European Commission, FBI, FSA, Interpol and US Federal Reserve. IFCCT’s hugely popular winning formula utilises the unparalleled expertise inherent in such organisations and combines it with that of their regional and domestic counterparts to provide a unique advanced learning and interactive experience.

IFCCT courses are certificated.

Qatar Financial Centre
The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is a financial and business centre established by the Government of Qatar and located in Doha. It has been designed to attract international financial services institutions and major multi-national corporations and to encourage participation in the growing market for financial services in Qatar and elsewhere in the region. The QFC will operate to international standards and provide a first class legal and business infrastructure for those operating within the QFC. The QFC was created by Qatar Law No.(7) and has been open for business since 1 May 2005.

QFC Regulatory Authority
The QFC Regulatory Authority is an independent regulatory body established by Article 8 of the QFC Law. It regulates firms that conduct financial services in or from the QFC. It has a broad range of regulatory powers to authorize, supervise and, when necessary, discipline firms and individuals. The QFC Regulatory Authority regulates firms using principle-based legislation of international standard, modeled closely on that used in London and other major financial centers. The Regulatory Authority is currently receiving applications and granting authorisations.

QFC Authority
The QFC Authority is the commercial, administrative and legislative body responsible for driving the commercial strategy of the QFC and for developing relationships with the global corporate community and other key institutions both within and outside of Qatar.

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Related Items

• Regulators and Banks to Strengthen Middle East Financial Crime Prevention in Doha Press Release-Arabic (PDF)
• 2nd Middle East Advanced Financial Crime Prevention Programme Brochure (PDF)