MANAMA, 23 November 2007 — For the first time in the world, the Crans Montana Forum–Middle East, in association with its partner Crans Montana Forum and in cooperation with UNIDO Investment & Technology Promotion Office, Bahrain, is organizing the First European Gulf Investment Forum under the theme “Central Europe and Eastern New Economies strategies with the Gulf States” to be held in Manama on April 8-10 10, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
The Chairman and Founder of Crans Montana Forum (CMF), Jean-Paul Carteron, said that CMF Middle East office ion Bahrain would bring at least 250 to 300 businessmen, policy makers and investors.
The forum comes at a point in time where Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asian States represent a huge market with expanding economies and the Gulf states drive to strengthen their policies in order to attract foreign investment and seek to create linkages and cooperation with these market.
The event will provide a platform to showcase and promote investment opportunities and is expected to attract financial institutions, institutional investors, corporate, traders, developers and high net-worth individuals to develop business opportunities and invest. It will encompass a conference, exhibition and a business forum.
The key sectors to be addressed in the forum include, among others, energy, renewable energy, natural resources, transport, infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, housing, telecommunication, IT, tourism, public health, trading, financial services/banking and manufacturing. The program will include plenary sessions, specialized and national sessions, round tables, national and corporate presentations.
UNIDO Bahrain Head Dr. Hashim Hussein, said UNIDO would use its channels to maximize the benefits of the CMF ME presence in Bahrain. “UNIDO is committed to help the smooth flow of inward and outward foreign direct investments as part of its mandate under the UN by working closely with the partners like the CMF.”