Middle East Investment

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Kuwait firms seek key role in rebuilding Iraq

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait is seeking to exploit its position as gateway to Iraq after the Gulf Arab state stepped up diplomatic ties with Baghdad, opening the way for companies to play a leading role in reconstructing its larger neighbor.

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Western bankers seek Gulf jobs to escape crisis

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Investment bankers from Wall Street to London are scrambling to move to the Gulf Arab for work as Western banks axe jobs to survive the worst financial crisis in 80 years.

Islamic finance not immune to global woes

DUBAI (Reuters) - Islamic banks and financial institutions are not isolated from a global credit crisis, which is plaguing conventional lenders, although they have been barely bruised so far, bankers said this week.

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Gulf Arab airlines see local cause for hope

KUWAIT/DUBAI (Reuters) - The global airline industry may be crumbling, but the Gulf Arab region is launching new airlines and ordering new aircraft.

Zain eyes $3-4 billion for acquisitions

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co (Zain) plans to make four to five acquisitions worth up to $4 billion before 2010 with the global credit crisis depressing asset prices for telecom firms, its chief executive said.

Gulf Arabs could speed up projects as costs fall

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Gulf Arab oil producers could speed up some key expansion projects despite the global economic downturn, as states sitting on windfall oil revenues take advantage of cheaper input costs and stronger currencies.

Kuwait under pressure to reform markets

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Local fallout from the global credit crisis may spur Kuwait, already lagging behind other Gulf Arab economies, to speed up long-delayed regulation of its financial markets, participants at a Reuters summit said.

Gulf Arabs eye bargain buys amid global crisis

DUBAI (Reuters) - From utilities to private equity groups to investment banks, Gulf Arab firms said on Wednesday they were on the prowl to snap up companies and stocks at bargain prices as the global financial crisis bites.

Rich Gulf needs more say in global economy: DIFC

DUBAI (Reuters) - Gulf Arab states can play a key role in staunching the global financial crisis but should have a greater voice in world finance as emerging markets gain prominence, the Dubai International Financial Centre's chief economist said.

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Gulf finance sector ripe for M&A in crisis time

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Gulf Arab financial firms are on the brink of a long-overdue wave of consolidation as global financial turmoil brakes a regional economic boom, forcing banks and investment companies to cut costs and improve scale.

Kuwait's Noor looks for buys in Asia, ME

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's Noor Financial Investment Co is looking into equity buys in Asia and the Middle East to take advantage of lower assets prices and wants to set up a $1 billion "opportunity fund" investing in agriculture and food supply in the Middle East and North Africa.

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Upcoming Summits

Summit Date Category
Islamic Banking and Finance Feb 15 - 18 Country Summits
Travel and Leisure Feb 22 - 24 Hotels/Casinos
Private Equity and Hedge Funds Mar 1 - 3 Financial Services/Exchanges
Global Mining and Steel Mar 8 - 10 Mining
Food and Agriculture Mar 15 - 18 Mining
Canadian Oil Sands Mar 22 - 23 Energy
Funds Mar 23 - 24 Financial Services/Exchanges
Global Exchanges and Trading Mar 29 - 31 Financial Services / Exchanges
Financial Regulation Apr 26 - 29 Financial Services / Exchanges
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