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Global Financial Markets Forum kicks off tomorrow

Abu Dhabi February 28, 2011 -The 2012 Global Financial Markets Forum (GFMF) kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday February 29th) by speeches from renowned policymakers and continues with critical discussions on the most pressing issues impacting world economics.

The two-day conference, to be held at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace, is organised by the Financial Markets Division of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi ( NBAD ), the Number One Bank in the UAE. It highlights Abu Dhabi's rising influence in global affairs.

"This year's annual Global Financial Markets Forum builds on previous years' successes and provides a critical platform for investors, policy-makers and observers to discuss that current and direction of the world economy in a year that is filled with many questions," says Mahmood Al Aradi, the Senior General Manager of NBAD 's Financial Markets Division.

In addition to facilitating dialogues on critical issues such as economic outlook for Europe and US, the Arab Spring, regional infrastructure financing, and read estate; the Forum has arranged for Investor Presentation sessions, a programme introduced to the region by NBAD last year during 2011 GFMF. The Investor Presentation sessions are aimed to target top investment managers globally and regionally. This new leg for the GFMF is in addition to the unique conference and workshops set-ups.

The Forum begins tomorrow (Wednesday) by welcome address from Michael H. Tomalin, the Group Chief Executive of NBAD , followed bythe keynote address by H.E. Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; followed by will offer the welcome address. Mr. Tomalin will also address the Forum on March 1^st, discussing "UAE Market Fundamentals."

Paul Volcker, former chairman of the US Federal Reserve System and economic advisor to President Barak Obama, will follow Dr. Gargash and Mr. Tomalin with a keynote address titled: "The Future of Global Financial Markets and the Impact of the Volcker Rule."

Mr. Volcker will discuss his proposed financial reform rules that included restricting commercial banks from proprietary trading, which he called "speculative trading" because it adds an unnecessary layer of risk.

Another keynote speaker at the Forum is Axel Weber, president of Deutsche Bundesbank, the German Central Bank, and a member of European Central Bank Governing Council. Mr. Weber, who will speak on Thursday, will focus on the challenges of euro in his speech titled "Eurozone Challenges and Opportunities: The Central Banker."

The Eurozone's challenges will be analysed further on March 1^st by economist and broadcaster David McWilliams, whose address "Eurozone Challenges and Opportunities: the Economist" will offer a stimulating prediction on what is next for the Eurozone; and in a panel discussion comprising of Christophe Frankel, chief financial officer of European Financial Stability Facility; David McWilliams, and economist and broadcaster, Nicholas Gartside, chief Investment officer of Global Fixed Income and Currency Group at JP Morgan Asset Management; Dan James, head of global markets alpha portfolio development at Aviva Investors; and Raphael Gallardo, head of macroeconomic research at AXA Investment Managers.
One of NBAD 's objectives in organising GFMF is to bring Abu Dhabi's success story to the centre stage. GFMF organisers invited James Hogan, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways , who will speak about "The Role of Etihad in the Development of Abu Dhabi Economy."

The 2012 Global Financial Markets Forum is made possible by sponsorship from some of prominent brands.

The sponsors of the 2012 GFMF are ADS Securities, Al Hilal Bank, Bloomberg, BNY Mellon, Barclays Capital, BARX, EMC Corporation, HSBC, GFI, GHC, Global Banking and Markets, Gulf Petrochem, Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar), ICAP, ITS Group, Lari Exchange, Murex, Rashed Al Makhawi, Saxo Bank, Superderivatives, and Thomson Reuters. Etihad Airways is the Official Airline of 2012 Sponsor. The Media Partners are Al Ittihad newspaper and Oxford Business Group, and CNBC Arabia.

"We are thankful to all the sponsors who have teamed with NBAD to organise the annual Global Financial Markets Forum, which is a great forum for investors, policy-makers and market observes to discuss and debate the economic and financial issues of the year," says Al Aradi. " NBAD is committed to expanding market transparency and information-sharing; in this endevour, we thank all our GFMF partners who are helping us to achieve it, which serves everyone in the marketplace."

Mr. Al Aradi added: "Certainly the annual Global Financial Markets, which was launched in 2009, has established itself as authority platform for discussions and debate on the current and future directions of the global economy as impacted by market factors as well as policies and potentials."

Each year's GFMF is unique and adds on the success of the year before. This year, organisers assemble speakers and panels who will discuss the impact of Euro's challenges and last year's regional political developments.

"This year's conference will address some very important issues, such as the economic outlook for Europe and US and their impact on the global economies. In addition, there will be focused discussion on regional infrastructure financing, debt capital markets as well as coverage on various asset classes such as real estate, commodities, foreign exchange and interest rates," said Sameh Abdulla Al Qubaisi, the General Manager of Institutional and Corporate Coverage Group at NBAD 's Financial Markets Division.

Complete details about the Forum are provided on http://www.gfmf-nbad.com

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About NBAD
The National Bank of Abu Dhabi ( NBAD ), The Number One Bank in UAE, was incorporated in 1968 and is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), under stock code ( NBAD ).

Ranked as one of the top 50 safest banks in the world, NBAD currently operates across 13 countries on four continents.

NBAD has a network of 116 branches and 500 ATMs to provide banking services to customers all over the UAE.

Besides brick & mortar branches, NBAD provides 24 hour internet banking access through NbadOnline and NbadDirect, the SMS-based payment service (Arrow) as well as account access and personalised customer support through its 24-hour Call Centre.

NBAD 's overseas network stretches from Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain in the G.C.C.; Egypt, Libya, and Sudan in Africa; UK, France, and Switzerland in Europe; Hong Kong and Jordan in Asia to Washington, D.C. in the U.S.A. Overall, NBAD has nearly 50 branches and 60 ATMs outside the UAE.

NBAD provides its customers with a wide variety of financial services targeting all segments of the consumer and corporate markets.

NBAD is rated senior long term/short term A+/A-1 by Standard and Poor's, Aa3/P1 by Moodys and AA-/F1+ by Fitch giving it one of the strongest combined rating of any Middle Eastern financial institution.

For further enquires, please contact:
Ehab Khairi
Media & PR Manager
National Bank of Abu Dhabi
Tel: +97126111190
Email: ehab.khairi@nbad.com
Web: www.nbad.com

© Press Release 2012

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