13 February 2008
The 4th edition of Middle East Financial Technology Exhibition and Conference (Meftec), a yearly event targeting IT vendors, consultants and services, concluded yesterday with a record visitors of 1000 over the two days.
Paul Stott, Managing Director, Media Generation Group-the organisers of the event, said that this year's event was a record breaking one in terms of visitors and participating companies and exhibitors.
He said: "We have seen a 25 per cent growth in 2007 over the previous and this trend will continue in 2009 and beyond. From the quality perspective, Meftec 2008 was one of the largest events ever held in the Middle East region."
MEFTEC 2008 is considered one of the largest banking and financial technology events outside Europe and US, which was attended by more than 150 financial technology companies from 40 countries.
Meftec 2008, a 25 per cent larger than last year's event, was attended by more than 1000 delegates from 27 countries from GCC, Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Europe. More than 200 delegates from Bahrain attended this show.
The technology expo was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre under the aegis of the Central Bank of Bahrain. It offered a rare opportunity to the bankers and policy makers in the financial sector to discuss the issues related to the security and technology deployment at the banks and financial institutions across the region.
The organisers say that over 350 senior bank executives and policymakers from around the world attended the annual technology event in Bahrain where multi-billion dollar IT and IT-related companies and vendors showcased their specialised banking and financial industry-related products and services.
Banks in the Gulf represent the largest single vertical in terms of overall IT investments. This reflects the strong growth being witnessed in the financial services sector, which is expected to grow by 12-15 per cent per annum. As a result, IT investments and spending by the financial services industry was a record $1.8 billion in 2007.
Paul added: "Meftec has become the world's premier financial technology event, with a specific focus on the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and increasing participation from other high-growth international markets."
He added: "Being the technology related event, we have introduced a latest gadget for networking for the participating delegates. The device was used first time in the Middle East by any organizer giving a new touch to the event. The experiment of using the devices was very successful and we look forward to using even better technology for next year's Meftec. We are certain about the Meftec 2009 but the date will be decided at a later stage."
The 4th edition of Middle East Financial Technology Exhibition and Conference (Meftec), a yearly event targeting IT vendors, consultants and services, concluded yesterday with a record visitors of 1000 over the two days.
Paul Stott, Managing Director, Media Generation Group-the organisers of the event, said that this year's event was a record breaking one in terms of visitors and participating companies and exhibitors.
He said: "We have seen a 25 per cent growth in 2007 over the previous and this trend will continue in 2009 and beyond. From the quality perspective, Meftec 2008 was one of the largest events ever held in the Middle East region."
MEFTEC 2008 is considered one of the largest banking and financial technology events outside Europe and US, which was attended by more than 150 financial technology companies from 40 countries.
Meftec 2008, a 25 per cent larger than last year's event, was attended by more than 1000 delegates from 27 countries from GCC, Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Europe. More than 200 delegates from Bahrain attended this show.
The technology expo was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre under the aegis of the Central Bank of Bahrain. It offered a rare opportunity to the bankers and policy makers in the financial sector to discuss the issues related to the security and technology deployment at the banks and financial institutions across the region.
The organisers say that over 350 senior bank executives and policymakers from around the world attended the annual technology event in Bahrain where multi-billion dollar IT and IT-related companies and vendors showcased their specialised banking and financial industry-related products and services.
Banks in the Gulf represent the largest single vertical in terms of overall IT investments. This reflects the strong growth being witnessed in the financial services sector, which is expected to grow by 12-15 per cent per annum. As a result, IT investments and spending by the financial services industry was a record $1.8 billion in 2007.
Paul added: "Meftec has become the world's premier financial technology event, with a specific focus on the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and increasing participation from other high-growth international markets."
He added: "Being the technology related event, we have introduced a latest gadget for networking for the participating delegates. The device was used first time in the Middle East by any organizer giving a new touch to the event. The experiment of using the devices was very successful and we look forward to using even better technology for next year's Meftec. We are certain about the Meftec 2009 but the date will be decided at a later stage."
By Mahmood Rafique Business Correspondent
© Bahrain Tribune 2008
