Manama,  Bahrain:  The Arab Pensions Conference 2021, to be hosted virtually in Bahrain on the 16th and 17th November, will feature nearly 30 global and regional speakers, covering all aspects of the pensions industry, from social policy and demographics to social safety net and social protection, and from family financial resilience during crises and enhancing pension coverage to investment returns and fintech possibilities in the space of retirement planning and savings.

The annual conference discusses topics and issues related to pension and social security systems, including their design, benefits, reforms, sustainability, population coverage, investment management, and technology (digitalization). Held under the patronage H.E. Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of Bahrain’s Supreme Council of Health, and Chairman of Al-Hekma Retired Society, this year’s event addresses the grand theme of “What should MENA Pension Systems look like for the next 50 years?”

After the opening speech of the conference patron, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance of the Arab Republic of Egypt, who has been involved for many years with the pension sector in Egypt, will share his perspective and expectations of future developments that are likely to take place in the pension sector across the Arab world.

Using this MENA event, the World Bank will be announcing key findings and recommendations from the to-be-released-soon “The Future of Jobs & Social Protection in MENA Report 2021” turning the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity for reform. This is a new and key regional report that’s so relevant to topic and audience of this conference.

Additionally, the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index, now in its 13th year, benchmarks 39 retirement income systems (including both Saudi Arabia and UAE) using more than 50 indicators. The index has expanded to cover almost two-thirds of the world's population. The key highlights of the Mercer Index for 2021, especially as related to the Arab countries, will be presented at the Arab Pensions Conference.

Furthermore, Fintech operators will reflect on how digitalization and Pension-Tech could penetrate MENA’s retirement planning and pension savings, by supporting reforms and innovation in this space. This session will be led by “Smart Middle East” a pension-tech business, that’s a platinum sponsor of the conference, and is also joined by Cacoa Investments, Fintech Robos for Savings & Pensions Apps and StashAway.

“The event will feature a discussion of MENA demographics and longevity risk associated with pension systems, and this is a vital and significant topic that we’re bringing to the Arab world for the first time,” said Ebrahim K Ebrahim, Chairman of the Arab Pensions Conference.

Other speakers participating in this event include Social Security Investment Fund of Jordan, SSGA, AON Blackrock, World Bank, International Peace Institute, OECD, Bahrain EDB, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Amundi, Moroccan Foundation for Financial Education, Sabeen Investment, Cacoa Invest, Bahrain Economists Society, Mercer, Menarah Network for Ageing Research, UK’s National Employment Savings Trust “NEST”, BIBF, Skybridge Capital, StashAway, and the Bardot Group.

Organised by Fintech Robos, the event is expected to attract 400 delegates. Free registration is available at: https://fintechrobos.com/ArabPensionsCon2021

Mr. Ebrahim added that what really makes this event important among global pension conferences is the participation of all key actors in the sector, including pension funds, international economic institutions, asset managers and the financial industry. It also links pensions with HR management in terms of employee benefits, employee engagement, and related technology applications, which itself is a large industry in developed markets.

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