Doha, 01 June 2009 – Qatar National Bank (QNB) will participate as a Diamond Sponsor of the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum, being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Heir Apparent of the State of Qatar, from 1-2 June 2009 at the Sheraton Doha Hotel.
The Qatar Economic Forum 2009 is being organized by the Ministry of Business & Trade and Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group. This event will bring together high-profile participants representing various sections of local and regional government, policymaking bodies, industry and business to discuss topics of growing significance to Qatar's economy. It will also showcase Qatar's leading public and private sector companies and their specific roles in the economy.
During the event, QNB will welcome Qatari and international guests and forum attendees to its pavilion and showcase the various sectors of the Qatari economy in which the Bank is an active participant. Through the distribution of publications such as the Bank's annual report and corporate social responsibility report, as well as the Qatar Economic Review published by QNB Capital, the Bank aims to give participants an overview of the Qatari Economy.
QNB's continuing support of the Qatar Economic Forum, which it is sponsoring for the second consecutive time, is part of the Bank's commitment to events that help shape Qatar’s economic development. QNB Al Islami, the Islamic banking arm of QNB, will also be a Gold Sponsor of the event. Both QNB and QNB Al Islami are active participants in various sectors of Qatar's economy, including infrastructure development initiatives.
Some of the highlights of QNB's activities in 2009 include its appointment as an Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and General Financial Adviser to Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and the launch of the first stage of a US$1.5 billion facility which continues to be one of the largest credit facilities and the first Forward Start Facility executed in the GCC region so far in 2009.
In April 2009 QNB was appointed a Joint Lead Receiving Bank for Vodafone Qatar's IPO and firmly stamped its leadership in providing electronic IPO (eIPO) subscription options to investors looking to invest in companies listing anew on the Doha Securities Market. In addition to traditional channels, QNB offered this service to all QNB and QNB Al Islami customers through a simple online process using QNB's EAZYLife suite of e-channels. The QNB eIPO service also provided the added incentive of IPO Financing inclusive of competitive pricing for registered eIPO customers during the subscription period.
QNB is of one the most prolific arrangers and managers of IPOs in Qatar and the region, having been involved in almost every IPO in the country since the inauguration of the Doha Securities Market (DSM) in 1997.
The Qatar Economic Forum is a major event in Qatar's economic calendar and building on the success of the previous Qatar Economic Forums held in 2006 and 2007, this year's event is of particular significance considering the fast pace of economic growth and development in Qatar. It is also an opportunity to keep track of what is happening in Qatar's dynamic economy, and of the huge investment and business prospects that it offers.