15 May 2009

FinanceMalta Gears up for its 2nd Annual Conference

FinanceMalta’s 2nd Annual Conference titled ‘The Financial Services Industry in Malta – Building on Our Success’, will follow up on the main events that have characterized Malta’s financial services industry over the last year, this within the context of the turmoil that has gripped the international financial markets. The full day conference, to be held on the 29th May 2009 at the Hilton Malta, will examine Malta’s place in the world’s financial services industry and highlight the challenges and opportunities being faced by industry practitioners in maintaining the growth momentum registered so far.

Mr Kenneth Farrugia, Chairman of FinanceMalta, said that “this year’s conference will amongst others provide the delegates present for this event with the opportunity to gain first hand information from key domestic and international leading experts on the major issues facing the financial services industry as a result of the current global market and economic climate.”
An impressive line up of keynote presentations both from within and outside the financial services industry will be addressing this conference. The Hon. Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi will be opening the conference following the welcome address that will be delivered by Mr Kenneth Farrugia. Commissioner Catherine Ashton, EU Commissioner for Trade has kindly accepted FinanceMalta’s invitation and will deliver a speech entitled “Trading our way out of the economic crisis”.

Following the mid-morning refreshments, Mr Michael Bonello, Governor of the Central Bank will be analyzing the challenges facing Malta’s banking system whilst Ms. Marianne Wolfbrandt from the Directorate-General on Market and Services within the European Commission will be delivering a presentation on Promoting Competitiveness within the Financial Sector emphasizing, in particular, the role of EU financial services policy in this field.

Mr Richard Ogden, partner at Ernst & Young in the United Kingdom will follow with his presentation on tax policy and its use for providing a stimulus in the current environment and implications for investment. Mr Ogden will then be followed by Mr Hamish McRae author of ‘The World in 2020’ and associate editor of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday in the UK who will be providing an analysis of the main events characterizing the global economy and the implications for the financial services industry.

The third session will be divided into two panels. The first panel will be moderated by Mr Roderick Chalmers, Chairman of the Bank of Valletta plc and will consist of Mr Richard Cottell from HSBC, Dr. Gordon Cordina an economist, Mr. Heikki Niemela from Nemea Bank plc and Mr Joaquim F. Silva Pinto from Banif Bank (Malta) plc. The panel will discuss ways to strengthen the growing economic importance of the financial services industry.

The second panel will be moderated by the High Commissioner of Malta to the UK, H.E. Joseph Zammit Tabona. The panelists, who will be exploring the national challenges and international opportunities that are presented by the current economic environment, are: Mr Mario Micallef, CEO of JM Ganado and Associates, Mr. Kevin Valenzia, Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dr Jean Philippe Chetcuti from Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates and Mrs. Helga Ellul President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

Hon. Mr Tonio Fenech, Minister of Finance, the Economy, and Investment will deliver the closing address to this conference.

The full day conference will provide all delegates present for this event with comprehensive information, the opportunity to participate in the debate sessions and to network with colleagues and peers from within the industry.

This event is of interest to senior executives within the financial services industry, policy makers and regulators in this field. Students are also encouraged to attend at a subsidized fee. Further detail is available on the ebrochure which may be downloaded from the FinanceMalta website: www.financemalta.org

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