Bahrain to host Mena pensions conference
MANAMA: The third annual Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Pensions Conference will open on Wednesday at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
Organised by Bahrain-based specialist provider of pension, savings and investment solutions Takaud, the event is being held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain.
It will be inaugurated by Supreme Council for Health president Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who is also chairman of the Al Hekma Society for the Retired, and begin with a working paper presented by Egypt’s finance minister and former head of that country’s pension reform programme Dr Mohamed Ahmed Maait.
To date, more than 500 participants from Bahrain, Gulf and Arab countries have registered to attend the conference, with the participation of public pension agencies, global asset management firms, actuarial companies, financial services providers and fintech specialists.
Speaking in the conference will be leaders from specialised institutions, including KPMG Fakhro, Milliman, Ernst & Young, Mercer, Sico, public pension funds from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan, OECD and IFM Investors (Australia’s pension assets management), Central Bank of Bahrain, the Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Market.
The conference is sponsored by a number of prestigious national and international institutions, including Economic Development Board, Tamkeen, the World Bank, the Abu Dhabi Global Market, Robeco, Allianz Global Investors, Intertrust, AON, Aberdeen Standard Investments, TMF Group, International Peace Institute, and UK’s Pension Administration Standards Association (PASA).
Takaud’s chief government business and communications officer Ebrahim K Ebrahim, who is also the conference chairman, said: “This conference is the only event for the pension industry in the Mena region supported by a number of regional and international institutions, reinforcing Bahrain’s attractiveness as a hub for major economic and commercial activities in the region, especially in the financial sector.
“What really makes this event distinguished among global pension conferences is the participation of all actors in the sector, including government funds, international institutions and financial markets. It also links pensions with HR management strategies in terms of employee benefits, performance management, employee engagement, and related technical applications, which is itself a large industry in developed countries; something new and appreciated by the region’s HR leaders.
Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/427697
