BANKING - More Arab banks on way to Turkey

www.hurriyetdailynews.com - Bank Audi, which is set to launch its Turkey unit, may be followed by more Arab banks, says Fattouh, Arab banking union head. Turkey is ‘one of the best places’ for banks to operate as crisis holds on in US and EU, he adds. (source)

FINANCE - Middle Eastern lenders discuss union

'We hope that the outcome of this conference will leave concrete milestones and a timeline for us to integrate the financial systems,' says Faris Sharaf, the Jordanian Central Bank governor.

Turkish Central Bank Gov. Durmuş Yılmaz called on Turkish lenders to invest in the Middle East to grow their businesses, while making a significant contribution to the banking systems of the region’s countries in the meantime.

Speaking on the first day of the “ShamGen Banking” meeting, an event hosted by Turkey’s Central Bank to discuss opportunities among Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, Yılmaz said Turkey paved the way for cooperation for the entire region with its policy of “zero problems with neighbors.” (full story)

EVENTS - CONFERENCES - Enhancing Shamgen banking - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan (March 28-29, 2011)

Venue : Conrad Hotel Istanbul

Languages : simultaneous English, Arab and Turkish

Info : http://www.tkbb.org.tr/download/SHAMGEN2011.pdf

29 March 2011, Tuesday - Conrad Hotel, Ballroom

09:00 - 09:15 Keynote Speech: Islamic Banking prospects for future cooperation

                      Mr. Raed. H. Charafeddine, First Vice-Governor, Banque Du Liban

09:15 –10:15 Fifth Session: Islamic Banking practices in ShamGen countries

                      Chairman: Mr. Osman Akyuz, General Secretary of the Participation Banks Association of Turkey

                      Mr. Mahmoud AbuShamma , CEO International Islamic Liquidity Management

Corporation , Kuala Lampur

                      Dr. Muhammad Halabi, CEO Al Baraka Bank Syria

BANKING - Arab banks urged to expand in Middle East (and importance of Turkey)

BEIRUT: The banking industry could be a vehicle for creating more robust political and economic ties in the region, participants at the Union of Arab Banks conference told The Daily Star Thursday.

The comments came after Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered speeches that kicked off the two-day conference on Arab banks and international economic arenas.