BANKING - Turkish delight for UAB

According to the Today's Zaman website Adnan Yousif, chairman of UAB has said that banks from the Gulf are looking for Turkish banks to acquire. Yousif was speaking at the Enhancing Shamgen Banking: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan conference in İstanbul when he indicated that big Arab banks such as Al Rajah Bank, Qatar National Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank were seeking opportunities to become established in Turkey by purchasing a national bank. (full story)

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