MEIF 2017 announces key speaker

Manama, Feb. 11 (BNA): The 13th Annual Middle East Insurance Forum (MEIF 2017), the region’s largest and longest running industry event,today announced that Mr. Mark Cooper, General Representative Middle East and Director of Lloyd’s Limited, will be the keynote speaker at the flagship forum being held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain on the 20th and 21st February 2017. Mr. Cooper will address participants on“Current Challenges and their Implications on the Regional Insurance Industry - The Road Ahead", the theme for this year’s event.He will draw on more than 20 years of experience in the international insurance industry including 14 years in the GCC and wider Levant insurance markets. This includes senior roles such as Director of Insurance, Reinsurance and Captives at the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, Head of Commercial Markets for the Middle East & Levant at Zurich Insurance and Chief Executive Officer for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at RSA Insurance Group. Kicking off the forum, Mr. Cooper will provide expert opinion and analysis on obstacles and opportunities for the regional insurance markets and set the stage for two days of discussions covering a range of topics including:  - Industry consolidation through mergers and acquisitions  - The role of insurance companies in current Health Services reforms  - Financial technology development in the insurance industry  - Challenges facing the Takaful industry  - The implication of the introduction of VAT in the regional markets Commenting on the event, Mr. Cooper said: “Lloyd’s are delighted to be attending the Middle East Insurance Forum which remains one of the key highlights of the GCC insurance event calendar. The region continues to grow in importance, and it is essential that as a market we continue to face the challenges that come with this growth and remain as efficient and as effective to our customer’s as possible.” MEIF 2017 is once again expected to attract participation from more than 400 global and regional Insurance and Takaful leaders and experts. This includes high level dignitaries, central bank representatives, economists, thought leaders, researchers and academics. Other highlights of the event will be a ceremony honouring the“Best Insurance Company in the MENA Region”. In partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain, the forum will recognize extraordinary achievements in the industry by awarding the prestigious prize to the most outstanding regional insurer for the past year. Nominations are now open to all insurance players servicing the GCC, MENA and Levant regions and with minimum banking assets of USD15 million. Submissions will be accepted until 5 February 2017. MEIF 2017 is being held with the support and cooperation of industry leaders. This includes Braxtone Insurance Management as Lead Sponsor, Silver Sponsor as Solidarity and Bronze Sponsors Ta’zur, SNIC and GIG. Also supporting the development of the event through knowledge sharing and technical cooperation is The Bahrain Insurance Association (BIA), the industry body in the Kingdom tasked with helping to promote the growth and development of the local and regional insurance industry and an advocate on behalf of local insurers. To find out more about how to nominate your company for the MIEF Award or how to register or sponsor, please visit www.meifbahrain.com or contact FinMark Communications on meif@finmarkcoms.com or +973 17749759.