The MultaQa Qatar 2012 conference, international insurance industry event, ended successfully today. The conference was held at the Ritz-Carlton Doha from 11 to 13 March. It attracted more than 400 senior global and regional insurance and risk management professionals and industry stakeholders from around the world. Organized by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority ("QFC Authority") and Global Reinsurance, the 2012 conference focused on global and regional insurance and reinsurance market trends in the context of economic and political developments in the Middle East region and the state and prospects of the world economy. The MultaQa 2012 programme offered more than 12 speeches, presentations, panel discussions and case study clinics. Topics included the Middle East's role in Lloyd's of London's international expansion strategy, the outlook for the global reinsurance industry, the part played by the QFC Authority in the development of Qatar's and wider region's insurance industry, strategic issues affecting the GCC insurance and reinsurance markets, the international economic outlook and the increasing Boardroom relevance of insurance regulation. H.E. Yousef Hussain Kamal, Minister of Finance and Economy of the State of Qatar, gave the keynote address. Delegates who made keynote speeches included: Jose Ribeiro, Director - International Markets, Lloyd's of London; Emmanuel Clarke, President and CEO, PartnerRe Global; Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Shaibi, Board Member and Managing Director, QFC Authority; and Dr Robert P. Hartwig, President, Insurance Information Institute. Among other contributors were senior representatives of Qatari companies, Geoffrey Bromley, President AonBenfield International, Dr Thomas Huang, Director General, Insurance Bureau, Financial Supervisory Commission, Taiwan as well as Ellen Bennett, Editor-in-Chief, Global Reinsurance & Insurance Times and Sivam Subramaniam, Editor-in-Chief, Asia Insurance Review and Middle East Insurance Review. Delegates and media had the opportunity to go on organized visits to the Msheireb Enrichment Centre and Qatari Diar to get a better understanding of Qatar's past and future. The Msheireb Enrichment Centre is a landmark destination created by Msheireb Properties as an educational portal to showcase Qatar's glorious past and soaring ambitions for the future. At Qatari Diar delegates attended a presentation of the Qatar Rail project, which highlights the country's economic and social goals. In his keynote address, H.E. Yousef Hussain Kamal described Qatar's progress towards realizing its National Vision 2030. Reaffirming the Government's full support of the QFC Authority's financial centre development strategy, H.E. Yousef Hussain Kamal said, "Qatar is committed to the long-term development of the GCC reinsurance and captive insurance industry and to its emergence as a key part of the global marketplace. This event, I believe, plays an important role in facilitating that development." Shashank Srivastava, Acting CEO the QFC Authority, said: "This conference brought to the fore the increasing importance of the insurance and reinsurance sector to the GCC region's economic development. Looking abroad, the GCC region is also destined to play a bigger role in the expansion strategies of global insurance and reinsurance companies. It offers vibrant economies, deep pools of capital, strengthening links with Emerging Asia and other rapidly growing economies and exceptionally favorable demographics. The QFC Authority has been privileged to participate in the success of the conference." Press Release
