As the UAE prepares for COP28, all eyes are trained on the region as an innovator in the energy transition. We explore:

• The UAE's year of sustainability

• UAE Vision 2031

• How the UAE is positioning itself as a leader in the energy transition

H.E. Raja Al Mazrouei

CEO, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Welcome to MENA 2023, brought to you by TXF, Proximo & Uxolo. Our opening remarks are brought to you by ADEX, building partnerships across the UAE to directly support the exports of national companies.

Khalil Al Mansoori

ADEX Executive Director, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

Middle Eastern countries are increasingly looking to Sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination. Join this workshop to discuss:

• Which funds are looking to Sub-Saharan Africa, and what projects are they interested in?

• How can DFIs help to mobilise Middle Eastern capital into Sub-Saharan Africa?

• How best do we categorise sustainable and social deals in Africa to ensure capital gets to where it's needed?

Jim Winkler

Vice President & Director, Creative Associates International

Chiamaka Ezenwa

Board Chair, Delphos Impact

Rita Ricciardi

Business Advisor, Bergs & More

Layali Abdeen

Head of Middle East and Egypt, MIGA - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

Rahul Chandran

Director, Planet One Group

Farah Lahbib

Credit Manager Group, OCP Group

In the face of considerable challenges, 2022 saw the closing of the landmark Amunet Wind Project Financing. Closing at $522 million with DFI direct lending and ECA wrapping, the transaction paves the way for wind projects across the Middle East & North Africa. This session gathers dealmakers to discuss:

• What unique challenges did dealmakers face in bringing the project to close?
• Technical analyses of the financing
• How will Amunet Wind pave the way for future transactions in the region?

Aqueel Bohra

Chief Investment Officer, AMEA Power

Hiroyuki Nakashima

Director General, New Energy and Power Finance Department, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Khurram Saleem

Executive Director -Project & Export Finance, Standard Chartered

As the banking sector moves away from oil and gas, MENA will be under pressure to generate revenue from cleaner projects. The region still has some way to go yet, so how can banks encourage their clients to become more sustainable? This session will consider:

• How can sustainable projects be better labelled to avoid greenwashing?

• Does the trend towards ESGs increase or decrease the amount of liquidity in the market?
• How can the market help to diversify the Middle East's reliance on oil and gas? What role does nearshoring play in this discussion?
• Will updates to the OECD consensus make sustainable investment easier?

Ali Al Aradi

Superintendent Project Finance, Bahrain Petroleum Company

Muhsin Alrustom

Group Chief Financial Officer, Asyad Group

Zaki Hassan

Senior Finance Director, Crescent Petroleum

Moderator

Rahul Daswani

Group Mangager, Strategy & Programs, Global Treasury & Financial Services, Independent

Capex is returning to the market, and the project pipeline is burgeoning. We gather leading developers and export finance borrowers from across the Middle East to consider:

• What kinds of new projects are borrowers and developers working on?  

• What terms of finance would be most beneficial for borrowers?

• What are borrowers and developers doing to mitigate their own credit risk?

Nader Ragheb

VP & Group Treasurer, Orascom Constructions

As the country sets its sights on Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is attracting the attention of developers, exporters, and lenders alike. This session considers:

• The role of sovereign wealth funds in Saudi's burgeoning project pipeline
• Saudi's needs from the export and project finance markets
• Landmark projects in green hydrogen that will pave the way for new energy across the globe

Torsten Richter

Director, Treasury and Funding, CEER National Automotive Company

David Johnston

Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright

Moderator

Sean Keating

Editor, TXF

As the banking sector moves away from oil and gas, MENA will be under pressure to generate revenue from cleaner projects. The region still has some way to go yet, so how can banks encourage their clients to become more sustainable? This session will consider:

• How can sustainable projects be better labelled to avoid greenwashing?

• Does the trend towards ESGs increase or decrease the amount of liquidity in the market?
• How can the market help to diversify the Middle East's reliance on oil and gas? What role does nearshoring play in this discussion?
• Will updates to the OECD consensus make sustainable investment easier?

Ali Al Aradi

Superintendent Project Finance, Bahrain Petroleum Company

Muhsin Alrustom

Group Chief Financial Officer, Asyad Group

Zaki Hassan

Senior Finance Director, Crescent Petroleum

Moderator

Rahul Daswani

Group Mangager, Strategy & Programs, Global Treasury & Financial Services, Independent

Middle Eastern countries are increasingly looking to Sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination. Join this workshop to discuss:

• Which funds are looking to Sub-Saharan Africa, and what projects are they interested in?

• How can DFIs help to mobilise Middle Eastern capital into Sub-Saharan Africa?

• How best do we categorise sustainable and social deals in Africa to ensure capital gets to where it's needed?

Jim Winkler

Vice President & Director, Creative Associates International

Chiamaka Ezenwa

Board Chair, Delphos Impact

Rita Ricciardi

Business Advisor, Bergs & More

Layali Abdeen

Head of Middle East and Egypt, MIGA - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

Rahul Chandran

Director, Planet One Group

Farah Lahbib

Credit Manager Group, OCP Group

The energy transition will have varying implications across the globe. So, what does this great shift mean for MENA? This panel will consider the technology, risk allocation, and financing structures required for MENA to transition away from fossil fuels.

• What role will hydrogen play in MENA's energy transition, and who will take on the new technology risk?

• Which renewable investments are ECAs stepping into?
• How can ECAs support the energy transition and the investments around it?

Imran Saeed

Head of Treasury & Corporate Finance- Middle East & Africa, Siemens Energy

Rachida Guermazi

Finance Manager , TuNur Ltd

Catherine Dorgnac

Head - Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia, Bpifrance

Cristina Bergomi

SVP, GE Vernova

Moderator

Eid Nagib

Head of Development Structured & Export Finance, Societe Generale

In the last year, we've seen commodities traders start to borrow on the ECA market. This new trend is taking the market by storm, but what do the deals actually look like? This session will consider:

• How to effectively structure untied ECA backed debt for commodities traders
• Which borrowers have capitalised on these deals and what have their experiences been like?
• Will we see more traders borrowing on the ECA market in 2023?

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Suresh Mistry

Head of Non-Banking Distribution, Trafigura Group Pte

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

Moderator

Ralph Ivey

Reporter, Exile Group

MENA's regional ECAs promise to reshape the local economy, with strong institutions in the UAE seeking to bolster local business. This session looks at the role of ECAs in boosting UAE outbound business:

- What's happened in the local ECA space since last year?

- How do the UAE's ECAs compare to other international options?

- How will the UAE's ECAs partner with international ECAs and why will this be important?

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

IVAN PEREA

DIRECTOR, Standard Chartered

Majed Julfar

Director of Trade Credit Insurance and Export financing, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Moderator

Manav Futnani

Global Head of Export Finance, HSBC

MENA is a gateway between the growing economies of Africa, Southeast Asia and the West, providing bountiful opportunities for exporters both into and out of the region. But what do exporters need from the structured finance market to help them succeed? We ask:

• What do exporters need from local and international banking markets to do business in the region?

• What support do exporters need from ECAs? Are existing products cutting the mustard, or do ECAs need to become more innovative?

• What are the main challenges exporters face when seeking financing in the Middle East?

Rushdi Ali

Executive Commercial Finance Director, GE Power

Christian Bockler

Head of Project Finance & Renewables, Jebsen & Jessen Industrial Solutions GmbH

Asim Sufi

Head of Philips Capital, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Philips

Massimo Falcioni

Vice President & Secretary General, Italian Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

ECA collaboration with DFIs is a crucial development across developing markets, notably Egypt and Turkey. This panel will discuss how partnerships between ECAs and DFIs can help mobilise capital into crucial projects:

• What role will blended finance play in the future of developing markets?

• Uncovering the challenges around local content requirements and technological transfer

• The prospect of ECA and DFI cooperation for large scale development projects

Wale Shonibare

Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy & Regulation, African Development Bank (AfDB)

Anita Yadav

Senior Advisor, New Development Bank

Christopher Cantelmi

Principal, Natural Resources & Infrastructure, IFC - World Bank Group

Moderator

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

As the banking sector moves away from oil and gas, MENA will be under pressure to generate revenue from cleaner projects. The region still has some way to go yet, so how can banks encourage their clients to become more sustainable? This session will consider:

• How can sustainable projects be better labelled to avoid greenwashing?

• Does the trend towards ESGs increase or decrease the amount of liquidity in the market?
• How can the market help to diversify the Middle East's reliance on oil and gas? What role does nearshoring play in this discussion?
• Will updates to the OECD consensus make sustainable investment easier?

Ali Al Aradi

Superintendent Project Finance, Bahrain Petroleum Company

Muhsin Alrustom

Group Chief Financial Officer, Asyad Group

Zaki Hassan

Senior Finance Director, Crescent Petroleum

Moderator

Rahul Daswani

Group Mangager, Strategy & Programs, Global Treasury & Financial Services, Independent

MENA is a gateway between the growing economies of Africa, Southeast Asia and the West, providing bountiful opportunities for exporters both into and out of the region. But what do exporters need from the structured finance market to help them succeed? We ask:

• What do exporters need from local and international banking markets to do business in the region?

• What support do exporters need from ECAs? Are existing products cutting the mustard, or do ECAs need to become more innovative?

• What are the main challenges exporters face when seeking financing in the Middle East?

Rushdi Ali

Executive Commercial Finance Director, GE Power

Christian Bockler

Head of Project Finance & Renewables, Jebsen & Jessen Industrial Solutions GmbH

Asim Sufi

Head of Philips Capital, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Philips

Massimo Falcioni

Vice President & Secretary General, Italian Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

As the banking sector moves away from oil and gas, MENA will be under pressure to generate revenue from cleaner projects. The region still has some way to go yet, so how can banks encourage their clients to become more sustainable? This session will consider:

• How can sustainable projects be better labelled to avoid greenwashing?

• Does the trend towards ESGs increase or decrease the amount of liquidity in the market?
• How can the market help to diversify the Middle East's reliance on oil and gas? What role does nearshoring play in this discussion?
• Will updates to the OECD consensus make sustainable investment easier?

Ali Al Aradi

Superintendent Project Finance, Bahrain Petroleum Company

Muhsin Alrustom

Group Chief Financial Officer, Asyad Group

Zaki Hassan

Senior Finance Director, Crescent Petroleum

Moderator

Rahul Daswani

Group Mangager, Strategy & Programs, Global Treasury & Financial Services, Independent

In the contemporary macroeconomic environment countries have become increasingly selective about their financing options. This panel will look at what products and initiatives ECAs are introducing in MENA to help them remain competitive with other sources of finance.

• Sustainable deals closed by our ECAs, as well as those in the pipeline

• Developing projects to help diversify the region's economy

• Tied and untied facilities

• Collaborating with the region's ECAs

Michal Ron

Chief International Business Officer, SACE

Kenny Kitamura

Chief Representative - Middle East, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Eva Steinhaus

Representative of the German ECA in the MENA Region, Pakistan, German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK)

Juan PUYOL

Deputy Director Large Accounts, CESCE Credit Insurance

Moderator

Anne CREPIN

Head of Export Credit, SFIL

MENA's regional ECAs promise to reshape the local economy, with strong institutions in the UAE seeking to bolster local business. This session looks at the role of ECAs in boosting UAE outbound business:

- What's happened in the local ECA space since last year?

- How do the UAE's ECAs compare to other international options?

- How will the UAE's ECAs partner with international ECAs and why will this be important?

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

IVAN PEREA

DIRECTOR, Standard Chartered

Majed Julfar

Director of Trade Credit Insurance and Export financing, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Moderator

Manav Futnani

Global Head of Export Finance, HSBC

In the last year, we've seen commodities traders start to borrow on the ECA market. This new trend is taking the market by storm, but what do the deals actually look like? This session will consider:

• How to effectively structure untied ECA backed debt for commodities traders
• Which borrowers have capitalised on these deals and what have their experiences been like?
• Will we see more traders borrowing on the ECA market in 2023?

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Suresh Mistry

Head of Non-Banking Distribution, Trafigura Group Pte

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

Moderator

Ralph Ivey

Reporter, Exile Group

Closed at $300 million in September 2022, the ECI-backed Zarafshan Wind represents Uzbekistan's first utility-scale wind farm. The 500MW project is a landmark for the region, and this case study gathers dealmakers to consider:

• How will Zarafshan help Uzbekistan meet its goal to derive 25% of its energy needs from renewables by the end of the decade?
• What challenges did dealmakers have to overcome to bring the project to financial close?
• What roles did DFI and ECA coverage play in the transaction?

Zishan Iqbal

Director of MLT and Murabaha Solutions, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Moderator

Jeremy Barker

Counsel, Clifford Chance

The energy transition will have varying implications across the globe. So, what does this great shift mean for MENA? This panel will consider the technology, risk allocation, and financing structures required for MENA to transition away from fossil fuels.

• What role will hydrogen play in MENA's energy transition, and who will take on the new technology risk?

• Which renewable investments are ECAs stepping into?
• How can ECAs support the energy transition and the investments around it?

Imran Saeed

Head of Treasury & Corporate Finance- Middle East & Africa, Siemens Energy

Rachida Guermazi

Finance Manager , TuNur Ltd

Catherine Dorgnac

Head - Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia, Bpifrance

Cristina Bergomi

SVP, GE Vernova

Moderator

Eid Nagib

Head of Development Structured & Export Finance, Societe Generale

In the contemporary macroeconomic environment countries have become increasingly selective about their financing options. This panel will look at what products and initiatives ECAs are introducing in MENA to help them remain competitive with other sources of finance.

• Sustainable deals closed by our ECAs, as well as those in the pipeline

• Developing projects to help diversify the region's economy

• Tied and untied facilities

• Collaborating with the region's ECAs

Michal Ron

Chief International Business Officer, SACE

Kenny Kitamura

Chief Representative - Middle East, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Eva Steinhaus

Representative of the German ECA in the MENA Region, Pakistan, German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK)

Juan PUYOL

Deputy Director Large Accounts, CESCE Credit Insurance

Moderator

Anne CREPIN

Head of Export Credit, SFIL

In the face of considerable challenges, 2022 saw the closing of the landmark Amunet Wind Project Financing. Closing at $522 million with DFI direct lending and ECA wrapping, the transaction paves the way for wind projects across the Middle East & North Africa. This session gathers dealmakers to discuss:

• What unique challenges did dealmakers face in bringing the project to close?
• Technical analyses of the financing
• How will Amunet Wind pave the way for future transactions in the region?

Aqueel Bohra

Chief Investment Officer, AMEA Power

Hiroyuki Nakashima

Director General, New Energy and Power Finance Department, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Khurram Saleem

Executive Director -Project & Export Finance, Standard Chartered

MENA's regional ECAs promise to reshape the local economy, with strong institutions in the UAE seeking to bolster local business. This session looks at the role of ECAs in boosting UAE outbound business:

- What's happened in the local ECA space since last year?

- How do the UAE's ECAs compare to other international options?

- How will the UAE's ECAs partner with international ECAs and why will this be important?

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

IVAN PEREA

DIRECTOR, Standard Chartered

Majed Julfar

Director of Trade Credit Insurance and Export financing, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Moderator

Manav Futnani

Global Head of Export Finance, HSBC

MENA is a gateway between the growing economies of Africa, Southeast Asia and the West, providing bountiful opportunities for exporters both into and out of the region. But what do exporters need from the structured finance market to help them succeed? We ask:

• What do exporters need from local and international banking markets to do business in the region?

• What support do exporters need from ECAs? Are existing products cutting the mustard, or do ECAs need to become more innovative?

• What are the main challenges exporters face when seeking financing in the Middle East?

Rushdi Ali

Executive Commercial Finance Director, GE Power

Christian Bockler

Head of Project Finance & Renewables, Jebsen & Jessen Industrial Solutions GmbH

Asim Sufi

Head of Philips Capital, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Philips

Massimo Falcioni

Vice President & Secretary General, Italian Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

Middle Eastern countries are increasingly looking to Sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination. Join this workshop to discuss:

• Which funds are looking to Sub-Saharan Africa, and what projects are they interested in?

• How can DFIs help to mobilise Middle Eastern capital into Sub-Saharan Africa?

• How best do we categorise sustainable and social deals in Africa to ensure capital gets to where it's needed?

Jim Winkler

Vice President & Director, Creative Associates International

Chiamaka Ezenwa

Board Chair, Delphos Impact

Rita Ricciardi

Business Advisor, Bergs & More

Layali Abdeen

Head of Middle East and Egypt, MIGA - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

Rahul Chandran

Director, Planet One Group

Farah Lahbib

Credit Manager Group, OCP Group

Multilaterals play a key role in MENA’s development. Although it is important that all voices are represented, development does not only occur from the top-down but from the bottom-up. Hear the local DFI perspective:

• What are MENA's DFIs prioritising?

• What trends and opportunities are happening at the grassroots?

• Which MENA countries are experiencing increased investment appetite?

• How can the industry support local and bilateral DFIs?

Fathima Lijiya

EVP, Head of Project & Corporate Finance, Wholesale & Institutional Banking at Emirates Development Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai

Rudolf Putz

Head Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Moderator

Sean Keating

Editor, TXF

Multilaterals play a key role in MENA’s development. Although it is important that all voices are represented, development does not only occur from the top-down but from the bottom-up. Hear the local DFI perspective:

• What are MENA's DFIs prioritising?

• What trends and opportunities are happening at the grassroots?

• Which MENA countries are experiencing increased investment appetite?

• How can the industry support local and bilateral DFIs?

Fathima Lijiya

EVP, Head of Project & Corporate Finance, Wholesale & Institutional Banking at Emirates Development Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai

Rudolf Putz

Head Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Moderator

Sean Keating

Editor, TXF

MENA is a gateway between the growing economies of Africa, Southeast Asia and the West, providing bountiful opportunities for exporters both into and out of the region. But what do exporters need from the structured finance market to help them succeed? We ask:

• What do exporters need from local and international banking markets to do business in the region?

• What support do exporters need from ECAs? Are existing products cutting the mustard, or do ECAs need to become more innovative?

• What are the main challenges exporters face when seeking financing in the Middle East?

Rushdi Ali

Executive Commercial Finance Director, GE Power

Christian Bockler

Head of Project Finance & Renewables, Jebsen & Jessen Industrial Solutions GmbH

Asim Sufi

Head of Philips Capital, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Philips

Massimo Falcioni

Vice President & Secretary General, Italian Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

Following its soft launch in 2022, TXF is delighted to host the first MENA Heads of Export & Project Finance roundtable of 2023 during its flagship Dubai conference. This is a behind-closed-doors session, where leaders in MENA's export & project finance space can debate everything from market performance and the growth of regional ECAs, to new projects and talent acquisition. 

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

Middle Eastern countries are increasingly looking to Sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination. Join this workshop to discuss:

• Which funds are looking to Sub-Saharan Africa, and what projects are they interested in?

• How can DFIs help to mobilise Middle Eastern capital into Sub-Saharan Africa?

• How best do we categorise sustainable and social deals in Africa to ensure capital gets to where it's needed?

Jim Winkler

Vice President & Director, Creative Associates International

Chiamaka Ezenwa

Board Chair, Delphos Impact

Rita Ricciardi

Business Advisor, Bergs & More

Layali Abdeen

Head of Middle East and Egypt, MIGA - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

Rahul Chandran

Director, Planet One Group

Farah Lahbib

Credit Manager Group, OCP Group

Understanding the geopolitical landscape is key to success in any market. We kick off this session with a risk overview of the Middle East, before inviting leaders in trade credit insurance to discuss how they navigate the Middle Eastern market.

• Country by country risk assessment

• How does the trade credit insurance market respond to the Middle Eastern market?

• What cover is available, and what are the key risks that banks look out for when doing business in this region?
• What are banks and corporates looking for from trade credit insurance?

Matthew Burnard

Director, Political and Regulatory Risk, Control Risks, Control Risks

Boris Jaquet

Global Head TF&L Distribution, Deutsche Bank

Matthew Beckett

Executive Director, Head of Insurance Placement, SMBC Bank International plc

Jonathan Bell

Editor-in-chief, TXF

Haitham Al Khazaleh

Director of Risk, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Middle Eastern countries are increasingly looking to Sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination. Join this workshop to discuss:

• Which funds are looking to Sub-Saharan Africa, and what projects are they interested in?

• How can DFIs help to mobilise Middle Eastern capital into Sub-Saharan Africa?

• How best do we categorise sustainable and social deals in Africa to ensure capital gets to where it's needed?

Jim Winkler

Vice President & Director, Creative Associates International

Chiamaka Ezenwa

Board Chair, Delphos Impact

Rita Ricciardi

Business Advisor, Bergs & More

Layali Abdeen

Head of Middle East and Egypt, MIGA - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

Rahul Chandran

Director, Planet One Group

Farah Lahbib

Credit Manager Group, OCP Group

Middle Eastern countries are increasingly looking to Sub-Saharan Africa as an investment destination. Join this workshop to discuss:

• Which funds are looking to Sub-Saharan Africa, and what projects are they interested in?

• How can DFIs help to mobilise Middle Eastern capital into Sub-Saharan Africa?

• How best do we categorise sustainable and social deals in Africa to ensure capital gets to where it's needed?

Jim Winkler

Vice President & Director, Creative Associates International

Chiamaka Ezenwa

Board Chair, Delphos Impact

Rita Ricciardi

Business Advisor, Bergs & More

Layali Abdeen

Head of Middle East and Egypt, MIGA - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

Rahul Chandran

Director, Planet One Group

Farah Lahbib

Credit Manager Group, OCP Group

Understanding the geopolitical landscape is key to success in any market. We kick off this session with a risk overview of the Middle East, before inviting leaders in trade credit insurance to discuss how they navigate the Middle Eastern market.

• Country by country risk assessment

• How does the trade credit insurance market respond to the Middle Eastern market?

• What cover is available, and what are the key risks that banks look out for when doing business in this region?
• What are banks and corporates looking for from trade credit insurance?

Matthew Burnard

Director, Political and Regulatory Risk, Control Risks, Control Risks

Boris Jaquet

Global Head TF&L Distribution, Deutsche Bank

Matthew Beckett

Executive Director, Head of Insurance Placement, SMBC Bank International plc

Jonathan Bell

Editor-in-chief, TXF

Haitham Al Khazaleh

Director of Risk, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Drumroll please... it's time to recognise the leading transactions in the Middle East across export, project, and development finance in 2022!

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Jonathan Bell

Editor-in-chief, TXF

Welcome to the second day of MENA 2023, brought to you by TXF, Proximo & Uxolo. Today's sessions will also spotlight the insurance market

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Thank you for joining us at this year’s MENA event!

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Following its soft launch in 2022, TXF is delighted to host the first MENA Heads of Export & Project Finance roundtable of 2023 during its flagship Dubai conference. This is a behind-closed-doors session, where leaders in MENA's export & project finance space can debate everything from market performance and the growth of regional ECAs, to new projects and talent acquisition. 

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

In the last year, we've seen commodities traders start to borrow on the ECA market. This new trend is taking the market by storm, but what do the deals actually look like? This session will consider:

• How to effectively structure untied ECA backed debt for commodities traders
• Which borrowers have capitalised on these deals and what have their experiences been like?
• Will we see more traders borrowing on the ECA market in 2023?

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Suresh Mistry

Head of Non-Banking Distribution, Trafigura Group Pte

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

Moderator

Ralph Ivey

Reporter, Exile Group

Following its soft launch in 2022, TXF is delighted to host the first MENA Heads of Export & Project Finance roundtable of 2023 during its flagship Dubai conference. This is a behind-closed-doors session, where leaders in MENA's export & project finance space can debate everything from market performance and the growth of regional ECAs, to new projects and talent acquisition. 

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

The energy transition will have varying implications across the globe. So, what does this great shift mean for MENA? This panel will consider the technology, risk allocation, and financing structures required for MENA to transition away from fossil fuels.

• What role will hydrogen play in MENA's energy transition, and who will take on the new technology risk?

• Which renewable investments are ECAs stepping into?
• How can ECAs support the energy transition and the investments around it?

Imran Saeed

Head of Treasury & Corporate Finance- Middle East & Africa, Siemens Energy

Rachida Guermazi

Finance Manager , TuNur Ltd

Catherine Dorgnac

Head - Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia, Bpifrance

Cristina Bergomi

SVP, GE Vernova

Moderator

Eid Nagib

Head of Development Structured & Export Finance, Societe Generale

MENA's regional ECAs promise to reshape the local economy, with strong institutions in the UAE seeking to bolster local business. This session looks at the role of ECAs in boosting UAE outbound business:

- What's happened in the local ECA space since last year?

- How do the UAE's ECAs compare to other international options?

- How will the UAE's ECAs partner with international ECAs and why will this be important?

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

IVAN PEREA

DIRECTOR, Standard Chartered

Majed Julfar

Director of Trade Credit Insurance and Export financing, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Moderator

Manav Futnani

Global Head of Export Finance, HSBC

The energy transition will have varying implications across the globe. So, what does this great shift mean for MENA? This panel will consider the technology, risk allocation, and financing structures required for MENA to transition away from fossil fuels.

• What role will hydrogen play in MENA's energy transition, and who will take on the new technology risk?

• Which renewable investments are ECAs stepping into?
• How can ECAs support the energy transition and the investments around it?

Imran Saeed

Head of Treasury & Corporate Finance- Middle East & Africa, Siemens Energy

Rachida Guermazi

Finance Manager , TuNur Ltd

Catherine Dorgnac

Head - Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia, Bpifrance

Cristina Bergomi

SVP, GE Vernova

Moderator

Eid Nagib

Head of Development Structured & Export Finance, Societe Generale

Understanding the geopolitical landscape is key to success in any market. We kick off this session with a risk overview of the Middle East, before inviting leaders in trade credit insurance to discuss how they navigate the Middle Eastern market.

• Country by country risk assessment

• How does the trade credit insurance market respond to the Middle Eastern market?

• What cover is available, and what are the key risks that banks look out for when doing business in this region?
• What are banks and corporates looking for from trade credit insurance?

Matthew Burnard

Director, Political and Regulatory Risk, Control Risks, Control Risks

Boris Jaquet

Global Head TF&L Distribution, Deutsche Bank

Matthew Beckett

Executive Director, Head of Insurance Placement, SMBC Bank International plc

Jonathan Bell

Editor-in-chief, TXF

Haitham Al Khazaleh

Director of Risk, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

ECA collaboration with DFIs is a crucial development across developing markets, notably Egypt and Turkey. This panel will discuss how partnerships between ECAs and DFIs can help mobilise capital into crucial projects:

• What role will blended finance play in the future of developing markets?

• Uncovering the challenges around local content requirements and technological transfer

• The prospect of ECA and DFI cooperation for large scale development projects

Wale Shonibare

Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy & Regulation, African Development Bank (AfDB)

Anita Yadav

Senior Advisor, New Development Bank

Christopher Cantelmi

Principal, Natural Resources & Infrastructure, IFC - World Bank Group

Moderator

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

Following its soft launch in 2022, TXF is delighted to host the first MENA Heads of Export & Project Finance roundtable of 2023 during its flagship Dubai conference. This is a behind-closed-doors session, where leaders in MENA's export & project finance space can debate everything from market performance and the growth of regional ECAs, to new projects and talent acquisition. 

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

MENA is a gateway between the growing economies of Africa, Southeast Asia and the West, providing bountiful opportunities for exporters both into and out of the region. But what do exporters need from the structured finance market to help them succeed? We ask:

• What do exporters need from local and international banking markets to do business in the region?

• What support do exporters need from ECAs? Are existing products cutting the mustard, or do ECAs need to become more innovative?

• What are the main challenges exporters face when seeking financing in the Middle East?

Rushdi Ali

Executive Commercial Finance Director, GE Power

Christian Bockler

Head of Project Finance & Renewables, Jebsen & Jessen Industrial Solutions GmbH

Asim Sufi

Head of Philips Capital, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Philips

Massimo Falcioni

Vice President & Secretary General, Italian Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates

Moderator

Maninder Bhandari

Director, Derby Group

In the contemporary macroeconomic environment countries have become increasingly selective about their financing options. This panel will look at what products and initiatives ECAs are introducing in MENA to help them remain competitive with other sources of finance.

• Sustainable deals closed by our ECAs, as well as those in the pipeline

• Developing projects to help diversify the region's economy

• Tied and untied facilities

• Collaborating with the region's ECAs

Michal Ron

Chief International Business Officer, SACE

Kenny Kitamura

Chief Representative - Middle East, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Eva Steinhaus

Representative of the German ECA in the MENA Region, Pakistan, German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK)

Juan PUYOL

Deputy Director Large Accounts, CESCE Credit Insurance

Moderator

Anne CREPIN

Head of Export Credit, SFIL

In the contemporary macroeconomic environment countries have become increasingly selective about their financing options. This panel will look at what products and initiatives ECAs are introducing in MENA to help them remain competitive with other sources of finance.

• Sustainable deals closed by our ECAs, as well as those in the pipeline

• Developing projects to help diversify the region's economy

• Tied and untied facilities

• Collaborating with the region's ECAs

Michal Ron

Chief International Business Officer, SACE

Kenny Kitamura

Chief Representative - Middle East, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Eva Steinhaus

Representative of the German ECA in the MENA Region, Pakistan, German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK)

Juan PUYOL

Deputy Director Large Accounts, CESCE Credit Insurance

Moderator

Anne CREPIN

Head of Export Credit, SFIL

Drumroll please... it's time to recognise the leading transactions in the Middle East across export, project, and development finance in 2022!

Hesham Zakai

Managing Director, Exile Group

Jonathan Bell

Editor-in-chief, TXF

Understanding the geopolitical landscape is key to success in any market. We kick off this session with a risk overview of the Middle East, before inviting leaders in trade credit insurance to discuss how they navigate the Middle Eastern market.

• Country by country risk assessment

• How does the trade credit insurance market respond to the Middle Eastern market?

• What cover is available, and what are the key risks that banks look out for when doing business in this region?
• What are banks and corporates looking for from trade credit insurance?

Matthew Burnard

Director, Political and Regulatory Risk, Control Risks, Control Risks

Boris Jaquet

Global Head TF&L Distribution, Deutsche Bank

Matthew Beckett

Executive Director, Head of Insurance Placement, SMBC Bank International plc

Jonathan Bell

Editor-in-chief, TXF

Haitham Al Khazaleh

Director of Risk, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

In the last year, we've seen commodities traders start to borrow on the ECA market. This new trend is taking the market by storm, but what do the deals actually look like? This session will consider:

• How to effectively structure untied ECA backed debt for commodities traders
• Which borrowers have capitalised on these deals and what have their experiences been like?
• Will we see more traders borrowing on the ECA market in 2023?

Mathilde Cottard

Executive Director, SMBC

Suresh Mistry

Head of Non-Banking Distribution, Trafigura Group Pte

Natasha Saleh

Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX)

Moderator

Ralph Ivey

Reporter, Exile Group

In this interactive session, guests will vote on some of the most pressing topics facing the market today. We compare your answers to our market leading intelligence!

Dominik Kloiber

Co-Founder, Exile Group

The energy transition will have varying implications across the globe. So, what does this great shift mean for MENA? This panel will consider the technology, risk allocation, and financing structures required for MENA to transition away from fossil fuels.

• What role will hydrogen play in MENA's energy transition, and who will take on the new technology risk?

• Which renewable investments are ECAs stepping into?
• How can ECAs support the energy transition and the investments around it?

Imran Saeed

Head of Treasury & Corporate Finance- Middle East & Africa, Siemens Energy

Rachida Guermazi

Finance Manager , TuNur Ltd

Catherine Dorgnac

Head - Middle East, Turkey & Central Asia, Bpifrance

Cristina Bergomi

SVP, GE Vernova

Moderator

Eid Nagib

Head of Development Structured & Export Finance, Societe Generale

In the contemporary macroeconomic environment countries have become increasingly selective about their financing options. This panel will look at what products and initiatives ECAs are introducing in MENA to help them remain competitive with other sources of finance.

• Sustainable deals closed by our ECAs, as well as those in the pipeline

• Developing projects to help diversify the region's economy

• Tied and untied facilities

• Collaborating with the region's ECAs

Michal Ron

Chief International Business Officer, SACE

Kenny Kitamura

Chief Representative - Middle East, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Eva Steinhaus

Representative of the German ECA in the MENA Region, Pakistan, German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK)

Juan PUYOL

Deputy Director Large Accounts, CESCE Credit Insurance

Moderator

Anne CREPIN

Head of Export Credit, SFIL

In the face of considerable challenges, 2022 saw the closing of the landmark Amunet Wind Project Financing. Closing at $522 million with DFI direct lending and ECA wrapping, the transaction paves the way for wind projects across the Middle East & North Africa. This session gathers dealmakers to discuss:

• What unique challenges did dealmakers face in bringing the project to close?
• Technical analyses of the financing
• How will Amunet Wind pave the way for future transactions in the region?

Aqueel Bohra

Chief Investment Officer, AMEA Power

Hiroyuki Nakashima

Director General, New Energy and Power Finance Department, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Khurram Saleem

Executive Director -Project & Export Finance, Standard Chartered

As the country sets its sights on Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is attracting the attention of developers, exporters, and lenders alike. This session considers:

• The role of sovereign wealth funds in Saudi's burgeoning project pipeline
• Saudi's needs from the export and project finance markets
• Landmark projects in green hydrogen that will pave the way for new energy across the globe

Torsten Richter

Director, Treasury and Funding, CEER National Automotive Company

David Johnston

Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright

Moderator

Sean Keating

Editor, TXF

Multilaterals play a key role in MENA’s development. Although it is important that all voices are represented, development does not only occur from the top-down but from the bottom-up. Hear the local DFI perspective:

• What are MENA's DFIs prioritising?

• What trends and opportunities are happening at the grassroots?

• Which MENA countries are experiencing increased investment appetite?

• How can the industry support local and bilateral DFIs?

Fathima Lijiya

EVP, Head of Project & Corporate Finance, Wholesale & Institutional Banking at Emirates Development Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai

Rudolf Putz

Head Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Moderator

Sean Keating

Editor, TXF

As the country sets its sights on Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is attracting the attention of developers, exporters, and lenders alike. This session considers:

• The role of sovereign wealth funds in Saudi's burgeoning project pipeline
• Saudi's needs from the export and project finance markets
• Landmark projects in green hydrogen that will pave the way for new energy across the globe

Torsten Richter

Director, Treasury and Funding, CEER National Automotive Company

David Johnston

Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright

Moderator

Sean Keating

Editor, TXF

ECA collaboration with DFIs is a crucial development across developing markets, notably Egypt and Turkey. This panel will discuss how partnerships between ECAs and DFIs can help mobilise capital into crucial projects:

• What role will blended finance play in the future of developing markets?

• Uncovering the challenges around local content requirements and technological transfer

• The prospect of ECA and DFI cooperation for large scale development projects

Wale Shonibare

Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy & Regulation, African Development Bank (AfDB)

Anita Yadav

Senior Advisor, New Development Bank

Christopher Cantelmi

Principal, Natural Resources & Infrastructure, IFC - World Bank Group

Moderator

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

Understanding the geopolitical landscape is key to success in any market. We kick off this session with a risk overview of the Middle East, before inviting leaders in trade credit insurance to discuss how they navigate the Middle Eastern market.

• Country by country risk assessment

• How does the trade credit insurance market respond to the Middle Eastern market?

• What cover is available, and what are the key risks that banks look out for when doing business in this region?
• What are banks and corporates looking for from trade credit insurance?

Matthew Burnard

Director, Political and Regulatory Risk, Control Risks, Control Risks

Boris Jaquet

Global Head TF&L Distribution, Deutsche Bank

Matthew Beckett

Executive Director, Head of Insurance Placement, SMBC Bank International plc

Jonathan Bell

Editor-in-chief, TXF

Haitham Al Khazaleh

Director of Risk, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

ECA collaboration with DFIs is a crucial development across developing markets, notably Egypt and Turkey. This panel will discuss how partnerships between ECAs and DFIs can help mobilise capital into crucial projects:

• What role will blended finance play in the future of developing markets?

• Uncovering the challenges around local content requirements and technological transfer

• The prospect of ECA and DFI cooperation for large scale development projects

Wale Shonibare

Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy & Regulation, African Development Bank (AfDB)

Anita Yadav

Senior Advisor, New Development Bank

Christopher Cantelmi

Principal, Natural Resources & Infrastructure, IFC - World Bank Group

Moderator

Alarik D'Ornhjelm

Director - Head of STEF MEA, Deutsche Bank

Closed at $300 million in September 2022, the ECI-backed Zarafshan Wind represents Uzbekistan's first utility-scale wind farm. The 500MW project is a landmark for the region, and this case study gathers dealmakers to consider:

• How will Zarafshan help Uzbekistan meet its goal to derive 25% of its energy needs from renewables by the end of the decade?
• What challenges did dealmakers have to overcome to bring the project to financial close?
• What roles did DFI and ECA coverage play in the transaction?

Zishan Iqbal

Director of MLT and Murabaha Solutions, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI)

Moderator

Jeremy Barker

Counsel, Clifford Chance