Hedge Funds World Conference

The 2008 ninth annual Hedge Funds World Middle East Conference is to be held at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel from 3-6 March 2008.

A highlight will be the Second Annual Hedge Funds World Middle East Awards Ceremony on 4 March, presented by Man Investments and Terrapinn. The awards recognise excellence and innovation in the Middle East hedge fund industry and promote the asset class in the region. Finalists for the awards are listed below.

Man Investments, one of the world's leading providers of alternative investments, is once again a principal sponsor of the event. The company, which has prospered in the Middle East for more than 20 years, has strongly supported the Hedge Funds World Middle East Conference since the first such event in 1999.

A special highlight at the conference will be the welcome address by Nasser Al Shaali, CEO of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority. The DIFC has established itself as the first international financial centre of the region and the fastest growing in the world. Today it is home to more than 500 companies including many of the world's leading financial firms.

Keynote speakers include industry leaders such as: Sindo Oliveros, director of Pension Plan and Endowments, the World Bank Pension Fund; Ronald A. Rolighed, Managing Director, Harris Alternatives LLC; Ikho Suh, Head of Investment Strategy, Korea Investment Corporation; Christopher Durand, Head of Alternative Investments, Abu Dhabi Investment Company; Dr Mehraj Mattoo, Global Head of Commerzbank Alternative Investment Strategies; Ann Thivierge, MD and Head of Active International Allocation Strategy, Morgan Stanley; and Dr Susgil Wadhwani, CBE, CEO, Wadhwani Asset Management.

Antoine Massad, Chief Executive of Man Investments Middle East Limited who is once again chairing the event said, 'The hedge fund industry has made big advances in the region in recent years, offering investors wider choices and a range of new opportunities.. At this event, we will again recognise this progress and promote it through the Hedge Funds World Middle East Awards.'