Arab Microfinance Investment symposium kicks off in Dubai DUBAI - The First Arab Microfinance Investment Symposium, which is held under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, chairperson of the International Humanitarian City, is expected to attract more than 100 investors, leading financial experts and representatives from investment-ready Arab microfinance institutions (MFIs) to discuss how this industry can provide a new class of investment vehicles, which are uncorrelated to market trends, while improving living conditions of poor communities in the region. The symposium is co-hosted by Grameen-Jameel, the first social business in the Arab World, which was established as a joint venture between Grameen Foundation and Abdul Latif Jameel Group of Saudi Arabia, and Blue Orchard, a Geneva-based microfinance investment manager. It aims at highlighting the opportunities and challenges both from the investors' perspective and from that of the institutions lending to Arab micro-entrepreneurs in poor communities. High profile delegates, including representatives from the UAE Ministry of Economy, the UAE Central Bank, Arab Family Offices and institutional investors, will attend the Symposium. The top investment-ready MFIs from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia and Pakistan will be showcased at the event which is sponsored by Aramex and the International Finance Corporation. – SG SAP unveils Future Public Security Center DUBAI - SAP AG on Wednesday announced the launch of a new public security research lab in Darmstadt, Germany. The Future Public Security Center will provide public security agencies in the areas of law enforcement, first response, civil protection, justice, intelligence and border protection with the opportunity to preview, collaborate on and influence the course of SAP public security research projects. The Future Public Security Center is based on the “living lab” concept, which promotes an open innovation process by engaging all relevant stakeholders, especially end-users, in the research process for new products and services. In recent months, SAP has launched two other living labs, focusing on manufacturing and retail respectively: a Future Factory in Dresden, Germany and a Future Retail Center in Regensdorf, Switzerland. Public security organizations across the globe are already running SAP software, including law enforcement organizations in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US, as well as many other European countries. In addition, SAP sees a growing client base in other public security agencies-justice and offender, civil protection, border and immigration, intelligence. “Keeping abreast of public security is an extremely complex mission today,” said Henning Kagermann, co-CEO of SAP AG. “The smooth cooperation of law enforcement, firefighter and emergency response organizations requires the use of innovative solutions leveraging modern information technology.” – SG AT&T expands presence in Middle East and Africa NEW YORK - US Communications holding company AT&T (announced on Wednesday that the company has expanded its business and operations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. The company has appointed Kevin Maher as regional vice president of Middle East & Africa of the company. Maher, who will be based in Dubai, UAE, will serve AT&T's global business customers in the region. He will be responsible for the strategic direction and tactical management of the global resources serving AT&T's business customers in the region. Maher most recently was a sales centre vice president supporting AT&T's global customers with networking requirements in the United States. He has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry with AT&T, ITT, Western Union and Global One.
