Boursa Kuwait hosts 3rd Investor Relations workshop in collaboration with MEIRA

May 8 2018: Building on the outcomes of its series of workshops in collaboration with the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA), Boursa Kuwait hosted its third Investor Relations (IR) workshop, aimed at raising awareness and knowledge of the key role of Investor Relations from the buy-side analyst’s perspective. The workshop took place at Boursa Kuwait’s AlKharafi Hall on Monday, May 7, 2018.

Titled ‘Investor Relations: The Buy-Side View’, the workshop started with a presentation from Mr. Ahmed AlKiswani, Executive Director – Risk, Compliance and Corporate Governance at Boursa Kuwait followed by a brief  presentation from Ms. Clemence Piot, General Manager at the Middle East Investor Relations Association on MEIRA upcoming activities.

The workshop then welcomed three representatives of NBK Capital:  Dr. Husayn Shahrur, Managing Director – MENA Asset Management,  Mr. Fahad AlYaseen, Manager – MENA Asset Management and Ms. Eithar Al Rushaid, Portfolio Analyst – MENA Asset Management who shared their views on buy-side analysis and its relationship  with the IR professionals during a panel discussion moderated by Mrs. Dalal Al-Dousari, Assistant General Manager – Investor Relations at Gulf Bank.

The NBK Capital executives gave three separate presentations with NBK Capital Managing Director of MENA Asset Management Dr. Husayn Shahrur highlighting the importance of transparency and visibility to national interests. “I am pleased to be a part of this workshop, which highlighted the buy-side analyst’s view of Investor Relations. Ensuring transparency and visibility reduces market risk, improves the business environment and increases the flow of foreign investment,” Dr. Shahrur said.

The series of workshops conducted with MEIRA have been extremely beneficial and integral to understanding the key role of Investor Relations. After last November’s presentation  of sell-side analysis, on this occasion the buy-side examined how to build a less adversarial, more cooperative relationship between buy- side and the IR officers in Kuwait.

“This third IR workshop delivered by the MEIRA Kuwait Chapter in collaboration with Boursa Kuwait responses to an increased demand from the local market professionals to understand how the IR function can add an actual value to the listed companies. MEIRA is delighted to continue supporting Boursa Kuwait’s efforts to increase the sophistication of the financial markets in the country and encourage their listed companies to comply with international best practice in IR”, added Clemence Piot, General Manager, MEIRA.

Zain Group Chief Communications Officer and Chairman of MEIRA Kuwait, Mohammad Abdal said: “MEIRA Kuwait’s mission is to raise awareness of the important role that investor relations plays in helping listed companies effectively communicate with their stakeholders as well as keeping them abreast with the latest rules and regulations imposed by the various government authorities.”

Abdal continued, “Our collaboration with Boursa Kuwait is mutually beneficial, with all workshops conducted to date proving extremely valuable. We are looking forward to driving and supporting more initiatives to continue improving IR best practice standards in Kuwait for the benefit of all our stakeholders and creating an environment conducive to increasing liquidity and attracting new listings.”