Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/811845
42 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 2017 Business PKF throws spotlight on asset management in Dubai GEORGE M. MANGION PKF Malta will be hosting an In- vestment Information Session at the Ritz Carlton, Dubai, in a bid to create a platform encouraging in- telligent dialogue and exploration of foreign direct investment op- portunity in Malta, but not only. With the participation of both Maltese and foreign speakers, the event will include two panel discussions, one on asset and wealth management and another on real estate and citizenship by investment. The latter will cover Malta's European passport versus the Schengen approved ones of St Kitts & Nevis in the Caribbean. Presentations are also scheduled to be delivered on Sharia Con- tracts and Arbitration, as well as the newest products on offer from our Malta Stock Exchange, amongst others TBC at the time of writing. The target audience is expats based in the UAE with an interest in investing in the various seg- ments identified, thereby gearing all efforts towards raising Malta's profile amongst investors in the UAE while at the same time wel- coming the benefits of competi- tion and healthy debate and expe- rience- exchange. PKF have been frequenting Dubai/Abu Dhabi for the last four years, which has enabled us to be immersed in the very hospitable and luxury centric Emirate cul- ture, to come and go as passive on-lookers attending various con- ferences and delegations, for the major part taking notes along the way. Having organised/co-organ- ised several over-seas conferences and forums over the years, this year it was decided to add Dubai to the list. We are honoured to have re- ceived an overwhelming wave of support and encouragement from both the local sphere as well as our Dubai-based colleagues. The event will include the participa- tion of the Minister for the Econ- omy, Investment and Small Busi- ness, Dr Christian Cardona B.A., LL.D., LL.M., M.P as well as the Malta Stock Exchange, Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Ltd, Finance Malta and Medina As- set Management, amongst others TBC at the time of writing. Our partners in Dubai comprise rep- resentatives and clients of our two PKF Dubai offices, Range Devel- opments and Euro Legal Consult- ants FZE amongst others TBC at the time of writing. PARTICIPANTS JEAN P GAFFIERO Representing Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Ltd, Gaffiero is a fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants an affiliate of the Market Technicians Association and one of Jesmond Mizzi Finan- cial Advisors Ltd's owners where he holds the role of an Investment consultant. In 1995 he set up At- las Investment Services Limited, which later merged with Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Ltd. He was accepted as the 12th member of the Malta Stock Exchange in 2000. He served as Secretary to the College of Stockbroking Firms between 2000 and 2003 and was elected Deputy Chairman of the College in 2011 and was their rep- resentative on the FIAU (Finan- cial Intelligence Analysis Unit) till 2012. Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advi- sors Ltd is a member of the Malta Stock Exchange, and is licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority under the Investment Services Act. It is a member of the Malta Stock Exchange and has its roots dating back to 1996. The company is involved in fund management and today also offers Collective Investment Schemes under the name of Merill with its latest offering of two new sub- funds, the Merill High Income Fund and the Merill Global Eq- uity Income Fund. It has assisted a number of companies to list their bonds or equities on the Malta Stock Exchange. PROFESSOR JOSEPH FALZON Deputy Chairman Malta Stock Exchange Prof. Falzon holds a PhD degree in economics from Northwest- ern University, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A. in August 1984. His doc- toral areas of specialisation cover international finance, monetary economics and macroeconomics. Falzon is the author of several lo- cal and foreign publications and of numerous papers on the Maltese economy. He is the co-editor of "Strategic Challenges in European Banking" published by Macmillan in 1999, and the editor of "Bank Performance, Risk and Securitiza- tion", and "Bank Stability, Sover- eign Debt and Derivatives", both published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2013. His current research interests include portfolio management, hedge fund strategies, risk man- agement and economic develop- ment. Professor Falzon has served as a consultant to the Government of Malta and to several private and financial organisations including: the Economic Planning Division (1988 to 1992); the Ministry of Fi- nance (1992 to 1995); the Office of Fair Competition (1995 to 1996); the Ministry of Economic Services (1999 to 2003); the Bank of Valletta (1993 to 1998); the National Tour- ist Organization (1997 to 2001); the Malta Tourism Authority (2002 to 2006); the Central Bank of Malta (2004 to 2008); the Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Enter- prises, GRTU (2006 to 2008); the Malta Housing Authority (2008 to 2010), and the Malta Council of Economic and Social Develop- ment, MCESD (2013 to 2016). ADV. ANTONIO MARIA VARVARO, Euro Legal Consultants Fze Adv. Varvaro is a Dubai-based lawyer, legal consultant, arbitra- tor and mediator. He is an expert in contracts & agreements, Inter- national Commercial Arbitration, Intellectual & Industrial Property, Corporate & Company Law, Com- mercial & Business Law, Joint – Venture projects, Foreign Direct Investments (F.D.I.). Trusted Law- yer of the Italian Trade Agency (Trade Section of the Italian Em- bassy) both in the UAE and in KSA, and of the Consulate Gen- eral of Italy in Dubai. He has over 25 years of experi- ence, providing Legal advice and assistance to a variety of clients on a wide range of projects and liti- gation/arbitration cases. He has extensive experience in Corpo- rate and Commercial Law, as well as in Litigation and Arbitration, and has been employed as Legal Consultant by Governmental Or- ganisations (Italian Trade Agency – Dubai Office) and Ministries (MFA and MED in Rome). He has extensive experience in contract drafting on major commercial projects as well as on JV projects. He is one of the main experts in the field of Intellectual and Indus- trial property transfer contracts and regularly provides advice on dispute resolution and dispute avoidance. Euro Legal Consultants Fze (ELC) is a sole proprietorship company set up in Fujairah Free Zone (United Arab Emirates) that deals with legal matters related to any business activity. MIR FAROUK MAHMOOD, Sales Director-Range Developments Mahmood has 20 years of Sales experience in Consumer Banking, Cash Management, Insurance, Real Estate and Merchant Ac- quiring businesses. Possess solid track record of launching new business and exceeding targets on the strengths of exceptional team building, selling, presentation and business development skills. Founded in 2011, Range Devel- opments is an investment and hospitality company, operating across the Eastern Caribbean. Range Developments focuses on the development of iconic hos- pitality destinations in places of remarkable natural beauty. Our growing portfolio of landmark developments is a testament to the significant growth and suc- cess we have achieved in the last four years. Range Developments' flagship project, the ultra luxury, 5 star resort Park Hyatt St Kitts, is on track for timely completion in the fourth quarter 2016. Follow- ing the success of the first project, Range Developments has ventured into an investment partnership with the Government of Domini- ca to develop another 5 star resort in the Caribbean - Cabrits Resort Kempinski, Dominica. The May 2017 Dubai event is en- tirely self-driven and constitutes an independent initiative of PKF Mal- ta. It is our pleasure to invite you to attend as a delegate, for which we would like to extend a free compli- mentary delegate pass, kindly reg- ister here: http://bit.ly/PKFRegister George Mangion is senior partner at PKF Malta, has over 25 years' experience in accounting, taxation, financial and consultancy services gmm@pkfmalta.com PKF Malta will be hosting an Investment Information Session at the Ritz Carlton, Dubai on Wednesday 24 May PKF have been frequenting Dubai/ Abu Dhabi for the last four years, which has enabled it to be immersed in the very hospitable and luxury centric Emirate culture