Leading business leaders, financiers, and investors will be attending the first edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Finance & Investment Forum (Rakfif), the new platform for uncovering business investment opportunities and set-up in the emirate.

The forum is being held under the patronage and with the presence of HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah from December 13 to 14, at the Rixos Bab Al Bahr.

The event aims to provide attendees a platform for sharing information, networking and commercial opportunities, said a statement from the organisers.

As a high-level international business investment and finance forum, Rakfif is bringing together experts from government and leading industries with international and regional investors and financiers to highlight the numerous investment projects that have been initiated in the emirate, focusing on a number of key economic sectors including hospitality and tourism, real estate, manufacturing and production, infrastructure – ports, airport and utilities, it added.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (Rak FTZ) and Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia), said: “Rak FTZ and Rakia are proud strategic partners of this unique event as it puts our country in the limelight.”

Al Qasimi: the event is a wonderful platform for the international business community

“We, together with other government authorities in the emirate, have been committed to reinforce the positioning of the emirate in the global economic map as a premier business destination,” he said.

“The event is a wonderful platform for the international business community to learn more about the opportunities and advantages available in the emirate,” he added.

Peter England, chief executive officer of National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RakBank), said: “We are delighted to take part in this prestigious business investment and finance forum in our home emirate.”

“We fully support any initiative that aims to position Ras Al Khaimah as the investment destination of choice for individuals and businesses in the UAE,” he said.

“This participation offers us a peer-to-peer platform to meet with high profile international and regional investors and financiers and to explore how RakBank can cater to their specific banking needs. We always strive to bring more innovation and convenience in order to improve our customers› experience and to support them as they move into a new phase of growth,” he concluded.

Irina Awote, director of Rakfif, said: “As we bring together influential business leaders, investors and financiers to discuss the business opportunities and the viable investment projects that are underway for involvement in the emirate, we are extremely pleased to have Rak FTZ and Rakia as our strategic partner sponsors as well as the sponsorship support of leading organisations such as Hutchison Ports, RakBank, UTICO, HSBC and Archirodon Construction.”

“Their support is a true testament of their understanding of the growth and business potential of the rising emirate,” she added.