October 2021 by MEA Business

News, Reviews and Analysis. News, Reviews and Analysis.

October Issue 2021 May - June Issue 2021

NURTURING THE BUSINESS AND STARTUP MAKING ‘HYBRIDECOSYSTEM WORK’ WORK REIMAGINING THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE - MOHAMED MIKOU, NEIL PETCH / GEORGE HOJEIGE / GEOFF RAPP COO & CMO, MICROSOFT MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

20 Q&A WITH SUNIL PAUL CO-FOUNDER & COO AT FINESSE GLOBAL

26 MEA BUSINESS MAGAZINE TECHNOLOGY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

THE

FUTURE

OF THE

AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

14-18 November 2021 DWC, Dubai Airshow Site

Registration Is Now Open! Register Today: www.dubaiairshow.aero

Introduction

he editorial staff of MEA Business are committed to reporting the positive business developments in the Middle East and Africa, as well as highlighting the business opportunities that already exist in the two regions. We also want to provide a platform for business leaders to share ideas, engage in constructive debates and form strategic partnerships. Our ultimate aim is to equip business leaders and professionals with the practical and tactical skills to thrive in the Middle East and Africa. With an emphasis on positive news stories, case studies and inspirational interviews, MEA business will inspire readers towards personal development and overall business success. The magazine is arranged to provide clear and concise informative sections including news sections on the Middle East and Africa, CEO interviews and market updates. The magazine and news service we offer are available on a variety of platforms, these include our printed magazine, e-magazine, website, and social media. Furthermore, we include augmented reality elements in some of our features to provide our readers with unparalleled coverage on the latest developments.

Kenneth Mitchen

Publisher, MEA Business

Interactive Cover News, Reviews and Analysis. News, Reviews and Analysis.

October Issue 2021 May - June Issue 2021

NURTURING THE BUSINESS AND STARTUP MAKING ‘HYBRIDECOSYSTEM WORK’ WORK REIMAGINING THE EMPLOYEE - MOHAMED MIKOU, NEIL PETCH / GEORGEEXPERIENCE HOJEIGE / GEOFF RAPP COO & CMO, MICROSOFT MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

20 Q&A WITH SUNIL PAUL CO-FOUNDER & COO AT FINESSE GLOBAL

26 MEA BUSINESS MAGAZINE TECHNOLOGY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

CONTENTS

EXPO 2020 NEWS 6

Expo 2020 opens a new era for Dubai’s tourism industry

MIDDLE EAST NEWS 8 Accenture Opens Technology Innovation Showcase at Expo 2020 Dubai 9 TAWAL and Holoul sign recycling agreement to reduce environmental footprint. AFRICA NEWS 10 GBF Africa 2021 strengthens Dubai’s position as a gateway for African trade. AVIATION ANNUAL GALA EVENING 2021 12 THE AVIATION ANNUAL GALA EVENING IS BACK

14 MEA Business WEB: www.mea-biz.com EMAIL: info@cme-media.com PUBLISHED BY: Creative Middle East Media FZ LLE, 19th Floor, Creative Tower, Fujairah Creative City, PO Box 4422, Fujairah, UAE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PUBLISHER : Kenneth Mitchen Email: ken.mitchen@mea-finance.com

INTERVIEW 14 Leading the Next Wave of Digital Payments Revolution with Unified Vertical Payment Solutions

COVER STORY 16 Reimagining employee experiences: making ‘hybrid work’ work HYBRID WORK 18 Microsoft to demonstrate sustainability and hybrid work innovations at GITEX 2021 TECHNOLOGY 20 Systems integration with the personal touch

CRYPTOCURRENCY 22 Are cryptos a bubble or the future of finance? TECHNOLOGY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 26 MEA Business Technology Achievement Awards (Winners) PARTNER CONTENT 30 I ntroducing Eutelsat ADVANCE 36 The 14th edition of GESS Dubai, the region’s leading Education Exhibition, returns in November 2021

GITEX PREVIEW 32 Logitech plans to highlight the power of video collaboration at GITEX 33 Ministry of Finance participates in GITEX Technology week 2021. 34 TiE Woman Global Finals to take place at GITEX 2021 ESG 38 42 46 48

Turning the tide Pretty Green Setting the Standard Principles with Principles

Expo 2020 News

Expo 2020 opens a new era for Dubai’s tourism industry Dubai Tourism, stakeholders and partners participate in a symbolic opening of the Expo 2020 Portal

n a reflection of the huge boost that Expo 2020 Dubai has given to global tourism recovery, key stakeholders and partners opened the doors to a new era for Dubai’s tourism industry at a ceremony marking the symbolic opening of the Expo 2020 entry Portal. His Excellency, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), flanked by a group of stakeholders and partners, participated in the opening of the Expo 2020’s towering entry Portal to the Sustainability district. The opening of the gates was accompanied by the playing of the Expo theme song ‘This is our time’ before the distinguished group of visitors from the tourism industry were warmly welcomed by an Emirati traditional band.

The daily symbolic opening of Expo Portals is part of the programme to welcome the world to Expo 2020 and also to celebrate the pivotal role played by diverse domestic sectors and establishments, stakeholders and partners in the true spirit of collaboration in the making of a new world. Similar entry Portals are also established at the other two thematic districts of Expo 2020 – Opportunity and Mobility. With the participation of over 190 countries and people from all walks of life and age groups, Expo 2020 has placed Dubai’s tourism sector in a unique position to drive growth while further reinforcing the city’s position as a global icon of multiculturalism. The event is well set to deliver an exceptional showcase of Dubai to visitors and participants and to

E xpo 2020 inaugurates a new era for tourism sector in UAE

MEABUSINESS

Business News for the MEA region

millions following the event from around the world. About Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai Tourism’s mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate. Dubai Tourism is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s tourism sector. It markets and promotes the Emirate’s commerce sector, and is responsible for the licensing and classification of all tourism services including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Brands and departments within the Dubai Tourism portfolio include Dubai Business Events, Dubai Calendar and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF OVER 190 COUNTRIES, EXPO 2020 HAS PLACED DUBAI’S TOURISM SECTOR IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO DRIVE GROWTH.

Middle East News

Accenture Opens Technology Innovation Showcase at Expo 2020 Dubai The Accenture Exchange venue offers demos in AI, Blockchain, Cloud, Quantum Computing, and Machine Learning

ccenture (NYSE: ACN) recently opened the Accenture Exchange – the company’s dedicated venue at Expo 2020 Dubai reflecting its role as the Expo’s Official Digital Services Partner. Housing Accenture’s most powerful, cutting-edge and engaging innovations for the next six months, the space provides visitors the opportunity to learn more about Accenture’s leading technology solutions and its role in bringing the Expo to life. Located in The Partners Hub, overlooking Al Wasl Plaza, the Accenture Exchange is an immersive environment that showcases Accenture’s innovative technology demos in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud, quantum computing, and machine learning, among others. Demos include information security and customer relations solutions, e-ticketing technologies, AI-powered virtual assistants, geolocation services, and more. It is also home to a series of industry-specific client journeys in key areas such as sustainability, energy, health, travel and tourism, and global payments. “We are privileged at Accenture to play an integral role with Etisalat Digital in delivering the first World Expo in the region while amplifying the UAE’s position on the global stage,” said Alexis Lecanuet, Accenture’s regional managing director in the Middle East. “Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we collaborated with Expo 2020 and Etisalat Digital todeliver on the promise to create the next generation of visitor-facing applications for the mega-event market over the next decade. Today, with the inauguration of our Accenture Exchange, we celebrate this achievement and welcome our indus-

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and running the platforms that power hyper-personalized guest experiences to giving Expo 2020 Dubai the tools to reach new audiences and tell new stories, Accenture delivered an end-to-end integrated solution, driving real connections. Moreover, Accenture created a suite of digital channels – including a website, mobile app and chatbot – leveraging AI, natural language processing (NLP) and data analytics, to ensure an accessible, relevant and personalized experience for all.

A lexis Lecanuet, Regional Managing Director, Accenture Middle East try stakeholders and peers to visit and learn about the transformative journey to deliver the digital foundations for this World Expo.” “At Expo 2020 we are committed to demonstrating how innovative technology can create a positive impact and improve the way the world lives and works,” said Mohammed Alhashmi, Chief Innovation Technology Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai. “Accenture, with its diverse portfolio of industry-leading technologies, shares the same goal. Our partnership with Accenture helped us realise our vision of an innovative, powerful, personalized, and engaging digital experience that continues to bring Expo 2020 to life for millions of visitors.” As Expo 2020’s Digital Services Partner, Accenture successfully built the digital foundations to put the visitor at the heart of Expo. From designing, implementing,

Business News for the MEA region

“We set out to help Expo deliver on their theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the future’ by making the Dubai event the most connected Expo ever,” said Gerardo Canta, senior managing director at Accenture. “Accenture and Etisalat Digital worked with Expo and its other technology partners to build a vast digital infrastructure that delivers a highly personalized visitor experience.” The Accenture Exchange will give clients and partners access to special events, demos, talent experiences, workshops, live streams, collaboration opportunities, and partner showcases, offering a lounge, an auditorium, dedicated workshop spaces, and varied hospitality options.

AT EXPO 2020 WE ARE COMMITTED TO DEMONSTRATING HOW INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY CAN CREATE A POSITIVE IMPACT AND IMPROVE THE WAY THE WORLD LIVES AND WORKS.

Middle East News

TAWAL and Holoul sign recycling agreement to reduce environmental footprint. KSA’s ICT infrastructure service provider, KAWAL, plans to recycle waste elements from telecom towers, to convert in raw materials

AWAL, a leading ICT infrastructure service provider in Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement with electronics waste specialists Holoul Electronic Recycling Treatment Company to provide an environmentally sustainable solution for waste electrical equipment used within TAWAL’s telecom towers.

are the result of our commitment towards our society and environment to reduce carbon emissions and reduce waste, and that is why our partnership with Holoul Company was to establish a qualitative and sustainable approach to managing e-waste and develop better and environmentally friendly ways to dispose waste and recycle it in an efficient manner.”

The landmark agreement is part of TAWAL’s commitment towards its Sustainability Strategy goals and meeting international standards with regard to electronics recycling and is in line with the strategic aim of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainable agenda. The partnership will enable TAWAL to reduce its carbon footprint and protect natural resources. The recycled waste elements from the telecom towers will be converted into raw materials. In addition to that, the agreement will contribute to reducing logistics and storing costs.

Holoul Electronic Recycling Treatment Company General Manager, Mr. Mohammad Ghurab said: “As e-waste specialists we provide electrical and electronics recycling services to the highest industry and government standards. We understand the importance TAWAL places on operating sustainably and through this partnership we will introduce best practices within the electronics recycling industry to address the ever-growing problem of e-waste and provide sustainable solutions.”

TAWAL CEO, Eng. Mohammed Alhakbani said: “TAWAL’s sustainability initiatives

TAWAL’s Sustainability Strategy is driven by TAWAL’s mission statement to “Make a positive impact to the local community

TAWAL’S SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES ARE THE RESULT OF OUR COMMITMENT TOWARDS OUR SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT and ensure environmental sustainability by contributing to community development and promoting renewable energies”. The Sustainability Strategy is focusing on four pillars where TAWAL will contribute to the community, environment, and economy by enable digital accessibility & inclusion, support community empowerment, caring for the environment, and contribute to economic development.

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Africa News

D ubai Expo 2020 bolsters economic ties between UAE and Africa

GBF Africa 2021 strengthens Dubai’s position as a gateway for African trade. Ahamed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman & CEO of Dubai Multi Commodities Center Dubai discusses economic benefits created by the African Continent Free Trade Area

ubai continues to strengthen its position as a gateway for African trade, according to Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman & CEO of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, who at the Global Business Forum Africa (GBF) 2021 in Dubai.

necessary solutions, and achieve transformation to bolster their position in global trade. Dubai offers a strong platform for African economies and products to enhance their international reach. We can support significant initiatives in Africa, further strengthening long-term relations,” said Bin Sulayem.

During a session titled The Evolution of Global Trade, Bin Sulayem highlighted the need to accelerate procedures for economic integration between the African states taking part in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as obstacles hindering its success. He reiterated the importance of establishing comprehensive economic partnerships and benefit from Dubai’s leading position a strategic trade hub connecting Africa and the region.

Also joining the session was Kebour Ghenna, the Executive Director of PanAfrican Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), who elaborated on the success of the trade agreement.

“African countries have made a remarkable progress under the Free Trade Agreement, and they must enhance their growth, building on the agreement, ensuring accelerated change, to develop their economic performance. Benefiting from successful experiences, these countries can identify challenges accurately, find

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“AfCFTA has seen a great progress: 54 countries signed to join and 37 fulfilled their commitments. In addition, members have shown remarkable mutual understanding on many trade and economic issues, promising further achievements in the near future. African states must not wait for all the procedures to be completed; there is a data gap to be addressed, challenges to be faced through a unified vision, and solutions to be developed before implementing the AfCFTA in the best manner.” Dr. Deborah Elms, Founder and CEO

Business News for the MEA region

of the Asian Trade Centre, concluded: “Africa has great potential and equally great challenges, which must be dealt seriously considering the different interests and approaches of every country. In particular, the most impactful ones are interests related to investments, digital economy transformation, intellectual property, certificates of origin, and others. These issues need to be agreed upon to find a format that ensures the ease of business and drives growth.” The 6th edition of GBF Africa is organised by Dubai Chamber in partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai was held under the theme Transformation Through Trade.

AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE MADE REMARKABLE PROGRESS UNDER THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, AND THEY MUST ENHANCE THEIR GROWTH TO DEVELOP THEIR ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

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Aviation Annual Gala Evening 2021

THE AVIATION ANNUAL GALA EVENING IS BACK

he Aviation Annual Gala Evening (AAGE), the region’s leading invite only event for Senior Aviation will take place November 2021 (Dubai Airshow Week). The event will again take place on an exclusive megayacht berthed outside Pier 7, Dubai Marina. Guests will enjoy an amazing cruise along Dubai’s shoreline, with captivating views of the famous Palm Island, the Dubai skyline and Iconic buildings such as the Burj Al Arab. Guests will also be entertained throughout the evening by a live band and special entertainment. The Aviation Innovation Awards which also take place during the Gala Evening will recognize some of the region’s most outstanding aviation individuals and organizations. The awards will honor exceptional technological, operational and sustainability innovations. The Gala Evening and Awards should have a wide variety of leaders from the Middle East and around the world who will be in town during the Dubai Airshow. For more information on the event visit www. aviationgala.com or email Ken@cme-media. com

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Business News for the MEA region

mea-biz.com

Interview

Leading the Next Wave of Digital Payments Revolution with Unified Vertical Payment Solutions With in-person business occasions possible again, how has your recent experience of post-pandemic trade events worked out for you? In-person events are quickly regaining their audiences - crucial to regional business hubs like Dubai. The government’s handling of the pandemic allowed Dubai to be one of the first cities to resume hosting international events. The reopening brought a breath of fresh air. In September, Mint returned as Gold Sponsor at Seamless Middle East after a one-year gap. Our goal in these exhibitions is to showcase our payment technology solutions. Mint is all about addressing customers’ needs and priorities across all financial, social, and digital divides, in line with our core philosophies of disruptive innovation and financial and digital inclusion. Thanks to Terrapinn, we had a very successful show at Seamless, with many leads now in process. Since your inception in 2009, what have been the main drivers for the development and growth of digital payments in the region?

consumers’ new needs. Mint had taken the initiative early on - we were already a digital-enabled company aiming for digital and financial inclusion, so we were one of the first to target the underrepresented demographic using digital payment technologies. We expect the digital payments market to grow further due to worldwide initiatives and smartphone/internet penetration enabling mCommerce and eCommerce, which grew by leaps and bounds in the last two years. What do you think will be the leading trends in regional payments in the next five years? Trends show an increasing trust in digital payment solutions in the region, but cash still holds a substantial share. There is a consensus that digitalization in the industry must be encouraged more. The rise of fintechs ensures a solution embracing both the digital savvy and cash users. We will see more digital payment ecosystems that enable inclusion in digital economies through accessible, afford-

In 2009, the region had a relatively basic payments infrastructure hampered by high processing costs, limited access to electronic channels, and a large population wedded to cash. Governments were rolling out initiatives for financial and digital inclusion. However, the unbanked was a greenfield. Except for Mint and a few fintech companies, FIs were more willing to ignore this perceived high-cost, low-earning segment than risk losing their highnet-worth customers. Despite regulations, the adoption by banks of digital payment technologies has been slow in terms of collaboration with fintechs. The pandemic was a critical turning point. FIs had to accelerate their plans to meet

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M r. Ali Faizan Rivzi, Chief Commercial Officer at Mint Middle East

Business News for the MEA region

able, convenient, and quality offerings. A gap remains for servicing MSMEs. The industry must be ready with B2B solution decks - 360° merchant integrated services with digital banking solutions to propel this segment towards financial and digital inclusion. Another step would be the merging of conventional horizontal banking with smart city payment solutions in one “super app.” Consumers will want to extend their seamless customer journeys to banking and payments - to be able to pay for groceries, book and pay bus fares or venue tickets, send money, apply for loans, or exchange cryptocurrency - from the same device. Robust cyber security with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and superior customer authentication processes are critical for fintechs to set up reliable unified payment framzworks. These technological advances continue to shape the landscape between FI’s and fintechs, with fintechs poised to capture market share as regulatory changes now allow new players into the banking and payments business.

MINT MIDDLE EAST IS ALL ABOUT ADDRESSING CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS AND PRIORITIES ACROSS ALL FINANCIAL, SOCIAL, AND DIGITAL DIVIDES

Cover

Reimagining employee experiences: making ‘hybrid work’ work By Mohamed Mikou, COO & CMO, Microsoft Middle East & Africa

atching their breath after 18 months on an obstacle course of change, regional businesses now know that we have passed into a new era. Remote work has proved too successful to roll back the clock. Hybrid workplaces are the future, and we must embrace them. The benefits they bring can be seen across industries – from retail to healthcare, to banking to education, and so on. But to make great change work for everyone, we must pay attention to the detail. Microsoft’s recent Work Trend Index report highlights that while productivity remained static, more workers today are dissatisfied with the quality of connection with their co-workers than in the previous year (a drop from 86% to 79%). We must work to ensure that people do not feel isolated. The scene is set for widespread socioeconomic change. The rise of collaboration tools and technologies has led to a watershed moment where companies must take employee wellbeing into consideration more than they have done in the past. Measures must be taken to ensure people are heard and understood. For example, 73% of workers want flexible remote-work options to continue, but more than 65% are craving more in-person time with their teams, according to the Index. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has called this apparent contradiction the “Hybrid Paradox”. And

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M ohamed Mikou, COO & CMO, Microsoft Middle East & Africa

Business News for the MEA region

83% OF LEADERS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA BELIEVE THEIR COMPANIES ARE EQUALLY OR MORE PRODUCTIVE AS A RESULT OF REMOTE WORKING LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky has a term of his own for the talent migration that is occurring as labour markets become more globalized. The Great Reshuffle, as Roslansky dubs it, is creating a new social contract between employer and employee. While 83% of leaders across the Middle East and Africa believe their companies are equally or more productive as a result of remote working, according to Microsoft’s Work Reworked research, there are signs employees are starting to feel the isolation. Organisations that want to avoid a degradation in their talent-retention rates need to become more in-tune with those employees, their concerns, and their ambitions. Teams are much more siloed in a purely digital world, so when companies offer flexible work as an option for prospective hires,

they need to ensure that the model is optimised. In other words, employers today need to pay as much attention to the employee experience as they pay to the customer experience.

But these are short-term headaches. The long-term benefits of hybrid work greatly overshadow any initial challenges. A happier, more productive, and more loyal workforce will emerge.

Of course, there is nothing to stop organisations from burying their heads in the sand and choosing to do things their way, ignoring employee wants in the process. They can force employees to do everything remotely or they can enforce a traditional 9-to-5 culture. But inertia comes with a heavy price. In the same way that businesses who fail to embrace digital technologies will be left lagging behind more agile competitors, those who do not yield to employee expectations will soon lose their top talent to more flexible rivals.

There is now an abundance of tools that allow organisations to function and thrive through hybrid working. Whether employees are logging in from the comfort of their sofas, from traditional office spaces, or from far-flung sandy beaches, managers have the means at their disposal to see if employees are being productive, sluggish, or even on the verge of burnout.

The comparison with innovative, techsavvy companies is particularly apt, as technology yet again holds the key to providing workers with the flexibility they so clearly crave. If organisations have reservations about continuing with, or even shifting to, a hybrid work model, that is understandable. For some, there will be inevitable teething issues around processes, security, and compliance.

The traditional notion of an enterprise operating from within four walls was already being phased out before the pandemic forced the issue, but any myths about employees being less productive away from the office have been well and truly dispelled. The hybrid workplace is the future, but employers have the potential to be either beneficiaries or victims of that future. Which one they become will be a function of their vision and will.

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Hybrid Work

Microsoft to demonstrate sustainability and hybrid work innovations at GITEX 2021 Sustainability and future of hybrid work to be key focus topics at The Microsoft Hub

icrosoft is all set to showcase its technological innovations at the 41st GITEX Technology Week, taking place from 17th to 21st October at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Built around the theme of ‘Creating a Bolder Digital Future Together’, the Microsoft Hub will demonstrate innovations in areas of sustainable smart cities and tools for organisations to adapt and thrive in the hybrid world.

climate problem into becoming part of the solution.” Partners who will join Microsoft at its hub at GITEX include Digital Okta, Cloud 4C, Crayon, Liferay, Intertec and Jedox among others. Microsoft will also be hosting several

experts and speakers in its Tech Talk area. Panel discussions, keynote speeches and workshops will shed light on emerging technology trends across industries. Other experiences include Xbox station, Surface devices, and a jolt of energy delivered through an AI powered coffee machine.

“The pandemic is in decline, but the world of hybrid work is very much here to stay,” said Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. “Together with our partners, we look forward to showcasing some of the ground-breaking innovations which will empower our customers to thrive in the digital economy and hybrid work environment.” At the Microsoft Hub, the company will also unveil latest initiatives and products that will shape the future of sustainable city management. “We have partnered with Schneider Electric, to bring Dubai’s sustainability vision to life”, added Hashish. ”Our collaboration, running on Azure and powered by the Microsoft Cloud, demonstrates how a combination of cutting-edge technologies can translate large amounts of data into actionable, sustainability focused outcomes. This will turn urban environments from being part of the S ayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE.

MEABUSINESS

Business News for the MEA region

Technology

Systems integration with the personal touch MEA Business spoke to Sunil Paul the co-founder of Finesse, one of the region’s leading systems integration and digital transformation service providers How is Finesse positioned in the regional technology market? With a vision to build a global system integration company which would positively impact the lives of people, Finesse was incorporated a decade ago. It is a trusted name for enabling digital transformation and alleviates over 350+ enterprise clients across BFSI, Education, Energy, Healthcare, Public Sector, Telecom, Travel & Logistics among others. Finesse thrives to orchestrate distinct strategic approach to enhance our client’s business value. It ensures improved efficiency, considerable reduction of costs, effectiveness and support business goals to stay relevant in the constant evolution of market. With the dedication of Finesse’s 400+ professional team, we have proudly won more than 50 International Awards and accolades, and is successfully operating in over 10 global locations How do you evaluate Finesse’s business prospects for the next five years (in terms of technology, regional expansion, etc.)? Finesse has consistently growing year-after-year, with respect to new client acquisitions, building technology partnerships, and with the portfolio of our technology-solutions. Our employee base continues to swell too – with over 400 dedicated employees based across our global offices. On the technology front, we see increased adaption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) along with other digital transformation technologies; so as the need for the

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S unil Paul, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Finesse Global implementation of advanced cyber-security solutions. As organizations fast embrace digital-transformation initiatives, businesses will be sitting on huge amounts of data – data that can be used to address the needs of customers more effectively through Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has given businesses a whole new outlook on how they can meet the demands of customers and provide them choices of products that are smarter, more convenient and safer to use. AI has also been able to reduce fraud through real-time

Business News for the MEA region

fraud detection, implement 24/7 customer interaction & conversational interfaces (chatbots) and helps to reduce operational costs by automating repetitive work processes using Intelligent Process Automation (IPA). With greater digitalization of services, cybersecurity incidents and threats have gone higher. These data-breaches make it difficult for customers to trust businesses and hinder smooth operations. Implementation of strong cybersecurity processes with the implementation of the right toolsets are the need of the

FINESSE HAS CONSISTENTLY GROWING YEARAFTER-YEAR, WITH RESPECT TO NEW CLIENT ACQUISITIONS, BUILDING TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS, AND WITH THE PORTFOLIO OF OUR TECHNOLOGYSOLUTIONS. hour, alongside digital transformation initiatives. Both put together ensures businesses can be able to enjoy the benefits of their digital transformation journey easier, better, and stronger. Are you planning to present products or solutions at the GITEX Technology Week? If so, which are they? With the goal of bringing in a holistic view to organization’s digital transformation journey, Finesse will be employing a two-pronged strategy during GITEX Technology week. The first prong would be through ‘Enabling Digital Transformation’. Targeted at organizations looking to enhance their digital footprint, Finesse will be showcasing state-of-the-art digital solutions like AI chatbots, BI & Analytics, Blockchain, CRM/CEM, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Intelligent Process Automation (IPA), and managed IT services. The second prong will be that of ‘Securing Digital Transformation’. An important, but often overlooked part of digital transformation journey, digital risks are very real,

and has the potential to erode customer confidence, and has reputational, legal, and financial consequences for the business. Finesse will showcase how organizations can secure their business on the digital front through use of Digital Risk & Compliance, Zero Trust, CloudApplications Assurance, Digital Identity, Data Protection & Privacy, and managed Security Operations. Why do you exhibit at Gitex? Finesse has been a regular participant at GITEX for the last 10+ years and has since been a strong proponent of the benefits digital transformation can bring to organizations. The pandemic has further amplified the need for organizations to embrace digital transformation to remain relevant. Companies that invested in digital solutions were able to pivot to serve their customers quickly and effectively, while those who did not struggled throughout. Finesse has continued playing a key role in the region during these trying times, helping our clients choose and implement the right technologies in furthering their digital journeys. In line with this trend, during GITEX 2021, Finesse will be showcasing how companies can embrace and secure their digital transformation journeys in the post-pandemic world including AI Chatbots, Blockchain, CRM / CEM, IPA / RPA, Cybersecurity & Managed Services. What does your company hope to achieve at the end of the show? As the leading evangelist for digital transformation in the region, it is our sincere hope to showcase the immense benefits of digital transformation, through one to one meetings, presentation, demos, and by sharing our successful implementations case studies. It brings us great satisfaction, as Finesse, to stand shoulder to shoulder with organizations in the region to enable & secure them in their digital transformation journey– which will bring in growth, greater profitability, and happiness to our clients. Tell us about Finesse’s cloud and digital transformation solutions and their demand.

The demand for Finesse’s digital transformation solutions have increased during the past few years. The 3 main reasons demand for Finesse’s has grown, can be summarized as follows 1. F inesse recognizes and caters to the unique needs of businesses in the region. Digital requirements of businesses in the GCC are unique. This uniqueness is a blend of the rich culture and traditions followed by the people in the region, and naturally form part of business functions. There are a whole lot of technology solutions out there of which only a few cater to these unique asks. Finesse recognizes this, and partners with product companies that bring in functionalities that serve these asks. 2. F inesse customizes digital transformation solutions to the needs of each business. Finesse provides end-to-end digital transformation solutions, including migration to cloud infrastructure that are customized to the needs of each business it serves. Based on the industry vertical, the business environment, size of the business, and the stage of digital transformation they are in, Finesse guides and helps businesses chart out the best path for businesses to move towards successful outcomes on their digital journeys. 3. F inesse is continuously evaluating and updating its workforce on the happenings in the technology world. A s a leading technology solution provider in the region, Finesse continues to evaluate and update itself on the happenings in the technology world, to bring the best solutions possible to businesses in the region. For instance, based on the increased number of cyber-attacks on businesses in the region, Finesse has setup a fully functional state-of-the-art Security Operation Centre (SOC), based locally in the UAE, that helps stop and resolve cyber-attacks at an early stage of the attack.

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Cryptocurrency CRYPTOCURRENCY

Are cryptos a bubble or the future of finance? The Middle East region has a keen eye for financial technology and the initiatives that are being implemented from Tel Aviv to Dubai underscores how digital assets are making inroads into the region

ryptocurrencies, once a potential rival of gold as a safe-haven store of value, they have lost their lustre among institutional investors after a volatile plunge from record-highs following a crackdown on mining and trading activities. Considering the growing interest in cryptos from some of the world’s leading financial institutions and individuals alike, regulators including some from the Middle East region have called for cryptos to carry the toughest bank capital rules of any asset. Deloitte said, “An increasing number of companies worldwide are using Bitcoin and other crypto and digital assets for a host of investment, operational, and transactional purposes.” Regulators and investment experts often dismissed cryptocurrencies as

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REGULATION IS A STUMBLING BLOCK, BUT REGULATORS HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY SEE THE VALUE OF BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCIES, AND ARE WORKING TO SUPPORT THESE TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH BODES WELL FOR FUTURE ADOPTION – Accenture

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excessively volatile, a bubble, too risky to invest in. However, those in favor of cryptocurrencies especially financial technology experts argue that they are a hedge against inflation and fiat currency fluctuations. Those arguing in favor of cryptos also say that they can survive any economic or infrastructure collapse, a belief that is being widely shared following the global economic fallout due to the pandemic. “Regulation is a stumbling block, but regulators have shown that they see the value of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and are working to support these technologies, which bodes well for future adoption,” said Accenture. However, not all think the same way. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a global committee of banking super visor y authorities, cautioned earlier in June that the growing use of cryptocurrencies has the potential to “increase global financial stability concerns and risks to the banking system in the absence of a specified prudential treatment.” Cryptocurrency users leverage blockchain technology, a decentralized ledger system of all transactions across a peer-to-peer network that enables par ticipants to confirm transactions without a need for a central clearing authority.

car company is “likely” to again accept cryptocurrency in payment.

Cryptos in the Middle East

KPMG said that, unlike the traditional financial systems which use a centralized database with a single point of authority, blockchain technology allows for a distributed database that holds a growing number of records. The Middle East has a keen eye for financial technology and the initiatives that are being implemented from Tel Aviv to Dubai underscore how blockchainbased currencies are making inroads into the region as some governments look to tech to diversify their economies. However, despite risks and volatility associated with digital coins, they captured the attention of investors from billionaires Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey to hedge-fund moguls including Alan Howard and Paul Tudor Jones. Similarly, the surge in trading in Bitcoinlinked securities also underscores how investors are increasingly looking to gain exposure to or bet against c r y pto c u r re n c i e s o n t ra d i t i o n a l markets rather than buying the digital currencies outright. But later, in May 2021 Elon Musk stopped accepting Bitcoin payment for Tesla vehicle purchases over environmental concerns relating to Bitcoin mining. However, at the B Word event on the 21st of May, he said that if the percentage of renewable energy used to mine Bitcoin rises to or above 50%, with an increasing trend, the electric

The Middle East joined the crypto frenzy in August 2019 when the Central Bank of Bahrain awarded cryptocurrency exchange firm Rain a license that allows it to buy, sell and store crypto-assets. The issuance of the license to Rain after a two-year regulatory sandbox made the kingdom the first jurisdiction in the region to issue a crypto-asset module license. The crypto exchange platform has satellite offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the US, allowing users to buy and sell digital coins across the GCC, according to information on its website. Canadian Bitcoin fund manager 3iQ listed its Bitcoin exchange-traded fund “The Bitcoin Fund” on Nasdaq Dubai, becoming the region’s first indexed

Speaking at Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum in June 2021, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) chief Mansoor Bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud cautioned that cryptocurrencies “need a bit of maturity before we make our view about investing.” Regulators in Kuwait and Turkey share the same sentiments as Al Mahmoud. In May, the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) cautioned financial institutions operating in the Gulf state against dealing or trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum or other cryptoassets. CBK cautioned that dealing in digital coins leaves room for illegal uses of funds, unauthorized transactions and money laundering given that the assets are not regulated by any central authority in the Gulf state. In May, Turkey said it would add cryptocurrency exchange companies operating in the country to a list of organizations that are regulated by its antimoney laundering and counter-terrorist

AN INCREASING NUMBER OF COMPANIES WORLDWIDE ARE USING BITCOIN AND OTHER CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSETS FOR A HOST OF INVESTMENT, OPERATIONAL, AND TRANSACTIONAL PURPOSES – Deloitte

cryptocurrency digital asset-based fund in June 2021. The Canadian fund, which received its regulatory clearance in April, plans to use its listing in Dubai to expand its regional footprint and work closely with banks in other GCC states. However, other regional countries such as Kuwait and Turkey have sounded alarm bells saying trading in digital coins exposes individuals to digital breaches, cyberattacks and is unsustainable. Accenture said that some countries in the Middle East view cryptocurrencies with caution due to their lack of a central authority and are beyond the control of monetary policy.

financing rules after the authorities closed down two crypto exchange platforms, Vebitcoin and Thodex.

Digital currencies The emergence and increase in popularity for major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Cardano are piling pressure on central banks to ensure they have a viable alternative before unregulated payment forms take over. Just like their counterparts in some of the world’s leading financial centers, some central banks in the Gulf region are currently considering issuing central bank digital currencies (CBDC). mea-biz.com mea-finance.com

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The regulators are concerned about losing control of digital currency if private currencies such as Bitcoin become widely adopted due to the high possibility of advanced technology falling into the wrong hands. In June, the Bank of Israel was reportedly tr ying out Ethereum’s technology in a recently launched internal digital shekel trial. The Israeli central bank had issued a report in May in which the regulator said that the digital payment system could have a positive impact on the economy by simplifying payment processes while providing security to both parties in a transaction. Last November, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) in collaboration with six commercial banks from the two Gulf states completed a proof-of-concept project on a wholesale central bank digital currency ‘Aber Project’. The digital currency pilot is aimed at settling domestic and cross-border transactions using central bank money on a distributed ledger technology. In their pilot project, SAMA and CBUAE discovered that a distributed payment system offers “significant improvement over centralized payment systems” for domestic and cross-border commercial bank settlements.

Regulatory hurdles Since the beginning of the year, major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin – which reached an all-time high of more than $63,000 in April – have plunged to record lows due to ongoing crackdown in major economies amid regulatory, data security and sustainability concerns. Binance Holdings, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volumes, is facing growing scrutiny from financial regulators globally with Thailand and the Cayman Islands becoming the latest nations to curb the operations of the largest crypto exchange platform. In June, the UK financial watchdog banned Binance from operating in the country, joining Canada, Singapore and

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Japan as regulators around the world intensify clampdowns on the industry. Meanwhile, in the US several regulatory bodies including the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are also investigating the cryptocurrency exchange firm. Binance, which offers incentives such as Binance Coin, lower fees and a new digital ledger, is also being probed by in Hong Kong where the securities watchdog said the crypto exchange platform was not licensed to sell stock tokens. The cryptocurrency exchange platform said in July it was winding down support for stock tokens just a few months after it began offering the product. Chinese authorities have also been particularly strong in cracking down on financial institutions trading in digital assets and cryptocurrency mining, driven by environmental concerns and a desire to promote financial order.

mining and trading activities as part of efforts to fend off financial risks. Since May, several regions in China including Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, Yunnan and Yunnan have declared war on crypto mining and trading activities.

Blockchain As the technological architecture underlying digital assets, blockchain is far more important than the hundreds of emerging tokens and cryptocurrency exchange platforms. Its adoption across different sectors of the economy and the hype around digital assets is revolutionizing commerce, but lack of trust may stall progress. PwC said that the implementation of the blockchain is poised to become an integral part of financial institutions’ technology and operational infrastructure. Blockchain is expected to transform the way that capital markets operate

SOME COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST REGION VIEW CRYPTOCURRENCIES WITH CAUTION DUE TO THEIR LACK OF A CENTRAL AUTHORITY AND ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF MONETARY POLICY – Accenture

Beijing’s heightened cryptocurrency crackdown has seen Bitcoin plunging below the $30,000 mark as of July 20, 2021, according to crypto-data website CoinGecko.com. The current price level also mirrors the plunge in global markets amid concerns that the fast-spreading and deadly Delta variant of COVID-19 could hamper economic recovery. Cryptomining business in China accounts for more than half of global Bitcoin production. However, the State Council’s Financial Stability and Development Committee said in May it will clampdown on cryptocurrencies

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through the tokenization of traditional bonds, stocks, and other assets and putting them on public blockchains. The public ledger would be instrumental in removing gatekeeping and third parties in the loans and credit system while making it more secure to borrow money and lowering interest rates. The Middle East is seeing an increasing inflow of fintech firms challenging incumbent banks through better flexibility and better catering to customers’ requirements and blockchain is playing a crucial role in digital transformation in the financial services sector.

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Technology Achievement Awards

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Technology Achievement Awards (Winners) The Technology Achievement Awards 2021 took place virtually on the 13th of October 2021. The awards recognised exceptional achievements in Technology. The event was organised by MEA Business Magazine and MEA Finance Magazine.

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Event Winners Outstanding Technology Innovation - 2021 HPE Aruba Outstanding Technology Innovation - 2021 stc Bahrain Outstanding Technology Innovation in AI and Machine Learning – 2021 Avaya Exceptional New Technology – 2021 Cloud&Heat Technologies GmbH Exceptional New Technology Achievement – 2021 Zain Group, Saudi Arabia, 5G Network Exceptional Products & Services - 2021 Batelco (CVM System) Exceptional Products & Services - 2021 Cullen

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Innovative Collaborations and Partnerships - 2021 Huawei - Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Cybersecurity Partnership Innovative Collaborations and Partnerships - 2021 Zain Group, Zain Esports with EA Sports Innovative Collaborations and Partnerships - 2021 Nexign Innovative Collaborations and Partnerships - 2021 Bahrain - Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Outstanding leadership and growth – 2021 Omantel Outstanding leadership and growth – 2021 Batelco Outstanding leadership and growth – 2021 stc Kuwait Telecommunication Company Ground breaking products & services – 2021 Zain Group, Tamam Finance Ground breaking Products (National Tourism Monitoring Platform) - 2021 Saudi Ministry of Tourism Ground breaking products & services – 2021 Silkron Exceptional New Product/Service launch – 2021 Eutelsat (Eutelsat Advance)

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Exceptional Adoption of an emerging technology – 2021 Saudi Ministry of Tourism Exceptional Technology Service (Recognition) – 2021 Cisco (Expo 2020 - Official Premier Digital Network Partner Exceptional Technology Service (Recognition) – 2021 Tech Mahindra

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Introducing Eutelsat ADVANCE A new experience of dynamic high-end connectivity services

What is Eutelsat ADVANCE? Eutelsat ADVANCE is a single, turnkey solution for extending your reach and accessing previously inaccessible markets. Delivering a satellite networkas-a-service experience, ADVANCE is distributed by an open ecosystem of partners and seamlessly integrates multiple capacities. Enabling business and technical agility, ADVANCE boosts your communications efficiency and time-to-market with sophisticated satellite technology. A flexible service catalogue tailored for each market gives users the most relevant service for their needs and can be scaled up or down depending on requirements. What are the core benefits of Eutelsat ADVANCE? ADVANCE offers many benefits for its users. It comes with all the advantages of using a premier satellite service and combines it with the Eutelsat service and prompt support that we have built our reputation on. Here are a few of the primary benefits of using Eutelsat ADVANCE. Reach Eutelsat offers coverage of every continent with a strategically placed fleet of powerful satellites. ADVANCE enables you to reach any remote location independent of infrastructure or terrain. Our network is fully equipped to seamlessly integrate Ku and Ka-band capacity based on your needs and targeted location. Flexibility Eutelsat ADVANCE doesn’t lock you into constrained contracts or limited service deals. Bandwidth can be increased or decreased on-demand - with no commitment for duration or volume required.

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Eutelsat ADVANCE is our new suite of services designed to tackle the challenges of modern connectivity. Distributed by our network of service partners, it’s available for companies, telcos and governments who want to take the next step in accessing reliable connectivity with unprecedented reach. In this blog, we’ll outline why Eutelsat ADVANCE should be on your radar and what sets it apart from other connectivity services.

Cost-effectiveness ADVANCE is one of the only connectivity services available that scales accurately according to your needs. Our integrated, state-of-the-art platform enables application-use identification, prioritisation and throttling to boost business-critical application performance at an affordable rate that scales with your business demand. Rapid activation based on business needs Eutelsat ADVANCE offers various VNO services and packages. Each one is a fast, end-to-end managed solution that

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can be rapidly activated and deployed according to business needs. Our predefined packaged services contain Ka and Ku-band broadband plans, while our aggregated VNO services offer a specific, isolated environment defined by committed Mbps. In addition, we also provide custom solutions for key partners with specific needs. Designed for specific market challenges Eutelsat ADVANCE has been developed with specific markets in mind that can benefit from flexible, reliable and fast connectivity. These industries include

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Who is Eutelsat ADVANCE for? Enterprise Enterprises today demand consistent, high-capacity and high-speed communications to remote regions. As operations expand, these demands are becoming ever more challenging to meet yet have become prerequisites to do business. ADVANCE Enterprise provides business-ready high-speed internet and dedicated solutions for the practical needs of a modern enterprise, from small home offices to large corporations. Specific benefits • Fast connectivity • T ailored solutions for business objectives and requirements • N o upfront investment in infrastructure • 2 4/7 support Use cases • Civil services • Banking and insurance • Energy and utilities • Retail and hospitality • Construction and mining • Agriculture Maritime The maritime industry often deals with large data requirements for consumer consumption in the most unforgiving and remote conditions. Vessels of all sizes are often poorly equipped to provide reliable voice and data solutions for crew and customers alike. ADVANCE Maritime solves this challenge by providing powerful, extensive coverage for maritime services around the world. It offers total flexibility on industrial bandwidth requirements while providing guaranteed performance and customised service and SLAs for VIP vessels.

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GITEX PREVIEW

Logitech plans to highlight the power of video collaboration at GITEX Logitech plans to showcase a range of high calibre solutions at GITEX, with demand for collaboration tools remaining high across the region as organizations continue to embrace hybrid working models.

ogitech, which was recently ranked number-1 worldwide in video conferencing hardware by Synergy Research, will showcase its top video collaboration solutions at GITEX in conjunction with its partner Avientek. Among the products they will have on show will be Rally Bar, Logitech’s next generation portfolio of video conferencing solutions for small, medium, and large rooms. Rally Bar is a portfolio of appliance and PC-based solutions that works with today’s leading video conferencing services such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Loubna Imenchal, head of video collaboration, Africa, Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia at Logitech, said: “Video collaboration has never been so important. Organizations across the region have experienced the importance of keeping their teams connected during the past two years, and there is a growing awareness of the advantages of using enterprise-grade solutions.” Even as many people venture back to places of work and education,

hybrid models are now an established mode of operations for many organizations, and Logitech has identified continued high demand for solutions that aid collaboration. Logitech was also named the market leader in video conferencing devices by Frost & Sullivan, which recognised that the company that has achieved the great market share resulting from outstanding performance, products, and services

Logitech also plans to demonstrate Scribe, an AI-powered whiteboard camera for meeting rooms and classrooms. Compatible with leading services like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, Logitech Scribe broadcasts whiteboard content into video meetings with incredible clarity, virtually transporting everyone into the same room. In addition to exhibiting its products on its partners’ stands, Logitech will look to offer meetings with 1-1 demonstrations at a dedicated meeting room in the Conrad hotel, close to Dubai World Trade Centre.

VIDEO COLLABORATION HAS NEVER BEEN SO IMPORTANT. L oubna Imenchal, head of video collaboration, Africa, Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia at Logitech

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Ministry of Finance participates in GITEX Technology week 2021. The ministry’s participation aims to familiarise the public with the latest electronic and smart solutions and the best practices it adopts in the technical field

he Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently announced its participation in the 41st edition of GITEX Technology Week 2021. As part of the federal government stand, the ministry’s participation aims to familiarise the public with the latest electronic and smart solutions and the best practices it adopts in the technical field. In addition to building new partnerships, especially in the Fintech sector, and reviewing customers’ requirements and comments to improve the efficiency, quality, and speed of services.

During GITEX Technology Week, MoF will launch smart and innovative electronic projects and initiatives that keep pace with the latest technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, the Internet of things and others. This comes within MoF’s endeavours to improve the satisfaction of individuals, companies, and government institutions by offering continuous and always connected electronic and smart services wherever they are – in line with the objectives of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and the UAE Centennial 2071. H.E. Mariam Al Amiri, Undersecretary, Financial Management Sector, stressed on the importance of participating in GITEX Technology Week 2021, which coincides with Expo 2020 Dubai – the Middle East’s first world fair – and the UAE’s 50th anniversary celebrations. GITEX will be an ideal platform for exchanging the best experiences and practices in digital transformation, in addition to benefitting from the most prominent modern and smart solutions and technologies that help in rapid adaptation to accelerating global changes and future challenges, and preparing for an effective and sustainable transformation for the next 50 years.

H .E. Mariam Al Amiri, Undersecretary, Financial Management Sector

H.E. Al Amiri said: “Throughout its path, the Ministry of Finance has taken proactive steps in adopting the latest innovations, disruptive technologies, and the techniques of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – ones that have proven their effectiveness in mitigating the repercussions of the exceptional circumstances the world has witnessed

THROUGHOUT ITS PATH, THE MOF HAS TAKEN PROACTIVE STEPS IN ADOPTING THE LATEST INNOVATIONS during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry continued to provide its services with high efficiency, quality, and in a fully digitised manner to all its customers, while ensuring their health and safety.” H.E. Al Amiri added: “We look forward to our participation in GITEX Technology Week. It is an opportunity to meet with solution providers, investors, strategic partners from the government and private sectors, and experts and specialists in digitising and developing government financial work from around the world, to discuss means of collaboration in the financial sector and Fintech fields. This, in turn, contributes to bolstering the digital infrastructure of the UAE’s financial sector, and reflects the country’s pioneering financial system at regional and international levels.” mea-biz.com

GITEX PREVIEW

TiE Woman Global Finals to take place at GITEX 2021 GITEX Global 2021 plans to welcome finalists from various TiE chapters for a chance to win valuable prizes, including the monetary gain of up to 100,000 USD and support from mentors and investors.

iE Global (TiE.org) and its Dubai chapter (TIE Dubai) have entered a trailblazing partnership with GITEX to host the 2021 TiE Women Global Finals, an initiative dedicated to helping women reach their full potential by empowering them with the necessary support to build their leadership skills and grow their businesses. GITEX Global 2021 plans to welcome finalists from various TiE chapters for a chance to win valuable prizes, including the monetary gain of up to 100,000 USD and support from mentors and investors. With more than 100 applications received from the regional startups from the MENA region - UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and others, TiE Women aims to provide budding women entrepreneurs in the region as well as across other markets with a platform to collaborate and showcase their business potential. TiE Women Global Competition received applications from 37 participating chapters across the globe and additional regions in the MENA region fostered by TiE Dubai. As the result of local competitions, 40 winners will travel to Dubai to participate in the grand finale covering industries as Life Sciences & Healthcare, Fintech, Healthtech, Retail and eCommerce, Arts, Leisure, Sports, Hospitality, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Consumer Products, Enterprise Technology, Environment, Agritech, Legaltech, and EdTech. TiE Dubai plans to support the applicants across the MENA region and organised 30+ educational sessions, consisting of 1:1 mentoring sessions, clinics, active learning

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workshops to empower women in business with the right skills and knowledge. Prashant (PK) Gulati, TiE Global Board Trustee and President Emeritus, TiE Dubai commented, “Empowering women to pursue entrepreneurship is one of TiE’s key objectives. Across the globe, the technology industry is widely known to be male dominated, however, in the UAE alone, 35% of technology entrepreneurs in the MENA region are women, representing progressive growth of women in this sector. GITEX 2021 is Middle East’s biggest regional ICT exhibition and will provide a perfect platform for aspiring women entrepreneurs to access funding, investors, mentors, learning and networking.”

35% OF TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURS IN THE MENA REGION ARE WOMEN, REPRESENTING PROGRESSIVE GROWTH OF WOMEN IN THIS SECTOR

According to McKinsey & Company Women at work report, more than 23,000 businesses are run by Emirati women with a combined worth of approximately $45– 50 billion. Moreover, and as per the latest

statistics women’s increasing participation in the workforce could add an estimated $2.7 trillion to the region’s economy by 2025.

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The 14th edition of GESS Dubai, the region’s leading Education Exhibition, returns in November 2021 Unlimited Possibilities The 14th edition of GESS Dubai returns in 2021, free to attend to anyone working in the field of education. The exhibition provides educators access to the products and solutions that meet the needs of the modern classroom and transform the way students learn. Alongside the exhibition runs an extensive conference programme and awards ceremony, making GESS Dubai the complete event for the education industry. This year the conference runs under the theme of “Innovate Today, Celebrate Tomorrow”, and will feature a range of renowned keynote speakers and educationalists sharing their knowledge and passion in over 120, free of charge, CPD accredited talks and workshops. Our collaborative and innovative sessions will allow you to take home practical teaching metfhods, to use in your classroom

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immediately. Keep Up To Date With Nfew Products And Innovation Meet hundreds of companies showcasing the latest educational products and solutions that teachers use to make them more effective in helping their students achieve better results. With numerous country pavilions including Germany, Korea, UK, Saudi Arabia, China and India, GESS Dubai is the trusted platform for suppliers of the entire spectrum of educational products and services. A Conference To Engage And Inspire Alongside the exhibition runs our globally renowned, free to attend conference featuring seminars, live case studies, workshops and panel discussions. Our conferences provide the region’s educators exposure to the latest trends, best practice as well as the latest tech in the pursuit of excellence in their classrooms.

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GESS Talks Arena: Featuring an exciting range of talks from individual keynotes, to panel sessions and 1-2-1 interview style conversations. With inspirational keynotes and dynamic movers and shakers, these sessions are designed to inspire and engage to help you learn about the latest global education trends and to push your education agenda forwards. Leadership Stream: Exclusively for our Leaders in Education members, these sessions are aimed at Leaders within education from pre-school, K12 to those from HE/FE colleges and universities. Looking at the challenges that leader of schools and educational institutions face, the qualities required to make a good leader and the skills required to advance in senior positions. Wellbeing Hub: We are pleased to showcase a series of talks from

consultants, and educators on Wellbeing and SEN in an inclusive environment in schools and nurseries. Sessions will outline the latest international research to help educators learn how to boost, motivate and inspire both themselves and their students to achieve the very best. This room will also feature inspiring sessions pertaining to Early Years education. Future Leaders: Following the success of the sessions in 2019 and 2020, this series of workshops are designed for those wanting to know more about stepping into leadership, and acquiring useful skills and insights into the techniques and skills essential to aspiring leaders. Edtech in Action: Focusing on Edtech in schools and higher education, these practical and dynamic sessions will showcase the latest innovations in

education. Covering all aspects of education and demonstrating best practice to improve and enhance teaching and learning. Hear from expert speakers and discover the latest trends in technology. Global Learning: Find out about the latest innovations in education from global and regional perspectives. Find out about key International education issues, be empowered and ask the questions you’ve always wanted to. Experience these dynamic workshops first-hand and learn how to future proof your school. As part of our safe and contactless initiatives, there will be no onsite registration please register through the website before coming to the event.

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AVIATION ANNUALGALAEVENING2021 ESG

Pretty Green Gareth Thomas Head of Global Banking, MENAT, HSBC provides MEA Finance with insights into the appetite for sustainable related financial products in the region, detailing some of the findings of their just published Global Sustainable Financing and Investing survey and how they are integrating ESG principles into their services and day to day operations

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Business News for the MEA region Banking and Finance news in the MEA market

escribe the appetite for ESG based investment opportunities in the region?

Sustainable finance and investment in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) continues to grow and develop, influenced by an ever-changing combination of forces that are driving change among issuers and investors. HSBC globally is committed to aligning the financed emissions from our portfolio of customers to net zero by 2050 or sooner, in line with the Paris Agreement goals. To help get there, the HSBC Group has set a target to provide between US$750 billion and US$1 trillion of finance and investment, worldwide by 2030, towards the transition.

Our latest Global Sustainable Financing and Investing survey, published in September, shows that the valuesbased belief that it is right to care about environmental and social issues is driving the behavior of issuers and investors. Our survey is conducted annually and gathers opinions from more than 2,000 capital market issuers and institutional investors, asset allocators and asset owners, covering 19 industry sectors and this year it shows this trend very clearly, with 42% of respondents saying they have a firming in their belief that it is right to care about the world and society, and the same proportion saying increasing regulatory demands require them to pay greater attention to these issues. MENAT is the only region, according to our global survey results, where these two forces are given as the top two drivers of behaviour. It clearly shows the rising importance of ESG issues in this region and their influence it is having on both investors and issuers. We know the appetite is strong for economies across the region achieve their climate targets – we saw a six-fold increase in 2020 versus 2019 in sustainable and transition finance activity in the region – which is why in January 2021, we formed a dedicated Sustainable and Transition Finance Team for the Middle East. The Team has deep technical knowledge of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) opportunities and challenges facing our customers, as well as the evolving regulatory space and its impacts. The team works with all of HSBC’s bankers to provide advice, expertise and financing solutions to customers across all sectors and segments – no matter what stage of the sustainability journey they are on.

H ow i s t h e ra n g e of E S G investment opportunities you offer clients expanding? Responsible or environmental, social and governance-focused investing has been developing in MENAT during the past few years, as our annual surveys have shown.

Gareth Thomas Head of Global Banking, Middle East, North Africa & Turkey at HSBC

We have been expanding our suite of green products for all client segments, from corporates and institutions through to entrepreneurs and individuals. That approach has brought a number of “firsts” to the region this year. In the UAE, where this year HSBC marks its 75th anniversary of doing business here and the nation is celebrating its own Golden Jubilee, we’ve committed to “thinking big” across every aspect of our operations, so we’ve issued the nation’s first Green mortgages and launched the first Green deposits to give corporate and institutional clients a mechanism to make deposits in the UAE knowing their funds will be used to finance green initiatives. We’ve innovated elsewhere too – HSBC Saudi Arabia is now offering the first environmental initiative investment fund in the Kingdom, known as the HSBC Global Equity Climate Change Fund, offering eligible investors exposure to renewable energy, clean transport, sustainable water management and climate change adaptation. This provides direct access to investments that help reduce the impact of climate change and supports the sustainability objectives under the Saudi Vision 2030 programme. mea-biz.com mea-finance.com

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The responses to our survey, however, highlight some key challenges to ESG investing’s growth and development. Positively, about a fifth of investors in the region say they have a firm-wide policy on responsible investing or ESG issues and 36% say they do not but do intend developing one. Investors in the region are, however, experiencing some challenges. Some 61% of investors – a global high although this percentage has fallen consecutively in the past three years – say certain issues are holding them back from pursuing ESG investing more fully and broadly. Top among those issues this year is a shortage of expertise and qualified staff – 44% of investors say this is a problem for them (the highest percentage regionally) up from 26% last year. Asian investors similarly say this is a problem, but it is less of an issue for their European and Americas peers. Other challenges include regulatory or legal constraints (28% - down from 36% last year), poor quality or availability of ESG data (28% - flat to last year), lack of demand among clients (27% - down from 44%), and a lack of comparability of ESG data across issuers (27% - down from 55%).

H ow d o yo u d e c i d e w h i c h causes your ESG programmes will encompass? We are committed to the transition to a global net zero economy, not just by playing our part, but by helping to lead it. We’re doing this across the bank – in our operations and supply chain – and by supporting our customers in their own transitions. Since 1 January 2020, cumulatively we have provided and facilitated US$87 billion of sustainable finance and investments. In the first half of 2021, we helped raise more Green, Social, Sustainability and Sustainability-linked (GSSS) bonds for clients than we did in the whole of 2020. Those funds pay for green projects and new technology and initiatives that open up new opportunities and avenues to net zero.

We’re increasing our portfolio of transition finance solutions to help enable even the most heavy-emitting sectors to progressively decarbonise, while helping to ensure a just and stable transition to maintain economic stability. And we apply a climate lens to our financing decisions, taking into account the unique conditions for our clients across developed and developing economies.

Please describe your own ESG initiatives? We are transforming our own operations and supply chain to net zero across HSBC by 2030, and asking our suppliers to do the same. We’re on the right path – from

ecosystems, including mangroves, to mitigate climate change and drive socioeconomic benefits such as eco-tourism and food security. We’re also leveraging our network throughout the Middle East to identify start-up firms in the region that are developing carbon-cutting technologies as part of the climate innovation workstream within the bank’s global Climate Solutions Partnership. At our 2021 Annual General Meeting, a special resolution on climate change – proposed by the HSBC Board – was backed by shareholders and provides further detail on our approach to the net zero transition, and how we will achieve our climate ambition.

POSITIVELY, ABOUT A FIFTH OF INVESTORS IN THE REGION SAY THEY HAVE A FIRM-WIDE POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE INVESTING OR ESG ISSUES AND 36% SAY THEY DO NOT BUT DO INTEND DEVELOPING ONE installing solar panels in our car park in Oman to reducing our energy, paper and water consumption worldwide, in the past decade we’ve cut our operational emissions by almost half. We’ve joined up with World Resources Institute (WRI) and WWF to form a fiveyear philanthropic partnership to help climate solutions become commercial reality and have real-world impact. The Climate Solutions Partnership is powered by US$100 million of philanthropic funding from HSBC and, with a network of local partners, aims to scale up climate innovation ventures, nature-based solutions and help to transition the energy sector towards renewables, by combining our resources, knowledge and insight. In the UAE, the focus is on the management and restoration of coastal

We’re also working with peers and industry bodies to mobilise the financial system to take action on climate change, by collaborating to develop globally relevant common standards to gauge progress. We maintain high standards of governance and meet our responsibilities to society. And we monitor and regularly publish updates on our ESG performance. They set out how we support our different stakeholder groups and do business in a responsible way. Transparent reporting is essential to building stakeholder confidence and creating value for all our stakeholders. Our ESG review – together with other publications – accords with our reporting obligations under terms of the UN Global Compact and renews our commitment to the Compact’s principles. mea-biz.com mea-finance.com

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ESG

Principles with Principles Christophe Lalandre and Stéphane Monier of Lombard Odier talk with MEA Finance about how the embedding of ESG as a core principle is shaping the intentions and activities of investors and financial institutions alike

escribe the appetite for ESG based investment opportunities in the region?

Christophe Lalandre: Without doubt, we are seeing a rapidly growing appetite for sustainable investments among clients

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MEABUSINESS

in the Middle East. A recent CFA Institute survey found that interest in sustainable investing among private investors in the UAE is as high as 94%1. During the pandemic, many investors in the Middle East sought safety in Islamic investing, with its bias to quality companies with

Business News for the MEA region Banking and Finance news in the MEA market

solid fundamentals and strong balance sheets. By a natural extension, given many shared values, the trend towards sustainable investing also accelerated. We also see investors’ understanding of the sustainable investment field deepening. Demand is now rising for an investment approach that goes beyond just backward-looking ESG metrics, to a forward-looking methodology that assesses future climate risks and embraces all aspects of sustainability. This might include an assessment of a company ’s decarbonisation pathway, and its alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report2 on the climate crisis, with its ‘code red’ warning for humanity, has only sharpened this focus. Sustainability has also climbed to the top of policy agendas in the GCC region, spurred the 2020 slump in oil prices, as well as growing populations and high exposure to the risks of climate change. Economic ‘Visions’ for the region’s main

economies have sustainability at their heart3; Saudi Arabia talks about being “another Germany4” when it comes to renewables. In the UAE, the giant solar park built in the desert aims to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy by 20505. Investment opportunities are rising. Sharia-compliant green bond issuance rose to USD6bn in the first half of 2021, double 2020’s entire issuance, according to ratings agency Fitch6. Dubai launched a UAE ESG Index in April 2020, and Saudi Arabia plans to follow suit this year. Amid fears of ‘greenwashing’, regulators are strengthening oversight of the ESG and sustainable investment market, while investor and consumer pressure, particularly from younger generations, are advancing the shift to sustainable investing at pace. How is the range of ESG investment opportunities you offer clients expanding? Stephane Monier: At Lombard Odier we have a long tradition of sustainable investing, and we are convinced that sustainability is a key driver of portfolio performance. The global economy is in the midst of an unprecedented transition to a net zero emissions model, unlocking new investment opportunities. Our role is to help clients’ portfolios navigate the risks and seize these opportunities for superior risk-adjusted returns.

OUR CURRENT FOCUS IS THE TRANSITION TO A NET ZERO ECONOMY, AS IT IS BEGINNING TO CREATE REAL FINANCIAL EXPOSURE FOR COMPANIES

Stéphane Monier, CIO Private Bank at Lombard Odier

Christophe Lalandre, Senior Executive Officer, Lombard Odier Abu Dhabi Global Market Branch

We constantly work to expand and enhance our offering. Today, we use a rigorous, science-based framework to help clients invest in line with the need to transition to a net zero world. Our approach goes far beyond the backward-looking view of ESG approaches, which assess historical business practices. Instead, as far as climate change is concerned for instance, we use proprietary tools to assess the Climate Value Impact that portfolios will be exposed to. Climate Value Impact encapsulates exposure to transitional risks and opportunities, physical risks, and liability risks. At Lombard Odier, we have already integrated a proprietary temperature alignment methodology that seeks to assess company’s alignment to the transition to a net zero economy. Our methodology remains among the best aligned to the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) on this topic. We have launched a number of investment solutions that may help improve investors’ exposure to the transition ahead as we further advance our work on the different dimensions of Climate Value Impact. As well as incorporating Climate Value Impact analysis, we also offer clients

personalised sustainable portfolios, based around their individual values and investment preferences. How do you decide what causes your ESG programmes will encompass? Stephane Monier: Fundamentally, our fiduciary duty to preserve and grow clients’ wealth means that we constantly seek sources of superior risk-adjusted returns for their portfolios. Our research teams define our areas of focus within the sustainability field and have developed a rigorous methodology and scientific framework that underpins our investment decisions. Our partnerships with Oxford University and consultancy SystemIQ feed into our sustainable investment research, providing a platform to review our scientific assumptions and stress test our models. Our current focus is the transition to a net zero economy, as it is beginning to create real financial exposure for companies. In November, the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow will further advance efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Yet we believe the approach adopted by many investors to reach this goal – which is to focus mea-biz.com mea-finance.com

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on low-carbon companies – is a flawed one. It fails to spur change in today’s high-emitting sectors, including cement and steel for example, which we will still need in tomorrow’s economy. So, in addition to investing in low emitters, and ‘solution providers’ to carbon challenges, we also invest in what we call ‘ice cubes.’ These are high-emitting companies that are on the right decarbonisation pathway. As they change their business model, we believe these ‘ice cubes’ have significant potential to cool our economy and shift the dial in the transition to a net zero world. We seek to avoid exposures to ‘burning logs’, those businesses in high-emitting sectors that are taking insufficient action to decarbonise and that are therefore most exposed to transitional risks. Please describe your own ESG initiatives? Christophe Lalandre: We believe there is a natural link between an Islamic approach to investing and a sustainable approach. Islamic finance embraces some of the socially responsible metrics that are inherent to sustainable investing and can offer investors a gateway into thinking about broader sustainable investing. At Lombard Odier, we have been offering clients investment strategies in lWWWine with Islamic principles since 2012, and Shariah-compliant investment mandates since 2018. We are currently developing new Shariahcompliant investment strategies for our clients, including one that marries our sustainable investment expertise with the long-standing Shariah investment credentials of a regional player. Stephane Monier: The constant interactions with our clients have helped us to understand and meet

their needs and expectations through h i g h l y p e rs o n a l i s e d s u sta i n a b l e investing solutions. We have built new impact solutions that reflect clients’ increasing appetite to invest in a way that can deliver tangible social and environmental impact, whilst delivering financial performance. In this context, we partnered with ReforestAction in 2019, to help finance the planting of 20,000 trees in Tanzania and Peru and

AMID FEARS OF ‘GREENWASHING’, REGULATORS ARE STRENGTHENING OVERSIGHT OF THE ESG AND SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT MARKET, WHILE INVESTOR AND CONSUMER PRESSURE, PARTICULARLY FROM YOUNGER GENERATIONS, ARE ADVANCING THE SHIFT TO SUSTAINABLE INVESTING AT PACE collaborated with Plastic Bank in 2020 to fund the collection of more than 1,100 tonnes of ocean-bound plastic, whilst directly supporting over 3,500 children in collector communities with educational bursaries. Most recently, we joined forces with Access To Water, a Swiss foundation, to support water accessibility and quality in Senegal. Has the COVID-19 Pandemic changed your ESG programmes and products and if so, then how? Stephane Monier: The pandemic was a watershed moment for the world of

1. 2. 3. 4.

CFA Institute, Future of sustainability in investment management: from ideas to reality IPCC, Sixth Assessment Report Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, United Arab Emirates Vision 2021 “We will be another Germany when it comes to renewables,” Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bi Salman, Future Investment Initiative Conference, January 2021 5. Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 6. Green sukuk market won’t ignite without Gulf governments backing,” Arab News September 2021

MEABUSINESS

investments. It pushed investors and markets to question how they assess risks and deploy capital. It reminded the global community of the link between the environment and human health, and it showed our vulnerability. In many ways, it put a spotlight on the larger, looming climate crisis, and prompted the governments to commit to rebuilding infrastructure in line with net zero goals. These shifts in the economic model

Business News for the MEA region

and market opportunities inform both our tactical portfolio decision making as well as the strategic vision for our offering. Crucially, they reinforce our conviction that sustainability is a core driver of portfolio performance. In addition to the pandemic, we’ve seen a rise in extreme weather-related events over the last 18 months, including flash flooding, droughts and wildfires, and investors are seeking better protection against these risks. Our assessment of investments’ Climate Value Impact described above aims to calculate the valuation implications of these risks for the companies in our coverage. At the portfolio level, it assesses the net exposure to positively- and adverselyexposed companies. With this approach, we hope to gain a clear focus on their financial exposure and deploy capital accordingly. mea-finance.com

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