Manama, Bahrain: The Crans Montana Forum - Middle East (CMF - ME) "Central Europe & Eastern New Economies Strategies with the Gulf States" Forum, commenced (8 April, 2008) under the high patronage of H.H. Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Bahrain, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa, Manama, from April 8 to 10, 2008 This high profile economic & investment Forum-largely sponsored by Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain (KFH-Bahrain)-is organised by the Crans Montana Forum in association with Crans Montana Forum - Middle East, and in partnership with the Federation of GCC Chambers, EUROCHAMBERS, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Abdulhakeem Alkhayyat, General Manager of Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain stated, "We are pleased to be the elite sponsors of such a forum. It reflects our commitment to business and collaboration with multinational corporations. Our participation is in line with our strategic vision to assume a leading role in the area of Islamic banking across the region and help foster business opportunities and relationships." Mr. Alkhayyat also added "We consider this forum as a global stage for the exchange of economic expertise and the initiation of business and investment opportunities within important sectors of the economy." "This forum is the first of its kind to connect the GCC market with the Central and Eastern European nations, and I must extend my sincerest gratitude to the generous support of our sponsors and strategic partners who have made this possible," noted Mr. Osama Al Khajah, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of CMF - ME. "With KFH-Bahrain as our leading Elite sponsor, as well as the valuable support of Durrat Al Bahrain (Platinum), we have been able to assemble the most prominent and knowledgeable experts, who will lead sessions on the latest economic strategies and policies, and the most current and available investment opportunities. Furthermore, the forum will provide a platform for the exchange of professional expertise, and enhance dialogue on a variety of key topics of mutual interest, including: common market, commercial arbitration, free economy, common currency, economic co-operation, investment promotion, and the prospect of the proposed Free Trade Agreement with the EU," Al Khajah continued. The Programme will combine plenary sessions, parallel sessions, individual business meetings and round tables. Each will focus on presentations of corporate & countries' investments opportunities and business cooperation wishes in the fields of : Energy, Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, Transport, Infrastructure, Mining, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Telecommunication, IT, Tourism, Public Health, Trading, Financial Services, Banking and Manufacturing. Among others, confirmed participants include H.E Dr Hassan Bin Abdullah Fakhro, Minister of Commerce & Industries, Kingdom of Bahrain, Mr. Bernard Savage, Ambassador of the European Union to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Essam A. Fakhro, President, Federation of GCC Chambers & President of Bahrain CCI, Mr. Petar Stoyanov, Former President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Adrian Nastase, Former Prime Minister, Member of the Chamber of Deputies, Romania, Mr. Peter Medgyessy, Former Prime Minister, Ambassador at Large of Hungary, Mr. Ovidiu Silaghi, Minister for SMEs Trade, Tourism & Liberal Professions, Romania, Mr. Pierre Simon, President, EUROCHAMBRES & Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris and numerous high level Official and Business delegations for Central, Eastern Europe and the Gulf. Emirates Airlines is the Official Carrier for the event; Eventscom-Bahrain is Logistics & Media sponsor, and other Media Sponsors including: CNBC Al Arabiya, Al Hayat, Investors Magazine, Aswat, Al Muraqeb, Al Ittihad Al Iktissadi, and Al Bayan. Further information on the Forum's Programme and List of Participants can be found on www.cmf.ch