Special Reports

GAIF 2010 Preparations Underway

The 28th General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) conference will take place on May 17, 2010, in jordan. Speaking at a press conference, Jawad Hadid, chairman of the Jordanian Insurance Federation (JOIF), outlined what delegates can expect from the most important industry event on the calendar.

Under the theme of  “secured economy and comprehensive development” for the Arab insurance industry, the 28th General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) general conference will be held at the Dead Sea in Jordan on May 17 to 19, 2010. Co-hosted by the Jordan Insurance Federation (JOIF), the conference is held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein.
Announcing the beginning of the preparations for the biannual event, Dr Mohamed Jawad Hadid, president of the JOIF, said that the conference takes place at a time of great challenges to the economy. “Our Arab economies are in the same context and need to find the right solutions to stand strong amid the undefined global economic environment,” he said.

Stressing the importance of the assembly, GAIF secretary general, Abdul Khaliq R Khalil, said the conference had gained momentum over the years and proved to be the most important pan-Arab gathering. “With more than 320 members, we feel that this body has grown in size and achievements and we hope that the coming conference will add value to the inter-Arab co-operation. A major reason for the success is that GAIF, although operating under the Arab League umbrella, has preserved its professionalism regardless of the common political climates governing the Arab World.”

Confident that the event will add to the success of the previous GAIF gathering, Imad Abdel Khaleq, managing director of the Jordan Insurance Company and JOIF board member, said he expects more than 1,300 regional and international delegates to attend the GAIF conference.

He noted that the coming GAIF will be organised differently, while still tackling the outstanding issues facing the Arab insurance industry. “For the first time in the history of GAIF there will be workshops organised on the sidelines of the event, each discussing an important issue concerning our industry.” Topics to be covered at the event include: the role of the Arab insurance industry in comprehensive development, and reinforcing the capabilities of the insurance under writer.

The organisers have chosen Jordan’s “black lily” as the logo of the conference. This will be Jordan’s third time hosting the GAIF conference, after organising the 13th and 21st conferences in 1980 and 1996.

Gaif in brief

• Established in 1964 with its permanent headquarters in Cairo, GAIF is a Pan-Arab body that strives to be the principal supporter of the Arab insurance industry
• GAIF serves as an organised framework for the collective work of its members, and produces valuable analytical studies and market guidance
• The federation’s primary purpose is to strengthen the Pan-Arab market and insurance sector, and coordinate activities across the Arab insurance industry
• Member organisations encompass: Arab insurers and reinsurers; regulators; national insurance associations; non-Arab insurers and re-insurers that operate in the region; research bodies; and, industry training centres and institutions
• GAIF boasts 320 member insurance companies across the region
• Abdul Khaliq R Khalil has been the GAIF secretary general since 1999
• The GAIF conference is held every two years. The 27th GAIF 2008 conference was hosted in Bahrain and the 2010 conference will be hosted in Jordan