DUBAI |
DUBAI (Reuters) - Following are selected quotes from speakers at the Reuters Middle East Investment Summit, being held in Dubai, Riyadh, Kuwait, Baghdad, Beirut and Cairo on 18-20 October.
SAMI AL-ARAJI, CHAIRMAN OF IRAQ'S NATIONAL INVESTMENT COMMISSION
On Iraq attracting foreign investment: "We have a target. We have a five-year plan. We need $6 billion. We'd like to go ahead and shoot for $600 billion."
On security in Iraq: "People still ask about the security question ... On the whole, it is much better than before and the investors realize that."
SAMEER AL-ANSARI, CEO, SHUAA CAPITAL
"We see a slow return to very selective mortgage lending and where we see it, it is lending where there is very limited risk (but) major real estate lending by the banks ... I don't see that coming."
SAMI AL-RUSHAID, CHAIRMAN OF KUWAIT OIL CO (KOC)
"More than big quantities will, God willing, enter the oil reserves by the end of the fiscal year (March 2011)."
HISHAM ZAKI EL-JAMAL, DIRECTOR STRATEGIC FINANCE PLANNING AND INVESTMENT, MOBILY
"There is still a huge upside in the Saudi market ... The market is big and is growing."
MICHEL ACCAD, CEO, GULF BANK
"We decided not to lend to any customers in Saudi ... at least for the next three years ... Yes, it's a ban. It's a ban essentially on any customer that is a purely foreign customer who would want to borrow money just in a different country from us."