MEFTEC 2009 launched after record-breaking 2008 edition

MEFTEC, the world’s leading banking & financial technology event, is set to return to Bahrain from 10-11 February 2009. With year-on-year growth of more than 30 per cent since its inception in 2004 plus a dramatic increase in investment on both existing features and a range of new innovations planned, the 2009 event is expected to set a new standard for events in this sector.

The launch of the event’s fifth annual edition follows the phenomenal success of MEFTEC 2008 that smashed all previous MEFTEC records by bringing together 150 exhibitors over 6,000 square metres (gross) of exhibition space, and 800 senior industry buyers, including 300 fully hosted delegates from 27 countries.

A comprehensive post-exhibition survey conducted at the end of MEFTEC 2008 revealed that almost 100% of the buyer-delegates and 91% of exhibitors declared the event a major success and vowed to return next year. The survey also revealed that 82% of the exhibitors were likely to close new deals as a direct result of their participation at the show, while 97% of the buyer-delegates ranked MEFTEC as significantly better than similar industry events.

“MEFTEC simply goes from strength to strength, not only in terms of size, but also in terms of quality,” said Mark Beaumont, Director, International Projects at Media Generation Exhibitions Ltd, organisers of MEFTEC. “Now in its fifth year, MEFTEC is firmly established as the most important, high-profile fixture on the global financial technology calendar.”

Syed Faisal Abbas, Project Director, MEFTEC said: “We are delighted by the fantastic feedback from our 2008 participants. With a raft of exciting new initiatives planned for 2009, we look forward to delivering an even bigger and better MEFTEC next year.”

The robust growth of the event comes on the back of the burgeoning demand for financial technology across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. By 2017, the IT spending of banks in the MEASA region is expected to reach US$22 billion per annum, with GCC banks accounting for US$12-14 billion of this demand.

MEFTEC is held under the auspices of the Central Bank of Bahrain and supported by the Bahrain Financial Services Development. The Kingdom of Bahrain is globally acclaimed as the banking & financial hub of the Middle East, playing host to no fewer than 400 institutions, including the world’s largest single concentration of Islamic banks.

MEFTEC 2008 sponsors included Microsoft Corporation (Headline Sponsor); ProgressSoft, TCS Financial Solutions, Misys, Nucleus Software, Raqmiyat and 01 Systems (Platinum Sponsors); Temenos, Reuters, Ernst & Young and InfoCall (Gold Sponsors); ICS London, DST, IMTAC, afb Application Services, IND, Al-Moayyed Computers, Thinksoft, EDATA and Intertech (Silver Sponsors); Xerox, Experian-Scorex, Arab Financial Services, Path Solutions, Neutel, RSA Security, Gartner and Syntax IT (Bronze Sponsors); IBS Publishing, Bobsguide.com and Banking Technology (Media Partners); Zain (Official Communications Partner) and Gulf Air (Official Airline).

Related site: www.meftec.com

Notes and media contacts

About MEFTEC

MEFTEC is the world's premier financial technology event, with a specific focus on the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and increasing participation from other high-growth international markets. Powered by an invitation-only Hosted Delegate Programme, MEFTEC brings together financial technology leaders for a bespoke learning, networking and business experience that blends an industry-leading conference with a tightly focused exhibition and high-class social functions.

A prestigious and exclusive event, MEFTEC is run like a private club with delegate admission limited to the financial industry's finest IT buyers, and exhibitor attendance to an elite band of leading-edge financial technology vendors.

A central feature of MEFTEC is its highly coveted, invitation-only Hosted Delegate Programme®, as part of which professionals operating in the utmost echelons of IT in the financial industry attend as Hosted Delegates and enjoy complimentary admission to the event. A large number of these executives are fully hosted with their flights, accommodation and transfers organised by MEFTEC. In doing so, MEFTEC not only maximises the executives' time - enabling them to focus on their objectives – but also delivers a guaranteed audience of the highest caliber to the exhibiting vendors. The result: a highly targeted, time-efficient and carefully choreographed event that allows participants to achieve a year's worth of contacts in just two days.

For more information please contact

Mark Beaumont
Director, International Projects
Media Generation Exhibitions Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 7753 817 813

or

Syed Faisal Abbas
Project Director, MEFTEC
Media Generation Exhibitions Ltd
Tel: +973 17215665