The Qatar Exchange (QE) and the Middle East Investor Relations Society (ME- IR Society) held their 3rd annual “IR Interactive Workshop” in Doha today. The event was organised by the ME-IR Society Qatar Chapter founding companies and attracted senior level participation from over ( 50 ) listed and private companies. Regional delegates also attended from Dubai, Oman, Kuwait and Egypt. The event was generously sponsored by Amwal, Al Khaliji, BNY Mellon, Commercial Bank of Qatar, ME-IR Society, Thomson Reuters, QE, Qtel, QNB and Vodafone Qatar.
The workshop, held in the W Hotel, discussed a range of ‘hot topics’ including practical steps to achieving good governance, the power of IR in tailoring the company message, promoting analyst coverage, advice building an IR team and practical guidance on how to create and maintain an effective IR website. Panels drawn from analysts, investors, regulators and corporates powerfully reinforced the importance of IR from different perspectives.
In a welcome address ,Mr. Andre Went, CEO of Qatar Exchange said : ‘QE is dedicated to providing opportunities to further explore best international practices in the field of IR. We want to see our listed companies committed to ongoing investor relations activities and improving the standards of the information in the market. Firms need to know and understand their shareholders to meet the growing requirements of local and international investors.’
“The QE is also too keen to promote an increased breadth in the listed company coverage from analysts here in Doha but a first step in that process is getting our listed companies more comfortable with the process of talking to analysts and the disclosure that comes with it. We have been working with the ME –IR Society for a number of years and now as a founding member we look forward to supporting their efforts further to develop the IR profession here in Qatar for the benefit of overall market transparency”, Mr. Went concluded.
Adel Al Mutawa, Executive Director of Qtel and Chairman of ME-IR Society Qatar Chapter added ‘By bringing together experts from leading quoted Qatari companies such as Qtel, Al Khaliji, Amwal, Vodafone Qatar and CBQ as an informal representative board, the IR community in Qatar has a platform to express and request IR initiatives and materials that will enhance and support their ability to communicate most efficiently and transparently with international investors.'
On the 28th May the ME-IR Society also hosted level one certified investor relations officer training in the W Hotel, Doha. The CIRO curriculum covers all aspects of Investor Relations and presents participants with an opportunity to interact and share experiences with other professionals from across the region. CIRO Level 2 training will be held in Doha towards the end of the year.