Inaugural Arab Microfinance Investment Symposium to take place in Dubai on Nov. 30

The First Arab Microfinance Investment Symposium will take place in Dubai on Nov. 30.

The event will be under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's wife, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai and chairperson of the International Humanitarian City.

More than 100 investors, financial experts and representatives from investment-ready Arab microfinance institutions (MFIs) are expected to attend.

The co-host for the event will be Grameen-Jameel, the first social business in the Arab World.

 “We would like to see more Arab investors tap into the potential of microfinance," Heather Henyon, general manager of Grameen-Jameel, said.

Jean-Pierre Klumpp, Blue Orchard Finance CEO, agreed, saying that the Arab world is "ripe" for investment.

“We are convinced that the time is ripe to see the microfinance sector in the Arab world grow from a mainly donor-driven service to a sustainable industry," Klumpp said.