Executive Focus | International (HD)

Alexander Dembitz is the Group Chairman of SOFGEN, which delivers IT solutions to some of the world´s most prestigious financial institutions. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the current trends in IT in the banking sector, legacy systems in banks in developed markets, and the opportunities available in emerging markets.

Abubaker Bujaasi Mayanja is the Managing Partner of ABL Associates (ABL), a finance and investment services firm registered and incorporated in Uganda. He spoke with The Prospect Group about ABL’s growth and development plans, the difference between Islamic and conventional finance in Uganda, and the launch of the ABL Private Exchange (ABLX).

Rushdi Siddiqui is the Global Director of Islamic Finance and OIC Countries at Thomson Reuters. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the growth potential of Islamic finance and the main challenges that the industry still faces.

Makoto Utsumi is the President and CEO of the Japan Credit Rating Agency, a Japanese financial services company which publishes credit ratings for Japanese companies, local government, and other interested parties. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the downgrading of Japanese government bonds by Fitch and Moody’s and the future outlook of Japan’s economy.

Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al Madani is the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). He spoke with The Prospect Group about the balance between the bank’s financial return and its philanthropic goals, the impact of the various interpretations of Islamic finance on IDB’s operations, and IDB’s collaborations to eradicate polio from its member countries.

Joe Costello is the Irish Minister of State for Trade and Development. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Ireland’s higher education partnership with Malaysia, the Irish-ASEAN trade relationship, and the agenda for growth during the upcoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Orlando Cabrales Segovia is the President of Colombia’s National Hydrocarbons Agency (Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos), the government agency responsible for managing the country’s hydrocarbon resources. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the Colombian 2012 Bid Round, incentives for investors, and the impacts of institutional reform in the energy sector.

Hernando Vargas is the Deputy Technical Governor of Banco de la Republica, the Central Bank of Colombia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the consequences the expansion of the energy sector has had on the Central Bank, the main challenges facing Colombia’s banking sector, and the economic strengths and overall outlook of the Colombian economy.

Dr. Hage G. Geingob is the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Namibia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the new initiatives that the Ministry of Trade and Industry is involved in, the recent change in the country’s investment inflows, and the role that Namibia’s natural resources play in attracting foreign investments.

Makhdoom Muhammad Ameen Faheem is the Minister of Commerce of Pakistan. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Pakistan-India trade relations, the challenges of terrorism and investment opportunities within Pakistan.

Gergely Horvath is the President and CEO of the Hungarian National Tourist Office. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the effects of the European economic crisis on tourism in Hungary, investment opportunities in Hungary, and the outlook for growth for Hungary's tourism sector.

Allan W May is the Founder and Chairman of Life Science Angels, the premier angel investment group focused solely on biotechnology and medical device companies. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the challenges of angel investing, the rise of life science investment, and the paradigm shift for venture capitalists.

Robert K Sichinga is the Minister of Commerce, Trade & Industry of Zambia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Zambia’s economic performance, challenges related to agricultural investment, and the overall investment climate in Zambia.

Jean Baptiste Bikalou is the CEO of PetroGabon, the largest distributor of gas and the second largest distributor of other refined petroleum products in Gabon. He spoke with The Prospect Group about PetroGabon’s market position in the energy sector, the company’s challenges, and Gabon’s objective to become an emerging economy by 2025.

Borislav Stefanov is the Executive Director of the InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA), a government investment promotion agency under the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the FDI flow into Bulgaria, the potential investment opportunities, and the incentives for foreign investors to do business in the country.