Annual conference will have former minister and G7 & G20 Sherpa, Oscar winner, Mumbai top cop and stock exchange CEO among speakers
With the Kingdom of Bahrain positioning itself as a FinTech and tech industry hub in the region, the Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (BCICAI) have chosen to focus on how this is shaping the corporate world and life choices today. ‘Disruption A Catalyst for Growth’ will be the theme of their 11th Annual International Conference to be held on November 29 and 30.
The BCICAI Annual conference is held every year and attended by the Who’s Who of the Indian accounting fraternity in the region. This event also attracts CEOs, CFO and Chartered Accountants who have made their mark as entrepreneurs and have business lessons to share. The speakers this year will contribute a wide-ranging list of thought-provoking topics. They include A-listers who helped to change society, their community and the world by being unafraid to manage growth through disruption.
“Key speakers from professional circles will be led by former Minister for Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu who is also Prime Minister of India’s Sherpa to the powerful G7 and G20 development think-tanks and a chartered accountant himself,” said BCICAI Chairperson CA Maheshkumar Narayan, “Delegates will also get to hear; Mohandas Pai, a Padma Shri Awardee and current Chairman of Manipal Global Education (he was a former director of Infosys) and Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman of Axilor Ventures, a company supporting and funding startups, who was former executive vice chairman (former co-chairman) of Infosys, G.R. Gopinath who sparked the budget airline trend in India decades ago and CA Vikram Limaye the Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange Ltd the first demutualized electronic exchange in India.
This year’s roster of speakers include two disruptors who have found fame through the world of cinema: they include top cop D. Sivanandhan, IPS, the former Director General of Police of Maharashtra, who succeeded in disrupting the Mumbai underworld by dismantling it. His work and life-story was immortalized in a Bollywood blockbuster movie acted by Mohan Lal. The other famous cinema personality would be Academy and Oscar winner Resul Pookutty who will share how disruption helped him to succeed.
Held under the patronage of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, H.E. Zayed R. Al Zayani, the conference will take place at the Diplomat Radisson Hotel, Manama. With the BCICAI being affiliated to the Bahrain Accountants Association and with its members being in impactful industry and commercial positions across the Kingdom, Mahesh Kumar said the group is keen to reach out to Bahraini business leaders and intellectuals too. Among the stellar Bahraini personalities who have confirmed their participation are HE Abdulnabi Al Sho’ala, erudite scholar, Founder and advisor to the Board of AlFanar Investment Holding Co. B.S.C. © and Mr. Khalid Saad, CEO, Bahrain Fintech Bay.
From the powerful parent body in India, the conference will is expected to see the presence of the ICAI President CA Prafulla Chhajed and ICAI Vice-President CA Atul Gupta, addressing delegates and putting professional changes in perspective.
“The event is expected to attract more than 350 participants including key decision-makers, C-level executives, entrepreneurs, finance and investment professionals representing various work sectors like insurance, banking, retail, manufacturing, advisory, real estate and technology who will be witnessing discussions about significant developments and trends which has disrupted the status quo and how these factors have in turn become a Catalyst for Growth” said Maheshkumar.
Annual Sponsors are UAE Exchange & Tally, Title sponsors for the event are GFH Financial Group, Al Hilal Life BSC(c) and Al Hilal Takaful BSC(c). Event sponsors for the conference include three top accounting and consultancy firms, KPMG, BDO and Grant Thornton and the Automobile Sponsor is Ebrahim K. Kanoo B.S.C (C)
Vice-Chairperson of BCICAI, CA Sandeep Shah pointed out. “We are grateful to our sponsors for supporting the event. Chartered accountants are the backbone of the corporate world and the contribution of the BCICAI members to the Kingdom’s progress over the years has been commendable and significant. The conference shall be a great way to explore how CAs and finance professionals are facing the current economic scenario and how they harness the current wave of disruptive progress.”
Added BCICAI Secretary, CA Ajaykumar Chettuvetty, “The conference is our annual milestone event and is planned meticulously to represent the professional updates in the careers of chartered accountants. This will help explore how best to make disruption work for one’s life and career goals. Attendance at the conference counts as part of the recognized continued professional education credits, which is a requisite by the ICAI. This attendance carries 12+ hours CPE training credits for CAs. This conference is open to non-CAs too, who will find it very interesting as a gateway to understanding corporate trends.”
The organizers are expecting more sponsors to confirm their support in the coming fortnight as they prepare to unroll the final programme.
For information call on +973 39418922 or email on icaibahrain@gmail.com