Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt — EFG Hermes, the leading investment bank in the Arab world, announced today the start of its eighth annual One-on-One investor conference, the largest gathering of its kind in the region and the largest One-on-One on record. The four-day event, which is taking place between 8-11 March in Sharm El-Sheikh, will provide 259 global and regional institutional investors with exclusive access to C-suite executives from 61 of the region’s most intriguing publicly traded companies. Attendance at this year’s conference is up 66% from 2009. The record turnout is an indication that as markets begin to recover, investor appetite for MENA equities is stronger than ever. Positive growth forecasts from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predict that combined GDP for the region will reach USD 1.5 trillion per annum and average GDP growth will exceed 4% in 2010, making the Middle East and North African region one of the fastest-growing areas in the world. The companies in this year’s conference represent nine countries and ten sectors including banking, finance, telecoms, consumer goods, basic materials, construction, real estate, and transportation and logistics. The 61 companies have an aggregate market capitalization in excess of USD 210 billion. Participating in this year’s opening session will be Egyptian Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohieldin and Egyptian Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros Ghali. “After a turbulent 2009, we are pleased that this year’s One-on-One has attracted such a strong group of investors and companies,” said Sherif Cararah, Head of Investment Banking at EFG Hermes. “Investors looking to access the region’s top investment opportunities have access to five direct and six indirect markets through EFG Hermes, the largest securities broker in the Arab world.” The EFG Hermes One-on-One is the firm’s flagship investor conference held every March in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. It is part of an ongoing program of matching global investors with compelling regional opportunities.