​EFG Hermes’ 11th Annual One-on-One Conference kicked off today at Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The three-day gathering, regarded as the most highly anticipated annual platform for key global equity investors, high-level executives and industry professionals, brings together government officials and over 450 investors from 200 institutions – with aggregate assets under management (AUMs) of over USD 10 trillion − with senior managers from 107 companies spanning 14 countries across the Middle East and Africa. This year’s One-on-One holds true to the statement of being the largest MENA-focused investment conference held regionally. The firm is exceptionally pleased with the level of turn-out from regional and international institutions, government officials and MENA companies operating in a wide spectrum of industries. Participating companies are drawn from a broad list of sectors including financial services, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, telecommunications services, health care, industrials, utilities, materials, and real estate and hospitality, and have a combined market capitalization of nearly half a trillion dollars. Opening remarks by Karim Awad were followed by keynote interviews with H.E. Ashraf Salman, Minister of Investment of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Dr. George Friedman, Founder and CEO of STRATFOR, a leading global intelligence company.