Jafza, NASDAQ Dubai to look for ways of capital-raising in free zone

Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and NASDAQ Dubai will look for sharing ways in which companies in the free economc zone can raise capital to fund their expansion, including through a listing on the region's international exchange, as they host the first interactive seminar for prominent companies based in the free zone. 

The seminar, which will tray to address the major challenges of any business in raising capital, has been developed in collaboration with Jafza, NASDAQ Dubai and leading financial experts.

Jeff Singer, chief executive of NASDAQ Dubai, will give a presentation to senior company executives at the event on Wednesday, 28 September, highlighting the different options for capital raising, as well as the advantages of carrying out an initial public offer (IPO) and how to prepare for listing.

He will be joined by a panel of experts from auditing and financial advisory firm Ernst & Young, international law firm Latham & Watkins LLP, investment bank SHUAA Capital psc and private equity firm Riyada Enterprise Development, a member of the Abraaj Group, who will discuss and answer questions from attendees on the opportunities and challenges of various ways of raising capital.

The panel session will provide Jafza companies with an exclusive opportunity to hear from these leading organisations, all under one roof.

The seminar is part of an outreach programme to Jafza companies that follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in April 2011 by Salma Hareb, chief executive of Economic Zones World, the parent company of Jafza, and Singer on behalf of NASDAQ Dubai.