OPIC TO HOST REGIONAL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE IN MAY

Identifying new opportunities for U.S. investment in the broader Middle East will be the goal of an international conference organized by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) in 2008, OPIC Director for Public Relations Dr. Lawrence Spinelli announced during his March 30 visit to Muscat.

Called Access to Opportunity in the Middle East, the OPIC conference will be held May 5-7, 2008 at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Dead Sea, Jordan. It will focus on OPIC eligible countries and areas in the broader Middle East region, including Oman, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. It is modeled after successful OPIC regional conferences, which together drew a total of more than 1,000 U.S. and local businesses to learn about investment opportunities in their respective regions.

Featured countries are Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.

Speakers include:
His Excellency Eng. Nader Dahabi, Prime Minister of Jordan (Invited)
Mr. Robert Mosbacher, President and CEO, Overseas Private Investment Corporation
His Excellency Akel Biltaji, House of Senate, Jordan
Mr. David Jackson, CEO, Istithmar World Capital
Mr. Alexander Boehmer, Executive Manager, MENA-OECD Investment Programme, Private Sector Development Division, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, OECD
Mr. Mark E. Woodruff, Executive Vice President and President, Asia and Middle East, AES Corporation
Mr. Jan Plantagie, Regional Manager Middle East, Standard & Poors
Mr. Rodney J. Eichler, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Apache Corporation
Mr. Bassam Aburdene, Chairman of Capital Trust S.A. and CEO and a Director of Capital Trust Limited
Mr. Ennis Rimawi, Managing Partner, Catalyst Private Equity
Mr. Ashraf Arafeh, General Manager Jordan & Palestine, Cisco Systems
Mr. Charles O. Engelken, CEO, Wall -Ties and Forms Inc.
Mr. William Johnson, President & CEO, VIAP, Inc.

For participants, the conference will offer a unique opportunity to hear from leading investment experts, U.S. businesses currently investing in the broader Middle East, financial institutions operating in the region, and U.S. government officials. Conference sessions will focus on access to credit, low- and middle-income housing, and infrastructure. Speakers will also discuss investment opportunities in sectors such as tourism, franchising, information technology and energy. More information about the conference can be accessed at www.trademeetings.com

Contact Information:

Mail:       MFM Group Inc
              4856 SW 72 Avenue
              Miami, FL 33155
              U.S.A.
Phone:  (+1) 305 667 4705
Fax:      (+1) 305 667 7840
E-mail:  opic@N0SPAM.mfmgroup.com
Website: http://www.trademeetings.com