Ras Al Khaimah’s growing presence on the international stage will be highlighted on Saturday by the prestigious new awards event honouring India’s leading Chief Financial Officers, which is hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ).
The event brings together 60 of India’s top senior CFOs from different fields, and awards will be presented by an impressive list of dignitaries, including Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah & the UAE Minister of Economy, Shaikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qasimi.
Awards organiser CNBC-TV18 estimates that recorded coverage of the event will reach 38 million viewers across the Indian sub-continent. Major exposure of this kind is becoming an increasingly regular occurance for the emirate as it steps boldly into the limelight on the back of an ambitious phase of development.
H.H. Sheikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Chairman of RAK FTZ said “The aim here is to highlight the opportunities that Ras Al Khaimah emirate offers, and to emphasize that Ras Al Khaimah was chosen to host the first CFO Awards Ceremony because of its worldwide recognition it is receiving as a business hub for international companies”
Ras Al Khaimah has built a reputation as a peaceful haven where age-old traditions and modern life blend easily. For many years, visitors have been attracted by the mixture of its features such as the rugged mountains, deserts and sandy beaches and its old forts in the historical sites.
But the northern most emirate of the UAE is now maturing rapidly, with construction of a new diverse economy based on the attraction of investment in infrastructure, tourism, shopping, and efforts to invite industrial and commercial enterprises.
The pattern of change and progress is highlighted by the growing success story at RAK FTZ, one of the fastest growing free trade zones in the region. It is currently home to more than 2,400 companies from 87 countries, more than 1100 of these registering this year, an increase of 160 per cent over the same period last year.
Oussama El Omari, CEO for RAK FTZ, added: “The CFO Awards for India recognise and reward individuals who have made important contributions and emerged as ‘Thought Leaders’ in their field. They have made the most of their opportunities, and this is something we admire, and want to encourage here.”
The 2006 CFO Awards for India is expected to become an annual event of growing significance for India’s finance community. The 15 category winners, including that of India’s CFO of the Year, will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on tomorrow night at the Ras Al Khaimah Hilton Hotel.
Among the front runners are Srinivas Vadlamani of Satyam Computer, Dabur’s Rajan Varma, Ram S. Ramasundar of Ranbaxy, Ravi Sud of Hero Honda Motors Ltd, Rajiv Dhar of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Colgate’s Moses Elias. The 50 nominees were selected by a pre-eminent Awards jury from an initial list of more than 1,000 CFOs
