MANAMA: More than 550 top level executives, industry thought leaders and key regulators are set to gather for the 11th annual edition of the Middle East Insurance Forum (MEIF) in Bahrain next year.

Scheduled to be held on February 3 and 4 next year under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain, the event is expected to see high-profile discussions focused on strengthening the regional insurance industry.

An innovation at MEIF 2015 will be the launch of InsureTech @ MEIF 2015 – a new insurance technology summit that will added to the core event.

The main event will see participation from 200 leading global organisations and more than 50 international speakers.

InsureTech will bring together chief executives, chief information officers, chief technology officers, and IT heads of major insurance companies, reinsurers and brokers.

The summit will provide a great platform for the technology leaders within major insurance players to come together to harness the role of IT in improving their business success as well as understand how future trends in technology will impact their company.

The forum will also feature a special awards ceremony that will recognise excellence, innovation and pioneering initiatives in the regional insurance industry.

“The Middle East continues to be one of the most dynamic and attractive insurance markets in the world,” Middle East Insurance Forum chief executive David McLean said.

“For this growth momentum in the industry to be continued in the long term requires leading players in the industry to concentrate on technical and operational profitability, address the issues of rising competition and pricing challenges, explore new opportunities in speciality lines, shift towards risk adequate pricing, and adopt international best practices.

“The annual MEIF, which over the last 11 years has established its pre-eminent position as the region’s largest and most influential annual gathering of insurance industry leaders, is set to continue its tradition of supporting growth, excellence and innovation in the regional insurance industry and is poised to break new records next year,” he added.