ECIE & Coface to co-sponsor the Inaugural Middle East Country RiskConference

Dubai, — The Export Credit Insurance Company of the Emirates (ECIE), the new Dubai Government owned entity offering trade credit risk management solutions to companies in the UAE, and Coface, a global leader in risk analysis and one of the world’s biggest player in trade receivables management,today announce theexclusive co-sponsorship of the inaugural Country Risk Conference, to be held on 11th May 2009 inDubai, UAE.

ECIE was established by the Dubai Government as a result of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision, in his capacity as Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai – to help UAE-based companies make use of opportunities to grow their exports safely. ECIE was set up primarily to help companies increase their export business by providing them with trade credit protection which will allow them to manage their commercial and political risks better, and thereby safeguard their balance sheets and increase profitability.

Eng. Saed Al Awadi, CEO of ECIE, said:

"The inaugural conference is a big step for the region. Dubai will see a selection of experts from the local financial and industrial sectors, addressing such issues as the effects of the economic crisis on the region and the challenges of MENA markets. Coface has contributed significantly towards our development in this niche sector, and we both look forward to seeing the success of this conference."

Jerome Cazes, CEO of Coface, who is doing the opening address at the Country Risk Conference, said:

"In the context of a severe credit crisis and a global recession, we expect gulf countries to post slowing but positive growth. Furthermore, Coface country ratings of the GCC have been globally strong and rather stable. It means we believe that here, corporates are able to weather this dramatic crisis".

The Dubaiconference is expected to attract more than 100 professionals, including delegates from across the entire MENA region. Speakers will include Philippe Dauba-Pantanacce, Senior Economist, Middle East & North Africa, Global Markets, Standard Chartered Bank, Jahangir Khan, Director of Risk, DIFC and Timothy Fox, Chief Economist, Emirates-NBD. Topics to be presented and discussed, are, for example, an overview of the evolution of UAE exports between 2008 & 2009; outlook of the dollar impact on the GCC and global downturn: outlook and risks in the GCC region.

The conference will take place on 11th May 2009 at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai. Registration is required. For further information or reservation please email: emiratesconference@coface.com

About ECIE
The Export Credit Insurance Company of the Emirates (ECIE) is wholly owned by the Dubai Government, and offers short-term trade credit insurance policies to companies based in the UAE which are engaged in manufacturing, value-added trading and, the export of services. Insurance policies tailored by ECIE cover a Seller against the risk of non-payment by its Customers.

About Coface
Coface’s mission is to facilitate global business-to-business trade by offering its 130,000 customers four business lines to fully or partly outsource trade relationship management and to finance and protect their receivables:Trade Receivables Protection, Trade Receivables Financing, Ratings and Business Information and Trade Receivables Management. Thanks to the worldwide local service delivered by 7,000 staff in 65 countries, over 45% of the world’s 500 largest corporate groups are already customers of Coface. Coface is a subsidiary of Natixis whose share capital (Tier 1) was 13.4 billion euros end December 2008.