Bahrain Multi-Asset Exchange Going Live
Friday, January 14, 2011

The Bahrain Financial Exchange (BFX) has announced that the Middle East and North Africa’s first ever multi‐asset exchange will commence live operations on February 7, 2011. The official launch of the BFX will be marked by a ceremony held under the patronage of Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain on February 1.

The Exchange will adopt a phased approach to its trading whereby its Islamic division, Bait Al Bursa, will start its e‐Tayseer platform for general use on February 7, and its conventional segment will start on March 7. This two-phased approach is designed to give market participants sufficient time to market and develop business in the BFX’s Islamic sector in advance of launching the conventional market.

After two years of work, the BFX is set to revolutionize trading in the MENA region. The BFX will be a unique global exchange where multi‐asset class instruments will commence trading on a single exchange environment, offering its users Islamic products, currencies, commodities and equity indices in its first phase of live operations. The BFX will provide a unique opportunity for the MENA financial services sector to link‐in with established markets and take a step forward on the global financial services stage.

Jignesh Shah, CEO and Chairman of the Financial Technologies Group and Chairman of the BFX and the BCDC (BFX Clearing and Depository Corporation), said: “The first day of trading for the Bahrain Financial Exchange will be a momentous event for the financial services industry in the Middle East and North Africa, and I am honoured that His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain has given his patronage to this important occasion."

“When we started the project, we recognized that there was a gap in the market and that the MENA financial sector needs to have a fully functioning multi‐asset exchange to be able to fulfill its true international potential. We were delighted to set‐up in Bahrain under the watchful regulation of the Central Bank of Bahrain, and we know that the hard work and dedication of the team here will lead to real benefits for the whole region. I would like to thank the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Economic Development Board of Bahrain for their support in putting this unique project together.”

Abdul Rahman Al Baker, Executive Director of the Financial Institutions Directorate at the Central Bank of Bahrain, welcomed the initiative and commented: “The Central Bank of Bahrain welcomes the BFX to the Kingdom of Bahrain. By providing a multi‐asset platform for trading financial instruments, particularly those that are Shariah-compliant, the BFX sits squarely with Bahrain’s long‐term development strategy which is to encourage a strong, competitive and well‐diversified financial sector.”

When it launches, the Exchange will already have 10 tradable products on its conventional platform, including commodities, currencies and equity indices as well as e‐Tayseer on its Islamic platform. Set‐up in a purpose-built exchange building, which has state-of-the-art technology and facilities, the physical exchange is being supported by a global business and sales development programme, which includes the opening of an accredited training institute (BFX‐TI).

“We are proud and delighted to see the Bahrain Financial Exchange moving from concept to reality. Setting‐up a multi‐asset exchange with conventional and Islamic products serving participants across the MENA market has not been an easy task to accomplish. Drawing from the strength of our promoters, our regulator, our members and our employees, we are very pleased that we have achieved this feat in only two years," said Arshad Khan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the BFX and the BCDC.

“Every element of the Bahrain Financial Exchange, Bait Al Bursa, the BFX Training Institute and the BCDC has been designed to deliver a self sufficient and self sustaining business built around robust technology and risk management,” he added.