_36.jpg)
Markaz has launched its regional office in Qatar Financial Centre. Additionally, Markaz is the first Kuwaiti company to be licensed to operate in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), taking advantage of the QFC’s international standards of regulation and first class legal and business infrastructure. Markaz would play an active role in Qatar’s financial services sector, through its wide spectrum of advisory services in the asset management and investment banking areas; in particular, Markaz has a strong expertise in real estate and energy sectors. Markaz is also reputed for structuring conventional and Islamic solutions that satisfy the investment and financing requirements of institutions. Kuwait Financial Centre 'Markaz', with total assets under management of over KD1.25 billion (USD 4.3 billion) as of September 30, 2006, was established in 1974 has become one of the leading asset management and investment banking institutions in the Arabian Gulf Region. Markaz was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) in 1997; and was recently awarded a BBB+ corporate rating by Capital Intelligence Ltd.