13 Jul, 2008DIFX appoints Nassef Sawiris as Director

The Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) today announced the appointment of Nassef Sawiris as a Board Director. Mr. Sawiris is the Chief Executive of Orascom Construction Industries (OCI), the Egypt-based international construction contractor.

Mr. Sawiris is a former Board Director of the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange, and has many years of experience in various industrial sectors including cement, natural gas and fertilisers.

Soud Ba'alawy, Chairman of the DIFX and Executive Chairman of Dubai Group, said: 'Mr. Sawiris brings valuable skills and knowledge to the DIFX as it expands its role as the region's international stock exchange. His regional and international expertise will provide excellent guidance to enable the DIFX to develop further as a world class platform.'

Biographical details of Mr. Sawiris:

Nassef Sawiris joined the Orascom group in 1992 and became Chief Executive of Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) in 1998, ahead of OCI's initial public offering in 1999. He has led the company's investment strategies and execution in various industrial sectors and in significant geographical expansion.

Mr. Sawiris is a Director of NNS Holding and its related entities, a privately owned investment group, which has a major shareholding in Lafarge SA in France. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of Lafarge in January 2008. He was a Board Director of the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange from 2004 to 2007.