Professor of Economics, Al-Zahra University; Tehran, Iran Dr. Iraj Toutounchian is a Professor of Economics at Az-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran. He received his Ph.D. Degree from Texas A&M University with distinction. He holds B.A. degree in Business, an M.BA, and an M.S. in Economics. He taught three years both at Texas A&M University and at Appalachian State University, NC. He has served as Vice-Minister for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance (Iran) and also was later adviser to the Minister of the same ministry.

Managing Director, Business and Product Development, Wafra Investment Advisory Group; New York, N.Y. Monir Barakat is Managing Director of the Business and Product Development Division at Wafra Investment Advisory Group in New York. Before joining Wafra, he was president of a private investment banking firm in New York that served the Middle East institutional and high-net-worth market. Barakat started his banking career with the National Westminster Bank in Bristol and London and spent over 20 years in banking in the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S.