SMBC group has been a leading project finance lender in the Middle East for many years, where the requirement for project finance is vast, as governments target social infrastructure development in addition to the ongoing needs of the energy and utilities sectors. The IPFA conference, which was the launch event for the planned IPFA Branch in the region, outlined opportunities in these sectors and examined whether the international project finance industry would be able to meet the huge and diverse needs of the region, given the current, chronic problems being experienced in the international financial markets.