business bites Bahrainthismonth.com March 2024 55 UAB AND EBDAA BAHRAIN RAISE ARAB MICROFINANCE STANDARDS KEY APPOINTMENTS MADE TO GULF AIR’S SENIOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM Gulf Air Group Holding has announced new appointments to the senior executive management team. Bringing a wealth of experience to their new roles are Captain Qasim Ismaeel who has been appointed as Chief Operations Officer succeeding Captain Suhail Ismaeel following his retirement, and Hanadi Alaali who has been appointed as Chief Customer Experience Officer. Captain Qasim will lead the operational departments, including Flight Operations, Ground Operations, Safety and Emergency, as well as Crew Management. He has served Gulf Air for over 30 years, most recently as the Head of Flight Operations. With over 20 years of experience, Ms. Hanadi, will be focusing on building customer comfort and satisfaction, driving continuous enhancements to customer service, and elevating the travel experiences of Gulf Air passengers. Furthermore, she will be managing Gulf Air’s loyalty programme, ‘Falcon Flyer’, leading a customer-centric approach, and maintaining the airline’s competitive capacity. Ebdaa Bahrain Microfinance Company and the Union of Arab Banks (UAB) sign memorandum of understanding encompassing an executive programme to advance the microfinance sector across the Arab world. The primary objectives include expanding access to microfinance in various Arab countries, catering to a broader spectrum of individuals seeking microloans for startup initiatives, and contributing to job creation and advancing economic development in the Arab region. UAB Secretary-General, Dr. Wissam Fattouh, comments: “We are eager to leverage the extensive experience accumulated by Ebdaa over 12 years in this crucial field. This partnership offers us an opportunity to delve into the successful experience of the microfinance industry in Bahrain and understand how it can significantly contribute to promoting financial inclusion and reaching diverse segments within various Arab societies.” Ebdaa Microfinance Company in Bahrain CEO, Dr. Khaled Al-Ghazzawi, adds: “The commitment to activating the provisions outlined in the MoU, considering it a foundational cornerstone from which both parties can build and enhance our collaborative efforts. The focus will be on exchanging expertise, and best practices related to microfinance, particularly given the escalating demand for this form of financing. The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) organised a meeting between banks and the Labour Fund ‘Tamkeen’ with the aim of acquainting banks with novel support initiatives for employment, career advancement and institutional assistance. The meeting served as a platform to deliberate on strategies to streamline access to essential financing for startups and SMEs. The objective was to bolster their sustainability, expand operational scope, boost job creation, contribute to GDP and foster the overall development of the national economy. The discussions also encompassed potential avenues for collaboration between Bahraini banks and Tamkeen in the fields of economic, banking and developmental initiatives. BAB CEO, Dr. Waheed Al Qassim, says: “The necessity of concerted efforts between Tamkeen and the banking sector, advocating for the formulation of an effective strategy that ensures ongoing support for institutions and reinforces the stability of the financial and economic sector in Bahrain. The support extended by banks plays a pivotal role in sustaining Tamkeen’s programmes, aligning with the objectives outlined in the Financial Services Development Sector Strategy 2022-2026. This strategy includes performance indicators that emphasise increasing the share of financing for SMEs.” Within the meeting, Tamkeen presented an overview of its recently launched suite of programmes designed in response to evolving market dynamics and needs. These programmes aimed to fortify the growth of the national economy. MEETING HOSTED BETWEEN BANKS AND TAMKEEN
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