www.bahrainthismonth.com business bites October 2021 39 The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) issued its foreign trade report of August 2021, encompassing data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin), and re-exports. The value of exports of national origin increased by 103% to BD386 million during August 2021, compared to BD190 million for the same month of the previous year. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD77 million from Bahrain. Meanwhile, United States of America was second with BD62 million and the United Arab Emirates third with BD53 million. The value of imports increased by 16%, reaching BD496 million during August 2021 compared to BD428 million for the same month of the previous year. Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value of BD105 million, while aluminum oxide was second with BD28 million, and parts for aircraft engines third with BD21 million. For more details, visit the foreign trade page on the Bahrain Open Data Portal www.data.gov.bh. EXPORTS ON THE RISE! Mentorship Forum Middle East has announced that it has partnered with the CFA Society Bahrain to help build awareness of the importance of mentorship and accelerate the adoption of mentorship schemes. The announcement was made prior to the second annual event which will take place in November in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the theme ‘Prioritising Mentorship in a New World’. “We’re grateful for the support and partnership of the CFA Society and its diverse membership, which today consists of more than 250 members making it one of the largest CFA societies in the Middle East,” says Zahraa Taher, Managing Director of FinMark Communications – founder and organiser of the Forum. The partnership will see the CFA Society promote the event to its members, nominate speakers and delegates and contribute content pertaining to the Forum’s agenda which will seek to address the critical challenges facing professionals and businesses in their human capital development as a result of COVID-19. “We are delighted to partner with the Mentorship Forum Middle East to help drive awareness and adoption of mentorship as a way of supporting human capital development both in our field and across sectors,” says President of CFA Society Bahrain, Dr. Ali Al-Moulani. The event will feature participation from top regional and international speakers and attendees. The Arab Pensions Conference 2021 will be hosted in Manama, Bahrain on November 16 and November 17. The conference which will be held digitally under the patronage of HE Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of Bahrain’s Supreme Council of Health, and Chairman of Al-Hekma Retired Society, is organised by Fintech Robos for Savings and Pensions Apps and is expected to attract 400 delegates. The conference brings together bright minds from government pension funds, government agencies, asset management firms, actuary firms, audit firms, financial industry, HR leaders labour unions, employee benefits specialists and Fintech firms, to discuss how a more sustainable and futureproof retirement framework can be built. The event will be the only event highlighting the pension industry in the MENA region. A debate held during the conference will highlight what was once the region’s golden 50 years of pension, when pension funds and benefits were thriving regardless of unstable economy and labour markets; and what should be done in order to build a vital pensions industry for the future. Speakers from global think-tank institutions will shed light on the predicted demographics and investment returns of the MENA pension funds over the next 50 years, and how the private sector and FinTech technologies are bound to in play a key role. PRIORITISING MENTORSHIP IN A NEW WORLD 50 Years of Foresight
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