Manama - MENA Herald: CFA Society Bahrain, the Kingdom's pre-eminent association of investment professionals, celebrated its 10th anniversary on 26th November at an event held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain. Over the past ten years, the society has grown to become one of the region’s largest groups of portfolio managers, financial analysts, investment advisors and educators, with 172 society members. The society is focused on raising professional and market standards to support the growth and development of the Kingdom’s investment sector.
The society has launched initiatives such as Mutamahin - the first fresh graduate development programme in Bahrain - to develop the employability skills of young graduates in the country and invest in the next generation of investment professionals. The programme has given numerous graduates in the Kingdom the opportunity to showcase their capabilities to potential future employers following an intensive 12-week training period. Successful candidates have gone on to join prominent local firms such as Securities & Investment Company (SICO), Bahrain Bourse, BNH, Bahrain Credit and BBK in various capacities.
Mahmoud Nawar, CFA, President of CFA Society Bahrain said: “We are very pleased with how we have played an active part in helping drive the very highest professional standards and ethics, investor education, investor protection and investment practices in the Kingdom over the past decade. We have worked with local government entities, regulators, exchanges, education institutions and businesses towards the growth and advancement of the country’s investment industry. We look forward to supporting the continued growth of Bahrain’s financial market by promoting prudent investment management and ethical corporate governance."
For seven years, CFA Society Bahrain has held the CFA Institute Research Challenge for business and finance university students in the country, offering them the opportunity to develop financial analysis skills by working alongside top industry professionals. Successful teams from local universities have gone on to compete in the global competition and acquire valuable knowledge in the field of equity research.
Gary Baker, CFA, Managing Director of CFA Institute for the EMEA region, commented saying: "The challenging economic conditions in the GCC reinforce the importance of the need for investment firms to hire adequately qualified professionals, with the highest ethical standards. For a decade, CFA Society Bahrain has been proactively upholding the highest standards of professional practice, contributing towards the development of Bahrain's investment sector and highlighting the benefits of the CFA Program."
