Citibank provides intensive training on credit risk and corporate finance to Kuwaitis joining KIA

Training was conducted by Mr. George Werner, an ex-Citibanker and a banking expert from Polar Associates, a NY-based consultancy which provides high quality risk management training to financial institutions and corporations and specializes in credit risk analysis and management, corporate finance and the analysis of financial institutions.

The highly intensive, highly participative practical program entailed two weeks of unique credit risk analysis and management and one week of corporate finance which provided trainees with a solid foundation for further professional development. A mix of lectures, exercises, case studies and team presentations reinforced a basic understanding of credit risk and corporate finance.

The training falls within KIA's annual recruitment plan. Each year, KIA takes two groups of 20 Kuwaiti college graduates and puts them through a one year training program, designed to give them a thorough grounding in finance. As part of the training, KIA engages companies and financial institutions to take part in the training and induction process and to provide the trainees with hands-on experience.

"The training program was well received by trainees who can now move comfortably to the next phase of intensive financial training, as they prepare to work with one of the most sophisticated financial institutions in the region,"

said Raj Dvivedi, Citi Country Officer in Kuwait.

"We continue to play our role as a provider of quality banking services, as well as a responsible corporate citizen across all the local markets that host Citi worldwide. This and other focused training efforts are in line with Citi's long-term strategy and commitment to developing local professional talent," continued Mr. Dvivedi.

Citi has been in the Arab World for nearly 50 years and continues to view the region as critical to its global franchise. It is currently present in ten Arab countries including Egypt, UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. It also serves clients in non-presence countries, such as Yemen and Oman through Bahrain and Dubai.

Since establishing its fully licensed branch in Kuwait in 2006, Citi has evolved into an active corporate citizen, with a particular interest in supporting financial education and developing Kuwait's talent pool. Over 250 young Kuwaitis have so far received certified training on financial literacy, life skills and personal economics through Citi's sponsored training programs.