Bahrain Financial Harbour to sponsor region's first Euromoney Awards for Excellence in Bahrain

The event will be attended by senior executive of regional financial institutions. The awards event is a significant part of Euromoney's efforts to identify and encourage pursuit of excellence in regional banking.

Regarded as one of the benchmark awards for banks globally, Euromoney Awards for Excellence have been presented for the last 13 years in London's Natural History Museum. This edition of the awards ceremony in Bahrain is expected to attract over 200 high profile attendees from award-winning banks from across the region.

Euromoney will also launch a new award co-branded with BFH - "Bahrain Financial Harbour Award for Outstanding Contribution to Development of Financial Services."

Highlighting the significance of the awards to BFH and the regional financial sector, Mr. Esam Janahi, Chairman of Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company, said: "Bahrain has remained at the forefront of the financial services industry over the past three decades. Stiff competition between banks in the region, and particularly in Bahrain, has prompted the launch of the solutions to meet rising expectations of clients. These awards intend to commend this spirit of innovation in the finance and banking.

We are extremely pleased to be the sole-sponsor of the Euromoney Awards for Excellence."

The sponsorship is a reflection of BFH's commitment to the development of the region's financial sector, Mr. Janahi said, adding that the theme of the awards is also in sync with BFH's mission of evolving a highly focused, committed environment and promoting excellence in the financial sector. Sponsorship of the high-profile awards function will also enable BFH to showcase the plan to international investors attending the show.

Commenting on the awards, Mr. Simon Brady, Chief Executive Officer of Euromoney Institutional Investor said: "The growth in innovation and the sophistication of financial markets in the Middle East have been the key drivers in our decision to host a dedicated ceremony for the awards in the region."

"Once Euromoney decided to have the awards in the region, Bahrain was a natural choice. We are delighted to partner with BFH for the 2005 awards ceremony, which is an iconic project that marks a new milestone in regional finance and banking," he said.

"The region has seen rapid growth in the financial services sector. Euromoney has always watched the growth of the financial sector in the Middle East with interest and our decision to host the award function in Bahrain reflects the increasing importance of this sector in the region which is now undergoing a paradigm economic transformation, Mr. Brady added.