BFH, Euromoney Award for Outstanding Contribution to Financial Services announced

The award was given at a gala ceremony where Euromoney also announced an array of winners of the 2005 Euromoney Awards for Excellence from the region for pursuing excellence in the financial sector.

Commenting on the BFH Euromoney co-branded award, Mr. Esam Janahi, Chairman of Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company, said: "The award brings to the fore exceptional performance in financial services, driven by a spirit of innovation and an unyielding urge to excel - aspects that form the essence of BFH's vision. It identifies cutting-edge strategies that are a winning formula in the fast-evolving world of regional finance."

The award ceremony was attended by 200 guests, comprising the top brass of the banking sector, policy makers and high-profile executives of regional financial institutions.

"BFH is pleased to be associated with the Euromoney award ceremony which honours financial institutions that are ahead of their times. The theme of the award aligns well with BFH's aim to play a vital role in the expansion of the Middle East financial sector and strengthen Bahrain's dominance in this sector," Mr. Janahi said.

The Euromoney Awards for Excellence also focused the attention of the regional and international financial industry to the innovative concept that forms the basis of BFH, he added.

Commenting on the awards, Mr. Simon Brady, Chief Executive Officer of Euromoney Magazine and Board Director of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC., said: "We are pleased to announce the winners of the Euromoney Awards for Excellence. The financial services sector in the Middle East will play an increasingly important role as it gradually integrates with the global banking industry."

"Leading international players view this market and its participants with growing interest. Our decision to host the award function in Bahrain was led by its growing prominence in international banking," he said.

In Bahrain, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) was adjudged as the `Best Bank,' while Liquidity Management Centre (LMC) won the `Best Debt House' award.

Other winners of Euromoney Awards for Excellence in the GCC include National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Deutsche Bank and The National Investor in the UAE, NBK and Global Investment House in Kuwait, Bank Muscat and BNP Paribas in Oman, Doha Bank and Qatar National Bank in Qatar. In Saudi Arabia the winners were Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corp., SAMBA and HSBC/SABB.

In other countries in the region, the Euromoney awards were won by CIB and Citigroup in Egypt, Bank Keshavarzi and Bank Saderat in Iran, Arab Bank in Jordan and Banque Audi and Blom Bank in Lebanon.

"We are proud to host this award ceremony in Bahrain, drawing the world's attention to the dynamism of the financial sector of the Middle East. Euromoney extends its good wishes to winners for their future endeavors, Mr. Brady added."