Tanmia and Citibank graduate 57 UAE employees

The Citibank Academy, part of Citibank's training department, started its activities with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Citibank, a member of Citigroup, and The National Human Resource Development & Employment Authority (TANMIA) in July 2004. According to the MOU, qualified UAE nationals are trained at the Academy in the fields of banking, finance, credit, leadership, sales, teamwork, management and customer service. Upon successful graduation, all students are offered jobs at the bank. Over 200 graduates of the Academy have so far joined Citibank as full time employees.

'We are delighted to graduate this new batch of UAE nationals in parallel with the launch lately of the Emirates Nationals Development Program Initiative by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister,' said Rajeev Kakar, Regional Head for Citibank's Consumer Bank in Turkey, Middle East & Africa, who is based in the UAE. 'At Citibank, we have formalized our training efforts through an in-house Academy dedicated to developing UAE nationals, and to creating a pipeline for potential future senior management. Our aim is to hire the best and the brightest, and to provide the best hands-on training available in the market through our own specialized coursework delivered by seasoned Citibank staff.'

Mr. Ayesh Al Barguthi, Director of Employment and Skills Development Center at TANMIA, said: 'The strategic alliance we have with Citibank is unique in the banking industry today. We think it's a good model to follow for improved localization ratios in banks. The Emiratization ratio achieved by Citibank is witness to the viability of this model which we would encourage others to emulate.'

The Citibank Academy falls into a series of training and financial literacy initiatives that have been initiated by the bank in conjunction with top academic centers in the UAE. Currently, the bank supports the Dubai University College providing scholarships to merit students at the College, and sponsors a women entrepreneurship initiative, which encourages small business projects that are run and owned by women in the UAE.

Citibank has been closely associated with innovation and the introduction of the latest banking technology worldwide. Moreover, it has consistently ranked at the forefront of human development and training throughout all the markets where it is present, including the UAE.