Bahrain British Business Forum and Standard Chartered announce partnership in Support of Special Interest Groups

Standard Chartered's affiliation with BBBF will enable the SIGs to continue developing channels of communication for members helping them identify opportunities for business development in their specialised fields.

Mr. Hassan Jarrar, Chief Executive Officer for Standard Chartered Bahrain, presented the cheque to Mr. Khalid Al Zayani, BBBF Chairman, and commented: "Standard Chartered Bank is proud to be associated with the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) in sponsoring the Special Interest Group platform. As the oldest bank in Bahrain, we are committed to supporting the economies success and societies in which we operate. This partnership is one of the ways the Bank facilitates global trade and investment corridors because as the world's leading trade bank, with a footprint in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Standard Chartered is ideally placed to play a shaping role in this fast-moving environment."

Mr. Al Zayani commented: "As a UK bank and the first bank in Bahrain, Standard Chartered has demonstrated its commitment since 1920 to the development of business and local community here in Bahrain, and this partnership will help further facilitate trade between the Kingdom and the UK. The BBBF could not continue its valuable work without such support, and we are grateful to Mr. Jarrar and his team for recognising the contribution BBBF makes to Bahrain's economy. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship."

Each of the six BBBF's Special Interest Groups hold four meetings per year focused on a speclialised topic, in addition to key events such as the annual Business Bazaar with participation from partners such as UKTI, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce, EDB, Tamkeen, BizLadies and the Ministry of Industry.

SIG Chairperson, Ms Jill Boggiss, in conjunction with the group heads is currently working with the Bahrain Polytechnic to establish work placement opportunities for undergraduates who require project-based learning for their degree studies. There will be a new SIG focused on the needs of young business people, supporting their growth and development in the workplace.