112 November 2018 www.bahrainthismonth.com marketplacebusinessbites Khamis Al Muqla, founder and president of the International Advertising Association (IAA) Bahrain Chapter and chairman of the Gulf Marcom Group, was honoured for the third time by the international advertising industry. He was granted an Honorary Life Membership Award for his service to the IAA and his work as a communication leader. At the IAA Inspire Awards and dinner, IAA world president and chairman, Felix Tataro, presented the Inspire Award and Honorary Life Membership to Khamis Al Muqla, saying: “This is in recognition of your contribution to advancing the aims and objectives of the IAA in the Kingdom of Bahrain and your long and distinguished services in supporting the association’s activities and the global marketing communications industry.” During the recent Digital Banks and Innovators Awards Dinner, Global Finance magazine announced the 2018 regional sub-category winners, with Citi Bahrain taking the Best Overall Corporate/ Institutional Digital Bank award as well as being named the Best Consumer Digital Bank for the Middle East. Usman Ahmed, CEO of Citi Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar says: “We have set the bar high and invested heavily in our solutions and products to ensure the best digital experience for both our institutional and consumer banking clients. This is a testament to Citi regaining its position as a leading digital bank.” With the aim of bringing powerful backing to powerful ideas, American Express Middle East has launched Accelerate ME in Bahrain in partnership with the Nest, to bring together the next generation of start-ups and newly established SMEs (Small and Medium-size Enterprises) from around the world. The programme is focused on delivering innovative digital solutions to customers and business partners in the region. Operating from a specially appointed innovation lab at American Express Middle East’s headquarters in Bahrain, Accelerate ME will provide a highly supportive and collaborative environment for seven selected start-ups and give them the opportunity to pitch their solutions. The eight-week programme will provide a real-time opportunity for those participating to work alongside the highly experienced digital and business innovation teams within American Express Middle East, as well as helping them explore Bahrain’s emerging fintech and start-ups ecosystem. Citi Wins Digital Awards The Minister of Education, HE Dr Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, inaugurated the Clinical Simulation and Skills Centre at Arabian Gulf University (AGU). The centre aims to support and promote basic research on the use of clinical simulation techniques, and to build strategic partnerships with global medical simulation centres to enhance the status and services of AGU’s facility. “The Clinical Simulation and Skills Centre provides an interactive environment that simulates the hospital, from which students can learn and train. They may examine the mannequins, which are programmed to exhibit symptoms of any disease, as if they were patients. The students deal with cases in an integrated manner to determine the type of treatment,” says Dr Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al Ohali, president of AGU. Skills Centre Inauguration Global Industry Award for Al Muqla Telecommunications giant VIVA Bahrain received an award for its Excellence in Community Partnership with Charity at the recent Bahrain International CSR and Sustainability Conference. The company was awarded in recognition of its grassroots CSR initiatives such as its ‘Iftar Saem’. This annual Ramadan initiative distributes food boxes for the less fortunate to break their fast. So far, more than 75,000 boxes have been handed over. The Fereej VIVA initiative was also highlighted. Launched in 2015, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, the initiative focuses on benefitting Bahraini women with low-incomes and reaches out to the wider Bahraini community of women living under challenging conditions. VIVA’s partnership with the Conserving Bounties Society was also recognised. Together they source surplus food from large gatherings or hotels and restaurants and deliver food parcels to families in need with 280,500 meal parcels distributed to date. CSR Efforts Recognised AMEX Launches Accelerator Programme
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