Ajman Bank, the Emirate’s first Islamic commercial bank, lately hosted its first Annual Business Community Forum under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and chairman of Ajman Bank. The Forum, the first of its kind to be held by the Bank, has been designed to provide a platform for the exchange of information, networking and relationship building within the business community.
Reflecting its Ajman origins, the 2009 inaugural forum focused on Ajman government bodies and organizations, allowing the Ajman Bank team to forge new relationships, as well as building on existing ones. In light of the current economic climate, the forum will bring together senior government officials and representatives from all sectors of the Emirate, supporting Ajman Bank’s ability to build strong relationships and support the Emirate’s development across the board. Amongst the prominent attendees were dignitaries from Ajman Freezone, The Department of Economic Development, Department of Finance, Department of Land and Property, Ajman Police, Ajman Justice Department, Ajman TV and Ajman University of Science and Technology.
In addition to the networking objectives of the Forum, Ajman Bank aims to use this event to establish an ongoing dialogue with its current and future clients, who will enable a better understanding of its customers in order to deliver the products and personalized services they need. Ajman Bank is committed to bringing back the human touch lost in modern day banking and understands the development of this Annual Forum as one of many initiatives designed to help achieve this goal.
The Ajman Bank Business Community Forum is considered to be a key part of the Bank’s wider community banking approach which maintains that personalised relationships and a focus on supporting the sustainable local development will improve both the Bank and its customers’ futures. Implemented to support wider economic growth for the Emirate of Ajman as well as the UAE, Ajman Bank believes its community banking strategy will encourage business development and effective operations locally, which will in turn lead to greater potential for the Bank’s own success.
During the opening speech given by Ajman Bank CEO Yousif Khalaf, reference was made to successes to date which include establishing partnerships with government bodies such as ARRA and the Ministry of Finance to provide services not previously available in the Emirate. Khalaf also mentioned ongoing efforts being made by the Bank and the Ajman Chamber of Commerce to develop a program aimed at supporting small and medium sized businesses as well as a fund set up to support young people in financing their studies. They are also working with the Arab Trade financing program to facilitate access to working capital for businesses operating in the import-exporting trading sector with other Arab countries.
This of course combined with the ongoing dialogue already established with the wider community, CSR activity designed to benefit Ajman, particularly in the spirit of Islamic principles and values, demonstrates real progress in achieving the Bank’s community banking goals. Even though the Bank has been open only a short time, it has already been able to contribute to the welfare of the Emirate, Khalaf explained, for example, sponsoring Ajman Ramadan events and supporting co-operation with the Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Foundation, to launch the “ounce of good” project.
During the event guests enjoyed a networking lunch, at which Khalaf continued, “The Annual Ajman Bank Business Community Forum has been established in order to give the team at Ajman Bank the opportunity to contribute to the economic progress and development of Ajman. We firmly believe that it is both our duty and our privilege to help Ajman and the UAE grow and we know that we can only do so by working together. In times of economic uncertainty like those we face today, forums like these are all the more important and we want to strengthen the spirit of co-operation and the development of common goals to make sure we can face today’s climate and weather the storm.”
Said Wafai, Head of Strategic Affairs for Ajman Bank added during his speech; “Here at Ajman Bank we have tailored our strategy to fit a community banking approach. The purpose of this strategy is to create a stronger and smarter future. This way we can go back to basics and focus on the development of our economy from the ground up and work together to make this happen. It is about finding, creating and developing real value that will safeguard Ajman and the UAE from any economic turbulence in future. It is only through community and collaboration that this future can be achieved. The first Ajman Bank Annual Forum is one event which we hope will foster this kind of collaboration between the Bank and all the different economic sectors in Ajman.”
Wafai added, ”We have a great deal of confidence in the abilities of our highly qualified team, confidence that we will be able to bring long-term success to the Bank as well as support the local community and its economic needs as a central part of our strategy here at Ajman Bank.”
Wafai went on to introduce his team, who continued the forum with a number of presentations briefing the audience on the latest products and innovative services. Hesham Mohamed Youssef, Group Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking for the Bank showed their banking services for companies and financial institution marking how they apply best to today’s environment. This was followed by Ashraf Shukri, head of Information Technology Group who briefed audiences on the technical services being provided to the Bank’s customers helping to make Ajman Bank one of the most technologically innovative in the country. Finally, the presentations were closed by Salem Al Shamsi, the head of Government Relations who explained Ajman Bank’s plan to strengthen relations with the government departments, raising levels of communication in order to better support Ajman’s economic, financial and work environment. Audiences were left with the message that the Bank’s role in contributing to the prosperity and growth in the Emirate enabling it to achieve its long-term strategic objectives remains a priority for today and tomorrow.
