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Visions2Reality calls for best practices and capacity-building within the business community

Dubai, 02 May 2012: Visions2Reality the first initiative of newly signed joint agreement by the Business Excellence Department at the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Sharjah Islamic Bank Academy, under the Sharjah Islamic Bank ( SIB ), was opened at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai. According to the agreement, DED and Sharjah Islamic Bank Academy are jointly launching a series of conferences, seminars and workshops related to regional and international business issues.

Visions2Reality is the first of many initiatives still to come that will see Sharjah Islamic Bank Academy, which is the Training Department of SIB , working closely with the Business Excellence Department to leverage the DED 's capabilities in instructing and nurturing businesses to promote best practices and capacity-building within the business community.

Mr Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General for Planning & Development Affairs, Department of Economic Development , remarked that this conference is unique in many ways, stating that it marks a partnership between two organisations committed to place excellence at the forefront of growth in the UAE. He comments that while the Business Excellence Department spearheads DED 's initiatives to promote new enterprise and encourage businesses to evolve in line with global trends and expectations, the Sharjah Islamic Banking Academy on its part plays a valuable role in sustaining the UAE's position as a financial hub by encouraging innovations and creative thinking in the banking sector. This agreement reflects a growing belief that closer co-operation between all stakeholders in economic development is essential to support businesses in the region overcome current and future global economic challenges.

Mr Ibrahim: "This conference underlines the growing belief that all stakeholders in the region's economic development, including businesses, think-tanks and policy-makers, need to engage closely to overcome the challenges ahead. For DED and the Sharjah Islamic Banking Academy, this conference is especially relevant in that it shows the way institutions within the various emirates in the UAE can create profitable synergies. DED looks forward to advancing this partnership into a strong knowledge-sharing platform and building similar partnerships with other local and national institutions within the public and private sectors in the UAE."

The conference then proceeded with a CEO panel discussion between Mr. Mohammed Abdalla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank , Mr. Marwan Jassem Al Serkal, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority "Shurooq", and Ms. Zanubia Shams, CEO, Zulekha Healthcare Group . The panel focused on the most pressing concerns in the business sector of the day, including the latest trends economic trends, the role of leadership, and the developments in business excellence.

According to Mr Mohammed Abdalla, the agreement shows a new era of collaboration between the various corporate and government entities in the UAE, linking different elements in the business world to come together to benefit the business community and encourage new enterprise.

Mr Abdalla: "Through Visions2Reality, the SIB academy aims to facilitate this togetherness, a platform for you and I to come together and share our dreams and go on to assist each other to realize them. The 2 in the name symbolises the 2 partners in this Endeavour, the DED and the SIB Academy. We would like to, together, do our bit to propagate the spirit of the United Arab Emirates - Excellence and world leadership through collective striving. We believe that excellent organizations need to move forward from Competing- and should advance to the higher state of Co-opeting, a synergy of Cooperating and Competing. If we can learn from the experiences of each other and then try to outdo one another, in the true spirit of excellence, we can take ourselves, our organisations and this beautiful country to its deserving place in the international community."

Mohammed Bushanain, Executive Director, Corporate Quality & Management Excellence in DED , remarked that the agreement reflects a new phase of cooperation between the various emirates in the UAE, which involves different departments supporting each other to help the business community and encouraging new enterprise. Co-operation between the two entities will be beneficial for the economic sector and the business community in the region. Creating more such partnerships is essential to counter any adverse impact from global economic trends."

In its opening session V2R featured keynote speakers in the financial domain as well as presentations from frontline financial organisations on the various aspects and best practices of business excellence. Prominent attendees include leaders from the financial and related industries in the UAE. The aim of DED and Sharjah Islamic Bank Academy, was to make available the expertise of reputed CEOs and award winning organisations to encourage successful business practices.

The three keynote speakers were Evelyn Hunter, General Manager of Lafferty Banking Academy, who addressed 'The Future of Retail Banking', Ali Wahab, Managing Director of Sharjah Islamic Bank , who talked about '2012 and Beyond - Driving the Recovery', and Binod Shankar, Managing Director of the Genesis Institute, who delivered a keynote address entitled 'The Competencies of a Financial Whiz'.

Apart from the keynote speeches there were five other industry specialists who adressed various issues within the financial and business world. Anand Kumar, the Head of Business Excellence & Strategy Analysis at Al Rostamani International Exchange, discussed 'How to create bullet proof strategies', while Badia Belghiti, HR Director for Western, Union Middle East - Africa, examined the topic 'How to become an Employer of Choice'. Devika Vital, the Head of Customer Service for UAE Exchange, focussed on how to accelerate business processes in 'Faster, Better & More: How to excel in your business process' and Ambreen Khan, Head of Service Quality, Noor Islamic Bank, spoke about excellence in service in 'Delighting your customer: How to raise a fan brigade'. Finally, Mahesh Mathilakath Head of Quality & CSR, Commercial Bank of Dubai adressed the important theme of social and corporate responsibility through his topic 'Giving it back: how to evolve into a great organization'.

During the opening ceremony, Mr Mohammed Abdalla and Mr Ali Ibrahim honoured the participants for their tremendous contribution towards taking Visions2Reality (V2R) from concept to execution and Mr Abdalla and Mr Ibrahim took the opportunity to address the conference goers, expressing their pleasure at the chance to provide the UAE business community with such a valuable platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and expertise, as V2R.

The conference also featured a number of business quizzes, an open forum, and a business lunch and networking opportunity for participants to utilise.

Sharjah Islamic Bank is an internationally reputed Islamic financial institution and a previous winner of the Dubai Quality Award and Dubai Human Development Award, which is organised by DED . The partnership will effectively make SIB part of a knowledge network providing critical information and talent for the strategic business sectors in the UAE.

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About Department of Economic Development ( DED ):
The Department of Economic Development ( DED ) is the government body entrusted to set and drive the economic agenda of the emirate of Dubai, UAE. DED supports the structural transformation of Dubai into a diversified, innovative service-based economy that aims to improve the business environment and accelerate productivity growth.

DED and its agencies develop economic plans and policies, identify and support the growth of strategic sectors, and provide services to domestic and international investors and businesses.

For further information, please contact:
Nafisa Elmarzouky
Marketing & Communications division - Department of Economic Development
Tel: (971 4) 3613067
Email: nafisa.elmarzouky@dubaided.gov.ae

About Sharjah Islamic Bank ( SIB ):
Sharjah Islamic Bank , formerly known as National Bank of Sharjah, was founded by an Amiri decree issued by H.H. Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council, and Ruler of Sharjah, to provide commercial banking services to firms and individuals. Originally a conventional bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank became the first in the world to convert successfully to Islamic banking in 2002. Since then, all operating systems and procedures have been modified to facilitate this conversion and all employees trained in Islamic banking.

For further information, please contact:
Serine Srouji
SAHARA Communications
Tel: +971 4 3298996
Fax: +971 4 3298995
Email: serin@saharagcc.com

© Press Release 2012

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