BIBF and LIBF Join Forces to Launch Cutting-Edge ESG Expert Technical Series

Wednesday, 5 April 2023

The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) recently announced the launch of the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Expert Technical Series, in collaboration with The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF), with an aim to build the professional knowledge of national banking cadres in sustainable finance and take forward their knowledge from awareness to implementation, helping them respond to pressing questions in their respective business area.

ESG has become increasingly important in recent years as investors and regulators prioritise sustainable investment practices. The technical briefings will provide a platform for industry experts to discuss specific ESG-related topics such as climate risk reporting, transition to net zero, structuring sustainable finance loans and ethical investment.

Through highly specialised in-house sessions from a list of thirty technical sessions, the programme will offer financial institutions the possibility to select the most relevant topics for their teams. For banks, insurance companies, asset managers and asset owners it provides regular access to worldwide experts to discuss the most complex and urgent issues to be dealt with when implementing a robust sustainable finance strategy.

The technical briefings will be delivered by LIBF’s experienced faculty members and industry experts. The collaboration between the two institutions will enable participants to gain valuable insights from both regional and international perspectives.

Commenting on the launch of the ESG Expert Technical Series, Ms. Zeeba Askar, Head of Banking & Finance Centre at the BIBF said, “As the financial sector continues to evolve, it is essential that professionals remain up to date with emerging trends and practices. We are pleased to partner with LIBF to launch these technical briefings which will help individuals and organisations enhance their knowledge and skills in the field of ESG. Since the launch of the BIBF’s sustainable development academy we managed to train over 2,300 participants, and we are developing the programmes by introducing more technical and in-depth trainings to enable the implementation of sustainability practices in organisations”.

Similarly, Mr. Kareem Refaay, Managing Director of Gulf and MENA at LIBF, said “ESG and sustainable finance in general is a very complex topic, so it is important that people must get the correct information, the proper communication, and the right training to understand what is expected from them and to make sure that they can translate principles, policies, and strategies into concrete action in their area of responsibility. We can deliver this in-depth training through the ESG Expert Technical Series and support those working within the financial sector to make a real impact.”

The ESG Expert Technical Series will be available to professionals in the financial sector in Bahrain and internationally. For more information, please visit the BIBF and LIBF websites.