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In Partnership with Riyada and The British Council
Muscat - As part of its commitment to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Sultanate, HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G., in partnership with Riyada and the British Council, recently delivered the award winning Springboard Women's Development Programme to 32 female Omani entrepreneurs in Muscat. The three day programme aimed to equip attendees with the skillsets required to succeed in their various personal and professional ambitions and achieve senior positions within their designated organizations and businesses. The Bank will also be holding two further training sessions in Salalah and Al Dakhiliyah.
"We believe that supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs goes well beyond providing funding," said Andrew Long, CEO of HSBC Bank Oman. "One of our top priorities is to help educate aspiring young Omanis so they can achieve their ambitions, by providing them with access to the right information, leveraging the considerable international expertise of HSBC Group. This could be in the form of standard banking solutions, hosting educational events where SME owners in Oman can listen and interact with industry experts, as well as partnering with others to deliver programmes such as Springboard."
The Springboard programme in Muscat focused on Personal Leadership on the first day, followed by Change Management on day two, and Leadership and Emotional Intelligence on the final day. The Springboard Women's Development Programme covers a number of different areas, including leadership in times of change and problem solving, analytical skills, communication skills and emotional intelligence.
"We are delighted to be working with HSBC Bank Oman on this programme in support of SMEs and women's empowerment, both of which are crucial to Oman's future," added Paul Hilder, Country Director of the British Council in Oman. "We have been running the Springboard programme in Oman since 2012 with both the private and public sector, as part of our work to build a friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of Oman and the UK."
Almutajarida Al Mundhiriyah, Director of the Guidance Department and Training at Riyada said, "We are pleased to have joined with HSBC Bank Oman and the British Council on this project. Women entrepreneurs from a variety of enterprises attended to gain valuable leadership and management knowledge. The course explored how entrepreneurs can increase their effectiveness and impact in the work environment, how to lead in times of change, improve analysis and problem solving skills, as well as the important role of communication."
Springboard represents HSBC Bank Oman's most recent collaboration with the British Council, following the 'Young Omani Author' story writing competition and the ongoing Kids Read programme. The Bank's commitment to the communities in which it operates continues to focus on the development of local talent and social welfare.
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HSBC in Oman
HSBC is the largest international bank operating in the Middle East, and Oman is an important market in the region for the bank. Oman has one of the most stable political, social and economic environments in the region, with a growing economy supported by a young population and significant investments in infrastructure.
Oman is also a key access hub to the fast-growing trade corridors connecting the MENA region with Asia - a major focus for growth for HSBC. Its economy is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4% forecast from 2011 to 2016.
HSBC in the MENA Region:
HSBC is the largest and most widely represented international banking organisation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a presence in 11 countries across the region. HSBC has operations in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Algeria and the Palestinian Autonomous Area. In Saudi Arabia, HSBC is a 40% shareholder of Saudi British Bank (SABB), and a 49% shareholder of HSBC Saudi Arabia for investment banking in the Kingdom. HSBC also maintains a representative office in Libya.
This presence, the widest reach of any bank in the region, comprises some 267 offices and around 12,000 employees. In the year ending 31st December 2014, HSBC in the MENA region made a profit before tax of US$ 1.8bn.
HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from over 6,100 offices in 72 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,634bn at 31 December 2014, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations.
For more information, please contact:
Shaza Taher
Associate Media Relations Director
TRACCS Oman
Telephone: +968 24 649-099
Email: shaza.taher@traccs.net
© Press Release 2015
