For the first time in Bahrain, the Asian business community, consisting of businessmen and women, young entrepreneurs and professionals who manage businesses as CEOs, Directors and General Managers will see its role in the prosperity of Bahrain honoured and recognised.
Under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Salaam Bahrain magazine and Arab Asian Business Centre (AABEX) announced the institution of the Standard Chartered Bank Summit of Excellence Asian Business Awards in Bahrain. The awards, which will be presented in five categories, are meant to honour and commend the work of Asians in business with an emphasis on innovation and vision. The categories are Asian Businessman of the Year; Asian Businesswoman of the Year; Young Asian Entrepreneur of the Year; Asian CEO/Director/General Manager of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award for a pioneering Asian businessman/woman.
“This is a corporate award for Asian business owners, entrepreneurs and CEOs in recognition of their role in modern Bahrain’s development story. In the context of the recent political situation in Bahrain, the award will revive and reinforce the historical ties between the Asian business community and Bahrain,” Salaam Bahrain Chairman Capt. Mahmood Al Mahmood, said.
“It will showcase the potential that still exists in Bahrain for prosperity, innovation, business excellence and development. It will be positioned as the Asian community’s participation in Bahrain’s bold statement of pride in its future.”
The Standard Chartered Bank Summit of Excellence Asian Business Awards in Bahrain has won the endorsement of Bahrain’s longest-established bank, Standard Chartered, who has come in as Platinum Sponsors for the project. Gold Sponsors are the Economic Development Board and Silver Sponsors are Sakana and Al Namal Group. Our Audit Partner is Ernst & Young. The Media Partner is Gulf Daily News and Radio Partner is Your FM. The Web Partner is Alpine International Marketing WLL.
“Standard Chartered Bank is very happy to associate itself with the Summit of Excellence because it connects us to our long history in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” Sai Narain CDK, Regional Head of Consumer Banking, Northern Gulf, Levant and Oman of Standard Chartered Bank, said.
“Many of the long-established Asian business houses started their journey to success with us and the story has been repeated with the younger generation and modern firms too. I think the scope of the award sums up our brand promise ‘Here for good’ very well.”
Explaining the awards selection process, Salaam Bahrain Managing Director PK Ravi said there were different stages to the process.
“The first step is to receive online nominations from the Asian business community include Indian, Pakistani, Malaysian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Sri Lankan and all other Asian nationals. The next step would be for the distinguished panel of jury members to select the finalists whose details would be uploaded onto the website for voting,” he said.
“All details of eligibility and nomination forms are available on our website www.awardbahrain.com and nominations will be received till November 10, 2012,” Ravi said.
“Voting will close on November 29 and shall be supervised by Ernst & Young, our audit partner so that there is complete transparency and validity of the results. The finalist nominees with the maximum number of votes will be the winner in each category.”
He added that the voting process was designed to encourage voting from around the world so that the nominee’s peers, business associates, partners, family and friends could vote.
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be one category which will be decided by the jury as a mark of respect to the pioneers of the community.
The awards will be announced on Saturday, December 01, 2012 at a glittering Gala Awards Night at the Bahrain Conference Centre at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The winners will be presented with a beautifully crafted trophy in the presence of an exclusive audience and enjoy a high-octane cultural show in their honour as well as dinner.
The members of distinguished jury are Othman Al Rayes Sharif, MP and Acting CEO of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Chairman of the Bahrain Asia Trading Committee of the BCCI; Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed, well-known management expert and Secretary-General of the Royal Charity Organisation; Ronnie Middleton, Managing Director of Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group, publishers of the Gulf Daily News; Noor Abid, retired Managing Partner of Assurance services of Ernst & Young, Middle East; Ahlam Janahi, businesswoman and President of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society and Vijay Boloor, Managing Director of the Gajria Group and member of the Bahrain Asia Trading Committee of the BCCI.