CFA Kuwait Holds CFA Charter Award Ceremony

Copyright Arab Times Kuwait

I've written before about the role of institutions in promoting the development of markets.  

A very important element of that process is developing skilled ethical professionals to operate the financial infrastructure created.  In fact it is the critical element as has been shown recently with the  financial crisis in the West. 

The CFA Institute plays an important role in developing such professionals in the finance world.

Earning the right to use the CFA Charter requires three years of graduate level study and the passing of three rigorous examinations as well as practical work experience. It's a very high honor.

CFA Kuwait, a relatively new local society in the GCC, held an awards dinner for new CFA charterholders in Kuwait.

Ibrahim Dabdoub, the dean of bankers in the GCC and a bankers' banker - a sadly vanishing breed, presented the certificates.  (He's seated in the middle of the picture.)

Standing on the far left is the dynamic M.R. Ragu, SVP of Research at Markaz Kuwait.  He was instrumental in the founding of CFA Bahrain as well as CFA Kuwait.  Wherever he goes, if there isn't a local society, there soon will be.  So congratulations are in order to M.R.

The CFA Institute Middle East Investment Conference - Strategies for a New Financial Reality - Bahrain

The CFA Institute in collaboration with the very dynamic local society in Bahrain,  CFA Bahrain, will hold the conference 23 March 2010 at the doyen of Bahraini hotels, The Gulf Hotel (recently reburbished).

The first ever CFA Institute Middle East Investment Conference brings together expert speakers from around the world to evaluate new investment strategies and discuss the most pressing topics for serious investment professionals in this fast-changing environment. Join your colleagues from around the region to hear from leading investment practitioners and researchers as they examine the present macroeconomic environment, the impact of policy responses to the financial crisis, shifts in asset allocation, alternative investments, and more.

Looks like a first rate program.  And Dr. Doom and Gloom himself will be there to provide much needed cheer to depressed local bankers, analysts and investors.