Press Releases

The Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS), Basel A. Al-Haroon, announced that KIBS will present the sixteenth cohort of the Harvard Business School Program, which is designed to develop executives in GCC banks and financial institutions, in light of the changes in the business world, and the needs of the banking and financial sectors.

The Governor stated that the program titled “Strategic Leadership in the Age of Financial Sustainability” will cover two primary themes: “Financial Strategy” and “Leadership” focusing on the crucial role of the leadership and management to anticipate and respond quickly and effectively to changes in financial markets, and better understand the importance and role of the strategic leadership. The program uses Harvard’s proven case-study methods relevant to the subject matter of the program, whether related to the banking and financial sector or other sectors, to enhance the analytical skills of the participants and provide them with the tools, techniques and methodologies that boost performance, innovation and organizational culture.

Al-Haroon added that the program targets executive managers or the equivalent, and will run over six days from 12 to 17 April 2025 in Kuwait City. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of attendance from the Harvard Business School.

The Governor explained that this program is one of the Kafa'a initiative programs launched by CBK in collaboration with local Kuwaiti banks and organized and managed by KIBS to develop cadres and executives in different sectors in general, and the financial and banking sector in particular.

While highlighting the productive and ongoing cooperation between Harvard Business School and the KIBS, the Governor indicated that cooperation with Harvard began in 2009, and was first introduced in the State of Kuwait in 2010, to offer the first custom designed program offered by Harvard Business School in GCC countries.

In conclusion, the Governor stressed that strengthening the performance of the national workforce will remain a top strategic priority of CBK, given their crucial role in achieving sustainable growth of the banking and financial sector. He also reiterated his keenness to continue this cooperation between Kuwaiti and GCC banks and financial institutions in areas of shared interest such as creating new initiatives to maximize the benefits of training and knowledge exchange.