BLC Bank Organizes Study Tour for International Banks

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BLC Bank has built its reputation as Lebanon's market pioneer in services for women and is confirming its commitment to women by sharing its expertise with other financial institutions from around the world. Between the 3^rd and the 5^th of February, BLC Bank hosted its 4^th study tour, the 2^nd to the Global Banking Alliance (GBA) for Women members, focusing on the Bank's journey in the development and success of the WE Initiative program.

"As the first bank in the MENA region with a pioneering program for women's economic empowerment, BLC Bank carries out study tours for banks from all over the world to encourage and influence the creation of women's market programs", said BLC Bank's Chairman General Manager, Maurice Sehnaoui. "This study tour represents a learning opportunity to help international banks develop effective women's programs in their own markets or take their early-stage programs to the next level", he continued.

Nadim Kassar, Vice-Chairman General Manager of BLC bank, added: "I'm proud that our study tours have to date influenced the creation of more than 15 programs around the world. The "Women Empowerment" initiative started as a shy idea few years back, and has now developed into a successful full-fledged program that contributes to international best practices in this domain."

The three-day event brought together international institutions and members of GBA interested in developing and growing a women's market program in their countries and saw participants coming from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Uganda, Laos, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Egypt and Kosovo.

"BLC Bank has, for a number of years, worked to foster and grow women's role in business. Access to banking institutions is key, but so are training and building a policy framework that encourage and facilitate female entrepreneurs' success", said Tania Moussallem, Assistant General Manager at BLC Bank and Chair of GBA's Governing Board. "We are pleased to be hosting this study tour and sharing our ideas and strategies with GBA members to contribute in improving the way banks help women drive the economy", she continued.

From her side, Inez Murray, Chief Executive Officer of GBA, commented: "Women are currently the biggest growth market in the world. According to a study recently published in Harvard Business Review their earnings are expected to reach $18 trillion globally in the next few years, making them a major market opportunity for many corporations. At GBA, we are helping banks reach women through understanding the market opportunity, including the segments within the female market and the study tours organized by BLC Bank are a key contribution to our mission".

The GBA is an organization that brings together banks and financial institutions from all over the world to develop strategies for the promotion of women's wealth creation. In 2012 BLC Bank joined its ranks to become the first bank from the MENA region to sign up, and the first to commit to the UN's Women's Empowerment Principles. Since September 2015, BLC Bank - represented by Tania Moussallem, chairs the alliance.