Kuwait City, May 5: In adherence to its dedicated human capital development strategy and its unwavering efforts to advance the national calibers of Kuwait’s banking and finance sector, Kuwait International Bank (KIB) reported numerous human resources and development achievements in the first quarter of 2024 under the umbrella of KIB Life Academy, the Bank’s dedicated learning and development arm.

“At KIB, we recognize that our employees are an essential pillar of institutional success, and that is why reinforcing and encouraging their growth and development is an ongoing, year-long endeavor that we continue to invest in heavily and without hesitation,” said Mr. Feras Al Darmi, General Manager – Human Resources and Development at KIB. “To ensure that our Kuwaiti employees continue to deliver their best performance sustainably, the Human Resources and Development team spares no effort to utilize the latest learning and development tools as well as design comprehensive training programs that address employees’ individual needs and aspirations for personal and professional growth and that correspond to the market’s latest trends and technologies.”

By the end of Q1 2024, KIB reported achieving a 74.23% Kuwaitization rate, exceeding the industry’s regulatory mandates. Among the Bank’s pool of Kuwaiti staff, 33% received tailored training between January and March, enabling them to excel in their lines of work and take confident strides toward assuming leadership roles and high-level responsibilities in the future. To this end, 46 nationals received extensive leadership training in collaboration with international, industry-leading institutions, qualifying the trainees for globally recognized industry certifications that attest to their competitive knowledge and skill.

Under the umbrella of KIB Life Academy, the Bank’s Kuwaiti staff are presented with numerous learning and development programs that focus on holistically advancing KIB’s national talents on the technical front as well as honing their interpersonal soft skills, guaranteeing that all employees are well-versed in the nuances of the industry and are up-to-date with its latest technologies and findings. Among KIB Life Academy’s most notable programs is the Waed Program, launched in Q4 2023, whereby 40 aspiring Kuwaiti talents were selected to receive holistic training in recognition of their true potential for effective leadership and positive change.

As an engaged corporate citizen, KIB continues to contribute proactively to advancing the national pool of talents through its Human Resources and Development department’s efforts for hiring and developing the most promising in the market. The Bank also offers undergraduates and fresh graduates ample training and internship opportunities, guaranteeing that the most aspiring talents receive adequate guidance at an early stage in their career, further enhancing their chances of success and contributing to the overall development of Kuwait’s banking and financial industry.