As companies large and small in the Middle East invest more in their treasury operations and in the individuals who work within them, so the profession in the Middle East evolves. There are now 4,500 ACT members in the Middle East, and the association is helping to support member organisations in their efforts to cultivate a pipeline of professional talent.
Our profile of four Etihad Airways ACT students gives proof, if it were needed, that the entry-level qualification of the ACT, the Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals, proves immediately relevant to the day-to-day work of treasury professionals. All four students say the learning they took from their ACT studies was applicable straight away within their working lives and that studying for a professional qualification gave them a longer-term perspective on their careers in treasury.
The broad responsibilities that treasurers face in the Middle East is reflected in our feature on doing business in Iraq. The country’s infrastructure and its banking framework, battered by years of conflict, put adaptability and responsibility front and centre for treasurers. Our article on the subject starts on page 11. We provide an overview of key concepts within Islamic finance on page 15, and look at the importance to the region of sound trade credit information on page 18.
I hope you enjoy the issue.
