A programme to train 120 young Bahrainis in the insurance industry has been launched in the Kingdom.

The five-year, BD495,600 ($1.3 million) Graduate Executive Management Programme (GEM) launched by the Labour Fund (LF), Bahrain Insurance Association (BIA) in co-operation with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF).

An agreement was signed by LF enterprise and human capital development vice-president Dr Ahmed Abdulghani Al Shaikh, BIBF director Garry Muriwai and BIA chairman Ashraf Bseisu.

Dr Al Shaikh said that the programme would offer a mixture of core insurance subjects, soft skills development, and on-the-job training.

’It will be open to Bahrainis who have graduated within the previous two years with a recognised university degree in applied sciences, mathematics, statistics, engineering, business administration and economics,’ he said.

’An official announcement will shortly be made to invite applications.’

Muriwai said that the opportunity presented to the BIBF would play a major role in preparing the future leaders of Bahrain’s insurance sector and assure the backing of the financial sector.

Bseisu said that the BIA was working very closely with the industry to enhance and develop the calibre of Bahrainis in the industry, while providing them with a clear advancement and career path in the sector.

He said that the gap analysis indicated the need to further develop Bahrainis to fill middle management positions.

’That is the reason this programme is structured to provide select Bahraini graduates this unique opportunity by combining training and development, on-the-job training and financial stability,’ said Mr Bseisu.

’The programme will run over five years in three batches of 40 participants each.’

He said that after three months of intensive studies at the BIBF, successful candidates would be placed within insurance companies where they will continue both the program’s theoretical and on-the-job training segments.-TradeArabia News Service