Tadhamon International Islamic Bank participated in sponsoring the Forum for Small and Medium Sized Projects (under the slogan of “Strategic Direction towards Economic and Social Development”). The forum was held in the capital, Sana’a, on the 22^nd and 23^rd January 2014, and was organized by the Association of Yemeni Banks in collaboration with the Union of Arab Banks and the Council of Arab Economic Unity.

At the opening ceremony, His Eminency the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Mohammad Al-Saadi, stressed the importance of the forum in fostering the exchange of viewpoints and opinions among the Arab Banks in order to face the economic and developmental challenges. He praised the role of businesspersons, banks, and financial institutions in economic recovery and development through financing small and medium sized projects. He stated that these projects have proven their success in many countries.

Speeches were also made by the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks, Wessam Fattouh, the Secretary General of the Council of Arab Economic unity, Mohammad Alrabee’, the Governor of the Central Bank, Mohamed Bin Hammam, and the president of the Association of Yemeni Banks, Saleh Alquaiti. These speeches reiterated the importance of developing small and medium sized projects, especially when taking into account the bad economic situations in many Arabic countries. The speeches also pointed out the keenness of the Association of Yemeni Banks and the Union of Arab Banks in creating and raising economic and financial awareness through specialized meetings, forums, workshops, and training courses that serve Arab societies.

In recognition of the efforts of Tadhamon International Islamic Bank, and its leading role in developing small and medium sized projects, Mr. Wessam Fattouh, the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks, along with Mr. Mohamed Alrabee’, the Secretary General of the Council of Arab Economic Unity, and Mr. Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Governor of the Central Bank, presented Tadhamon bank with the Union of Arab Bank’s Shield. Mohammed Abdoh Saeed, a member of the Bank’s Board, received the shield.

For his part, Mr. Mohammed Abdoh Saeed presented the Bank’s Shield to Mr. Wessam Fattouh, the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks, along with Mr. Mohamed Alrabee’, the Secretary General of the Council of Arab Economic Unity, and Mr. Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Governor of the Central Bank.

During the activities of the forum, Tadhamon bank participated with a work paper presented by Abbas Albasha, the Executive Director of the Tadhamon Microfinance Program. The paper addressed the efforts that are being exerted by the bank in this field, and also addressed the obstacles and difficulties being faced by the program, as well as how to overcome them.

Tadhamon Islamic International Bank showed significant presence in the activities of the Forum, and gave out many small gifts to the participants. These gifts gained the admiration and relish of the participants.

It is worth mentioning that the Forum ended its activities with a reading of the final report in the presence of a group of businesspersons and banks, as well as a gathering of representatives from the banks and financial institutions from a number of Arab countries.