Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) has played a leading role in Qatar's economic and social development since it was established as the country's first private sector bank in 1974. In an interview, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of CBQ, discusses the bank's achievements to date, how CBQ is driving its digital strategy and the resilience of Qatar's economy amid rising political, economic and social challenges.

Accelerating digitisation and technological advancement have caused tremendous change in the global payments industry over the last decade. Yet this next decade – one destined to be super-connected and increasingly spanning physical, digital and virtual worlds – and beyond, promises to deliver a revolution, say JPMorgan’s Jeremy Balkin, global head of innovation and corporate development, and Neha Wattas, head of strategic insights, innovation and corporate development

Quantum computers are supposed to be much faster and more powerful than current supercomputers, and as such, their application could have a profound impact on any industry. As banks begin to embrace quantum computing, potential use cases for the banking industry are emerging. CaixaBank is one bank that is demonstrating these through its quantum banking programme.

This webinar is sponsored by Datasite and will be hosted on the BrightTALK platform.

Ciaran Byrne, global head of clearing transformation at JPMorgan, looks at how all participants in the payments industry can make the most of the transition to ISO 20022.

The Indonesian bank provides corporations around the world with some innovative cash management, liquidity and payment solutions. In an interview, Adi Sulistyowati, vice president director of BNI, explains the importance of the transaction banking business to the group, what differentiates it, and highlights areas for investment this year.

Priyanka Rath, global head of liquidity and account solutions specialists at JPMorgan, and Lula Sheena, third-party money product executive at JPMorgan, explore some of the key considerations for corporates holding or processing third-party money flows.

Hong Kong property developer Sino Group not only embraces sustainability at the core of its business model, it is also at the forefront of driving the green and sustainable agenda in Asia’s real estate industry. In an exclusive interview, Mr Daryl Ng, deputy chairman, Sino Group, explains the importance of sustainability to the company and how the company is demonstrating this.

The metaverse encompasses a range of digitally enhanced environments, using virtual and augmented reality to create different types of experience for workers and consumers. So, what might a bank look like in the metaverse? And how would it enhance its clients’ experience of banking? Imagin, CaixaBank’s digital services and lifestyle platform, and its imaginLAND, offers a glimpse into a meta future.

Private banking in China is entering a new era of growth and development. Wang Yanrong, general manager of private banking at China Merchants Bank – Euromoney’s Best Overall Private Bank in China – describes the transition and the role private banks should play.

Chinese financial institutions are among those at the forefront of the global push to accelerate the transition to a low carbon future. Industrial Bank of China, a pioneer of green finance in the country, is one financial institution that is leading the charge in helping China reach its climate change goals. 

2021 was another strong year for Bank of China’s ambitious bond underwriting business, which maintained its leadership in some markets, and pioneered new transactions in others.

A bank’s technology solutions and commitment to sustainability, both in its operations and in the advice and products it provides to clients, are increasingly a competitive advantage in any banking business. For Taiwan’s CTBC Bank, its investment and commitment to these two areas is paying off and keeping it ahead of the competition, especially in private banking and wealth management.

Over the past few years, Ahli United Bank (AUB) has accelerated its digital transformation strategy – encompassing various initiatives from the back office to the front and across its operations and core banking businesses. It is a strategy designed to improve the operational efficiency of the bank and enhance the service it provides to its customers. In an interview, AUB CEO, Adel El-Labban, discusses the strategy, what differentiates it from other banks’, and the areas they are targeting for digital investment this year.

Banks have a pivotal role to play in accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy; they can direct financing towards activities that are aligned to the Paris Agreement, and away from those that are not. They are the key intermediaries of the investment required to reach net zero. And they can help their clients with strategies and products that support the transition toward a sustainable economy. Some are doing better than others.

With many obstacles facing women's financial inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, addressing them is a key priority for the Egyptian government. In an interview, Hussein Abaza, CEO and managing director of CIB discusses how Egypt's financial sector has taken steps to promote gender equality and women's economic empowerment in the country.

Sustainable finance is growing rapidly in the MENA region. With more countries entering the green bond market in recent years and global green bond investment set to double and reach $$1 trillion for the first time in a single year by the end of 2022, tackling the climate crisis is top of everyone’s agenda. CIB CEO and managing director Hussein Abaza discusses the opportunities for the MENA region to advance sustainability practices.

Commercial Bank of Qatar’s financial results across the year have been strong, capping five years of growth and development under its strategic plan. In an interview, Rehan Khan, CFO of CBQ, discusses some of the highlights from the bank’s performance, how its investment in digitisation is paying off, and what its main financial focus will be for 2022