Chairman-led Burgan Bank delegation reinforces Kuwait’s global financial connections at IMF–World Bank meetings
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabah: Global engagement strengthens the insight and institutional relationships
Burgan Bank concluded its participation in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 12 to 18. Led by its Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Bank’s delegation engaged with the international financial community and participated in key Kuwait and GCC–Asia gatherings, reinforcing its focus on informed growth, institutional connectivity and Kuwait’s place in international finance.
The Chairman-led delegation included Faisal M Sarkhou, Vice Chairman; Abdullah Abdulmajeed Marafie, General Manager – Treasury and Financial Institutions; Bader Al-Turkait, Deputy General Manager – Financial Institutions; and Dhari Al-Qabandi, Assistant General Manager – Brand Management and Communication Strategy. The delegation reflected expertise spanning institutional banking, treasury, investment and financial markets across Burgan Bank Group.
Commenting on the Bank’s participation, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah said:
“The value of the Annual Meetings is not simply in following global developments, but in understanding how they connect and what they mean for our markets. Geopolitics, monetary conditions, technology and capital flows are shaping the decisions banks must make today. For Burgan Bank, engaging with the international financial community strengthens our ability to anticipate change, act with discipline and support the long-term ambitions of Kuwait and the markets we serve.”
These priorities reflected the wider agenda in Bangkok, where financial resilience, the global growth outlook, investment and the changing role of technology were central to discussions. For Burgan Bank, such developments are particularly relevant to its Kuwait-anchored strategy, regional presence and the increasingly cross-border needs of its customers.
As part of the program, the Chairman-led delegation attended the annual reception hosted by the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), alongside Dr Yaqoub Yousef Al-Refai, Kuwait’s Minister of Finance; Basel Ahmed Al-Haroon, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait; Dr Mishal Ahmed Al-Mansour, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom of Thailand; and senior banking leaders. The reception brought together Kuwait’s financial community during a week of international economic engagement.
Burgan Bank also attended a luncheon hosted by Dr Mishal Ahmed Al-Mansour in honor of the participating Kuwaiti delegation. The gathering provided a further opportunity to engage with Kuwait’s official and banking representatives and exchange perspectives on international economic developments. The Bank also participated in the GCC–Asia Economic Forum: Banking, Investment and Digital Infrastructure, jointly organized by KBA and the Asian Bankers Association (ABA) on October 14 alongside the Annual Meetings. The Forum examined three practical pillars for cooperation: core banking and balance-sheet partnerships; cross-border investment, capital markets and deal flow; and digital, AI and financial infrastructure for cross-border finance.
Commenting on the Forum’s themes, Burgan Bank highlighted that the next phase of GCC–Asia economic cooperation will depend on how effectively banks and investors connect capital with real opportunities. Stronger balance-sheet partnerships, deeper capital-market links and secure financial infrastructure can help translate growing regional ties into sustainable financing and investment activity.
The Bank noted that it remains consistent with its approach to disciplined, partnership-led growth. Kuwait has the foundations to strengthen its role as a financial and investment hub, and better connectivity between institutions can help unlock opportunities for businesses operating across markets.
The delegation’s perspective was supported by Burgan Bank Group’s complementary capabilities in corporate and institutional banking, treasury and financial markets, as well as investment banking and asset management through KAMCO Invest, where Sarkhou also serves as Chief Executive Officer. In Bahrain, the Group is advancing the proposed transition of United Gulf Bank to Burgan Bank Bahrain, subject to the remaining regulatory and legal approvals, as part of its wider efforts to build a more connected regional banking platform with Islamic-finance capabilities.
Through its participation in the Annual Meetings and related engagements, Burgan Bank reinforced dialogue with international and regional financial-sector counterparts on the issues shaping banking, investment and cross-border capital flows. These interactions support the Bank’s long-term approach to institutional relationships and international market awareness.
As Burgan Bank continues to strengthen its core franchise in Kuwait and pursue selective regional opportunities, it remains focused on the partnerships, capabilities and financial connectivity needed to support customers and contribute to Kuwait’s economic priorities under Vision 2035.
Bangkok program brings together international economic dialogue, Kuwait’s banking-sector engagements and a focus on GCC-Asia financial connectivity
