The Association of Banks In Malaysia (ABM) received a formal request from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Kuala Lumpur to convene a meeting with the Chairman/CEO of several Malaysian banks prior to the potential visit by H.R.H. Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain to Malaysia at the end of May 2025. A meeting was held on 6 May 2025 at St Regis Kuala Lumpur. The Kingdom of Bahrain was represented by:-

HE Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB).
HE Abdulla Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce
HE Dr Waleed Khalifa Almanea, Ambassador of Bahrain Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
Ms. Dalal Buhejji, Executive Director – Business Development, Financial Services
Mr. Khalid Al Marzouqi, Project Advisor, Ministry of Industry and Commerce
Ms. Nadia AlJeeb, Chief – Department Research, Prime Minister’s Office
Mr. Rashad Farooq Mohamed Alshaikh, Counsellor of Bahrain Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
Ms. Nouf Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed, Second Secretary of Bahrain Embassy in Kuala Lumpur

ABM was represented by the following officers:-

Dr Amina Josetta Kayani, Executive Director, ABM (Head of Delegation)
Mr kok wei chu, CEO of Group Wholesale Banking and Corporate Treasurer, CIMB BANK BERHAD
Mr Justin Soong, Chief Risk Officer, Hong Leong Bank Berhad
Ms Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi, CEO, Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad
Ms Maya Abdul Rahman, Head, Regional & Government Affairs, ABM

Discussions were held on the following matters:-

◼️Introduction to Malaysian banking industry and the Bahraini Financial
System
◼️Enhancing investment opportunities between both countries through
banking collaboration
◼️Insights into the Malaysian banking landscape
◼️Promotion of the Bahraini banking industry
◼️Malaysian banks’ initiatives in ESG, fintech, and innovation; and
◼️Potential collaboration between Malaysian banks and the Bahrain Association of Banks to support innovation and growth.