The Burgan Bank Group, led by Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, concluded its participation in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank 2026, held from October 12 to 18 in Bangkok, Thailand. The group emphasized the importance of conscious growth, institutional communications, and Kuwait's position in the global financial arena while engaging with the international financial community and participating in key gatherings of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council and Asia.
Delegation Composition and Objectives
The delegation, led by Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, included Faisal M. Sarhough, Vice Chairman; Abdullah Abdulmajid Marafi, General Manager – Treasury and Financial Institutions; Bader Terkait, Deputy General Manager – Financial Institutions; and Dhari Al-Qabandi, Deputy General Manager – Brand Management and Communications Strategy. This delegation was represented by a combination of expertise in institutional banking, treasury, investment, and financial markets within the Burgan Bank Group.
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Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah commented on the bank's participation, stating, "The value of the annual meetings lies not only in tracking global developments but also in understanding how these developments connect and what they mean for our markets. Geopolitics, monetary conditions, technology, and capital flows shape banks' decisions. Engaging with the international financial community enhances our ability to anticipate changes, act with discipline, and support the long-term aspirations of Kuwait and the markets we serve."
Key Themes of the Meeting and Future Outlook
These priorities were reflected in the broader agenda in Bangkok, where financial resilience, global growth outlook, investment, and the changing role of technology were central discussion topics. For Burgan Bank, these developments are particularly relevant to its Kuwait-based strategy, regional presence, and the increasing cross-border needs of its clients.
As part of the program, the delegation attended an annual ceremony hosted by the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA) and was joined by Dr. Yaqoub Yusuf Al-Rifai, Minister of Finance of Kuwait; Basel Ahmad Al-Haroun, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait; Dr. Michel Ahmad Al-Mansour, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom of Thailand; and senior banking leaders. This event brought together a segment of the Kuwaiti financial community during a week of international economic interactions.
Burgan Bank further added that the next phase of economic cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Asia depends on how banks and investors effectively connect capital with real opportunities. Stronger partnerships in balance sheets, deeper links in capital markets, and secure financial infrastructure can help translate the growing regional communications into sustainable financial and investment activities.
As part of its participation in the annual meetings and related interactions, Burgan Bank strengthened dialogue with international and regional financial peers on issues shaping banking, investment, and cross-border capital flows. These interactions contribute to the bank's long-term approach to institutional relationships and awareness of international markets.
Burgan Bank, while continuing to strengthen its core brand in Kuwait and pursuing selective regional opportunities, focuses on the partnerships, capabilities, and financial communications needed to support clients and assist in Kuwait's economic priorities under the 2035 vision.
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