By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter


Commercial Bank is amplifying efforts to attract more local talent and future leaders into its fold, and aims to reach 35% Qatarisation by mid-2016, chief executive officer Abdulla Saleh al-Raisi said.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the culminating ceremony of Commercial Bank’s “The Bank of the Future by the Generation of the Future” workshop, al-Raisi said the bank’s Qatarisation is currently at 30%.
“We are trying to reach at least 35% Qatarisation in the middle of 2016 and if possible, we would try to extend it to 40% although that is going to be very challenging but we’re heading towards that goal.
“This is an ongoing plan for us; after all we are headed towards achieving the 2030 vision of Qatar…Qatarisation is a vital aspect of our growth in terms of investing on human capital,” al-Raisi stressed.
Asked what strategies Commercial Bank would employ to achieve higher Qatarisation levels, al-Raisi said the bank was targeting all aspects of the bank’s efforts in investing in human capital.
“We are targeting all strategies, especially in terms of sponsoring students, graduates, or undergraduates. We also have an internship programme every summer where we host around 120 students. We are basically trying to attract a lot of people and expose their knowledge to banking and what banking could do to add value to this sector,” al-Raisi said.
Next year, al-Raisi also said Commercial Bank plans “to keep the momentum going” in terms of developing the skills of Qataris, “whether they are employees or future employees.”
“We want to take the initiative before anybody else. In the financial sector, initiatives to support and develop the community is the least or the last priority. But we’re about to have a change in mindset; I think we are capable of driving this initiative better than anybody else. It’s time for us to invest in the community,” al-Raisi emphasised.
Asked about the impact of the workshop on Commercial Bank’s Qatarisation strategy, al-Raisi said: “We are looking at the bigger picture; these trainings for such young and promising Qatari calibers aim to explore their capabilities and broaden their way of thinking, and enlighten them on the possibility of becoming Qatar’s next generation of leaders.”