MEIRA, BIBF to roll out certified Investors Relations Programme

Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA) and the Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance (BIBF) in the presence of MEIRA Bahrain Chapter Head, signed an agreement to roll-out the Certified Investors Relations Programme (CIR) in the Kingdom under the Investment Academy umbrella. The CIRO programme has been launched as a joint initiative between Bahrain Bourse (BHB), MEIRA, and the BIBF.

The signing ceremony took place at Bahrain Bourse premises and it was followed by a seminar with representatives from locally listed companies. The CIRO programme aims to offer professional talent a unique opportunity to acquire certification within IR, which is increasingly becoming an important function within listed companies. The CIRO programme will be fully supported by Tamkeen (Labour Fund) under its Training & Wage Support programme.

John Gollifer, General Manager of MEIRA commented stating: “The CIRO qualification offers a timely and useful international benchmark in the Middle East when regional capital markets are opening up and becoming of greater interest to investors around the world.” The BIBF’s Director, Dr Ahmed Al Shaikh commented: “The CIRO programme allows IR professionals to demonstrate their knowledge of the financial and market environment, the regulatory and reporting requirements for listed companies and their sound understanding of the principles of investor relations, which will enable them to operate competently and safely.

Marwa AlMaskati, Director of Marketing & Business Development and MEIRA – Bahrain Chapter Head stated: “The CIRO program has been rolled out under the Investment Academy to nurture talented professionals within the growing IR field.” In the Middle East, the programme is organised by the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA), in partnership with the UK IR Society (UKIRS) and delivered by the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

A three-day intensive training course of a total of 20 hours, is followed by a 60-minute exam. The programme focuses on six key topics: principles & practices of investor relations, global financial markets, companies & regulation, regulatory environment, accounting, valuation & investment principles, effective IR in practice.