eDreams ODIGEO: Best Online Travel Partner Global 2018

Deploying and showcasing the power of machine-based learning (MBL) technology, eDreams ODIGEO has managed to increase flight bookings by almost 50% last year, offering travellers a highly personalised experience based on a real-time predictive analysis of aggregated and anonymised data which presents a vast range of options and add-ons. Thus visitors to eDreams ODIGEO's websites and apps are welcomed to an online environment which is perfectly tailored to their personal preferences.

The online travel company, a recognised pioneer of its industry, employs a crack team of some 400 software engineers to design and finetune the eDreams ODIGEO platform and ensure it preserves a leading edge. The gargantuan effort pays off: last year the company saw all its main brands register solid growth with a 10% increase in the sale of ancillary products such as travel insurance, priority boarding, and preferred seating arrangements.

eDreams ODIGEO’s management developed its own approach to IT by seconding software engineers to all of the organisation’s departments in order to gauge needs, identify bottlenecks, and offer solutions. Thus, the entire corporate structure of eDreams ODIGEO benefits from MBL and other innovative technologies that not only offer customers a personalised experience but also streamline internal processes.

The CFI.co judging panel has followed eDreams ODIGEO for a number of years. The company has consistently sought to leverage the power of technology to improve its operational efficiency and offer a superior product to travellers – one based on a holistic approach that includes attention to even the most minute details and leaves nothing to chance. The judges are unanimous in their decision to declare eDreams ODIGEO winner of the 2018 Best online Travel Partner Global Award.


Wing (Cambodia) Limited Specialised Bank: Best Social Impact Bank Cambodia 2018

[caption id="attachment_5978" align="aligncenter" width="800"] CEO: Jojo Malolos[/caption]

The smartphone, ubiquitous in all corners of the world, is proving a powerful tool for the promotion of financial inclusion. Even those only armed with not-so-smart mobile phones can easily access a whole range of banking services previously unavailable to all but the wealthiest people. As such, the mobile phone helps level – and democratise – the playing field: the device ends the marginalisation of people of modest means who may now safely, securely, and cheaply manage their money.

In Cambodia, Wing Specialised Bank has tapped into the vast universe of unbanked and under-banked people with a series of purpose-designed products aimed at meeting the requirements of customers not served by the country’s large commercial banks. Launched in 2009, Wing Specialised Bank started its corporate life as a mobile phone-based money transfer service. Soon the bank expanded its suite of products to include bill payments, and disbursement and payroll solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The bank also operates a vast nationwide network of over 5,000 Wing Cash Xpress outlets where its clients may complete transactions in person. Wing Specialised Bank is well on its way to fulfilling its corporate mission to provide every Cambodian with convenient access to formal financial services. The bank has also partnered with financial services providers in neighbouring countries in order to serve the large Cambodian diaspora.

The CFI.co judging panels commends Wing Specialised Bank on its achievements. The bank has remained true to its founding principles and is recognised for the excellence of its services – and the speed and unfailing precision with which transactions are processed. The judges agree to name Wing (Cambodia) Specialised Bank winner of the 2018 Best Social Impact Bank Cambodia Award.


National Bank of Greece: Best Corporate Governance Greece 2018

The National Bank of Greece (NBG) is a trusted global financial institution with a long history of long-term, sustainable business growth. The bank owes its success to the endurance of its founding values of responsibility and shared prosperity. NBG branches and subsidiaries abound in Greece and abroad, offering a broad range of financial products and services regulated by respected international bodies. Since its launch in 1841, NBG has embraced the role of responsible corporate citizen, and its code of ethical standards has enabled it – along with its shareholders and stakeholders – to progress and prosper. The NBG Corporate Governance Code provides a framework to guide the bank’s internal and external processes, and reflect its commitment to responsibility, transparency, and quality. The code targets all facets of NBG operations, from environmental concerns and human rights issues to economic initiatives and market-strengthening measures. This is the third award for NBG from the CFI.co judging panel, which referenced the bank’s start-up support programmes, Crowdfunding initiatives, and transparent recruitment processes as factors in its 2016 and 2017 wins. The judges were once again impressed by NBG’s corporate governance and social responsibility initiatives, which are constantly reviewed, refined, and developed to ensure the highest standards of conduct and sustainable development. Congratulations to the National Bank of Greece, winner of the 2018 award for Best Corporate Governance (Greece).


Nordea Life Assurance Finland: Most Sustainable Assurance Nordic

[caption id="attachment_5875" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Left to right: Anne Leino - Senior Portfolio Manager, Pekka Luukkanen - CEO, Petra Särkkä - Chief Investment Officer, Mari Blomster - Communications Manager[/caption]

A leader of the life insurance sector and known for its corporate nimbleness in reacting to market dynamics, Nordea Life Assurance Finland designs and offers a product range that incorporates sustainability principles throughout the process cycle. By adhering to strict ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards the firm has succeeded in reducing its exposure to risk and pursues a set of corporate policies that take the interests of all stakeholders into account.

Nordea Life Assurance Finland’s operations are anchored in its Life 2020 Strategy which includes improvements to the overall customer experience. The firm is aware of the need to offer its customers a personalised experience on any platform as a prerequisite – and driver – of business growth. The company wants to be seen as highly responsive to current and prospective policyholders. To that end, Nordea Life implemented a streamlined yet comprehensive platform that prioritises the customer effort score over the more traditional net promoter score.

Being responsive and nimble is, however, only part of the story; in order to meet not only customer demand but also address customer concerns, life insurers need to become ESG-aware and put their operation on a sustainable footing. Nordea Life ascribes its leading market position, in part, to its early adoption of green policies that do not just involve cosmetic changes but permeate throughout the company and also determine the way customer funds and savings are handled and put to work.

Nordea Life’s Savings Product Strategy 2020, a complement to the broader Life 2020 Strategy, includes a whole range of ESG initiatives and now guides the firm’s investment policies and decision-making processes.

The CFI.co judging panel notes Nordea Life has also been recognised as a Great Place to Work. Employees are encouraged to sign up for skills development programmes, community engagement initiatives, and come up with innovative ideas and suggestions in a ‘Ideas to Values’ process. The judges feel pleased to grant Nordea Life Assurance Finland the 2018 Most Sustainable Insurance Nordic Award.


Invest in Austria (ABA): Austria Best Destination for Investment in Innovation Europe 2018

Austria’s national development promotion agency Invest in Austria (ABA), reports directly to the Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs and provides professional consulting services to businesses seeking to establish a presence in the heart of Europe. Headquartered in Vienna and with a staff of around thirty professionals, ABA is the go-to place for the latest information on one of Europe’s most resilient, well-managed, and attractive economies.

Located at the crossroads of the continent, Austria boasts an excellent and thoroughly modern logistics infrastructure with air, rail, river, and road links to all parts of Europe. As the Balkan states gear up to join the European Union, Austria will be a natural gateway, facilitating trade in both directions.

With a highly educated multilingual population and an education system that is finely attuned to match specific skill demands, Austria’s economy features high productivity. The country is particularly keen to continue its investments in education and scientific research in order to create a business climate that sparks innovation and welcomes start-ups. ABA has actively promoted Austria as a tech start-up hub, working in close cooperation with a number of state-owned and private entities to offer research funding for high-tech firms. The agency also helps maintain a supporting network of seed capital investors, incubators, and business angels.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that Austria has recently streamlined the procedure for setting up a business and maintains an investor-friendly environment with a unified corporate tax rate and generous tax credits for investment in research. The judges are impressed and declare Invest in Austria (ABA) winner of the 2018 Austria Best Destination for Investment in Innovation Europe Award.


HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer: Best Green Energy Champion Middle East 2017

By 2050, Dubai is expected to have the smallest carbon footprint in the world for a city of its size. The emirate is in the process of transforming itself into the most environmentally friendly city in the world.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy by providing 7% of Dubai's total power output from clean energy by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050.

Earlier in 2017, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, unveiled plans for the construction of the world’s largest concentrated solar power facility which is expected to inject 700MW into the Dubai’s grid. The plant is part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, that is designed to produce no less than 5,000MW of clean energy by 2030.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA’s Managing Director and CEO is the driving force behind the utility’s push towards sustainability and innovation which is incorporated in its vision. DEWA has also included strategic objectives within its strategy map with a focus on envisioning the future, innovation, and the happiness of stakeholders.

The plans stretch far beyond good intentions. The utility is already now moving towards clean energy and has successfully announced green and Sharia-compliant bonds to help fund the transformation.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that DEWA continuously monitors its environmental performance in order to meet corporate targets: largely thanks to Mr Tayer’s pursuit of operational and environmental excellence, on-time and on-spec have become bywords for the utility he leads. The judges are both pleased and honoured to offer DEWA’s MD and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer the 2017 Best Green Energy Champion Middle East Award.


Istanbul Portfoy: Best Boutique Fund Manager Turkey 2018

At Istanbul Portfoy, asset management is all about sharing – and deploying – the knowledge and expertise of the firm’s seasoned professionals. This way, Istanbul Portfoy’s fund managers are able to consistently identify and seize exceptional opportunities within a well-defined and sensible risk profile. Though its fund managers are fiercely independent decisionmakers, Istanbul Portfoy offers a working environment that facilitates collaboration and establishes valuable synergies that create value for all stakeholders.

The firm ranks first in Turkey for the management of bespoke portfolios and is the preferred partner of large institutional investors seeking exposure to the country’s buoyant markets. Istanbul Portfoy currently maintains sixteen hedge and mutual funds, including top-performing high-risk high-return funds that regularly set new industry-wide benchmarks. The firm also teamed up with a highly credible angel investor network of the alumni from the prestigious Bosphorus University in Istanbul through a venture capital fund to help provide seed capital to promising start-ups that pursue breakthroughs in biotech, fintech, artificial intelligence amongst others.

Istanbul Portfoy has been recognised for its ability to match investors with selected start-ups that are on the verge of breaking out. The firm is the only one in Turkey rallying venture capital and, as such, has created a market from scratch.

The CFI.co judging panel agrees that Istanbul Portfoy is one – or a few – steps ahead when it comes to finding opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. The firm’s research and risk management practices have received ample praise for being spot-on, time and again. Istanbul Portfoy is a true pioneer, charting new territories and – just as importantly – leveraging its in-depth knowledge to extract excellent returns. The judges declare Istanbul Portfoy winner of the 2018 Best Boutique Fund Manager Turkey Award.


Boxx Global Expat Solutions: Best Mobility Value Creation Services Europe 2018

[caption id="attachment_6066" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Rens van Oers Business Development Leader, Petra Opentij CEO, Pieter Holl Practice Leader Tax, Ank Beerens Practice Leader GMMD/Immigration.[/caption]

Helping corporates manage global employee mobility, Boxx Global Expat Solutions has developed a new and holistic approach that moves away from single product services – addressing only one or, at most, a few of the requirements – to a end-to-end and everything-in-between model that leaves no detail to chance. This way, Boxx Global Expat Solutions reinvented the expat services business and managed to become the largest of its kind in Europe.

The company helps its customers obtain a full overview of all practicalities that result from moving professionals between jurisdictions. The ultimate goal is to make these moves as seamless as possible in order to fit with overall corporate expectations and ensure the well-being and performance of employees. Boxx Global Expat Solutions is unique in that the company recognises the many failings inherent in the one-size-fits-all approach to employee mobility which rarely yields satisfying results. Instead, Boxx Global Expat Solutions designs and implements bespoke packages that tie in with existing human resources policies of its customers.

The company maintains a vast and continually updated database that includes, amongst many other metrics, the cultural, legal, fiscal, and financial variables that come into play when professionals are moved between countries. Crucially, the database also includes outcomes and, as such, provides pathways to success built on actual experience.

The CFI.co judging panel recognises that the global expat business is, more often than not, erected on an ad hoc basis – or by throwing money at any problem that arises. This usually begets disappointment on all sides. By providing transparent and fact-based advice that includes all minutiae of employee mobility, outcomes are predictable, costs are contained, and all parties involved remain dedicated to the pursuit of corporate success. The judges declare Boxx Global Expat Solutions winner of the 2018 Best Mobility Value Creation Services Europe Award.


Al Wifaq Finance Company: Best Sharia-Compliant Financial Solutions UAE 2018

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Union National Bank Group (UNB), one of the leading financial services providers in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East, Al Wifaq Finance Company offers a comprehensive range of Sharia-compliant banking products and services to both individual clients and businesses. Eminently customer-centric, Al Wifaq ensures proximity to its account holders via a network of ten branches. The company also maintains its own counters at UNB branches.

Al Wifaq has established a solid reputation for excellence and expediency in customer-facing operations. The company implemented a set of streamlined procedures in order to quickly unlock access to its products, speed up decision-making processes, and optimise customer satisfaction. Successive annual surveys show that Al Wifaq account holders feel exceptionally well-served and would gladly recommend the finance company to friends and family.

Al Wifaq is also dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a full suite of products tailored to meet the need of businesses as they seek to expand their reach. The finance company also supports start-up companies and families longing to buy their first home. As part of a larger bank group, Al Wifaq has the ability to help its clients reach their personal or business goals.

The finance company is considered the Islamic banking arm of its parent company. To ensure compliance with Sharia Law, Al Wifaq maintains a supervisory board of prominent Islamic scholars which regularly reviews the company’s products and services.

The CFI.co judging panel recognises the growing importance of Islamic finance and the effort of Al Wifaq to design products and implement policies that meet the strict criteria its customers demand. The judges declare Al Wifaq Finance Company winner of the 2018 Best Sharia-Compliant Financial Solutions UAE Award.


Al-Maidan Dental Clinic for Oral Health & Services:  Best Healthcare Corporate Governance Kuwait 2018

Creating well over one million smiles, and counting. The Al-Maidan Clinic for Oral Health Services is the largest of its kind in both Kuwait and the wider GCC. Always incorporating the latest developments in oral health, the Al-Maidan Clinic ensures that its patients benefit from to most up-to-date treatments anywhere. Its professionals are committed to lifelong learning in order to stay abreast of new techniques and procedures.

The clinic was set up in 1987 as Kuwait’s first private dental practice by a small group of dentists who envisioned a facility that offers patients a combination of state-of-the-art technology, professional expertise, and the proverbial service-with-a-smile. That mission has been accomplished: today Al-Maidan Clinic comprises seven branches covering the country’s governorates in addition to a mobile clinic. The clinic’s over seventy dental clinicians and their support staff have established a reputation for personalised care.

In order to safeguard the quality of its treatments, Al-Maidan Clinic maintains an in-house dental lab and a full complement of ultramodern medical hardware that allows its dentists and technicians to instantly provide diagnoses and treatment options without the need to outsource procedures.

Al-Maidan Clinic maintains a comprehensive corporate social responsibility programme that revolves around a number of initiatives to provide dental care to vulnerable and disadvantaged people. The clinic also sponsors public service campaigns that promote oral hygiene and the need for regular check-ups.

The CFI.co judging panel notes the Al-Maidan Clinic serves a broad demographic and keeps the prices of its rather priceless services highly competitive – a comprehensive range of financing options is available as well. The judges agree to name Al-Maidan Dental Clinic for Oral Health & Services winner of the 2018 Best Healthcare Corporate Governance Kuwait Award.


Taj Hotels: Best Hospitality Corporate Governance India 2018

India’s Tata Group has come to represent a global hallmark of quality. The subcontinent’s largest corporate conglomerate, Tata Group is recognised both at home and abroad for its ethical and transparent business practices. The group is considered also a pioneer of sustainability and responsible investing. By putting in place a solid and comprehensive governance framework, Tata Group has mitigated risks and established a reputation for fairness in all its dealings.

Part of the Tata Group, Taj Hotels also belongs to a select group of Indian corporates which have been recognised by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) for their excellence in governance. These A Group companies are selected on the basis of their market capitalisation, liquidity, compliance, and historic performance. Taj Hotels takes corporate governance to the next level by conducting its business involving all stakeholders and maintaining full transparency.

Taj Hotels insists that suppliers adhere to the same high standards with respect to human rights, health and safety, gender equality, and corporate social responsibility, amongst others. Already 67 of the group’s 79 hotels possess the coveted Gold Certification for sustainability and environmental care. By the end of the current year, all hotels are expected to have obtained the certificate.

The CFI.co judging panel commends Taj Hotels for pushing the envelope of corporate governance. The effort, now part of the company’s corporate DNA, has made Taj Hotels into India’s premier provider of hospitality services. The judges declare Taj Hotels winner of the 2018 Best Hospitality Corporate Governance India Award.


Abu Dhabi Aviation: Best Offshore Aviation Support Middle East 2018

Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) is spreading its wings, entering new markets, and consolidating the leading edge the company enjoys in the Middle East. With a modern fleet of 57 helicopters and 61 fixed wings aeroplanes, ADA provides airlinks to the on- and offshore oil and gas industry in addition to VIP passenger transport, search and rescue, crop spraying, firefighting, and a host of other aerial services.

Despite operating in a taxing offshore environment which sees some of its rotary aircraft perform seven take-off and landing cycles per hour, the company maintains a perfect safety record. ADA maintains a staff of nearly 300 expert technicians to execute its comprehensive quality and safety policy framework. Abu Dhabi Aviation is recognised for the excellence of its aircraft servicing department. The company is engaged by a number of large fleet operators in the Middle East for the maintenance of their fixed and rotary wing aircraft. ADA holds quality certifications from the world’s leading regulatory agencies such as the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Authority.

Thanks to its large, modern, and versatile fleet, ADA is regularly asked to provide humanitarian support. For the past six years the company has dispatched seven helicopters to Jeddah and Mecca during Ramadan and Hajj at the request of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

ADA now eyes the global market and has been hired to support mining operations in Ethiopia, Brazil, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, and elsewhere. The company is expanding its maintenance services as well.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that ADA employs well over 1,000 professionals. By keeping all operations in-house, the company is able to tightly control both the quality of its customer-facing services and the safety and readiness of its fleet. The judges are pleased to declare Abu Dhabi Aviation winner of the 2018 Best Offshore Aviation Support Middle East Award.


HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer:  Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Corporate Governance Middle East 2017

Corporate governance is an endeavour without end, subject to periodic reviews, updates, and enhancements. DEWA’s Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer is only too aware that room for improvement may always be found, necessitating both constant vigilance and a commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

Under his guidance, the state-owned DEWA has embraced good governance as a core value – and a strategic objective. DEWA is committed to adopting and implementing the best practices of good corporate governance in all its activities and operations.

Today, the utility far exceeds the international standards as defined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other multilateral entities. Adherence to good corporate governance principles is no longer the exclusive domain of publicly-listed companies.

Long before it became fashionable and mandatory, Mr Tayer instituted a solid governance framework at DEWA centred on four pillars: accountability, transparency, responsibility, and fair practices. This enabled DEWA to build an exceptionally strong relationship with all stakeholders and established the utility as a trusted partner – and an example for other corporates to follow.

Good governance also includes the creation of a corporate culture that encourages and welcomes innovation – one without organisational silos. DEWA now prides itself, justifiably, on being a horizontally integrated company which acts as a unified team to meet, with considerable aplomb, the challenges of tomorrow. Thus, Mr Tayer has shaped a company that, whilst in an essential legacy business, has become a formidable leader in disruptive technologies, seeking and finding new and exciting ways to stay well ahead of the curve.

The CFI.co judging panel wishes to recognise Mr Tayer’s dedication to good – indeed, excellent – corporate governance. The judges feel honoured to offer Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Corporate Governance Middle East.


Asia Plantation Capital: Best Sustainable Forestry Management Company Global 2018

Built around a corporate ethos prioritising ESG (environmental, social, and governance) values, Asia Plantation Capital (APC) now claims a prominent spot amongst the world’s top forestry management companies. The company has pioneered innovative sapling cultivation, growth, inoculation, and harvesting techniques which contributed to the optimisation of its plantations’ productivity. APC now also provides forestry management services to third parties leveraging the sustainable practices the company developed and implemented on its own plantations.

APC has spun off a number of stand-alone companies that exploit synergies and offer a comprehensive range of products derived from the company’s core forestry business such as oud oil distilled from agarwood trees and used in fine perfumes and skin care products, and the agarwood itself used in producing incense, bakhour and various health products. APC is also growing bamboo and is establishing a supply chain to provide bio-mass to clean energy plants in Africa and Asia.

APC now has sustainable plantations producing Aquilaria, Bamboo and Teak and has become the world’s largest sustainable plantation manager for the production of Oud and Agarwood and is now involved with a major new global project to disrupt the illegal deforestation, still prevalent in South East Asian countries. SAX, the Sustainable Asset Exchange, will only offer legitimately sourced products with the full provenance, secured in the blockchain, to evidence their origin, quality and supply chain trail.

The CFI.co judging panel has followed the progress and achievements of Asia Plantation Capital for a number of years and presented the company with multiple awards. The judges agree that APC has significantly expanded the scope of its business whilst keeping in place the strict environmental, social, and governance safeguards demanded by both its customers and the end consumer. Given APC’s dedication to operational excellence, the judges feel wholly justified in granting Asia Plantation Capital the 2018 Best Sustainable Forestry Management Company Global Award.


Assupol: Best Life Assurer Southern Africa 2018

For more than a century, South African life insurer Assupol has been an agent of change. The company continues to challenge the market, leading the industry towards improved sustainability and social inclusion. Assupol has set up a number of unique partnerships to open the insurance industry’s tightly regulated value chain to those yet unable to meet the stringent requirements.

To that end, Assupol last year agreed to appoint 44 women university graduates with degrees in finance to its staff. The initiative, unique in both size and scope, is the result of a cooperative agreement signed with Omama Be Sizwe (Mother of the Nation) – an organisation with deep societal roots owned by black women. The new hires will be trained as financial advisers. In time, Assupol hopes to open new distribution channels for its products this way, and broaden still further its client base.

Assupol has been repeatedly recognised as one of South Africa’s best employers. Global business consultancy Deloitte granted the insurer its platinum seal of approval in the best company to work for category. Assupol is a favourite of customers as well: a high-performance insurer by nature and tradition, the company has deployed both technology and human expertise to offer a range of consistently superior products delivered efficiently and with full transparency. Assupol is especially known for significantly raising the benchmark of processing times for insurance claims. Its lightning-fast pay-out routine has received wide acclaim and thoroughly disrupted industry practices. It also helps bereaved families in their time of need.

Amongst South Africa’s life insurers, Assupol boasts one of the lowest incidences of unclaimed benefits. The company maintains a dedicated department to identify and locate beneficiaries of unclaimed insurance pay-outs.

The CFI.co judging panel has followed Assupol’s corporate trajectory for a number of years and is thus not at all surprised to note that the company continues to produce strong results: last year, Assupol saw its new business increase by an annual average of 25% over the past five years and in 2017 registered a 26.8% jump in operating profits. The judges congratulate Assupol on its solid achievements and its win of the 2018 Best Life Assurer Southern Africa Award.


InfraCredit: Most Innovative Infrastructure Finance Sub-Saharan Africa 2018

By some estimates, Nigeria requires US$3 trillion to finance its infrastructure deficit over the next 30 years. Others estimate that to bridge the current infrastructure gap and increase core infrastructure stock, Nigeria needs an investment of US$127 billion over the next 5 years translating to an average of US$25 billion per annum.

Whatever the size of the deficit, fact remains that Africa’s largest economy is being held back by an absent or inadequate infrastructure. To address the most pressing needs of Nigeria-s core infrastructure requires investments of at least $127bn over the next five years. InfraCredit aims to help with that. The firm provides guarantees in local currency in order to help raise the quality of debt issued to underwrite larger infrastructure assets in the country. Thus, InfraCredit bridges a gap left by Nigeria’s commercial banks which are unable to meet the demand for long-term capital.

InfraCredit sees an opportunity to significantly deepen Nigeria’s nascent domestic capital market by attracting investment from entities that take the long view such as pension funds and insurance companies. The firm has developed a number of innovative products towards this end.

Earlier this year, InfraCredit successfully completed its first-ever guaranteed bond transaction – a $28 million fixed rate bond due in 2027, issued by a company that designs, builds, and operates off-grid power-generating facilities. The Viathan Bond is also the first long-term corporate infrastructure debt instrument issued on the domestic capital market. Sixteen institutional investors, including twelve pension funds, subscribed to the bond.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that InfraCredit boasts a triple-A credit rating on the local market. The firm was set up by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority in close collaboration with GuarantCo – part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). In particular, InfraCredit seeks to offer solid investment opportunities to the country’s pension funds which, thanks to new legislation, are quickly becoming a major component of the domestic capital market. The judges recognise the supreme importance of financial engineering when it comes to unlocking funds for long-term development and agree to grant InfraCredit the 2018 Most Innovative Infrastructure Finance Sub-Saharan Africa Award.


Provincia Fondos: Best Fixed Income Fund Manager Argentina 2018

In Argentina’s often hectic world of finance, Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires stands out as one of the few constants – a reference point of the financial system and the oldest bank in Spanish-speaking Latin America, founded in 1822. Interestingly, Banco Provincia (as the venerable institution is known) was also the first private business set up in Argentina.

With more than 420 branch offices in the Buenos Aires province, Banco Provincia maintains a deep presence in the largest state of the country that concentrates more than 30% of the economic activity and population. The bank, through its subsidiaries controlled by the Grupo Provincia, develops the most extensive offer of insurance and financial services to the community. Provincia Fondos, the bank´s fund manager, benefits from the large footprint – unmatched by any of its competitors. Managed by professionals who have honed their skills in, arguably, Latin America’s most dynamic market, Provincia Fondos has established a strong reputation for protecting – and growing – its clients financial assets even during economic challenging times. As such, Provincia Fondos is considered a valuable and dependable anchor, particularly for small investors. The fund managers registered a significant growth in assets under management thanks, amongst others, to its exceptional performance and a very highly reputable team.

Provincia Fondos maintains a comprehensive range of savings and investment products and allows investors to assemble a balanced portfolio carefully tailored to suit their individual tolerance to risk. Investors may manage their fund online and benefit from a wide array of services and information available on Provincia Fondo’s website. The firm’s fixed income funds have been a long-time favourite amongst savers. Provincia Fondos also features a number of mutual funds that consistently return benchmark-setting results.

The CFI.co judging panel is aware that Provincia Fondos, as a subsidiary of Argentina’s most prestigious bank, carries within its corporate DNA the mark of operational excellence and resilience. The judges are pleased to announce Provincia Fondos as winner of the 2018 Best Fixed Income Fund Manager Argentina Award.


XM.com: Best Market Research & Education Global 2018

Success in trading comes from education and the experience that follows. Therefore, traders who value their money and aim to carve out a better future need to continually develop and hone their skills.

UK-based XM.com maintains a staff of highly trained expert traders who are eager to share their knowledge of the forex market with both newbie traders and more experienced investors who long to reach the next level. The firm offers a wide array of courses and seminars that cater to traders of all skill levels. The company’s educational staff has lent its knowledge to professionals from world class financial services providers such as global banks and brokerages. XM.com has designed a number of hands-on courses that emphasize practicalities, warn of common pitfalls, and offer valuable insights into the tricks of the trade. The courses allow traders to detect the early warning signs of major and minor market swings, allowing them ample time to optimise their exposure and maximise benefit.

XM.com is also recognised for the exceptional performance and high quality output of its research department. Traders have access to a veritable wealth of information, organised in such a way that hard data is always just a few mouse clicks away. The firm regularly publishes overviews of broader market trends and special reports on specific trade opportunities that contain valuable nuggets of information for savvy and attentive traders.

The CFI.co judging panel is no stranger to XM.com. The judges have followed the firm’s progress and dedication to the training of its traders. The judging panel is pleased to offer XM.com the 2018 Best Market Research & Education Global Award.


Fiduoccidente: Best Asset Management Team Colombia 2018

Colombian asset manager Fiduoccidente has surprised the market with a range of products segmented by investor class. The firm’s line-up has been split to serve the specific requirements of each market: Corporate and Institutional, Individual, Government and Enterprises. This way, Fiduoccidente is able to improve its client proximity and offer differentiated products and services that dovetail with the needs and aspirations of each market segment.

Last year, a mutual fund was launched that aims to expose investors to the buoyant markets of the United States and a select number of Latin American economies. Fiduoccidente entrusted the management of this new fund to the renowned Chilean asset management powerhouse LarrainVial. With clients who are comfortable with moderate risk exposure in mind, the firm launched the Fondo de Inversión Colectiva Renta Fija Dinámica fund, a dynamic fixed-income mutual fund, and is working on the launch of its first family of mutual funds backed by real estate.

In order to perfect the management of client relationships, four dedicated divisions were set up to precisely gauge the needs of each investor class and develop matching products. Additionally, the firm has made significant investments in developing and implementing digital initiatives to generate a positive impact on the customer experience

The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to note that Fiduoccidente continues to move from strength to strength. The firm’s new approach to the asset management business was exceptionally well received by investors and has already paid off handsomely. The judges agree to name Fiduoccidente, a repeat winner, recipient of the 2018 Best Asset Management Team Colombia Award.


Tanzania Women’s Bank (TWB): Best Social Impact Bank Tanzania 2018

Empowering women entrepreneurs across the country, Tanzania Women’s Bank (TWB), set up in 2007 and open for business since 2009, aims to simplify the provision of credit and know-how to micro, small, and medium-sized businesses whose needs are often ignored by commercial banks.

Female entrepreneurs face a number of hurdles that conspire against success. Studies have found that banks usually refuse to engage with women business owners or, if they do, charge exorbitant interest rates and demand significant collateral for even small loans. Deprived of working capital, an untold number of promising small businesses fail to take off or remain well below their potential.

Closely enmeshed with the communities in which it operates, Tanzania Women’s Bank is able to lend a helping hand by knowing its customers. The bank’s staff seeks to establish a true partnership with clients in order to properly understand their needs, gauge the potential of their businesses, and offer advice – and credit.

TWB also maintains a full suite of current and savings accounts tailored to the requirements and demands of each demographic. The bank offers, for example, accounts that help minors gain financial literacy skills and women wishing to secure their family’s future.

The CFI.co judging panel has followed the trajectory of TWB for a number of years and has noted the bank’s achievements in helping women-led businesses break through the glass ceiling. As an instrument of social and economic empowerment, TWB has a significant impact on Tanzania’s national development. Moreover, the bank enables women to benefit from the country’s buoyant economy and, by doing so, helps redress social injustice. The judging panel declares Tanzania Women’s Bank winner of the 2018 Best Social Impact Bank Tanzania Award.


Volta River Authority: Best ESG Power Producer West Africa 2018

The first in Sub-Saharan Africa to meet the most important of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – cutting the poverty rate in half – Ghana has now moved into the middle income category, thanks to a buoyant economy that boasts consistently strong growth rates. One of West Africa’s economic power houses, Ghana’s growth is fueled by the electric power generated by the Volta River Authority(VRA) – the country’s main supplier of Electricity since 1961.

The VRA also exports power to neighboring Burkina Faso, Togo/Benin and has power exchange arrangements with Cote D’voire.

The company has established a solid reputation for operational efficiency and is considered a key component of Ghana’s development drive.

The VRA is a constituent part of the West African Power Pool, a regional initiative that aims to interconnect national grids in order to facilitate the cross-border trade in electricity. In addition to its two large hydroelectric power stations that straddle the mighty Volta River, the Authority operates a number of thermal plants as well as a 2.5MW Solar PV Plant.

The Volta River Authority injects around 2,600MW into the country’s grid and has unveiled plants to prioritize the construction of facilities that use renewable energy. VRA will add an additional 12MW of Solar Power to its portfolio by the end of 2019. The goal is to have 200MW of solar capacity installed by 2022 and alongside 80MW of wind power.

The VRA has also lent its expertise to power generators throughout the region in order to improve operations and increase efficiency. The company is recognized for its professionalism and dedication to operational excellence. VRA was an early adopter of ESG(environmental, social and governance) standards and has used sustainability principles to perfect its operations.

The CFI.co judging panel agrees that VRA has built an enviable reputation as a driver of sustainable development in Ghana and beyond. The judges declare the Volta River Authority winner of the 2018 Best ESG Power Producer West Africa Award.


Moldova Agroindbank: Best Social Impact Bank Moldova 2018

A pillar of its country’s financial industry, Moldova Agroindbank (MAIB) earlier this year claimed the top spot in the domestic Bank Performance Raking as compiled by the Expert group – an independent trend watcher. MAIB boasted the largest market share by loan portfolio and deposits, and extracted the highest return on capital.

Set up in 1991, the same year Moldova gained its independence, MAIB maintains a nationwide corporate footprint with over a hundred branch offices and more than sixty agencies. The bank is particularly well represented in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. MAIB offers a full suite of products designed to serve the specific needs of small businesses. Since 1994, the bank has received support for its SME products from a number of multilateral lenders. MAIB also introduced microcredit facilities for sole traders.

Moldova Agroindbank is determined to lead its peers in technology, governance, and operational excellence – and thus help promote the country’s insertion into the wider European financial sector.

MAIB keeps in close touch with Moldova’s large diaspora and has streamlined the procedures for receiving and paying out remittances from abroad. From its earliest corporate beginnings, MAIB has recognised the importance of corporate social responsibility. It maintains a large number of initiatives aimed at helping disadvantaged Moldovan families, particularly with education and financial literacy.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that MAIB is not only Moldova’s largest bank, but also an engine of economic growth and national development. More than just a financial services provider, MAIB is structured for maximum social impact. The judges have no hesitation in granting Moldova Agroindbank, a repeat winner who does not rest on his laurels, the 2018 Best Social Impact Bank Moldova Award.


Metito: Best Water CleanTech PPP Emerging Markets 2018

Pursuing close partnership with multilateral financiers, development agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Metito helps improve access to clean and affordable water across the world – a key Sustainable Development Goal. With over 60 years’ in the water and wastewater industry, Metito focuses primarily on emerging markets, where demand is greatest. The company leverages expertise gained from its global operations to carefully and sustainably manage local resources. Metito makes considerable efforts to train local engineers and workers through skills development programmes.

Metito is more than just a corporate entity; it is a strong advocate for water security and the sustainable management of scarce resources. In the GCC member states and elsewhere, the company has supported desalination, wastewater recycling and reuse projects and other initiatives as viable, cost-effective and dependable alternative sources of high-quality potable water.

In Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Economic City, a brand-new business hub and port, Metito was awarded the contract to build a major desalination plant that uses the reverse-osmosis technology and is partially powered by solar energy. This project marks another milestone in the Kingdom’s path to realising its 2030 Vision.

In Rwanda, Metito was chosen as the preferred partner to develop and operate a $75m project to supply Kigali, the booming capital, with a more reliable supply of drinking water. Metito has now established a wholly-owned subsidiary – Kigali Water – to manage this concession. This is the first of its kind project in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Metito’s water management solutions cover three distinct aspects of the business: engineering, chemicals, and investment, development and management of water assets and utilities. If Sustainable Development Goal 6 – Universal Access to Safe Drinking Water – is to be achieved, the world needs many more projects such as Kigali in developing countries. The CFI.co judging panel notes that Metito has proven its technical competence and vison to help deliver Goal 6 and is happy to declare Metito winner of the 2018 Best Water CleanTech PPP Emerging Markets Award.


Park Street Nordicom: Best Real Estate Corporate Governance Denmark 2018

A partner of choice to investors seeking to optimise their exposure to the buoyant Nordic real estate markets, Park Street Nordicom of Denmark offers a level of in-house expertise and professional dedication to excellence recognised throughout the business. For close to thirty years, the publicly-listed company has pushed the envelope on operational transparency in order to provide full disclosure to all stakeholders. As a result, Park Street Nordicom has gained the trust of investors and is able to navigate without undue stress the various cycles of the property market.

The company’s portfolio comprises sixty properties with an aggregate floorspace in excess of 250,000 square metres. Park Street Nordicom maintains an occupancy rate north of 90% and has a roster of more than 400 carefully selected tenants. Its properties are rented out to some of Denmark’s most iconic businesses and organisations, ensuring a robust and dependable cashflow.

Park Street Nordicom squarely aims to be the best in its business and realises that excellence in corporate governance is key to meeting that objective. The company creates value through simplicity: short open lines of communication, dynamic operational systems that quickly adjust to changing market conditions, and comprehensive yet streamlined reporting procedures that ensure all stakeholders have full access to all information at all times.

The CFI.co judging panel commends Park Street Nordicom on its almost disruptive approach to real estate investing. The company is present in the office, retail, and residential segments of the markets and has developed a number of shared-spaces initiatives as well. The judges are pleased to offer Park Street Nordicom the 2018 Best Real Estate Corporate Governance Denmark Award.


China Literature: Best Online Literature Platform East Asia 2018

Chinese readers have embraced the digital book, though not in quite the same way as booklovers elsewhere have. Instead of a solitary individual experience, readers in China look for a community. As they progress through a book, often delivered in instalments, Chinese readers will want to engage with each other, and with writers too; swapping ideas, examining plot lines, expressing feelings, and suggesting improvements – all in real-time.

That requires a hefty dose of technology. China Literature, a subsidiary of gaming and social media giant Tencent, offers readers the holistic experience they crave on a high-tech platform that is without equal. China Literature has an online catalogue of almost 10 million works distributed via the company’s two principal apps – QQ Reading and Qidian. These apps are not merely e-readers with a few added bells and whistles. Users of QQ Reading can, for example, send micropayments to authors.

By carefully analysing online reading trends, China Literature is able to finetune its title lists and immediately respond to changes in demand. The company also intends to turn some of its best-selling books into feature-length films, television series, or games. Online publishing is big business in China, registering a 20% average annual growth since 2012. Book platforms such as those deployed by China Literature help new authors find readers and hone their skills by directly engaging with the reading public.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that the vast body of literature offered by China Literature is exceptionally well organised and divided over more than 200 different categories. With a few taps and swipes readers may easily access the full depth of the catalogue and find the exact book they are looking for. The judges are thrilled that the company now plans to offer its services outside China as well. The judging panel is pleased to declare China Literature winner of the 2018 Best Online Literature Platform East Asia Award.


Tilney: Best Investment Advisory Team United Kingdom 2018

Investment advisory is first and foremost a people business in which expert financial planners and investment managers work as a tight team to help customers attain their goals. Based in Mayfair, London, more than 300 seasoned professionals of Tilney manage over £20bn in assets on their clients’ behalf. The firm, founded in 1836 in Liverpool, is one of the oldest of its kind and fields a team of some 220 financial planners and 80 investment managers. With an exceptionally rich heritage, Tilney attracts the best talents from an industry renowned for its fierce competition.

The formula that explains the firm’s longevity and continued success is a surprisingly simple one: to offer a high-quality product at a fair price. Applied consistently, the approach – as down-to-earth as it is sophisticated – pays off for investors and managers alike. Internally, Tilney is structured as an inverted pyramid whereby the entire team works in close cooperation and harmony to support the frontline advisers in delivering the very best service. This ensures that each investor enjoys the full backing of the firm’s professionals, its vast experience, and the valuable insights which make each individual portfolio special.

Tilney maintains a comprehensive range of products and services that they expertly tailor to meet the specific needs of clients thus ensuring their financial goals are, at all times, being pursued diligently. That´s how the company realises the optimum return for its clients: by putting their resources to work to maximum effect.

The CFI.co judging panel tips its collective hat to Tilney in recognition of the company’s impressive track record, dedication to excellence, and consistently superior performance. The judges are honoured to offer Tilney the 2018 Best Investment Advisory Team - United Kingdom Award.


CCL Secure: Most Innovative Banknote Technology Global 2018

The world’s largest manufacturer, by far, of polymer banknote substrate, CCL Secure has lifted paper money onto a high-tech pane. The company’s “plastic money” – the real thing as opposed to wallet-sized cards – is virtually indestructible and now incorporates a number of new security features that allow for the instant identification of individual banknotes to ascertain authenticity.

CCL's Clarity™C film technology provides each note with a unique fingerprint, raising the bar for counterfeiters to a virtually insurmountable height. By demonstrating its willingness to share Clarity™C with other substrate suppliers, CCL Secure has ensured that its technology became the industry’s standard. The company argues that its innovative, if not revolutionary, approach to banknote security marks a paradigm shift that stands to benefit the entire industry. Clarity™C imposes no additional costs on customers and is now widely available thanks to its open architecture.

CCL Secure provides 90 out of every 100 polymer banknotes globally. The company maintains three production facilities and five production lines in different parts of the world in addition to a dedicated research and development department in Australia and a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory in the UK. CCL Secure has manufactured well over fifty-five banknotes which circulate in 24 countries. Each year, the company introduces five or more new denomination designs which enter into production and circulation.

The CFI.co judging panel agrees that polymer banknotes – resistant to wear and tear, inherently secure, and exceptionally user-friendly – are the future. Polymer banknotes also represent a growth industry. The move away from paper money is gathering momentum with most Central Banks only now realising the enormous cost savings to be had from lower replacement rates and tamper-proof security features. The judges are pleased to offer CCL Secure, a repeat winner, the 2018 Most Innovative Banknote Technology Global Award.


Wing (Cambodia) Specialised Bank: Best Social Impact Bank Cambodia 2018

The smartphone, ubiquitous in all corners of the world, is proving a powerful tool for the promotion of financial inclusion. Even those only armed with not-so-smart mobile phones can easily access a whole range of banking services previously unavailable to all but the wealthiest people. As such, the mobile phone helps level – and democratise – the playing field: the device ends the marginalisation of people of modest means who may now safely, securely, and cheaply manage their money.

In Cambodia, Wing Specialised Bank has tapped into the vast universe of unbanked and under-banked people with a series of purpose-designed products aimed at meeting the requirements of customers not served by the country’s large commercial banks. Launched in 2009, Wing Specialised Bank started its corporate life as a mobile phone-based money transfer service. Soon the bank expanded its suite of products to include bill payments, and disbursement and payroll solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The bank also operates a vast nationwide network of over 5,000 Wing Cash Xpress outlets where its clients may complete transactions in person. Wing Specialised Bank is well on its way to fulfilling its corporate mission to provide every Cambodian with convenient access to formal financial services. The bank has also partnered with financial services providers in neighbouring countries in order to serve the large Cambodian diaspora.

The CFI.co judging panels commends Wing Specialised Bank on its achievements. The bank has remained true to its founding principles and is recognised for the excellence of its services – and the speed and unfailing precision with which transactions are processed. The judges agree to name Wing (Cambodia) Specialised Bank winner of the 2018 Best Social Impact Bank Cambodia Award.


Credit Bank: Best Commercial Bank Governance Team Kenya 2018

Helping microbusinesses grow, prosper, and reach the next level up by becoming sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Kenya’s Credit Bank seeks to effectively underwrite the country’s economic future. Small business are not just an engine of growth; the sector is also where most new jobs are created. Usually fiercely competitive, the SME universe shapes the next generation of business leaders.

Credit Bank looks at much more than just spreadsheets. The bank never loses sight of its corporate reason for being: furthering financial inclusion and offering structured solutions to enterprising Kenyans whose drive and savvy are unmatched by capital. Thus, Credit Bank is particularly keen to help SMEs vie for contracts, put in bids, and seize opportunity. The bank helps small business owners establish sound operational practices and maintain good corporate governance no matter the scale of the enterprise.

The bank’s operations and policies are based on a corporate governance framework that ensures the business adheres to international best practices. A board of directors sees to it that integrity, accountability, and transparency are maintained at all times throughout the organisation.

Credit Bank works as a – moneyed – partner alongside entrepreneurs in a collaborative manner, dispensing valuable insights into business practices, regulation, and operational procedures. To that end, Credit Bank maintains a staff of experienced professionals whose deep knowledge of local conditions is put at the disposal of customers. Credit Bank pursues a humane corporate policy that prioritises gender balance and promotes simple, yet crucially important, aspects such as happiness. That is, after all, what humans work for.

The CFI.co judging panel admires Credit Bank’s approach to providing financial services to SMEs and customers who may not yet be all that familiar with banks. Its insistence on lowering the threshold for customers has brought in significant new business and broadened the bank’s client base. The judges declare Credit Bank winner of the 2018 Best Commercial Bank Governance Team Kenya Award.


NCB Capital Markets: Best Wealth Management Team Caribbean 2018

A pioneer of the Jamaican stock market and one of the island nation’s oldest asset managers – and, indeed, the oldest brokerage firm in the English-speaking Caribbean – NCB Capital Markets traces its corporate origins to the mid-1960s when the company – then called Edward Gayle & Co – held one of the first five seats on the Jamaican Stock Exchange. NCB Capital Markets has remained true to its original mission to help shape a vibrant financial industry, including a robust capital market that contributes towards the steady development of the country.

As the wealth and asset management division of National Commercial Bank, Jamaica’s largest financial services provider, NCB Capital Markets enjoys a commanding presence in the market, derived from its client-centric approach, comprehensive suite of investment and saving products, and its adherence to world-class standards.

The firm has an exceptionally well-developed business strategy that allows it to thrive in a highly competitive environment. By exploring innovative investment solutions and ways to engage with customers, NCB Capital Markets has managed to stay at the leading edge of the industry. The firm maintains a number of initiatives that allow its analysts and agents to continuously update and expand their skill set in order to source opportunities and tap into growth markets. As a result of this proactive approach, NCB Capital Markets regularly sets new industry benchmarks.

The CFI.co judging panel notes and appreciates the buzz which permeates the firm: this is a place where professionals are excited, if not passionate, about their work. The judges agree that such an attitude benefits customers. The judging panel declares NCB Capital Markets winner of the 2018 Best Wealth Management Team Caribbean Award.


Heritage Bank: Best SME Bank Nigeria 2018

The clue is in the name: Heritage Bank works in close concert with its customers to shape their future and, indeed, create a heritage. The Nigerian bank takes the long view on customer relations and prioritises the people aspects of the financial services industry. The bank’s staff is well trained in all aspects of the banking industry and receives numerous opportunities to further develop skills and embark on a life long learning quest. As a result of its pioneering human resources policy, Heritage Bank is able to deploy its superior knowledge of the local market and dedication to operational excellence to create value for all stakeholders.

The bank also keeps a leading edge over the competition by embracing innovation and advances in technology to offer customers an experience not matched elsewhere. The bank has accumulated a number of firsts during the course of its corporate history. Heritage Bank, then known as Society General Bank, was the first to install an automatic teller machine in the country. Today, Heritage Bank maintains a network of over 160 branch offices throughout Nigeria in addition to close to fifty automated banking centres.

Heritage Bank is particularly recognised for its strong presence in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) segment – one of most buoyant parts of the market – and perhaps one of its most important as well. As such, the bank stands to benefit from the Nigerian government’s recent decision to improve the business climate for small entrepreneurs.

The CFI.co judging panel notes Heritage Bank’s determination to keep close proximity to its SME customers. The bank also caters to their needs with a comprehensive array of products and services designed to dovetail with the specific requirements of SMEs. The judges are pleased to offer Heritage Bank the 2018 Best SME Bank Nigeria Award.


Ahli United Bank Kuwait: Best Bank Governance Kuwait 2018

[caption id="attachment_6062" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Tareq Muhmood Senior DCEO Banking Group, Mai Al Saghir Board Secretary and Head of Corporate Governance, Richard Groves Chief Executive Officer [/caption]

Tracing its corporate roots to 1941, Ahli United Bank Kuwait is the oldest financial services provider of the country, sustaining a rich legacy that keeps it at the forefront of the industry. A 100% locally owned bank since 1971, Ahli United Bank Kuwait in 2010 converted to Islamic banking – one of the first to do so. The bank maintains a Sharia board of four eminent Islamic scholars to ensure all its processes, products, and services comply with Islamic Law.

From its earliest beginnings, Ahli United Bank Kuwait has prioritised transparency and pursued excellence in corporate governance as the twin pillars that support its business, growth, and sustainability. Last year, the bank published a revised and thoroughly updated corporate governance manual that charts, delineates, and guides all aspects of its operations. Performance is gauged by qualified and certified teams supporting the corporate governance and compliance functions.

The bank also maintains a number of staff training and skills development programmes that allows employees to keep abreast of the latest developments in the banking industry and be fully aware of the rules and regulations that govern their business.

Ahli United Bank Kuwait also recognises the importance of continuously engaging all stakeholders and keeps in close touch with regulatory entities to ensure compliance. The bank’s dedication to excellence in corporate governance pays off in superior operational performance with strong results across all key parameters. Ahli United Bank Kuwait consistently leads the industry in returns on both equity and assets.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that the bank is managed by veterans of the industry. The management team comprises banking professionals with thirty or more years of experience in finance. The judges declare Ahli United Bank Kuwait – a repeat winner – recipient of the 2018 Best Bank Governance Kuwait Award.


Banco del Chubut: Best Social Impact Retail Bank Argentina 2018

Banco del Chubut is going places: not only has the Argentine bank sustained solid growth over the past five years, it also serves the far-flung communities that dot the plains of Patagonia. One of Argentina’s most recognisable provincial banks, Banco del Chubut has been an instrument of development and social support since its earliest corporate beginnings. In business for close to six decades, the bank maintains a countrywide network of branch offices.

However, in Chubut – a sparsely populated part of the country that stretches from the Atlantic seaboard to the Andes mountain range – the bank is present in even the smallest communities. Here, Banco del Chubut often sits at the very core of local economic and social life – and offers provincial authorities a way to ensure that its development policies and social initiatives reach and benefit the province’s entire population.

Founded in 1959, Banco del Chubut is considered a textbook example of what a financial institution with a dual mission may accomplish. The bank not only offers a complete array of financial products and services to individuals, businesses of all sizes, government entities, and investors; it also provides seed capital and services to support specific demographics and segments of the market that need help or a nudge to grow and prosper. Banco del Chubut has launched a number of initiatives that aim to encourage the development of promising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Small traders may also count on the bank’s support.

Additionally, Banco del Chubut is recognised as a pioneer of corporate social responsibility and maintains a number of outreach programmes via a foundation set up for that purpose.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that Banco del Chubut involves all stakeholders in its corporate undertakings. The bank also adheres to international standards and best practices in order to keep its operations on a sustainable footing. The judges are unanimous in their decision to grant Banco del Chubut the 2018 Best Social Impact Retail Bank Argentina Award.


AMAC Aerospace: Best Private Aviation Services EMEA 2018

Serving the needs of the global jet-set, Swiss specialist aviation company AMAC Aerospace is flying high from locations in Europe and the Middle East. The company, the largest privately-owned of its kind in the world, has become a leader in VVIP completion. In four hangars located at the Basel-Mulhouse airport, AMAC Aerospace is able to service all classes of planes up to and including Airbus 380s. The facility covers a floorspace in excess of ten hectares.

The company is the preferred partner of governments, private clients and corporations that seek to renew, update or refurbish their singular aircraft and/or their fleet of VIP aircraft. AMAC Aerospace is currently working on one Boeing B747-8i, amongst others and has recently received the approval by Airbus Corporate Jets to be a dedicated and recommended completion centre for the new Airbus A350XWB long-range wide body aircraft. AMAC Aerospace are one of three completion centres in the world selected to be an approved completion centre for this Airbus variant. The company is currently underway to finalising work on the first Airbus A320 NEO in VVIP configuration.

AMAC Aerospace also operates its own maintenance facility at the Bodrum-Milas airport in Turkey. Here, the company services selected Airbus and Boeing products. Since opening this new centre, AMAC Aerospace has secured a number of large maintenance contracts. In 2016, the company acquired French cabin interiors manufacturer JCB Aero which specialises in the conversion of aircraft to VVIP standards as well as rotar wing craft in VIP configuration. Currently AMAC's sister company, JCB Aero produce 4x ship sets per month to Airbus Eurocopter, based in Toulouse, France. The company now employs well over one thousand professionals and operates on the one-stop-shop principle: customers may address all their needs and requirements via a single point of contact. This ensures optimum efficiency throughout all stages of VVIP aircraft completion projects.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that AMAC Aerospace is recognised as a corporate group comprised of four distinct companies: AMAC Corporate Jet, AMAC Aerospace Turkey, JCB Aero. The judges agree to name AMAC Aerospace winner of the Best Private Aviation Service EMEA Award.


Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA):  Best Foreign Investment Promotion Team West Africa 2018

The Gambia is open for business and welcomes investors to one of West Africa’s most enterprising nations. The country has overhauled and updated its legislative framework to shape a business-friendly climate that offers both opportunities and safeguards. The Gambia is an active member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), part of the World Bank group.

The country’s government is determined to turn The Gambia into a regional trade and manufacturing hub and has set up a specialised entity – the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) – to help investors source opportunities and navigate the now streamlined licensing processes – most of which may now be completed online. The government has also formed a National Business Council in order to match executive and legislative initiatives with the needs of the private sector.

The Gambia is the largely untold success story of West Africa: thanks to its open trade regime, and tight fiscal and monetary policies, the country has enjoyed an enviable degree of economic stability. The Gambia has also dedicated significant resources towards the upgrading of its economic infrastructure.

GIEPA is charged with keeping The Gambia globally competitive and maintaining a healthy business environment. The agency is also a key component of the country’s Vision 2020 and the government-backed Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment. The agency is staffed by a team of seasoned business professionals and has established a solid reputation for effectiveness in helping entrepreneurs establish a presence in the country. GIEPA also assist local businesses looking for export opportunities.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that GIEPA works with all stakeholders and adheres to a comprehensive code of ethics that prioritises transparency. The judges agree to name the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) winner of the 2018 Best Foreign Investment Promotion Team West Africa Award.


Bank One: Best Corporate Bank Indian Ocean 2018

Taking the long view and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships with its customers has enabled Mauritius’ Bank One to grow and prosper in one of the world’s most competitive banking environments. Though Bank One serves all market segments – retail, corporate, private, and international – with equal distinction, the bank sources a major share of its business from the island nation’s corporate universe. Mauritius is booming and so are its businesses. The country enjoys the highest per capita income in Africa, is home to the continent’s fastest-growing economy, and ranks in the top of the global ease-of-doing-business index.

In such a dynamic environment, opportunities abound and businesses need a reliable partner to help seize the moment. Bank One is such a partner. The bank has developed an approach that not only includes a full suite of products and services but also entails the building of strategic relationship centred on flexibility and scalability, and delivered with almost lightning speed – should the need arise.

The corporate division of Bank One is staffed by experienced professionals who cultivate a thorough understanding of their customers’ circumstances and needs in order to offer sensible and competitive products and services that add value and deliver tangible results. The team includes experts on each major segment of the Mauritius economy.

Bank One has carefully crafted and shaped its operations to fit seamlessly with the requirements of different businesses. The bank cherishes its customers as brand ambassadors. By outshining the competition, Bank One has gained both market share and recognition as a premier financial services provider.

The CFI.co judging panel is delighted to see Mauritius assume regional leadership as the world’s first blue economy. The judges agree that the country’s success is derived to a significant extent from its role as a regional financial centre – a hub for the markets bordering the Indian Ocean. Bank One forms an essential component of that hub and, indeed, raises the benchmark of operational efficiency. The judges are therefore pleased to declare Bank One winner of the 2018 Best Corporate Bank Indian Ocean Award.


Jana Small Finance Bank: Best Inclusive Finance Services India 2018

With a comprehensive online platform that rivals those of big banks, Jana Small Finance Bank helps India unbanked access a full complement of financial services. Founded as a non-profit organisation in 1999, and the country’s first urban micro-credit institution, Jana grew into a fully licensed bank that now serves well over 4.2 million accountholders. However, Jana Small Finance Bank remains true to its roots and keeps its operations customer-focussed, as opposed to product-driven.

At Jana Small Finance Bank, most customers may be of modest means but receive a level of service and attention normally only encountered at private banks. Staff has been trained to deal with customers who may have difficulty in understanding the complexities of modern banking. By showing the utmost respect, Jana Small Finance Bank not only helps its accountholders navigate the system, but also extract benefits. The bank’s unique business model ensures sustainable growth propelled by word of mouth. Thanks to its customers – who effectively have become brand ambassadors – Jana Small Finance Bank expects to top eight million accounts by 2020.

The Jana-approach to retail banking, and the brand loyalty it inspires, virtually assures future growth as customers, now financially empowered, become more affluent. Tapping into India’s vast development potential, allows the bank to broaden and deepen its customer base.

The CFI.co judging panel commends the bank on its corporate mission and vision. The judges agree to name Jana Small Finance Bank winner of the 2018 Best Inclusive Finance Services India Award.


FBS: Best Copy Trading Application Global 2018 & Best Forex Broker Asia 2018

Few markets are as dynamic and competitive as foreign exchange trading. Around the world, millions of people, from retail investors to large corporates and everything in between, access the forex markets hoping to nurture and grow their cash. Though trading platforms share an often bewildering array of features, successful traders know that bells and whistles only go so far; education and carefully honed skills result in an acquired market-savvy that allows investors to minimise exposure to risk and sustain gains over the medium and long term.

Global broker FBS, one of the world’s largest forex platforms with a corporate footprint that spans 190 countries, offers its traders a comprehensive suite of educational resources. FBS training programmes are tailored to individual needs and skill levels. Newby traders can safely and securely evaluate their knowledge in a virtual environment, before venturing onto the real market. Once ready to go live, FBS customers may continue to develop their skill set with more advanced courses that enable novice traders to confidently broach more advanced market segments and set up complex trades in a variety of instruments.

FBS also offers its accountholders access to a state-of-the-art copy trading application that tracks the moves of the firm’s most successful investors. The device-independent FBS CopyTrade platform allows traders to benefit – and profit – from the experience and knowledge of the industry’s best professional traders. The app also enables veteran traders to share their insights – and get paid for doing so. The app makes full use of smart technology and social media to bridge the distance between traders and their preferred markets. FBS CopyTrade is also a perfect solution for casual and dedicated investors who lack the time to research markets and just want their funds to benefit from the social trading revolution unleashed by FBS.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that FBS sustains over eight million traders and engages with some 315,000 partners to extend its global reach and maintain a close proximity to its traders. The firm regularly organises seminars to bring its accountholders details and inside scoops on broader market trends. The judges have followed FBS, a repeat award winner, for a number of years and agree that the company remains at the forefront of the forex market. The judging panel is pleased to offer FBS a double win in recognition of its achievements: the 2018 Best Copy Trading Application Global Award and the 2018 Best Forex Broker Asia Award.


Aviva: Best InsurTech Responsible Value Creation Global 2018

The largest insurer in the United Kingdom with well over 33 million customers, Aviva looks after almost half the country’s inhabitants, and does so with a comprehensive suite of insurance and savings products that aim to provide a comfortable future and a solid hedge against uncertainty. The company can trace its corporate roots to the late 17th century but remains a disruptor, albeit one with 322 years of experience in shaping the market.

In the age of ‘insurtech’ that seeks to leverage to power of digital to increase operational efficiency, Aviva has managed to build up a significant technological edge. By transposing its full line of products and services onto an easily navigable online platform, Aviva has pointed the way to the future for the entire industry. The MyAviva platform not only allows customers to manage their products but also shows how their money is invested and what their post-retirement life will look like. The company has spared no effort to deliver a powerful commercial differentiator that propels growth and broadens – and deepens – its already vast customer base.

Aviva realises that funding retirement is but a single aspect, albeit an important one, of the future. To help shape a sustainable world, the company is exceptionally active as a promoter of market reform and restructuring in order to ensure compliance with all relevant environmental, social, and governance (ESG) parameters. Aviva is well aware of the shifts in sentiment and demand and aims to anticipate change by helping drive that change and be an advocate of sustainability.

The CFI.co judging panel commends Aviva on its forward-looking approach to the insurance and savings business. It is how the company has managed to stay in business – and profitable – over the centuries – by keeping abreast of change. The judges agree to declare Aviva winner of the 2018 Best InsurTech Responsible Value Creation Global Award.


Visa: Best Branding Card Services Global 2018

Long before fintech became a buzzword and digital payment systems made their first appearance, Visa was already connecting the world with its ubiquitous card: accepted nearly everywhere and allowing users ready access to their cash. After many failed attempts to introduce a unified all-purpose payment card, Bank of America solved the riddle with its revolutionary – in today’s parlance: disruptive – BankAmericard which in 1976 became Visa. The secret to Visa’s enduring success was the original issuers willingness to license its product to other banks and allow its rebranding – first outside the US and later also domestically.

Now detached from its parent, Visa has become one of the world’s largest financial services providers with twin data centres in the US able to jointly process 30,000 transactions simultaneously and perform some one hundred billion computations per second. Visa unequalled IT backbone checks over 500 variables in each transactions it processes, including more than one hundred parameters to detect fraud.

Visa is not just big; the company is extremely agile as well, driving developments in fintech and adopting innovative technologies that further improve the card’s convenience to holders and merchants alike. In 2014, the company partnered with Apple to develop the iPhone Wallet app which enables users to link their Visa and other debit and credit cards into a single payment platform.

The CFI.co judging panel considers Visa a textbook case of how to drive corporate growth through the decentralisation of operations whilst maintaining a tight grip on the underlying processes. The company has also pioneered a way to benefit massively from the reach and reputation of its licensees. The judges are pleased to name Visa winner of the 2018 Best Branding Card Services Global Award.


Mack International: Best Investment Manager Executive Search Firm USA 2018

“In search of excellence, excellence in search” - the Mack International motto sums-up the firm’s mission statement and history of success. Mack International is a US firm specialising in retained executive searches and strategic human capital consulting. The firm serves ultra-high net-worth private-wealth and family markets, using its extensive network to access hidden talent pools and identify the best candidates for each opportunity. Finding the right skilled executives can be time-consuming, but matching personalities and personal ethos with a perfect cultural fit is an even more exacting process. “Culture trumps skill,” insists company founder Linda Mack, and the firm has carved out a niche for itself by recruiting candidates who fit seamlessly with the client’s culture. The firm takes an immersive approach to each assignment, delving deep into each client’s business to gain an understanding of its needs and cultural philosophy. The entire firm – founder included – works together on each assignment, focusing the collective power of its senior team of search consultants to give each client its undivided attention. During the thorough process of research, assessment, and co-interviews, Mack International gathers and shares competitive market intelligence with clients, affording them a significant value-added edge. Its far-reaching network of contacts also ensures that the firm stays abreast of the latest market trends and developments, adding such hot topics as social impact investing to its repertoire of talents — leading to the CFI.co judging panel’s decision: Mack International takes the 2018 award for Best Investment Manager Executive Search Firm USA.


ASIT Biotech: Best Biopharmaceutical Corporate Governance Belgium 2018

In the fast-moving Biopharma world, corporate governance can sometimes be low on the priority list and is sometime viewed as little more than a tick box exercise. As a result, many companies have failed to raise the capital they need to succeed. The CFI.co judging panel were seeking an example of a Biopharma that had used the implementation of high governance standards as an enabler for success. ASIT Biotech have given their corporate governance the same level of attention they give to their science. ASIT have been constantly evolving and refining their governance and have ensured the correct business/academic and executive/non-executive balance that in combination with strong product potential has helped deliver several rounds of funding. This year saw the board call in independent evaluation that will help them further strengthen their governance as they look to bring their breakthrough immunotherapy products to market in the near future. The CFI.co judging panel reflected on ASIT’s constant efforts to ensure the correct level of governance to deliver their innovative technology to market and are pleased to announce  ASIT Biotech as winner of the award Best Biopharmaceutical Corporate Governance Belgium 2018.


The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET): Best Stock Exchange in Advanced Emerging Markets 2018 & Best Sustainable Securities Exchange Southeast Asia Emerging Markets 2018

Best Stock Exchange in Advanced Emerging Markets 2018

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is perfectly positioned to become a new global contender in world capital markets. SET enjoys a strategic location at the crossroads of key Asia countries of 3.5 billion people, accounting for 32 percent of global GDP — and the country and exchange have major plans. SET offers a comprehensive range of investment products and services, plus it’s a key fund-raising engine for Thailand and the country’s massive Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project. Straddling three Thai provinces, totaling 13,285 sq. km., and at an estimated final cost of $51 billion, the ECC aims to transform the region into an internationally connected hub of high-tech innovation and creativity. It intends to become a “bridge” linking economies, trade, and investment. This falls perfectly in line with the country’s future-forward initiative, Thailand 4.0, designed to usher in a digital revolution and revitalise the economy. The Thai government is keen to spur investment — loosening restrictions on permits and offering tax breaks to facilitate SME job creation and improve infrastructure — and SET has a line of products and services to capitalise on the new incentives. With a focus of innovation and sustainable growth, SET uses cutting-edge technologies to create a competitive advantage at the international level, connecting quality listings with the funding they need. The CFI.co judging panel is happy to announce SET’s win for the 2018 Best Stock Exchange in Advanced Emerging Markets award.

Best Sustainable Securities Exchange Southeast Asia Emerging Markets 2018

Sustainability is no longer seen as a marginal issue; it is a key component of a solid business strategy to create a competitive advantage and meet social, environmental, and governance (ESG) benchmarks. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) encapsulates this principle in its mission statement and company vision, vowing to make the capital market “work” for everyone, not just a privileged few, and rolling out a line of product development that meets market needs as well as sustainability goals. The organization has made great strides in its efforts to be the regional leader in the sustainable securities exchange market, garnering top rank over its competitors in ASEAN and third in Asia. SET has been a member of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative since 2014, and has proven its commitment to meeting sustainability goals, mandating ESG disclosure reports from all its listed entities. Based on the reports, it publishes an annual Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) list of Thai companies with prime performance on ESG markers. Dedicated to supporting SMEs’ sustainability efforts, SET founded a Social Responsibility Centre and Corporate Governance Centre, which produces guidelines, newsletters, and other publications to educate companies about sustainability reporting. Cultivating a culture of shared knowledge, the company provides listed entities with training sessions and workshops to create awareness and improve ESG competency. SET also recognises and honours listed companies with top ESG scores at annual awards events. For its encouragement of responsible long-term investment, the CFI.co judging panel proclaim the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) as the Best Sustainable Securities Exchange Southeast Asia Emerging Markets 2018.


Blue Lagoon: Outstanding Contribution to Eco-Tourism - Global 2018

One of the 25 wonders of the world according to National Geographic, the Blue Lagoon near Reykjavík, Iceland, draws guests from all over of the world for a dip in its mineral-rich waters sourced from rock strata two thousand metres below the earth’s surface. The high silica and algae content that gives the lagoon’s water its milky blue hue also helps soothe and nurture the skin and reduce afflictions. The Blue Lagoon Skin Care line is based on the unique ingredients of the geothermal seawater; Silica and Algea. Harvested by way of a zero-waste process, Blue Lagoon skin care line adheres to the highest mandates of eco-friendly sustainability.

Set up in 1992, the Blue Lagoon company has built a hotel spa hugging the shore of the man-made lagoon where visitors may luxuriate in a refined atmosphere of Nordic minimalism, dipping in and out of the steaming lagoon whilst enjoying a healthy snack in between or a fine meal at the Lava Restaurant. The company also maintains a scientific facility to research the medicinal properties of the water.

Blue Lagoon stands at the apex of Iceland’s exceptionally rich eco-tourism universe. The lagoon’s very existence is owed to the country’s pioneering efforts in renewable energy. The lagoon was formed to capture the effluents of the Svartsengi geothermal power station. Due to increased visitor numbers, Blue Lagoon company has now embarked on an expansion project – The Retreat - Blue Lagoon Iceland, a luxury hotel and spa – which it expects to complete later this year.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that Blue Lagoon has become Iceland’s main tourist draw and, as such, showcases the country’s natural wonders. Blue Lagoon company represents and embodies the Icelandic Style which has proved such a hit with visitors. The judges are pleased to offer Blue Lagoon the 2018 Outstanding Contribution to Eco-Tourism Global Award.


Treamo: Best Multi-Regulatory Reporting Solutions Europe 2018

While regulators strive to reduce complexity, companies have to battle to keep their bearings in the resulting blizzard of regulatory financial requirements and reporting obligations. Companies need considerable resources to ensure the correct implementation of this constant stream of change. A multitude of service-providers deliver solutions for companies, and CFI.co received nominations for the select few which excel in the milieu. While the other shortlisted nominees seemed to be getting the basics right, the judging panel saw instantly that one company really stood out: Treamo, with its EMIRate cloud-based solution. The organisation caught the judges’ attention with its concentrated focus on always putting the client first. EMIRate takes away the headaches that reporting obligations can create, and responds promptly to all enquiries. The result – as the EMIRate solution intended – is that clients can get on with the job of making a profit and ensuring a stable cashflow, while Treamo takes care of the rest. The CFI.co judges had no hesitation in announcing Treamo’s EMIRate as winner of the Best Multi-Regulatory Reporting Solutions (Europe) 2018 award.


Deutsche Bank: Best Bank Treasury Management Team Europe 2018

Deutsche Bank was our winner in this same award category last year, largely because of its outstanding treasury operations skills that had been tested severely following the financial crisis (which hit the bank extremely hard). DB has now returned to a strong capital position which it has been its recognised strength for the past 100 years, is now giving emphasis to its investment bank and retail business in Germany and is also looking to beef up its presence in North America. The treasury department faces many significant challenges for building capital and ensuring liquidity across a bewildering array of currencies and needs to comply with legislation in multiple jurisdictions. According to the judging panel, DB has been doing sterling work in all these areas. The panel commends Deutsche Bank on its enviable technical expertise in treasury management and is pleased to confirm the 2018 award Best Bank Treasury Management Team Europe.


United Waters International AG: Most Innovative Water Purification Technology Global 2018

Parched and polluted, our blue planet is undergoing a water crisis. Although 75 percent of the Earth is covered in water, less than one percent is potable. Poor stewardship, industrial growth and pollution have stretched this irreplaceable resource to breaking point. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, only when the wells run dry will we truly know the worth of water. United Waters International AG, a Swiss based leader in research, development, and production of biological drinking water systems, knows water's worth. lt has been providing workable and sustainable solutions to this global problem since 2005. lts flagship products, BioEcoTech and BioGreen, offers innovative water purification solutions for municipal, industrial and commercial users. The unique and revolutionary biological water purifications systems use no harmful chemicals in the purification process and unlike many conventional technologies, the BioEcoTech and BioGreen produces no harmful residues and is using up to 80% less energy. United Waters International AG has progressed to its fifth generation of the BioEcoTech and second generation of the BioGreen, offering sustainable, standardised, scalable solutions that are geologically adaptable and highly marketable. The company has more than 50 low-maintenance and high-efficiency plants operating in Europe, China, and lndia. The CFl.co judges commend United Waters International AG for its continued commitment to a vital process, thus earning - for the second time - the award for Most Innovative Water Purification Technology (Global). The first time the company won the same CFl.co award was in 2017.


Amity University Dubai: Best University for Graduate Recruitment GCC 2018

Amity University has a record of attracting the best and the brightest of post-graduate students – future world leaders, and the makers of change. Amity lays the foundation for professional success by ensuring that graduate students have access to premium research bodies and networking channels. The university is home to the Middle East Centric Case Centre, which curates and disseminates the largest global repository of management cases, articles, and books related to business in the region. Amity students can expect top placement upon graduation, thanks to the outreach efforts of its Corporate Resource Centre (CRC). The centre hosts an annual placement week where leading corporations scout for fresh talent. The CRC also exposes students to industry role-models through guest lectures, and fosters professional competence through workshops, mock sessions, and internships. The university’s Amity Alumni Masters Forum allows students to gain insights from influential academics who share the secrets of success – and recount the hardships and failures they endured along the way. The university’s ethos is simple: to keep students at the centre of its universe, constantly assessing decisions and developments to ensure the best outcomes. These painstaking efforts are paired with motivated staff who follow best educational practices, and a dedicated management team focused on ethical business values. Not surprising, then, that Amity graduates embark on a smooth trajectory from the classroom to the boardroom. The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to present Amity Dubai with the award for Best University for Graduate Recruitment GCC 2018.


Firmenich: Best Sustainable Family Company Switzerland 2018

Success tastes sweet, but sustainable success is what Firmenich craves and relishes. Firmenich, originally a fragrance company, expanded into the flavour business in 1938 when it created raspberry, strawberry and citrus substitutes. More synthetic flavours were created for processed and preserved food. The Swiss family-owned business has been sharing scents and flavours with the world for more than 120 years. It has maintained a firm grasp on its core values, striving to be a force for positive change in the world. Firmenich sets impeccable sustainability standards for itself, and of its own accord it signed a Chamber of Commerce-backed sustainable charter in 1991. It goes above and beyond in terms of transparency and social and environmental responsibility. Firmenich publishes annual sustainability reports and has them externally vetted for accuracy. It is committed to responsible sourcing, seeking out biodegradable ingredients and supporting local farming communities. The company believes in the power of collaboration, partnering with philanthropic giants like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in emerging markets. CEO Gilbert Ghostine is an advocate for, and champion of, responsible business practices. He has shown a flair for pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. He is also committed to ending the gender pay-gap. Firmenich’s New York and Geneva operations are 100 percent gender-equality compliant, with other branches to follow suit by the end of 2018. Firmenich is in the upper echelon of industry sustainability, earning an EcoVadis rating of 82/100; the average score is half that. For its dedication to protecting the planet and its people, Firmenich has earned CFI.co’s 2018 award for Best Sustainable Family Company – Switzerland.

Proud signatories of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, Firmenich was showcased by as a leading Swiss Company advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). See movie here: https://vimeo.com/280234373


Thaioil: Best Energy Corporate Governance Thailand 2018

[caption id="attachment_6330" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] President & CEO: Atikom Terbsiri of Thaioil Public Company Limited[/caption]

Good corporate governance enables transparent and sustainable profits that benefits all stakeholders. To achieve Thaioil’s corporate vision of being “a leading fully integrated refining and petrochemical company in Asia Pacific” the company has endeavored to ensure that it adheres to the highest possible standards of governance. The results of the past five years clearly show the strategy has been paying off, with a steady growth benefitting all stakeholders. The CFI.co judging panel found that while Thaioil was adhering to international best practice for its governance principles, it was the overriding commitment to fairness that really set Thaioil apart. Corporate governance is not a tick-box exercise for the company; rather, it is a way of delivering the company’s value set of always trying to be fair – and ensuring that the systems are in place to deliver “fairness” throughout the organisation. Thaioil responds quickly and effectively when a policy or practice needs adjustment. The CFI.co judges were unanimous in declaring Thaioil as having the Best Energy Corporate Governance Thailand 2018.