QIIB welcomed students from the Lebawi International Academy at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as part of the bank’s sponsorship of an initiative undertaken by Qatar Academy students to help fly-in members of the MUN (Model United Nations) Club to Doha for the Thimun Qatar Conference, held last month.
Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei, chief executive officer, QIIB, met with the Ethiopian students, accompanying teachers, and their fellow Qatari students who invited them to the Thimun Qatar Conference.
He also welcomed them to QIIB and expressed the bank’s appreciation of the outstanding initiatives taken by students from various Qatari schools, which, through the Thimun Conference initiative, extended beyond the local framework to the international framework.
After giving a brief about QIIB, its success in the local market, and its contribution to the Qatari economy, al-Shaibei affirmed that the bank was keen to play an active role in education and lead initiatives that raise the name of Qatar high and give it exposure at various international forums.
Al-Shaibei said, “Doha has become an international hub and a beacon of education, knowledge, and cultural exchange between nations and populations. The mere mention of Qatar’s name is a source of admiration and distinction. We are happy today, at QIIB, to welcome the Ethiopian students with their Qatari colleagues who are building bridges of interaction, cooperation and brotherhood between Qatar and Ethiopia.
“At QIIB, we seek to strongly and effectively support our students, contribute to their experiences and their future careers as the development of the society is linked to the development of education, skills, and knowledge acquired by students at various stages of their education. We also strive to help them utilise their ability to translate this knowledge into making contributions and achievements in their careers.”
During the visit, an open dialogue session was held on banking and Islamic banking, different professional and educational paths, co-operation and interaction between civilisations and populations, and the importance of strengthening ties and co-operation between different cultures to enhance the great human values and principles.
The students of Lebawi International Academy and their accompanying teachers expressed their gratitude to QIIB for its support of the Qatar Academy initiative, which allowed them to visit Qatar and learn about the remarkable progress witnessed by the country in all fields.
They stressed the fact that their experiences and impressions of Doha are very great and beyond their expectations. They were also grateful to what they witnessed during the Thimun Qatar Conference, which was a wonderful opportunity to learn in a country that respects science and builds platforms and 
scientific edifices.
The Qatar Academy’s initiative was led by a team of outstanding students – Ahmad al-Nuaimi, Shouq al-Tamimi, Aisha al-Mansouri, Sama Ayoub, and Berkriti Tandon – who travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in October last year to train Lebawi Academy students to participate in Thimun Qatar Conference and help MUN Club members participate in the conference and organise future conferences.
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