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His Excellency the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari met with Group Chief Executive of HSBC, Georges Elhedery, reports QNA. The meeting reviewed cooperation between the two sides and prospects for strengthening ties in investment, finance and the economy, as well as several issues of mutual interest. 

His Excellency the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank, Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani, met on Wednesday with Group Chief Executive Officer of HSBC, Georges Elhedery, reports QNA. During the meeting, they reviewed the latest developments in global finance and investment. 

Boeing on Tuesday reported a smaller quarterly loss compared with the same period last year — when plane certification delay costs heavily dented results — as it ramps up output carefully.The aviation giant reported a third-quarter loss of $116mn, compared with a loss of $5.3bn in the year-ago period mostly from delays to certification of the 777X, the latest generation in Boeing's long-range, wide-body commercial jet family.The results translated into a larger earnings per share loss than analysts expected, but the company pointed to recent commercial aircraft certifications and Pentagon awards as signs of progress in its turnaround.Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg cited the Federal Aviation Administration's certification of the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 as well as a "transformational" Pentagon award for the US Navy's next-generation fighter jets as evidence of momentum."Expectations are rising, and they should. We have a stronger foundation than a year ago, but we also have more work to do to deliver on our backlog, strengthen our culture, and improve how we work every day," Ortberg said in a message to employees.Revenues rose 4% to $24.2bn behind increased deliveries in defense, space and security business and higher sales in Boeing global services.Boeing's revenues for commercial aircraft dipped from the year-ago period. The company said it was on track to achieve "stabilized production of 47 per month" for the 737 MAX."I know everybody wants us to go faster, but we're going to do it right," Ortberg said Tuesday of efforts to stabilize output at a faster level.Ortberg joined Boeing as CEO in August 2024 as the company struggled to move past a pair of deadly 737 MAX crashes and a near-catastrophic 737 MAX flight in January 2024 in which a window blew out mid-flight. The company at the time faced criticism that the problems stemmed from a culture that chased quick payoffs while short-changing safety.Increased jet deliveries translate into higher earnings. Under Ortberg, US officials have cleared Boeing to lift output from 38 to 42 a month and then from 42 to 47. Boeing has discussed raising MAX output to 63 a month or higher."We're delivering high-quality, safe aircraft, and so I expect that stabilization period will last the balance of this year into early next year," Ortberg said on CNBC.Boeing last week won US certification of the 737 MAX 10, the largest plane in the MAX family. That came on the heels of the August certification of the 737 MAX 7, the smallest jet in the family.Both approvals have arrived years after the original timetable, but set the stage for increased plane deliveries in the coming years.Of the still-outstanding 777X, Boeing said the program "continued to progress on 777-9 certification flight testing and remains on track for first delivery in 2027." The 777-9 is a variant of the new aircraft.The company reported $464mn in free cash flow in the quarter. Wall Street analysts have been tracking the company's progress on attaining positive cash flow after a lengthy period in which it has not only reported frequent quarterly losses, but has also often had negative cash flow.Boeing executives have said they are confident they will attain $10bn annual free cash flow but haven't set a specific target date. Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz on Tuesday became the third big German carmaker to cut its outlook for the year on tough conditions in China, underlining the scale of the crisis facing the industry.Citing difficulties in China — the world's largest car market — as well as higher material costs, core profit for 2026 is now expected to be on a par with the prior year's €5.8bn ($6.5bn), the company said.It had previously foreseen an increase of at least 15%.Profit margins at the core car business are now indicated at between two and 3% for the year, Mercedes-Benz said, down from the three to 5% previously.BMW and Volkswagen have both already cut their guidance for the year as sluggish demand combined with cut-throat competition from Chinese local rivals such as BYD and Xiaomi have eaten into profits.Mercedes-Benz's vehicle deliveries in China — last year already at their lowest level since 2016 — fell a further 29% in the nine months to end-September.Being partially muscled out of China has led to painful adjustments for Germany's car industry, one of the country's largest employers.Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius has urged German workers to work extra hours without pay at the same time as expanding the company's manufacturing footprint in Hungary, where he says costs are about 70% lower than in Germany.Volkswagen plans to have cut 120,000 jobs globally by the end of the decade in what is the largest restructuring in automotive history, eclipsing the 50,000 jobs lost after the bankruptcy of General Motors in 2009.Core profit for the third quarter came in at €1.77bn, Mercedes-Benz said in preliminary results, and the profit margin at the cars business was 2.5%. HSBCHSBC profits jumped in the third quarter thanks to higher interest rates and lower costs, the bank giant said Tuesday, but its share price slid as the results undershot investor expectations.Net profit grew 45.5% to $7.1bn in the three months to end-September compared with the same quarter a year earlier, the London-headquartered lender said in an earnings statement.HSBC is cutting jobs amid global restructuring at the Asia-focused bank under chief executive Georges Elhedery, who took over the helm two years ago."As we simplify HSBC, we are creating greater capacity to invest, grow and deliver strong returns for our shareholders," Elhedery said Tuesday.Pre-tax profit in the third quarter climbed 32% to $9.6bn, with group revenue increasing by nearly 5% to $18.6bn.However, Tuesday's results left investors disappointed.Shares in London shed more than 7% to head losses on the top-tier FTSE 100 index, mirroring a fall in Hong Kong."Investors already know that higher interest rates are benefiting the banks so HSBC's big increase in third-quarter profits was not enough to win them over," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell."HSBC is under pressure to bring costs down and while there is clear evidence of progress... the market is likely to keep management's feet to the fire," he added.Banks in the UK are meanwhile bracing for a widely-expected windfall tax in Britain's budget update on Wednesday, with reports suggesting that the extra funds could be used to help households cope with surging energy bills.Restructuring and cost-saving actions by HSBC, which include selling off a series of business units this year, have saved the bank $1.4bn since 2025, it said Tuesday.This enabled the bank to issue a dividend of 10 US cents per share alongside plans for a fresh $1.0-billion stocks buyback.HSBC is meanwhile increasingly adopting artificial intelligence across its operations.The lender told AFP this month that it was "in a consultation period" after the Financial Times reported that hundreds of jobs were at risk in its wealth management business from the bank's adoption of AI."We know that AI will change how work is done across industries, and of course it will impact some roles, it will transform other roles," chief financial officer Pam Kaur said on a media call Tuesday."Beyond that, there's nothing specific in a number term that I want to share, or indeed have to share at the moment," she added. 

HSBC has announced the appointment of Sami Abouzahr as head of International Wealth and Premier Banking (IWPB), UAE and the Middle East, effective immediately.Abouzahr relocates to the UAE from Hong Kong, where he has served as head of Investments and Managed Solutions, Wealth and Premier Solutions, since July 2025. He has been with HSBC for over 20 years in senior wealth roles across the group’s two home markets and brings 20 years of international leadership experience across wealth management, asset management and banking.Selim Kervancı, CEO, HSBC Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye, said: “Sami’s deep wealth management expertise and his understanding of the needs of affluent and high-net-worth clients – built across Asia and our international network – make him the right leader to capture the significant opportunity in the region as we continue to invest in our people, products and infrastructure.”In 2026, the bank opened Qatar’s first Wealth Centre in Msheireb Downtown Doha. It also launched an enhanced Premier Wealth services and significantly increased the number of frontline colleagues dedicated to serving affluent customers.Abouzahr said, “HSBC’s international network gives us an unrivalled ability to connect clients here to global opportunities. I look forward to building on the strong momentum in the business as we reposition the Middle East as a leading wealth hub for the group.”Omar al-Ansari, head of International Wealth & Premier Banking, HSBC in Qatar, added: “With Qatar’s wealth landscape continuing to evolve, Sami’s appointment demonstrates HSBC’s continued investment in the region, reinforcing our commitment to bringing our global wealth capabilities closer to clients.“Alongside the opening of our new Wealth Centre in Msheireb Downtown Doha and the launch of WorldTrader, this appointment enhances our ability to deliver innovative wealth solutions and connect customers with international opportunities”. 

Qatar Airways Group has marked a major milestone in aircraft financing with the signing of its inaugural Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO) transaction, covering three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. HSBC and JP Lease Products & Services Co., Ltd. (JLPS) were integral partners in the financing, with HSBC acting as debt arranger and sole lender, and JLPS underwriting and arranging the JOLCO equity.In a statement, the group said that the signing marks the first of three transactions planned under Qatar Airways Group's inaugural JOLCO programme in Japan, supporting a total of seven aircraft. JLPS is serving as equity arranger across the programme. The transaction establishes the Group's presence in the Japanese aircraft financing market and further strengthens its financial partnerships across Asia.The transaction represents more than a financing milestone. Qatar Airways Group's entry into the Japanese JOLCO market demonstrates confidence in the airline from a highly selective investor community that supports top-tier airline credits. This first-of-its-kind agreement represents the Group's financial strength, credibility, and ability to attract diversified sources of international capital, and sets a positive precedent for the wider investment community.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Hamad Ali Al Khater, said: "We view the JOLCO market as a strategic long-term funding source and expect to maintain a consistent presence as we finance future fleet investments and growth opportunities."This transaction provides Qatar Airways with an important foothold in the Japanese financing market, offering access to a deep pool of capital on extremely attractive financial terms. It further diversifies our funding sources, broadens our investor base, and positions the Group to support its future aircraft financing requirements efficiently and competitively."JP Lease Products & Services Co., Ltd. President and Chief Executive Officer, Teiji Ishikawa, said: "Japanese investors look first at the credit of the airline. Qatar Airways is a strong credit, and investors in Japan welcome this transaction. We are very pleased to have arranged the equity for the airline's first JOLCO. We do not see this as a single transaction. It is the start of a long-term programme, and we will continue to support Qatar Airways in the Japanese market for many years to come."HSBC Qatar Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, said: "Building on HSBC's longstanding strategic partnership with Qatar Airways Group, HSBC is pleased to support Qatar Airways Group's inaugural JOLCO. Our role as debt arranger and sole lender in this transaction demonstrates our sector expertise and ability to deliver tailored solutions that support fleet expansion, diversify funding sources, and connect leading airlines with global capital.As Qatar Airways Group continues to expand its fleet and network, it remains focused on diversifying its funding sources and building long-term relationships with financial institutions and investors in Japan and beyond.

QNB Group has announced the successful closing of the syndication of its $2.5bn senior unsecured term loan facility.The syndication attracted commitments from 25 international and regional banks and was twice oversubscribed, with strong participation from nine Asian banks totaling $1.25bn.QNB Group CEO Abdulla Mubarak al-Khalifa said, “The strong response to this syndication reflects the confidence of banks across global and regional markets in QNB. The facility attracted interest from banks in several jurisdictions, helping us broaden our lender base.“Despite challenging regional and global market conditions, the substantial oversubscription demonstrates QNB’s standing as a high-quality borrower. We see this transaction as further evidence of the progress we are making towards our ambition to become a leading bank in MEASEA.”The facility will be used for general corporate purposes. DBS, HSBC, ICBC, Mizuho, and Standard Chartered acted as initial mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. DBS and HSBC also served as syndication coordinators, while Standard Chartered served as documentation coordinator, and Mizuho as facility agent.

A growing number of brokerages expect the Federal Reserve to raise rates this week after stronger-than-expected inflation readings raised doubts that price pressures would ease without further tightening. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, HSBC and Deutsche Bank forecast a quarter-point hike at the Fed's September 15-16 meeting, with several expecting rates to stay higher for longer to bring inflation back to its 2% target. The shift follows data showing US consumer and producer prices rose more than expected in August, while oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel amid renewed hostilities in the Middle East, raising concerns that inflation pressures could remain elevated. The growing hawkishness marks a sharp turnaround from earlier this year, when many economists expected the Fed to remain on hold after keeping rates unchanged throughout 2026 following a quarter-point cut in December 2025. "Lack of inflation progress has tipped the balance," HSBC economist Ryan Wang said in a note, backing a September rate hike. JP Morgan struck a similarly hawkish tone following the inflation reports. "The week that saw rising bond yields and energy prices and a firm enough set of inflation readings to make a rate hike at next week's FOMC meeting more likely than not," JP Morgan economists led by Michael Feroli said in a note. The outlook for further Fed tightening will be in focus this week as policymakers conclude their meeting on Wednesday, while investors also watch the Bank of Japan for policy signals. JP Morgan said the latest inflation data cast doubt on a sustained disinflation trend, leading it to forecast another Fed rate hike this year and raise its estimate of the long-run policy rate to 3.25%. Markets are pricing in about 90% chance of a quarter-point Fed rate hike this month, up from about 70% before the latest inflation data, with another increase expected in December, according to CME's FedWatch Tool. In a separate note on Sunday, Goldman Sachs said it still expects two Fed rate cuts in 2027, though later than previously forecast, as it sees this week's expected hike as driven more by market pricing than inflation fundamentals. 

HSBC is ‌selling its A$36bn ($25.30bn) Australian home and personal loan book to global ‌asset manager Blackstone ⁠in the world's largest-ever ‌home loan portfolio transaction.The deal, announced ‌by the two companies on Friday, is the latest move in HSBC CEO Georges ⁠Elhedery's overhaul of the bank. Elhedery has cut management ranks, reduced costs and shed non-core operations since assuming the top job in September 2024.The sale of the Australian portfolio is to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. Blackstone said the deal was the largest-ever sale of a home loan portfolio.It said the portfolio would be held across the Blackstone Credit and Insurance, Tactical Opportunities ​and Real Estate Debt Strategies funds.HSBC is only a minor player in Australia's A$2.5tn mortgage market, which is dominated by the country's "Big ‌Four" banks. It does not operate ⁠a major retail ​branch network.Blackstone said the loan portfolio would be managed by Pepper Money, ​a non-bank lender that operates in Australia. Pepper shares rose as much as 6% on Friday, but the stock is down nearly 20% this year.HSBC said it expected the sale would result in a loss of less than $100mn by the first half of 2027, and that it would incur ‌about $300mn in restructuring costs linked ‌to the retail wind-down.It also expects ⁠to recognise about $300mn in foreign currency translation losses, with no impact on its ⁠CET1 ratio.Since the global financial crisis, HSBC has been scaling back its worldwide footprint, exiting low-returning consumer banking activities in markets ranging from France and Greece to Canada.The bank last week agreed to sell its Singapore insurance unit to Germany's Allianz SE, and struck a deal in May to divest its retail and wealth operations in Indonesia to Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking ​Corp.HSBC said it would continue investing in its corporate and institutional banking business across Australia and New Zealand, moving away from consumer lending as part of the restructuring.Blackstone said separately it plans to continue deploying significant capital to tap Australia's housing market.The transaction comes as Australia's housing market faces softer demand, with higher borrowing costs and tax changes weighing on investor activity.Australian lender Westpac said in June mortgage applications had declined 10% since the government's May budget, while National Australia Bank on Thursday posted a 15% drop ‌in applications in ​the June quarter.

QNB Group announced the “successful” completion of Qatar’s inaugural Digitally Native bond issuance, a $500mn three-year floating interest rate digital bond.Using HSBC Orion, the market-leading digital assets platform, the issuance marks the acceleration of digital asset adoption in the Middle East.This “landmark” transaction represents the largest ever Digitally Native bond issuance issued from the Middle East and Africa region by a financial institution.This step comes as part of QNB’s strategy to tap new sources of stable funding from new markets with digitally innovative funding sources.The successful completion of the transaction confirms the trust of international investors in QNB the Group’s strategy, robust financial performance, and stable outlook.HSBC acted as a sole bookrunner on the transaction, a further step in its ambition to bring end-to-end blockchain-based solutions to its global client base.The bond is powered by HSBC Orion, which is operated by the Central Money markets Unit (CMU) in Hong Kong, and structured with support from leading international law firms, reflecting the high standard of governance.HSBC Orion is the number 1 platform globally for digital bond volume in 2025 to date and the only to have successfully supported digital bonds for issuers in the region, in addition to the world’s largest digital bond issued in Hong Kong earlier this month.This strategic collaboration, bringing HSBC’s global experience with QNB’s local expertise, lays the groundwork for digital assets to become a regular feature of Qatar’s financial landscape, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. It also showcases the potential of distributed ledger technology to enhance liquidity in the bond market.The bonds were issued under QNB’s EMTN programme and will be listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, which will also handle the permission to deal in DN Notes by way of debt issues to professional investors.Global investors can access the digital bond through accounts held with CMU, Euroclear and Clearstream, onboarding onto HSBC Orion as direct participant, or via their existing custodian who can participate through one of the above options.Noor al-Naimi, Senior Executive Vice-President, QNB Group Treasury and Financial Institutions, said: “This inaugural Digitally Native bond issuance transaction is part of our funding diversification strategy and broadens the range of funding sources available to QNB. QNB Group will continue to play a pioneering role in adoption of transformative technologies.”Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC in Qatar, said: “QNB’s role as the first-mover lays the groundwork for digital assets to become a regular feature of Qatar’s financial landscape and the wider region.“This transaction signifies the momentum behind digital assets and the pivotal role that HSBC is playing both within the region and globally to enable the transformation of capital markets that are smarter, more transparent and more connected.”

China’s dominance in clean energy has put the country on a singularly strong footing when it comes to competing with the rest of the world — particularly the US — in building artificial intelligence.That’s according to Julian Wentzel, chief sustainability officer at HSBC Holdings, who says an economy built on renewable energy brings with it advantages that can’t be replicated by fossil fuels.“China has put themselves in a very unique position in terms of the energy requirement to fuel their economy and ultimately their AI architecture,” Wentzel said in an interview.The vast build-out of clean energy in China — the country is on track to once again break its own record in installing renewable power this year — “enhances their cost of capital,” he said.Once renewable energy infrastructure is built and the upfront investment has been paid off, producing extra energy carries effectively no incremental cost; fossil fuels, in contrast, require ongoing costs for extraction, transport, refining and distribution, he said.“Once you’ve got the architecture in place, as the demand grows, you can deliver that demand at zero cost,” Wentzel said. As the “percentage cost of every incremental kilojoule of power relative to total GDP declines over time,” it becomes “a very powerful lever to the underlying growth of an economy.”The comments stand in contrast to the policy position of the government in the US, where Energy Secretary Chris Wright has argued that a rapid transition to clean energy will raise energy costs and hurt economic growth. And for now, fossil fuels continue to provide a major share of the energy powering AI data centres.Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said recently the supply of power, rather than the availability of semiconductors, accounted for the biggest bottleneck in data centre capacity. And by some estimates, the energy needs of existing and planned AI infrastructure in the US can’t be met with current supply.That dynamic has created an opportunity for oil majors to cash in on the enormous demand for energy that will be needed to power data centres. Chevron Corp said on Wednesday it will provide natural gas-fired power to a data centre in West Texas, the beginning of a new line of business for the company to capitalise on the AI boom.The global race to dominate AI depends on an array of factors that includes chips and supply chains as well as rare earths and key metals such as copper. But energy supply is key, and because renewables are low-cost to run once infrastructure is built, countries that have greater access to them have an advantage, Wentzel said.China is challenging developments in the West not just due to its dominance in cheap renewable energy, but also due to its approach to building artificial intelligence. That became apparent earlier this year, when startup DeepSeek indicated the country is capable of producing AI at a much lower cost and greater energy efficiency than US rivals.China’s growing dominance is also shaping talks at the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil, where California Governor Gavin Newsom took several opportunities to warn that the US risks losing out on numerous fronts.One of the great abdications of the climate fight is “the own goal of the president of the US who simply doesn’t understand how enthusiastic President Xi is that the Trump administration is nowhere at COP30,” Newsom said.The US and legacy automakers “better wake up to that,” Newsom said at a press conference. “This is about economic power.”China manufactures about 80% of the world’s solar panels, supplies some 60% of the planet’s wind turbines, 70% of its electric vehicles and 75% of batteries, all at a lower financial cost than the West.To be sure, though China is adding unprecedented amounts of wind and solar, it’s still investing heavily in fossil fuels. That includes coal, which is one of the reasons the country produces almost 30% of global emissions.Wentzel said economies that rely more on clean energy are also more likely to reduce volatility in inflation.“Removing dependence on fuel commodities reduces capital account fluctuations, exposure to inflation and price swings,” he said. “As renewable systems scale, energy costs as a share of GDP can fall, strengthening the financial efficiency of the system and supporting higher economic growth.”

The 2025 HSBC Global Economist Roadshow, brought together almost 100 clients, partners, and senior executives to discuss global economic trends and Qatar’s strengthening role as a driver of growth and innovation across the Gulf.Opening the event, Arhab Ghandour, HSBC Qatar Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, said: “Built on strong fundamentals and a clear national vision, Qatar’s economy continues to navigate change with purpose.“Our commitment to Qatar’s future is long-term and strategic, and our relocation to Msheireb underscores our belief in innovation, sustainability, and progress. Together with our partners and clients, we are helping shape what comes next.”Rising gas production and strategic reform choices are set to make Qatar GCC’s fastest-growing economy in 2026, HSBC noted.Held amid a complex global environment marked by geopolitical shifts, evolving trade corridors, and technological disruption, this year Roadshow provided insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping the world economy and their implications for Qatar and the wider region.Sharing insights on global and regional trends, Janet Henry, HSBC Global Chief Economist, said: “The Fed should be able to cut rates by another 50bps as the softening labour market tips the balance back to easing, but with sticky inflation and a relatively resilient economy supported by fiscal stimulus, the markets seem to be pricing in too many rate cuts in 2026.”Paul Mackel, HSBC Global Head of FX Research, added that “the US dollar has had a volatile year so far, initially riding on a wave of optimism before suffering one of its largest defeats. The outlook still points to a soft USD in the months ahead.”Meanwhile, Simon Williams, HSBC Chief Economist for CEEMEA, commented: “Rising gas production will see already high levels of wealth rise further in the coming two years, and should position Qatar as the fastest-growing economy in the Gulf next year. Momentum in the non-gas sector will depend on the strategic choices policymakers take to give Qatar an edge in what has become a highly competitive region.”The event reaffirmed HSBC’s role as a trusted partner supporting Qatar’s long-term vision for sustainable growth, diversification, and innovation as we as its role in helping clients navigate change and capture opportunity.

HSBC Qatar recently hosted its Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) Client Networking Event in Doha, under the theme ‘Digital Solutions – Driving Efficiency & Resilience’.The event brought together senior executives and industry leaders representing more than 70 clients to explore how digital solutions across payments, cash management, trade and markets are helping businesses drive efficiency, build resilience and capture growth opportunities in an ever-changing marketplace.The initiative underscores HSBC Qatar’s efforts to accelerate digital transformation in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, which places innovation and economic diversification at its core, reinforcing Qatar’s role as a hub for digital excellence in the region.The discussion highlighted the role of digital tools in optimising and streamlining operations, reducing risk and strengthening resilience. HSBC’s award-winning solutions were showcased, including Corporate Treasury APIs, HSBC TradePay, and the FX Evolve Platform, which offers clients 24/5 access to seamless transactions across 23 currency pairs.Nicholas Young, country head of Global Payments Solutions, HSBC Qatar, said: “HSBC remains dedicated to supporting our Corporate & Institutional Banking clients with value-added digital solutions that enable them to thrive in a fast-changing global economy. By leveraging digital innovation, our clients can use real-time data to make faster decisions and seize opportunities.”Mohit Joshi, country head of Corporate Banking, HSBC Qatar, added: “HSBC Qatar has a proud legacy of ‘firsts’ in the digital space, from installing Qatar’s first ATM in 1986 to pioneering electronic banking for corporates in 1987. Today, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of digital innovation to deliver solutions that create long-term value for our clients, support their resilience and competitiveness.”The event also featured a panel discussion featuring Aldrin Barretto, senior financial controller of Al-Futtaim Domasco, who shared insights on how HSBC’s digital trade solutions have improved supply chain resilience, and Qaisar Choudhary, COO of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, who talked about how digital payment solutions have had a transformative impact on their relationships with students, suppliers and partners globally.