Doha, 1 June 2011
"British Ambassador and Head of QBBF wish her luck in her studies".
British Ambassador, John Hawkins and Chairman of the Qatar British Business Forum (QBBF), Robert Muir today met Qatar’s first Mansion House Scholar, Aisha Al-Ishaq, a Business Analyst for the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, to wish her well on the eve of her departure for the UK to embark on an attachment with Gatehouse Bank in the City of London.
Aisha, who starts her placement on 13 June 2011 was awarded the Mansion House scholarship by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Michael Bear, in February at a ceremony in the Qatar Foundation’s Faculty of Islamic Studies, where Aisha is studying for a masters in Islamic Finance. The Qatar British Business Forum contributed to the cost of the scholarship.
The Ambassador said: “We wish Aisha every success in London at Gatehouse Bank this Summer. This attachment will offer Aisha fresh insight into Islamic finance and the important international role of the City of London as a leading global financial centre. The award of a Mansion House scholarship by the Lord Mayor of the City of London with the support of the QBBF is an important step towards deepening the relationship between the Faculty of Islamic Studies and the City of London”.
The Mansion House Scholarships Scheme was established in 1997 by a previous Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Sir Richard Nichols. In the last 12 years 96 scholarships have been awarded with recipients selected from 42 countries. Ms Al-Ishaq is the first Qatari to be awarded the scholarship and will be taking an internship with Gatehouse, an Islamic investment bank.
Shashank Srivastava, acting CEO of the QFC Authority commented: “We are proud of this honour awarded to Ms Al-Ishaq. We are tasked with facilitating the development of the Qatari financial services industry and these bright and committed people represent the future of the financial services industry in Qatar.”
The scholarship scheme is administered as a Charitable Trust, with an independent Chairman and four appointed Trustees. The selection of scholars is the personal gift of the Lord Mayor and those awarded scholarships are known as Mansion House Scholars. Scholarships are offered in countries visited by the Lord Mayor visits. More information on the scheme is available at:
www.mansionhousescholars.org.uk
British Embassy- Doha
Gisele Razzouk
Press and Public Affairs Officer
British Embassy- Doha
Tel: (974) 4496 2054 – email: gisele.razzouk@fco.gov.uk
Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Stephen Carriere
Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Tel: +974 4496 7784 - email: s.carriere@qfc.com.qa
www.qfc.com.qa
About QFC
The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is a financial and business centre established by the Government of Qatar and located in Doha. It has been designed to attract international financial services institutions and major multi-national corporations in particular those operating in the reinsurance, captive insurance and asset management sectors and to encourage participation in the growing market for financial services in Qatar and elsewhere in the region. The QFC operates to international standards and provides a first class legal and business infrastructure for those operating within the QFC. The QFC was created by Qatar Law No. (7) and has been open for business since 1 May 2005.
QFC Authority
The QFC Authority is the commercial, administrative and legislative body responsible for leading the expansion of Qatar’s financial services sector, providing a uniquely sustainable platform for regional growth in reinsurance, captive insurance and asset management.