The Arab British Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that His Excellency Mr Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al-Ghanim, the Chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has become its First Honorary President.
The appointment was bestowed at a special luncheon held in honour of Mr Al Ghanim in recognition of his long and distinguished career, and for his tireless efforts to develop Arab-British trade relations – with the Gulf States and Kuwait in particular. The honour was, furthermore, a fitting acknowledgement of Mr Al Ghanim’s major contribution to the development of the Chamber over the many years that he has served as a member of its board of directors and in the office as ABCC Vice Chairman.
An inauguration ceremony took place on Monday 10th February 2020 at The Biltmore Hotel, in Grosvenor Square, in London’s Mayfair, in the presence of the Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Chairman, ABCC and Mr Bandar Reda, Secretary General & CEO, ABCC.
Invited guests included ambassadors, other leading diplomats, dignitaries, senior business executives and members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors among other distinguished participants.
In paying tribute, Baroness Symons stated that Mr Al Ghanim had made a major contribution to ensuring that the Chamber had been able to successfully navigate an often challenging economic environment and rapidly changing times.
“We are fortunate to have served alongside him and benefitted tremendously from his wisdom and sound judgement”, the ABCC Chairman said.
In response, Mr Al Ghanim expressed his pride at being chosen by the ABCC as its first honorary president. He declared that the honour should be shared with the State of Kuwait, its leadership and people. He pointed out that Kuwait’s relations with Britain were special and Kuwait was always working to strengthen these relations at all levels.
Speaking at the event, H E Khaled Abdulaziz Al-Duwaisan GCVO, Kuwait Ambassador to the UK and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, welcomed the honour describing H E Mr Al Ghanim as a most distinguished person known throughout Kuwait and abroad.
For his part, Mr Reda, ABCC CEO & Secretary General, warmly thanked Mr Al Ghanim for his steadfast support for the work of the Chamber and applauded his exceptional role in developing Arab British trade.
His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah later sent his sincere congratulations to Mr Al Ghanim on the news of the appointment. Details of the Amir’s message can be found at the link here:
https://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/amir-congratulates-kcci-chief-on-arab-british-chamber-post/?utm_campaign=1840013_12%2F02%2F2020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Arab%20British%20Chamber%20of%20Commerce&dm_t=0,0,0,0,0
In addressing the gathering during the ceremony, ABCC Chairman Rt Hon Baroness Symons stated,
“We are delighted to be holding this special celebratory lunch to say thank you and pay our warm tribute to one of the most remarkable figures in Arab and British public life; a man who is admired around the world and greatly respected by all those who are fortunate to have known and worked with him.
“His Excellency Mr Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al Ghanim is a distinguished business leader who has served his country with distinction and tirelessly promoted the cause of Arab British relations in various capacities throughout his long career.
“As a Vice Chairman and Board member of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, Mr Al Ghanim has made a major contribution towards the management of the Chamber over the years and helped ensure its successful navigation of an often challenging economic environment and rapidly changing times.
“We are fortunate to have served alongside him and benefitted tremendously from his wisdom and sound judgement.
“He has always been an extremely supportive advocate of the Chamber and its role in strengthening Arab-British trade and commercial relations.
“The Chamber was honoured to host him as one of the key speakers at the Arab British Economic summit which we held in July last year.
“Mr Al Ghanim is a man of many attributes who has served on the board of directors of several companies and associations in Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere.
“He is person of genuinely international stature who is fluent in Arabic, English and German.
“He is known to many as Chairman of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 2004 and as a past President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
“His record of public serve and illustrious business career clearly speaks for itself.
“Since 1961, Mr Al Ghanim has been Chairman of the Fouad Alghanim & Sons Group of Companies, which, as many of you will be aware, is one of the leading conglomerates in Kuwait with an excellent reputation around the world.
“Alghanim & Sons is today one of the largest and most successful Arab corporations with an impressive range of interests and activities extending to almost every sector of the economy, from engineering, construction, power, oil and gas, automotive, investment, shipping, aviation, telecoms, healthcare, hospitality and real estate.
“We are privileged that Mr Al Ghanim has graciously consented to become to First Honorary President of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce.
“Everyone at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce looks forward to continuing our long and productive working relationship.”
Secretary General & CEO Mr Bandar Reda told the gathering:
“Today we celebrate His Excellency Mr Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al Ghanim’s long and distinguished career in business and public life.
“His Excellency Mr Al Ghanim has excelled in all his roles as Chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as President of the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
“He is the distinguished Chairman of the Ali Alghanim & Sons Group of Companies, one of the exemplary Arab corporations renowned for its excellent record in multiple trading activities.
“Mr Al Ghanim has served as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.
“In recognition of his steadfast support for the work of the Chamber and for his exceptional achievements in developing Arab British trade, we are privileged to celebrate the inauguration of Mr Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al Ghanim as the First Honorary President of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce.
“We are proud to count him as a colleague and friend.”