Ethics integral to the success of a profession, says Al-Roudhan
Kuwait First Forum for Professional Ethics held
KUWAIT: Under the patronage of Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs Khaled Al-Roudhan, the Kuwait First Forum for Professional Ethics was held yesterday at Salwa Al-Sabah Hall. The organization of this forum comes in line with the strategic partnership between Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE).
During his opening speech, the Minister Al-Roudhan said that for a better country, life and career, the professional ethics is a requirement. “All religions agree that ethics is the main reason for the development of human beings. Regardless of profession or the field of work one belongs to, ethics is an important part of work. The success or the expected results depend on how the workers deal with the situations.”
Al-Roudhan added if people behaved ethically, the chances are positive for growth and development where good ethics is a fundamental requirement of any profession. It is integral to the success of the business as well. He said it is sad that there no such forums are held in Kuwait. “But I will always support and encourage the organizers. Ethics is a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct of a person or a group. Maintaining good ethics is being consistent with the principles of correct moral conduct constantly,” he added.
Chairman of Kuwait Banks Association Majid Issa AlAjeel said that the Kuwait Forum for Professional Ethics is the first of its kind being held in Kuwait, noting that the efforts of the Federation in organizing the forum came within the framework of its commitment to follow the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to develop national cadres and ensure their rehabilitation in accordance with the criteria of high efficiency and based on a civilized culture based on sound foundations to ensure a promising future for youth.
He added, “Driven from its important national role and responsibility towards efficient and positive contribution to the economic development, KBA endeavors to interact with the decision makers and highly influent parties in governmental institutions.”
Meanwhile, the Director General of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences Dr Adnan Shehabuddin pointed out that ethics is the main element in KFAS. “We can’t be creative and develop science in private or public sector if we didn’t have processional ethics,” he said.
He added that good ethics is good business and it leads to the success of the business, but it also provides many ways for growth and development by leaving a good impression about an organization in the market. “KFAS strives continually to be in pursuit of its goals while benefiting the employees in building up their high competencies. In this direction, the adherence to high ethical standards of the employees can be very much contributory to the impressive achievements of business goals being turned out as planned and intended.”
Shehabuddin noted that ethics refers to human conduct so as to make judgements between what is right and what is wrong. There are several factors that may compel one to resort unethical behavior. But it is one’s responsibility to make a differentiation between what is morally good and bad and follow the rules and code of professional conduct,” he said.
The forum focused on four key aspects: The role of the state in practical and professional ethics and their impact on the development process, successful management and the role of business owners in enhancing the commitment to practical and professional ethics, drivers to commitment of professional ethics and their impact on professional performance, and methods and mechanisms to enhance compliance with practical and professional ethics and future challenges. Emad Al-Ablani, NBK Group General Manager - Human Resources, will participate in the forum’s second session which will be chaired by the Economic Advisor at Al-Diwan Al-Amiri, Dr Yousef Al-Ibrahim, entitled “Successful Management and the Role of Business Owners in Enhancing Compliance of Practical and Professional Ethics.”
This theme includes 4 key topics, where Al-Ablani will address the second topic about the commitment to practical and professional ethics in the banking environment and its impact on the success of the Kuwaiti banking sector. The session will also
The forum focuses on 4 key aspects
include the following topics: The impact of the commitment to professional ethics on organizations’ competitive conditions, the charters of professional ethics in the Arab banking sectors, and the impact of practical and professional ethics in attracting and developing family businesses investments, as well as the commitment to practical and professional ethics.
Al-Ablani will address in his speech NBK’s pioneering experience in applying the highest international standards and codes related to the ethics of the banking profession and its commitment to raising awareness and professional culture among its employees, especially the newly hired personnel, through its continuous delivery of training and awareness programs. Al-Ablani will also discuss the importance of having confidence, credibility and professional ethics among banking professionals, since the lack of investors’ confidence in the banking system may cause the market to lose its credibility and attractiveness. AlAblani will also highlight the importance of instilling a culture of positive banking behavior within the sector’s participants, urging them to protect customers’ rights and spreading awareness and banking culture among them, so that clients would fully understand the consequences of every step taken and clearly know their rights and obligations.
NBK continues to maintain its leading position among Kuwaiti private sector organizations in applying the highest professional and ethical standards among its employees by spreading a banking culture based on positive conduct and equipping them with tools to gain customers’ confidence, while adhering to the professional rules and standards set by regulators both locally in Kuwait and internationally in all the other countries where it operates.