1983 | BCCI Insights

AROUND THE BCC WORLD

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Here is a first glimpse of some images from the world of BCC from photographs of employees (members of the BCC family), people, events, and memorable moments in BCC's history published in the bank's in-house magazine, BCC International. The selection includes photographs contributed by BCC employees and their families and those obtained from other sources. Some are duplicated in other section pages where photographs are immediately associated with specific subject matters.

Pakistan: Meeting of the board of directors of BCC (Emirates) held at Sukkur, near Karachi, Pakistan on 31 December 1982. The photo on the right shows His Excellency Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman, with Agha Hasan Abedi, BCC President. In the photo are also Mr Ashraf Nawabi, Mr Obaid Humail Al Tayer, Mr Saleem Siddiqi, Mr Mohammad Juma Al-Naboodah and Mr Sani Ahmad.

**United Kingdom:** Group of fifteen BCCI family members from central office and branches in London, UK who took part in a charity walk in September 1982. They started at St Paul's Cathedral and went round the City of London. Altogether they raised over £1,000 and donated the amount to the Save the Children Fund, which looks after children in distress.

**Kenya:** Mr William Rupia of BCCI Nairobi branch who joined in February 1982 as a trainee officer and was confirmed in August 1982. He was nominated to attend a management development course held by the Central Bank of Kenya at the end of 1982. Despite his very short banking experience at BCC, the Central Bank of Kenya reported that he did 'extremely well' on the course, achieving an overall position of fourth.

**United Kingdom:** BCC began an ambitious programme of sponsoring students of banking and international finance at the City University, London. Selected students received a small grant during their three-year course. This was the first group to benefit from BCC's new scheme, together with officers from BCCI and lecturers from City University.

United Kingdom: At a reception held at No. 10 Downing Street, London the UK Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher and her husband, Mr Denis Thatcher, received Mr and Mrs M M Haq of BCC Credit Division at central office, London.

**United Kingdom:** Graham Hill, a schoolboy from near London, who spent a week working with BCCI Trafalgar Square branch. This was part of a work experience programme designed by BCCI to introduce young people to a working environment. At the end of the week, Graham said: 'I've decided on a career. It's a banker's life for me!'

Bangladesh: Mr Anwarul Amin, General Manager, receives the President of the Bank of China at BCC's office in Dhaka. Seated is the President and official of Bank of China with Mr Amin and Mr A K N Ahmed, former Governor Bangladesh Bank (central bank) and senior advisor to BCC. Standing behind is the Chinese interpreter (on the left), and the BCCI officers in Bangladesh who welcomed members of the local Chinese community at a reception given by BCC during the visit of the President of the Bank of China.

United Arab Emirates: Service and innovation in Abu Dhabi. As part of a new service called Service 365, BCC introduced the first ever automatic banking machine in the UAE. The new machine now referred to as ATMs enabled customers to obtain a statement of their account and also withdraw cash. The inaugural ceremony was held in the bank's main branch in Abu Dhabi. From the left: Mr S. A. Kirmani, branch manager; Mr Bashir Tahir, general manager, BCC (Emirates); Mr Ashraf Nawabi, general manager, Middle East Region; Mr Obaid Al-Tayer, director; Mr Zafar Iqbal, managing director; Mr Eid Bakheet, director; and His Excellency Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak, chairman, BCC (Emirates).

**United Arab Emirates:** His Excellency Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak, chairman, BCC (Emirates) using the new
automatic banking machine, the first in the UAE, installed at BCC Abu Dhabi main branch. With HE is Mr Zaheer Abbas of BCC Management Services Division central office London who was involved in the development of the pioneering machine

**Hong Kong:** Miss Rita Yeung joined the Admiralty Centre branch in Hong Kong in 1981. When a forged banker's payment order for HK$5 million was presented for payment, only her vigilance saved BCC’s Hong Kong Metropolitan Bank from a considerable loss. Miss Yeung spotted the forgery even though the signature on the order was a good imitation of the original.

China: Mr M. S. Swaminathan, director general of the International Rice Research Institute, (IRRI) based in Manila, Philippines, received the 1982 Annual Third World Prize from his Chinese hosts in Beijing, China, in recognition of the work of IRRI with the scientific community and especially those concerned with food security under the guidance of Dr Swaminathan. The Third World Prize was established by the Third World Foundation and both were funded by BCCI. The Prize was presented by Zhao Ziyang, Premier of the State Council for the People's Republic of China at the 1983 South-South Conference held in Beijing in 1983.

United Arab Emirates: Mr Lloyd P. Johnson, vice chairman, Security Pacific National Bank USA, the guest of honour at a luncheon hosted by H. E. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, chairman of BCC (Emirates). From left: Mr Obaid Al Nasiri, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Dr Mahmoud Hamra Krouha, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), H.E. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Mr Lloyd P. Johnson, and Mr Abdulla Nasser.

**Sri Lanka:** World-renowned navigator, explorer and writer, Norwegian Dr Thor Heyerdahl during his visit to BCC's branch in Colombo. He spent many years recreating the voyages of early peoples. The KonTiki expedition was his most famous adventure. The *Kon-Tiki expedition* was a 1947 journey by raft across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands, The raft was named Kon-Tiki after the Inca god Viracocha, for whom "Kon-Tiki" was said to be an old name.

United Kingdom: Football Heroes. Members of the BCCI Football Club team that came top of their league in their first competitive season in the London Banks' Football Association. This remarkable achievement was commemorated at a reception at the UK Regional Office on 17 June 1983, when Mr V. H. Abidi, General Manager for BCCI UK, presented the Morgan Guaranty Jubilee Cup to Mr Doug Veit of BCCI, the team captain. Each player received a commemorative shield.

Bangladesh: BCC stall at an exhibition called 'Sea Resources of Bangladesh' organised by the Bangladesh's Export Promotion Bureau. The stall was busy with visitors. In the picture, Admiral Mahboob Ali Khan, Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator and Minister for Communication, Ports and Shipping, showing a keen interest in BCC travellers cheques. Also in the picture (left to right) are BCCI officers, Mr S. M. Akbar and Mr Maniruzzaman with joint general manager Mr M.A. Rashid.

Kenya: BCC Kenya had the only courtesy desk at the annual general meeting of the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund, held at the Jomo Kenyatta Conference Centre in the early summer of 1983. The desk assisted delegates and promoted BCC at the same time. In the picture, from the left: Mr S. A. Shabbir, Mr E. Tanjong (BCC Cameroon), Mr Bihute, vice president of ADB/ ADF, Mr Iqbal Rizvi, regional general manager BCC Francophone region, Mr Wila D Mung'omba, president of ADB/ ADF, Mr Mohibul Haque, country manager BCC Ivory Coast.

Egypt: Mr Albert Barsoum Salama, Minister of Emigration and Expatriates, visited the booth organised by BCC (Misr) at a conference held in Cairo the summer on Egyptians living abroad, BCC (Misr) to explain its services for expatriates. The Minister was impressed by the range of services that BCC had to offer.

**Kenya:** Mr Amin Jindani, BCC's country manager in Kenya. He was also chairman of the Kenya Bankers Association and helped organise its activities. The guest of honour at the meeting in 1983 was Mr Philip Ndegma, chairman of the Central Bank of Kenya. The picture shows Mr Jindani standing at the podium, with Mr Ndegma seated in the front.

**USA:** The authorities of the city of Miami, in Florida, bestowed the key of the city on BCC Miami's Mr A. R. Sakhia, in recognition of BCC's activities in the region. Mr Sakhia accepted the key on behalf of all family members in Miami.

**United Arab Emirates:** Mr Akbar Nawaz, who was on the unfortunate flight 771, that crashed near Abu Dhabi and did not survive. An able banker, and a good, likeable human being he had been associated with BCCI since 1976. The wife of Mr Tariq Rasool, another BCC family member, working in BCCI Abu Dhabi corporate unit, also died in the crash.

Luxembourg: Mr Agha Hasan Abedi, President BCC met M. Jacques Santer the Finance Minister of Luxemburg in July 1983. M. Santer congratulated BCC on its substantial growth and thanked the bank for its contribution to the Luxemburg economy. In the picture, M. Santer is on the right, Mr Abedi is in the centre and Mr S. Akhlaque Husain, BCC's Regional General Manager in Luxemburg, is on the left.

United Kingdom: As part of BCC's global marketing campaign, all members of the British Airways American and Canadian Reunion Club who bought BCC travellers cheques had a chance to win a free air ticket to North America. Mrs Heather Boucher and three of her colleagues from British Airways visited BCC UK regional office in London on 8 September to help with the first ever draw. The winner was Mrs I. Kirby of Leeds, who bought her travellers cheques at BCCI Headrow branch in Leeds.

United Kingdom: Members of the board of BCC Cameroon held a meeting in London in November. The meeting marked the end of the first full year of BCC operations in Cameroon. It also gave visiting board members the opportunity to meet with executives at BCC central office (CSO) as well as to visit the BCC academy and branches in London. The board members expressed satisfaction with the fact that BCC Cameroon has already shown a profit at this early stage of its development. The photograph shows board members of BCC Cameroon with BCC officers and executives. From left: M. Noorani, S.M. Iqbal, E. Tanjong, M. Nuckchady, I. Ahmed, S.A. Kizilbash, M. Din, L. C. Nyassa, J. Kanga Zamb, N. Litumbe, A. Anis, I. Rizvi, M. Murali.

**United Arab Emirates:** BCC Emirates head office in Abu Dhabi decorated for UAE's national day on 2 December 1983 and displaying the image of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of UAE. HH Sheikh Zayed and his family members were the majority shareholders in BCCI.

France: M. Colonge, Director of Banque de France (central bank) office in Nice, visited BCCI's branch in Monte Carlo on 6 December 1983. M. Colonge (on right) was responsible for looking after the activities of banks in Southern France, including Monaco.

United Arab Emirates: BCC, in conjunction with the government of Abu Dhabi, arranged for a visit by 62 members of China's Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble to the UAE on the occasion of Federation Day on 2 December 1983. This photograph of the group's leaders and BCC executives was taken at the head office of BCC Emirates in Abu Dhabi. Standing from left to right: Mr Yu Qingtai (translator), Ms Zhang Jun, Mr Yuan Lulin (Chinese ambassador in Muscat), Mr Zafar Iqbal (managing director, BCC Emirates), Madame Wang Kun (group leader), Mr Bashir Tahir (general manager, BCC Emirates), Mr Li Linmei (deputy general manager, Bank of China).

Greece: BCC Group Annual Management Conference, 7-8 March 1983, Athens. The conference was attended by 440 delegates representing BCC from around the world.

United Kingdom: BCC UK Management Conference, 19 March 1983, London.

Sudan: BCCI Khartoum branch. BCCI was the largest foreign bank Sudan, 1983 and had three branches. The country in Northeast Africa was then the largest in the African continent.