Pearl Initiative Launches Educational Webinars To Gulf Businesses On Corporate Governance
Hour-long webinar targeted MSMEs and was delivered by a governance expert with 30 years' experience
The Pearl Initiative, the business-led non-profit organisation promoting a culture of corporate transparency and accountability in the Gulf region, is set to continue making a positive impact on the Gulf Region’s business ecosystem through innovative educational tools designed to enhance practical knowledge about corporate governance principles.
In quick succession after announcing the first-of-its-kind online platform offering bespoke governance solutions to Gulf MSMEs, the Pearl Initiative has launched educational webinars on corporate governance, which are customised to target different segments of the Gulf region’s economy.
During the first webinar, titled ‘Accessing Capital Strategically for MSMEs’ that took place on September 18, Khawar Ansari, Founder, White Rice Communications and a corporate governance expert with over 30 years’ experience and former consultant with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), emphasised how MSMEs can efficiently use corporate governance structures to maximise their investment and funding strategies.
Mr Ansari elucidated how a proper governance system can improve the ability of MSMEs’ to obtain external funding and grow; have more effective management with proper delegation of authority; help establish a board; formulate succession strategies; and provide for effective stakeholder analyses.
Mr Ansari affirmed the importance of good governance for business success by commenting, “Managing corporate governance risks successfully increases the chances of profitability and long-term sustainability for any company.”
Future webinars will focus on how organisations and businesses of all sizes and sectors can best adopt anti-corruption best practices, promote diversity in leadership, and how philanthropic institutions and organisations can become more efficient by embracing corporate governance practices.
Speaking about the webinar series, Yasmine Omari, Executive Director of the Pearl Initiative, said: “MSMEs are not regulated in the same way as big, listed companies, and therefore, there is no real compulsion to adopt strict good governance practices. Introducing governance frameworks to help the organisation achieve success and create value will ensure long-term sustainability. That is why we have focused on one of the fastest-evolving sectors in the Gulf Region with our very first webinar. Many more in the series are lined up for this year.”
She added: “The Pearl Initiative is well-positioned to maximise its impact on the Gulf economy by ensuring that all sectors benefit from its expertise in corporate governance across multiple regional industries. These educational webinars are our latest offering to deliver on our mission to communicate the importance of corporate governance for better business results across the region. It is an extremely rewarding educational journey that regional businesses should embark on for their continued growth and stability. Governance policies are an investment to prevent pitfalls as they fortify an organisation for both risk and innovation.”
Founded in 2010, the Pearl Initiative is a Gulf business–led non-profit organisation promoting a corporate culture of accountability and transparency as key drivers of competitiveness and sustainable economic growth across the Gulf Region. The organisation develops programmes and publishes regional research reports and case studies to promote the implementation of higher standards of corporate governance amongst business and student communities across the Gulf Region.
