Manama: Bahrain-based Bank of Khartoum International (BOKI), the first international branch of Africa’s largest lender, was inaugurated at the 22nd annual World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC 2015).

At a Press conference on the sidelines of the event, Bank of Khartoum Group board member and chief executive Fadi Salim Al Faqih highlighted BOKI’s role as a bridge serving to strengthen Sudan’s ties with the GCC.

“The establishment of our first overseas branch in Bahrain is a highly significant milestone for Bank of Khartoum (BOK) and Sudan. 

“It serves to illustrate our transformational strategy to expand our geographic footprint outside Sudan, and further strengthen ties with the GCC region,” he added.

Mr Al Faqih commented on the integral role of WIBC 2015 as “the perfect global forum to showcase the continued strategic evolution of Sudan’s leading Islamic financial institution with a history of over 100 years”.

BOKI chief executive Nabeel Ebrahim Al Tattan said the bank aims to become a prominent wholesale banking solutions provider in Bahrain, “recognised for offering innovative Sharia-compliant products and services, with a commitment to exceptional service quality”.

BOKI received an Islamic wholesale bank branch licence from the Central Bank of Bahrain and is expected to commence operations early next year as the first overseas branch of the BOK. It is the leading Islamic financial institution in Sudan with operations spanning more than 100 years.

It is owned by prominent regional pioneers in Islamic banking, led by Dubai Islamic Bank as a major shareholder and the likes of Islamic Development Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank and Etisalat.