In a historic milestone for the Maldivian financial sector, Mohamed Shareef, the Managing Director and CEO of Bank of Maldives (BML), has been appointed as the Chairman of the Asian Bankers Association (ABA).

This appointment, confirmed by the ABA Board, marks the first time a Maldivian has ascended to the leadership of this prestigious international financial body. BML has described the appointment as a significant honor for the nation, emphasizing that it reflects the growing influence of the Maldives in the regional banking industry and the international confidence in Mr. Shareef’s leadership and expertise.

Mr. Shareef previously served as the Vice Chairman of the ABA from 2018 to 2020, during which he played a pivotal role in strengthening ties between member institutions across the continent. Following his appointment, Shareef expressed his commitment to collaborating with member banks to further advance the banking systems within the Asian region.

Dr. Daw-Son Chiu, the Secretary-Treasurer of the ABA, congratulated Mr. Shareef on his new role, assuring full support from the Secretariat to achieve the association’s strategic goals. Established in 1981 to represent Asian financial institutions, the ABA plays a leading role in policy formulation and technical capacity building in the banking sector.

In addition to this leadership appointment, Bank of Maldives is set to host the ABA International Conference in the Maldives from September 1st to 3rd this year, bringing together key financial leaders from across the region.