Norhan Ezzat Amin
Heading the Global Transaction Banking at Arab African International Bank across Egypt and UAE

Norhan Ezzat, CFA, is a highly accomplished finance professional with a strong background in structured trade financing and digital payments capabilities. Her experience spans across multinational, regional and Islamic banks covering MENA & Asia Pacific Regions. She was instrumental in driving large-scale business digital transformation programs serving in both oversight as well as execution roles. The programs covered the rollout of market-leading transaction banking products, systems and channels for Corporate, FI and SME clients; in addition to driving end-to-end process re-engineering and automation for trade finance, payments and transaction services.

She is currently heading the Global Transaction Banking at Arab African International Bank across Egypt and UAE; having established the regional business from the ground up with product development, advisory and structured solutions teams and built full trade finance and cash management proposition for Corporate, FI and SME clients. She orchestrated the formation of product and journey squads within the digital factory to build innovative structured trade finance solutions, and also led the establishment of partnerships with fintechs and payment platform providers to offer supply chain financing programs and digital solutions for B2B collections. Additionally, Norhan has a solid foundation in Islamic banking. While working at ADIB UAE, she successfully led the development of structured Islamic trade financing solutions and digital platforms, catering to the specific needs of global and regional clients seeking Sharia-compliant solutions. Her in-depth knowledge of trade finance and Islamic banking principles facilitated the development of innovative products as she built a custom-made Islamic financing platform to enable end-to-end execution of various Islamic trade financing transactions digitally. The platforms received prestigious accolades, such as being awarded as Best Cash Management Platform in the Middle East and as Best Global Islamic Trade Finance Provider by Global Finance. Prior to that, Norhan worked in Standard Chartered Bank UAE where she held various positions in global and regional teams across Transaction Banking, Corporate Banking and Financial Markets.

Mohamed Talaat
Head, Arab African International Bank, UAE & Egypt
 

Profile

Experienced and accomplished banking professional with over 14 years of diverse trade finance experience, excelling in transaction banking sales, operations and service excellence. Proven track record in cultivating strong relationships with high profile clients across major sectors including commodity traders, MNCs, FIs, multilateral organizations and defense-related companies. Adept at leveraging financial acumen to provide expert advice on structured trade transactions, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and the ICC rules and driving business growth. Committed to delivering exceptional results and collaborating with cross functional teams to achieve strategic objectives. Educational background includes a Bachelor of Commerce, complemented by a Certified Documentary Credit Specialist (CDCS) qualification. 

Employment History

Acting as Trade Advisory Head, Arab African International Bank, UAE & Egypt
September 2024 — Present

● Responsible for increasing trade fees and significantly augmenting cash balances for the bank by proactively engaging with clients across various segments, including Financial Institutions (FIs), Corporate Clients, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and Business Banking Division (BBD) , while overseeing the volume of all trade products. 

● Developed and managed the budget for bank fees across all Lines of Business (LOBs), ensuring alignment with organizational financial goals and strategic objectives. 

● Spearheaded the development and implementation of pioneering trade and cash structures tailored to meet clients’ dynamic requirements, including structured Letters of Credit (LCs), enhancing service delivery and client satisfaction. 

● Educated clients and staff about the bank’s latest products and structures, showcasing their relevance in the current market landscape and providing updates on market conditions. 

● Strengthened relationships with GTB FI clients to leverage connections for generating new business opportunities, cross-selling cash management and clearing accounts, and establishing enhanced credit limits with correspondent banks. 

● Collaborated with global banking partners to participate in local market transactions, leveraging the bank’s established corridors for business growth. 

● Established a robust foreign exchange (FX) position for the bank by building a diverse portfolio of exporters with exposure to multiple currencies, optimizing currency risk management. 

● Cultivated and nurtured relationships with multilateral institutions such as the Arab Development Fund (ADF) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), while actively participating in global trade initiatives such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Trade Finance Program (TFP). 

● Successfully generate and manage relationships with the government and defense-related companies, expanding the bank’s client base and defense sector portfolio.

Trade Advisory Manager, Global Transaction Banking, Arab African International
Bank, UAE & Egypt
October 2022 — August 2024

● Act as the primary point of contact for trade clients in UAE and Egypt where I successfully originated NTB trade relationships with commodity traders and MNCs. 

● Drive transactional sales by addressing clients’ import, export, and domestic trading needs, achieving double-digit growth in trade fees over a two-year period. 

● Collaborate with the FI coverage team to formulate and implement a new market strategy, establishing new limits in response to emerging market demands. 

● Manage end-to-end transaction execution for various services, including Letters of Credit (LC) confirmation, discounting, receivables financing, UPAS structures, and transactions with multilateral organizations. 

● Engage actively with clients to enhance trade utilization and pricing and drive transaction banking revenue. 

● Align bank products with clients’ working capital and liquidity needs, ensuring timely bill payments for short-term business and financial obligations.

Trade Service Assistant Manager, Citibank, Cairo, Egypt
July 2022 — October 2022

● Managed client requests for trade transactions, promptly responding and resolving inquiries to enhance the overall customer experience. 

● Developed and maintained robust relationships with clients, proactively understanding their trade needs and driving satisfaction and loyalty. 

● Oversaw trade service operations, ensuring the smooth execution of trade transactions and delivering high standards of service excellence. 

● Implemented process improvements to optimize transaction workflows, reducing turnaround times and increasing operational effectiveness. 

● Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements while delivering seamless trade services.

Trade Finance Operations and advisory Supervisor, ABC Bank, Cairo, Egypt
October 2010 — June 2022 

• Oversaw and managed trade finance operations for all trade products including LCs, IDCs, and LGs; ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and adherence to ICC applicable publications while guaranteeing the efficient processing of trade transactions. 

• Provided advisory services and expert guidance to clients on trade finance solutions, tailored to meet their specific business needs, thereby supporting business development and strengthening client relationships. 

• Actively engaged in cross-selling trade finance products and offering solutions to clients, contributing to revenue growth and client retention. 

• Focused on serving clients in key sectors, including governmental entities, oil and gas, pharmaceutical industries, and large manufacturing, supporting their day-to-day trade finance needs. 

• Identified opportunities for process improvements and risk mitigation, enhancing operational effectiveness.

Education

Bach. Of Commerce (English section) (Accounting), Benha university , Egypt
October 2005 — October 2009 

Certified Documentary Credit Specialist (CDCS), The London Institute of Banking & Finance
November 2012 — April 2013 

Endorsed by International Chamber Of Commerce (ICC)

Ghada El Nemaki
GCBO UAE Trade Finance consultant at Arab African International bank

Present Position

GCBO UAE Trade Finance consultant @ Arab African International bank

Instructor at:

• Egyptian Banking Institute, Egypt for Trade Finance, Documentary credit Operations, CITF.
• Arab Academy for Management, Banking & Financial Sciences delivering the ‘Contract & Trade Finance ‘course for the MBA degree.
• Instructor for ‘Trade Finance’ since 2007 for AAIB staff under ‘Banking Foundation Program’ & ‘Credit Course’.
• Lectured at The American University in Cairo, for the ‘International Trade & Marketing Specialist Certificate’ in collaboration with the ‘American Chamber of Commerce’.
• 2006-2008.

Lectured ‘Introduction to Trade Finance’ at ‘Institute of Banking’ Riyadh, KSA

 Previous position

Deputy General Manager – Head of Trade Finance Centre/Corporate Operations @

Arab African International bank (2015-2021)

Ex. Representing AAIB @ the Chamber of Commerce -Egypt.

Experience

Around 35 years of banking experience with multinational banks and local banks mainly  Trade Finance products and services; Arab African International Bank, Bank of Credit & Commerce, Alexandria Kuwait International Bank.

Qualifications

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The American University in Cairo (AUC)

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration

The American University in Cairo

GPA: 3.77 (Highest Honours)

Certification

(CDCS Advocate)

Certified Documentary Credit Specialist (CDCS Certificate) Provided by IFS, London; now LIBF “London Institute for Banking & Finance- U.K. and countersigned by ‘International Chamber of Commerce– Paris.

CDCS Advocate designation attained for completion of 5 cycles of recertifications successfully and accomplishing the required professional development points.

EBRD Certificates for successful completion of online training program DC Master, the advanced Documentary Credit Practice, Environmental & Social issues in Trade, Incoterms 2020, URDG Master & Guarantees, ISP Master, UCP 600 & Documentary credits & URC 522 and Collections.