| | JUNE 20238IN FOCUSUAE BASED FCCI AGREES MOU WITH FEDERATION OF LITHUANIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCESTRAIVE NAMES ANKOR RAI AS CEOThe signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the FCCI and the Federation of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce marked the conclusion of the UAE-Lithuania Business Forum, which was organised by the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) and hosted by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).This agreement intends to strengthen economic ties, encourage investment flow, and create the first UAE-Lithuanian Business Council.By planning trade missions and providing assistance to Emirati and Lithuanian businesses, particularly in the trade and industry sectors, the newly formed council will improve bilateral trade relations. The action is anticipated to advance economic ties between the two nations and coincide with their common development goals.The SCCI Board of Directors members, Ramnas Davidonis, the Ambassador of Lithuania to the UAE, and Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Vice Chairman of the FCCI and Chairman of the SCCI, all attended the session.Additionally present were Rashid Al Tunaiji, Director of the Trade Promotion Department at the Ministry of Economy, Zigmantas Dargevicius, Vice President of the Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, and Humaid Mohammed bin Salem, Secretary-General of the Federation of FCCI, SCCI, and SCCI.In addition, there are over 100 businesspeople from the UAE and Lithuania as well as officials from a number of government agencies in Sharjah."The UAE-Lithuania Business Forum has provided a vital opportunity to consolidate the bonds of cooperation between our two friendly countries and set the stage for successful partnerships between the private sector and business owners to help them discover the best opportunities that can boost bilateral and fruitful cooperation." Abdullah Al Owais said. Ankor Rai, a seasoned data technology leader, has been named as Straive's new CEO. Straive (previously known as SPI Global) is a leader in providing technology-driven data/AI solutions for EdTech, Research, and Information Services to top worldwide organisations. BPEA EQT, a subsidiary of the EQT Group and a purpose-driven global investment company that specialises in active ownership techniques, is the owner of Straive.Ratan Datta, who oversaw Straive for more than ten years, the last seven as President and CEO, is succeeded by Ankor. Ratan will continue to serve on Straive's board of directors and take on the responsibilities of vice chairman beginning on May 1 in order to assist in the changeover to Ankor.Ankor joins Straive from EXL, where he held the positions of Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer and was a member of the Executive Committee. Ankor has developed high-impact solutions for Fortune 1000 firms across North America, the UK, and Asia for more than 20 years, driving the creation of high-value data-led tech businesses. Ankor assisted EXL in transforming its analytics division from a specialised practise to a full-stack powerhouse. "Over the last 15 years, Ratan has greatly influenced the company's growth and diversification. The transformation he has brought in the company's strategy and structure leaves Straive positioned well for the future. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I would like to thank Ratan for his exceptional leadership at Straive. Ankor brings an outstanding track record of building customer-centric data, analytics, and AI businesses to service clients across sectors and geographies. I am excited to welcome Ankor to the firm, and I look forward to working with Ankor, complemented by our talented leadership team, to take Straive to new heights," said Josh Blair, Chairman of the Board.
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