BLOM Bank concluded the first edition of the National Virtual Stock Exchange Competition on Saturday 16 December 2017 at BLOM Bank building in Zaitunay. The final ceremony was attended by Mr. Michel Chikhani, General Manager of BLOM Asset Management Company and Mrs. Maya Kadi, Deputy General Manager of BLOMINVEST Bank, many managers from BLOM Bank, university professors, and economic figures.

As part of the final phase of the VSE competition held for the first time on the national level, the five contestants who were qualified made a final presentation summarizing their efforts throughout the competition. Based on this presentation, a jury of specialists from BLOM Bank picked three winners who proved their worth after competing with students from different universities in Lebanon. Mrs. Maya Kadi, Deputy General Manager of BLOMINVEST Bank handed the winners their prizes: Mr. George Merhej from Saint Joseph University came in first place and received USD 4,000; Mr. Garen Nerces from the University of Haigzian came in second place and received USD 3,000; and Ms. Ayia Safadi from the American University of Beirut came in third place and received USD 2,000.

The Virtual Stock Exchange Competition falls within the framework of the Bank’s social responsibility program aiming to develop the knowledge of university students on trading in capital markets. This competition aims to highlight the importance of the stock market and develop the students’ sense of trading in the financial markets and discover their talents in this field.