The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is expanding eastwards by launching its first partnership in the Middle East.

Rapidly growing insurance markets in the region have been the trigger for the CII to appoint JWZ as an exclusive strategic partner in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Iran with Islamic insurance (Takaful) companies creating a demand for skilled workers.

It is this requirement that the CII hopes to fill with its expertise in the field of training and in the provision of qualifications as well as increasing professional standards.

Mark Greenwood, head of business development (Middle East), from the Pru, said: "It's not just standards of knowledge, it's also about behaviour and ethics… in the Middle East the regulator tends to regulate products, whilst in other parts of the world the regulator looks to monitor sales and the competence of the person selling the product."

Dr Suzanne White, chief executive officer at JWZ, welcomed the link-up and said that the "strategic alliance" came just at the right time with the insurance market in the region expected to take off.

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