The salient features of the package were highlighted at a reception hosted by Lebanese ambassador Hassan Yousof Saad.

Leading members of the Lebanese community attended the reception as the guests of Doha Bank chairman Sheikh Fahad bin Mohamed bin Jabor al-Thani and Bank of Beirut chairman and general manager Salim Sfeir.

Doha Bank managing director Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed bin Jabor al-Thani and top executives from both banks attended the event.

Doha Bank CEO R Seetharaman described BayRoot as a joint package offering mutual financial and business services between Qatar and Lebanon.

“This partnership is the natural translation of the brotherly ties connecting Qatar and Lebanon, especially with more than 20,000 Lebanese expatriates in Qatar.”

Seetharaman urged the Lebanese community members to think of Doha Bank whenever they wish to undertake a project in Lebanon.

“This is part of Doha Bank’s strategy to provide its service to all communities in Qatar in their own homeland,” he stated.

Sfeir applauded the Qatari efforts to help Lebanon and the Lebanese people and described the visit of HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, to Beirut during the war last July as an evidence of true consolidation.

“The partnership between Doha Bank and Bank of Beirut that we call BayRoot represents their mutual goals and values,” he said.

Bank of Beirut now has representatives at Doha Bank’s head office in Qatar to serve Lebanese expatriates and Qataris with businesses in Qatar and Lebanon. As a result of the tie-up, Doha Bank will have a special office at Bank of Beirut’s branch in Aley, Lebanon.

BayRoot offers value-added services of opening dual accounts in both countries with the flexibility of managing the account on-line. It provides a housing loan facility for customers interested in buying land or property in Lebanon with financing up to 100%, over 15 years repayment period for amounts up to $1mn.

On-line transfer of funds is another feature where money could be remitted on the same day at the cheapest cost through the e-Remittance service.

Further details are available with Doha Bank and Bank of Beirut representatives located at Doha Bank’s head office on Grand Hamad Avenue.

The event concluded with a performance of Fairouz songs by Lebanese singer Samar Kammouj Abou Zaid, accompanied by piano player Myriam al-Achkar. -Gulf Times