(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) National Bank of Oman (NBO) celebrated on Sunday its 42nd anniversary with a VVIP gala dinner hosted at Almouj Golf Muscat and attended by a number of distinguished guests including ministers undersecretaries ambassadors and prominent entrepreneurs.
The chief guest for the event was H E Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al Busaidi Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs. During the celebrations guests were entertained by a number of thrilling displays including a laser show a local classical band who performed on a floating stage; a 'Cirque du Soleil' performance; a local poet Faisal al Farsi as well as sand canvases crafted by the renowned sand artist Shaima al Mugheiry who depicted National Bank of Oman's prestigious growth journey.
The programme of activities included the premiere of a video which highlighted National Bank of Oman's achievements and its contributions to the Oman's economy and the community since its establishment in 1973 as well as well-received speeches by the bank's chairman and the chief executive officer. Amongst the commemorations the chairman of National Bank of Oman announced the launch of an initiative to mark the sultanate's 45th National Day - the bank committed to support a total of 45 Omani students across the nation to help them build a bright and prosperous future for themselves and their communities.
Mohammed Mahfoodh al Ardhi chairman of National Bank of Oman said 'On this special day it is with great joy and pride that we have gathered to celebrate National Bank of Oman's 42nd anniversary a growth journey that was made possible with the support of all our valued stakeholders and the people of the Sultanate of Oman. On behalf of the entire bank may I extend our best wishes to H E Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al Busaidi. It is an honour to host him on such a momentous occasion.
'National Bank of Oman has built strong foundations over the years and we are very proud that today National Bank of Oman is one of the leading banks in the sultanate. We would like to pay tribute to His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos bin Said. By bringing optimism and happiness across the full spectrum of society His Majesty the Sultan continues to inspire us all with his wise and visionary leadership and National Bank of Oman remains committed to supporting our nation's economy and strategic objectives.'
Ardhi added 'This year the sultanate marks the 45th anniversary of His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos bin Said's reign. As part of our commitment to the community we have continuously sought to develop and strengthen our employees' capabilities to contribute to the bank and the nation's success. To commemorate our 45th National Day and as a gift to our nation we are delighted to announce that we will be providing scholarships for five undergraduate students to complete their master's degree at the most reputed universities in the world. We will also provide scholarships for 15 high school students to complete their undergraduate degrees at the top universities in the world. In addition the bank will train and employ 25 diploma level students in various divisions of the bank.'
Ahmed al Musalmi chief executive officer of National Bank of Oman said 'National Bank of Oman Day is an opportunity to celebrate the success that the bank has enjoyed over the years while also looking forward to the exciting opportunities that the future will bring. 2014 was a historical year for the bank. We recorded the highest profit growth in the bank's history and would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their efforts over the last year our customers for their patronage and loyalty our regulators for their continued support and guidance and to pay tribute to His Majesty for his wisdom and leadership.'
Musalmi added 'We are honoured to be joined by H E Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al Busaidi on this memorable occasion. While the bank has undoubtedly enjoyed considerable success in recent years we remain ambitious to expand our offering to new customers while maintaining the highest-level of customer service excellence supported by technology-driven innovations to enhance our customers' banking experience.
This unwavering commitment to clients is true across every department of National Bank of Oman whether in our support of crucial SME businesses laudable CSR projects or our dedication to developing and promoting Omani talent in line with the country's Omanisation efforts. By encouraging young talent to flourish and by providing bursaries to the world's preeminent educational institutions we will ensure that future generations of Omanis enjoy attractive career prospects at National Bank of Oman and contribute to securing the long-term prosperity of our great nation. In all of this the ultimate goal and our primary focus is to make positive and sustainable contributions to our community - for you and for our nation.'
Building on its legacy of success National Bank of Oman continues to go from strength to strength with a clear vision to be the bank of choice for both individual customers and businesses within Oman and the other jurisdictions in which the bank operates. The bank's focus remains on expanding its retail corporate and investment banking operations where there are opportunities to grow in the medium and long term. Over the past three years the bank has committed over US$1bn to support major strategic projects in Oman.
National Bank of Oman is committed to making a positive and sustainable impact in the local community through social initiatives that underline the true spirit of corporate social responsibility. Supporting underprivileged people across the sultanate is an important theme for the bank and a responsibility it takes very seriously.
As well as supporting 45 Omani students National Bank of Oman runs numerous projects throughout the year aimed at supporting the local community and giving back to the sultanate.
National Bank of Oman is strongly positioned for future growth and has developed a robust five-year growth strategy and innovative plans to build on the success of National Bank of Oman's transformation. Through its commitment to delivering a consistently superior customer experience and creating value for stakeholders National Bank of Oman is well-placed to continue on its journey to be the 'Bank of Choice'.
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