Agreement aims to give more hope & joy to sick children

April 26, 2011

Al Hilal Bank has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Make-A-Wish Foundation (MAWF) establishing mutual cooperation and coordination in providing for the health and humanitarian needs of disadvantaged children. The agreement was signed by Mohammed Jameel Berro, CEO of Al Hilal Bank, and Sheikha Noor Fahem Al Qasimi, Director of MAW.

Under the terms of the agreement, Al Hilal Bank’s branches and ATM network will be used as platforms for disseminating and supporting MAWF’s various humanitarian projects for children.

Commenting on the memorandum, Sheikha Al Qasimi said: “We would like to thank Al Hilal Bank for its gracious initiative and cooperation with our foundation. We highly value this partnership with one of the country’s leading banks, which will enable us make more wishes come true and bring joy to children all over the country.”

MAWF chose Al Hilal Bank over other national and international banks operating in the country for its exceptional commitment to social causes. The Foundation was impressed by Al Hilal Bank’s participation in the ALAHILA Ramadan camp in 2010 and decided that it was the best partner for realizing some of the wishes expressed by the children that MAWF takes care of.

“This memorandum marks the beginning of a fruitful partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and will enhance the level of support available to children facing grave diseases and other difficult situations. For our part, we will provide all the support possible to make the wishes of these youths come true,” added Berro.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing support and bringing cheer to children aged three to 18 with life-threatening medical conditions. The Foundation was established in the UAE in 2004 and later on became an official organization working under the Ministry of Social Affairs. Since then, it has been coordinating with hospitals and other related bodies on the recovery and well-being of children afflicted with debilitating diseases.

Al Hilal Bank is fully-owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, the investment arm of the Government of Abu Dhabi. It is one of the fastest growing Islamic banks in the UAE and offers its services to around 40,000 clients through 19 branches and more than 90 ATMs strategically located across the country. Al Hilal Bank also manages the Al Hilal Gulf Equity Fund and owns the Financial Mall, the largest banking branch in the world. It operates 2 branches in Kazakhstan as well.

Cooperation to facilitate value-added services for DMCC members

From left to right - Ashok Gupta of Bank of Baroda and Ahmed bin Sulayem of DMCC signing the MoC

Dubai, August 17, 2010: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCC), a Free Zone Authority dedicated to enhancing trade flows through Dubai, and Bank of Baroda, India’s third largest bank signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) at a ceremony held in DMCC’s offices in Almas Tower.

The MoC was signed by DMCC Executive Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Ashok K. Gupta, Chief Executive (GCC Operations), BOB to channelize synergies and maximise business opportunities.  

The MoC is designed to provide value-added services to DMCC-registered companies and to further enhance the proposition of operating in the JLT Free Zone. Companies licensed by DMCC will have access to a wide suite of financial products and services provided by BOB, including borrowings for property purchases in the JLT, working capital and long-term financing, trade and commodity financing and other commodity related services.  DMCC and BOB will also share knowledge through seminars, workshops and exchange of faculty.

“The UAE and India share a long-standing history of trade and partnership, and we are pleased to further build upon this,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC. “As one of the leading Indian Banks, Bank of Baroda has been providing banking services in the UAE for over 36 years. Indian traders constitute a considerable population of the commodities traders in the UAE, and we are confident that this cooperation will provide added convenience to DMCC members, especially those with business activities in India.”

Ashok K. Gupta, Chief Executive (GCC Operations), Bank of Baroda, said “We are pleased to enter into a MoC with DMCC, one of the leading free trade zones in the UAE. We are confident that our services will greatly add value to DMCC members, and we look forward to helping DMCC members with customised solutions for all their banking and financing requirements.”

Through its six branches and four Customer Service Centres in the UAE, BOB offers full-fledged banking services, including credit facilities to all segments i.e. individuals, SMEs, corporates, traders, new industrial projects, etc. BOB has an extensive network of over 3125 branches/offices in India. Internationally, it has operations in over 26 countries with 81 offices through which it can take care of banking requests of enterprises.