Within the framework of the joint cooperation between Byblos Bank and the Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut (AUB), a ceremony was held in the OSB building on the AUB campus on June 22, 2010. During the ceremony, Semaan Bassil, vice-chairman and general manager of Byblos Bank Group, handed over to OSB Dean George K. Najjar a check of USD 50,000 to establish the Byblos Bank OSB Faculty Research & Development Fund in support of research activities at OSB.
Dean Najjar thanked Bassil for the support of the Byblos Bank Group and lauded the ongoing constructive cooperation between the two institutions, noting that several joint projects are underway. He added that strong ties with the business community are a strategic imperative for OSB and an integral part of its mission.
Bassil responded by underscoring Byblos Bank's commitment to cooperating with AUB and OSB in pursuit of common goals. He said, "We are carrying out this initiative today as a step forward in Byblos Bank's support for research and education in Lebanon. We believe that research is crucial for invigorating our economy, generating job opportunities, and retaining high-level skills and talents." He added: "Byblos Bank is a major economic and financial player that has a long history of fruitful collaboration with Lebanese universities, in general, and AUB in particular. We really hope that this contribution to research will be of inspiration for other influential institutions in Lebanon."
