Singapore - The Qatar National Bank has upgraded its Singapore operations from a representative office to a branch offering a range of commercial services and products, the bank said Wednesday.

Qatar's biggest bank and the first from the country to operate in Singapore said in a statement that it would offer such services as project finance, trade finance, fixed deposits, current accounts and corporate loans.

The branch was established as "emerging opportunities will boost the business trade between Qatar, Singapore and other Asian countries," the statement said.

The bank, which is 50-per-cent owned by the Qatar government, has a presence in 22 countries and is seeking to become a leading bank in the Middle East and North Africa. (dpa)