Today sees the launch of Israeli Bank Hapoalim's office in Singapore. This is a highly significant development, as it is the first time an Israeli bank has opened in the city state, indeed the first in South East Asia. This evening over 50 high-level Jewish business leaders who have flown in from all over the world will attend an opening event. In a sign of the importance the Singapore government has placed on this move, George Yeo, Minster for Foreign Affairs is attending as the official guest of Bank Hapoalim. Commenting on the opening, Hapoalim’s chief executive, Zvi Ziv said: "Bank Hapoalim's presence in Singapore will provide a further bridge between the Israeli economy, which has strong growth rates and the increasingly international ties, and the global markets. We look forward to the opportunity to provide our clients worldwide with access to this vital financial centre." A major element of the operation will be private banking through Hapoalim's Swiss subsidiary, BHL (Switzerland). Rami Lador, regional manager for Asia and Singapore branch manager, told WealthBriefing that the bank intends to build a boutique style operation based on the success of the Swiss operation which has seen it rise to number 15 in the rankings in Switzerland. Dao Rochvarger-Wong has been appointed head of private banking. WealthBriefing has learnt that Mrs Rochvarger-Wong and her family were amongst the Vietnamese boat people who were rescued by Israel in 1979 when no-one else in the region would help many thousands like her. Brought up in Israel, Mrs Rochvarger-Wong, adopted the Jewish faith and served with distinction in the military. She embarked on a career in private banking with Bank Leumi before joining Hapoalim.