International Development Co. (IDCO) and German-based DRK-Blutspendedienst signed an agreement in Jeddah recently, which entitles IDCO to distribute DRK’s medical products across Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the GCC. Prince Mansour ibn Mishaal signed on behalf of IDCO in his capacity as chairman and Dr. Aiman A. Moustafa, CEO, Egypt-based Faripharma Medical Co., on behalf of DRK. Moustafa, who also heads DRK in the MENA region, gave a presentation on DRK’s range of blood related and other medical products. “The German company is one of the biggest in the world that manufactures a wide range of products that include plasma, albumin and other and emergency medicines,” Moustafa said. The prince said his company, which had a network of branches across the Kingdom, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, would open new branches in other cities of the Kingdom and also in the Gulf. His company’s sales totaled SR100 million during the last five years, the prince said, adding that the company enjoyed a 20 percent market share in the products it distributed. “We’ve plans to organize seminars and presentations at hospitals and medical labs around the Arab world to acquaint them with the new range of DRK’s products,” he added.

SWATCH

Swatch’s summer sport collection 2005 has been launched across Saudi Arabia. The collection has four series for the summer and a summer special 2005. The collection includes “Orange Groove,” “Summer Adrenaline,” “Deep Waters,” and “Sea, Ice & Sun.” Orange Groove watches reflect variations on the setting sun: Orange like the wetsuit that you take off at the end of the afternoon, the color of the sky and the refreshing drink sipped after a long summer day. And orange like the beach bonfire. Models are full of vitality and vitamin C for making the most of each second. Summer Adrenaline has a clear, accurate design, lively colors, luminous straps, dazzling dials, and motifs reminiscent of surfing, car racing, and beach volleyball. The functions are integrated into the dynamic style of this series that underline its sporting appearance. The aesthetic of Deep Waters watches is inspired by the intoxicating environment of the depths and the rich, luminous fauna that populates its blue abyss. So that you don’t lose your bearings when you dive into this world where the quality of the silence, the calmness and the pleasure of contemplation cause you to escape time itself, here is a selection of models whose bezels are perfectly integrated into the cases, guaranteeing water-resistance to 200 meters depending on the model. With Sea, Ice & Sun watches, one can melt away one’s worries like snow in the sun. Select your Swatch, put on your flip-flops, and head for the ocean.

ATTAR Al BAHRAIN

Attar Al Bahrain has launched its new perfume “Rifal” across Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf. “The launch coincides with the tourist season that is now in full swing,” said General Manager Khalid H. Al-Amoudy on behalf of Attar Al Bahrain products of Syed Junaid Alam, at a presentation in Jeddah last week. “Rifal connotes beauty and the new perfume has all the ingredients to make it the best perfume that will appeal to the Arab world,” Amoudy said. The bottle is attractive with an eye-catching lid. The perfumers have 21 branches, which are set to increase to 29 by 2005-end. “We aim to target a 25 percent of the Saudi market share in perfume,” said Operations Manager Ahmad Fouad. He indicated that the number of branches Gulfwide would increase to 70 by the year-end. The company concentrates on manufacturing perfumes to suit the tastes of Saudi and Gulf markets, he said, adding that it began manufacturing perfumes in 1910 in its Bahrain factory.