ARAMEX has announced that it has acquired Egypt-based Freight Professionals, a major freight forwarding company specializing in air and sea freight. With this acquisition, ARAMEX, a transportation solutions provider in the Middle East and South Asia, will consolidate its presence in Egypt as a major player providing a full, multi-modal transportation link to every country in the world as well as full coverage of the domestic local market. Operational since 1995, Freight Professionals employs 86 people and has offices at Alexandria’s and Cairo’s Airports as well as at Port Said, in addition to its main offices in Cairo. The company also provides customs brokerage services in the respective ports. “The decision to acquire this excellent freight forwarding company fits perfectly within our strategic direction of solidifying and expanding our presence in the region,” ARAMEX President & CEO Fadi Ghandour said.
GOIC
A memorandum of understanding was recently signed between the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) and Carnegie Mellon University covering collaboration and joint activities in fields of mutual interest. GOIC Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Khalil Al-Mutawa and S. Thomas Emerson, director of Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, signed the deal. The first initiative in the partnership will be an executive education program focusing on industrial entrepreneurship. Carnegie Mellon will design a Gulf-oriented training program, the first of its kind in the region, to transfer its expertise in technology-based entrepreneurship and innovation to entrepreneurs and people concerned with developing small-scale ventures in both the private and public sectors within GCC member states. In its turn, the program fulfills one of GOIC’s top priorities to develop small business in the GCC, particularly industrial projects.
DEPA
Institutional and individual investors have joined hands to set up a regional contracting interior giant to tap a thriving industry home and abroad. The Dubai-based DEPA United Group (DUG) has raised a total capital of 475 million dirhams from selected investment houses and high-net-worth individual investors. The first general assembly and board meeting of the new company was held recently in Dubai. “The very well received offering was oversubscribed and we are happy with such a warm response,” said Abdulla Al-Mazroui, chairman, DUG. The National Investor was the financial adviser and lead manager for the offering which attracted some major stake holders including Emaar Industrial and Investment Co., Al-Futtaim Capital and Global Investment House as well as many other blue-chip investors from UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. “DUG is the largest interior contractor in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia cashing in on the positive economic growth backed by higher oil prices and rising public spending”, says Marwan Shehadeh, managing director, Al-Futtaim Capital in Dubai. “The construction boom in this region as well, plus growing demand for hotel rooms boosted by inbound traffic are sound fundamentals for our growth projections.”
BURGER KING
Olayan Food Services, exclusive franchisee of Burger King (BK) in Saudi Arabia underlined its commitment to support community initiatives by holding a fun-filled event recently for children with Down’s syndrome, in association with the Down Syndrome Charity Association (DSCA). The objective of the BK-DSCA event was to encourage the children to acquaint themselves with the outside world by entertaining them with innovative games and activities aside from treating them to BK Kids Meals and goodies. They together launched the campaign across the Kingdom in December. The donations were collected by setting aside a portion of the revenue received toward BK Kids Meals purchased. “As a locally owned franchisee, Burger King KSA is dedicated in its commitment toward supporting the local community,” BK’s Middle East GM Samer Khawashki said.
ORBIT
A huge growth in demand across the Middle East for television programs from the Philippines has prompted Orbit, the satellite television and radio network, to extend its broadcast service of the Philippines’ number one television channel. Under a new deal struck with GMA Pinoy TV, Orbit has boosted its Pinoy Plus package, which targets Filipino audiences. Orbit cites the buoyancy of the Gulf economies as the catalyst for a burgeoning increase in consumer spending which is reaching all communities in the region. “We are seeing evidence of a very real growth in spending across all sections of our customer profile. By addressing the demand for programming which specifically targets sections of our audiences Orbit aims to tap into what is a growing and increasingly economically significant market,” said Ali Ajouz, VP marketing and public relations - Orbit Communications Company. The enhanced Pinoy Plus service is expected to result in a 200 percent increase in Orbit’s subscriptions from Filipino expatriates living in the region, now numbering 1.5 million.
ASDA’A
Asda’a, the Middle East’s PR consultancy, was declared “PR Agency of the Year” at the Campaign Middle East Awards 2005, held in Dubai recently. The award recognizes innovative and effective work for clients and its contribution to improving industry standards in 2005. Asda’a also won a second award in the “PR event of the year” category. Campaign Middle East launched its inaugural regional awards in 2005, which witnessed an overwhelming response from the marketing and communications industry. A total of 650 entries were received in 14 categories and adjudicated upon by a panel of 40 international and regional experts led by Unilever Middle East Chairman Jan Zijderveld. “Our developing business model combined a strategic consultancy based in Dubai with strong in-country teams across the Gulf, Levant and North Africa,” Asda’a MD Sunil John said.