NCB/MASHREQ BANK

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) recently announced an additional stock trading service for its customers through its international brokerage services division (IBSD) in collaboration with Mashreq Bank in the UAE. “The UAE stock market has experienced significant growth in 2005 due to its accelerated economic expansion, rising oil prices as well as the increased trading in shares by new investors. “The NCB is committed to offering its customers continuous opportunities to diversify their investments in promising markets and believe that our partnership with Mashreq Bank will assist us in delivering this service in a timely manner,” NCB’s Brokerage Division Head Hani Ahmad Showe’er said. NCB customers are able to trade in UAE stocks directly through the IBSD or via the Internet.

COCA-COLA

The Coca-Cola Company (CCC) has confirmed its support for the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), publicly expressing its serious commitment to taking a corporate leadership role in the focus areas of the UNGC — human rights, labor rights, protection of the environment, and anti-corruption. The company’s support for the UNGC was expressed in a meeting between CCC Chairman & CEO E. Neville Isdell and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at UN headquarters in New York City recently. “Our support for the UNGC is a formal expression of the CCC’s commitment to conduct our business with the utmost respect for universal principles around human rights, workplace standards, responsible environmental practices and anti-corruption,” Isdell said.

SHOWTIME

The Disabled Children’s Association welcomed Blue, the adorable bright blue puppy who stars in Blue’s Clues, the award-winning animated TV series airing exclusively on the Showtime network, which visited the association to spread laughter and cheer to the children. Blue visited the children during their fun Wednesday activities and distributed special Blue’s Clues goody bag including coloring books and crayons. The children had an opportunity to play with the famous character and took memorable photographs. “Blue’s visit represents a small token of Showtime’s commitment to integrating fun educational activities to children whether it is through TV programming or character visits such as this,” Showtime PR and Customer Marketing Manager Vida Rizq said.

FAWAZ ALHOKAIR GROUP

Saudi Arabia’s Fawaz Alhokair Group, one of the largest retail franchisers in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, received the “2005 Investor of the Year” award at the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) MENA investment ministerial meeting held in Jordan recently. The award was in recognition to its outstanding contribution toward job creation across the Kingdom. In 2005, the group achieved a sales turnover exceeding SR2.23 billion and generated close to 4,000 new jobs. Group Chairman Fawaz Alhokair received the award for ‘Significant employment generating investment’ from Jordan’s Minister for Industry & Trade Sharif Al-Zoubi during the meeting between MENA ministers and their OECD counterparts.

BODY & SOUL

The second facility of Body & Soul Health Club opened at Deira in the UAE recently. Emirates Techno Casting Group MD K.E. Faisal presided over the opening ceremony. The club, promoted by Legend Middle East and Thumbay Group, offers a “total new experience” with a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and qualified staff to assist the club members. Deira already has one such large facility at Dubai Residential Oasis, Al Quasis, with separate pools and gym for men and women and a big party hall. Body & Soul, which has plans for 10 such facilities by the end of 2006, also undertakes management and consultancy for third party facilities. Thumbay Group, headed by Thumbay Moideen, is managing Gulf Medical College and GMC Hospital in Ajman.

NOKIA

The Nokia 8800 burst onto the market last June and since then more than one million discriminating consumers have made this mobile phone part of their premium lifestyle. Drawing upon modern watch-making and jewelry techniques, the mobile phone features a slim stainless steel body and a number of distinctive details that complement the prestige and quality of the device. Earlier this week, at the annual GSM Association Awards, the Nokia 8800 added to its list of accolades the GSMA Award for best GSM handset for its unique blend of design, materials and innovation. “The Nokia 8800 has clearly found an audience with individuals who appreciate quality materials and world-class design,” says Alastair Curtis, who directs the design team at Nokia’s Mobile Phones unit.

FUTUREBRAND

FutureBrand, a global brand consultancy with offices in 20 cities around the world, recently branded three major, world-class developments in Bahrain. The high profile projects are set to span residential, commercial and mixed use. The announcement signals Future-Brand’s strong emergence in the Bahrain market, as well as the company’s increasing focus on the Middle East. Bahrain is undergoing an exciting new development period, with the launch of several distinctive real estate projects. They include Riffa Views, the country’s first master planned golf community, and Bahrain Bay, a waterfront district that will house the Kingdom’s only Four Seasons Hotel. “We look forward to more world-class brands emerging in Bahrain,” said Ray Chan, managing partner, FutureBrand Middle East.

LG

During the regional conference for LG Distributors in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) held in Cairo in the presence of all LG distributors in the region, each of three LG distributors in the Kingdom won the grand award and No. 1 position for best service in MENA. LG’s air-conditioner distributor Ibrahim Shaker Co. Ltd. won for best home servicing, home appliances distributor United Yousef M. Naghi Company won for best customer service and Notebooks distributor Al Jassim Electronics Est. won for best service development in the region. “This is the first time ever for LG distributors in the Kingdom to win such regional awards among all distributors in the MENA region,” LG’s Saudi Arabia GM C. K. Cho said. “It has been LG’s policy to extend full support to its distributors.”