MCCL
The partners of Al-Montazaha Contracting Co. Ltd. (MCCL), developer of the Jeddah Park Hyatt Equestrian Club (JPHEC), recently held its first general assembly (GA) meeting in Jeddah. MCCL Chairman Tarek Taher, Bouygues International CEO Olivier-Marie Racine, Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, Jeddah Equestrian Club General Manager Osama Aba Al-Khail and Mohamad Al-Jarbou representing the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were present. “This meeting is hailed as a milestone in the history of this long-awaited project,” Taher said. The JPHEC is a major hospitality and recreation complex comprising a social club, a men’s club, a women’s club, a marina, a shopping mall, as well as a luxury hotel. With the support of Makkah Equestrian Club, MCCL has entered into several agreements to build and operate various project components. Agreements have been signed with Bouygues Batiment International, Allied Engineering Enterprises and Hyatt International.
LG
LG Electronics, a major digital technology company, has in collaboration with United Yousef M. Naghi Company Ltd., organized a women’s cooking competition to mark its launch of a “Solar Dom” oven. The contest was organized last week at Jeddah Radisson SAS hotel and Dubai, where Chef Osama Al-Syed of Dubai TV demonstrated the capabilities of the new oven including its features. Ten participants reached the finals with each of them supported by five helpers, to prepare a main dish within 30 seconds using a Solar Dom oven. A selection committee announced the winner after considering many criteria including the innovative nature of ingredients, service style and nutrition value. Booklets on international cooking prescriptions, authored by chef Osama, were distributed in addition to lectures given on modern cooking styles and the preparation of some famous local and international dishes. LG General manager C.K. Cho distributed LG products as prizes to winners.
UMA
Universal Motors Agencies (UMA) opened a second GMC Chevrolet showroom in the Northeast of Jeddah last week as part of its ongoing drive to improve levels of service for new and existing customers. UMA has invested over SR7 million in the construction and furnishing of the new facility, which is located on the city’s Northeast ring road and improves access to existing and potential customers living in that and other parts of the city. Opened by Steve Koch, VP HM LAAM, Terry Johnsson, MD, GM Middle East, and UMA’s Mohamed Abduljawad, the facility is an “extremely prestigious” addition to the GM sales and service network, boasting a modern vehicle showroom, a service workshop and a fully stocked spare parts department. “UMA’s new showroom is an impressive addition to the GM network and will be a significant boost to our presence in an important city,” said Johnsson. “This is a really exciting new development, enabling us to increase our sales and after-sales opportunities,” Mohammed Abdul Jawad said.
CK WATCH & JEWELRY
ck Watch & Jewelry presented its new stylishly youthful brand at a reception at Park Hyatt hotel, Dubai. Global president Arlette-Elsa Emch was the special guest at the unveiling of Calvin Klein Jeans, a range of Swiss-made watches for men and women, and a jewelry line just for women. Senior representatives of UAE distributor Rivoli Group and Nayla Hayek, a member of the board of directors of Swatch Group, were also present. Emch said: “Calvin Klein Jeans is an attitude, and its larger-than-life character in many ways reflects Dubai. These designs are youthful, confident and totally fashionable for the younger generation. They are a beautiful addition to ck Watches & Jewelry in the region, and we believe they complement local tastes across the GCC wonderfully well.” Calvin Klein Jeans features bold watch designs with jeans wear-inspired buckles and straps in denim canvas and leather. The new Calvin Klein Jeans jewelry range is made up of costume pieces in stainless steel.
CARRIER SAUDI ARABIA
Carrier Saudi Arabia, a joint venture company between E. A. Juffali & Brothers and Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp., has launched G3, the third generation series of window air conditioners in the Kingdom. The G3 air conditioners are equipped with a high energy efficiency ratio of 8.2, which is claimed to result in a 10 percent energy saving when compared with other air conditioners in the market. The new air conditioner comes with low noise, 4-in-1-filter technology, four-way air distribution and water drip-free system. Powered by the high ambient rotary compressor, the air conditioner is capable of delivering comfortable cooling even when outside temperatures soar to 55 degrees Celsius. The 4-in-1-filter technology is a powerful anti-pollutant that ensures high indoor air quality (IAQ). “The filter system eliminates bacteria, dust mites, and potentially harmful pollutants and chemicals. It removes bad odors, smoke and domestic smells,” said Shahid Malik, division manager-finished goods, Carrier Saudi Arabia.
SHELL
Shell announced key initiatives it has adopted for mitigating climate change and promoting learning and education in the region, at the third Middle East Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit, which ended this week in Dubai. Dr. Gavin Graham, VP new business, Middle East, Caspian & South Asia, Shell EP International Ltd., said, “Shell has incorporated two key activities in its business strategies toward fulfilling the objectives of its CSR policy. The first of these addresses climate change through the capture and utilization of carbon dioxide while the second involves extending continued support to education, learning and development initiatives, in partnership with Emirates Foundation, local universities and communities.” Shell is deploying its capabilities and technologies in partnership with emerging players in the region, such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mubadala and Al-Masdar to investigate harnessing of carbon dioxide to mitigate the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change, he added.
AIG MEMSA
AIG MEMSA President Charles Bouloux said yesterday that Fitch Ratings has assigned AIG MEMSA with an ‘AA+’ insurer financial strength (IFS) rating. “This is a great step forward for our organization and allows the region to further benefit from one of the highest rated companies in the world.” Fitch’s rating reflects explicit support in the form of an unconditional and irrevocable insurance obligation guarantee between AIG MEMSA and American International Underwriters Overseas, Ltd. (AIUO). AIUO is a wholly owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Fitch’s rating on AIG MEMSA also reflects implicit support derived from AIG’s long history of successfully conducting operations on a worldwide basis, excellent worldwide brands, and strong operating results. AIG MEMSA is a recently formed wholly owned subsidiary of AIUO domiciled in the Dubai International Financial Center, UAE.
SONY ERICSSON
Sony Ericsson’s “sophisticated” Z550i is now available throughout the Middle East. Mobile phone users looking for quality, style and good looks will love Sony Ericsson’s Z550i. Finished in a combination of premium brushed metal and high gloss material, the Z550i is described as a classy partner for work and leisure with universal appeal. Its 1.3 megapixel camera has 4x digital zoom and takes great snap shots and video for capturing those unpredictable moments. These can be viewed on a crisp, bright color display. With 20MB of onboard memory expandable to 1GB, it is simple to store and share a large collection of pictures using MMS, Bluetooth or e-mail. “The Z550 has an exclusive, understated feel that’s a tribute to our iconic phone the T610, and features a 1.3 megapixel camera, unusual for a phone in this sector,” said Husni El-Assi, GM, Sony Ericsson, MENA. “In all, the Z550i is a phone that breathes quality and value.” It is a GPRS clamshell camera phone available in sterling black or pearl copper.