Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced the launch of the Sharjah Call Center (800SHARJAH), a unified call center, which operates using the latest and most advanced technologies through which it provides tourists, residents and investors with any information they may require about Sharjah. Following several months of preparation of the service by the SCTDA, Sharjah Call Center will provide an integrated database of tourism and business information on the emirate. The preparatory measures involved the compilation of all relevant tourist information, such as contact details for hotels and resorts names, museums and shopping malls, as well as information pertaining to various leisure activities and facilities available in Sharjah. The center’s database also holds a vast body of business-related information including details on trade exhibitions.
HAWKAMAH/UAB
The Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance and the Union of Arab Banks (UAB), in association with MasterCard Worldwide, recently announced the creation of the Hawkamah-UAB Bank Corporate Governance Award, the first of its kind in the Arab world. Banks are invited to apply for the award by submitting replies to a questionnaire, which can be obtained via the Hawkamah and UAB websites. The winner will be announced at the UAB Annual Arab Banking Conference to be held in October 2007. The winning bank will be selected after a rigorous assessment of all the submitted material by an international panel of experts. Panel members will include Charles Freeland, a well-respected international banking consultant and former deputy secretary-general, Basel Committee on Banking; Michael Stevenson, Middle East senior partner (PWC); and Ambassador John Bohn, who is currently commissioner at California Public Utilities Commission and chair of Globalnet Venture Partners. The award, which provides recognition to banks that improve corporate governance practices and build their brand equity on corporate governance, is a joint initiative between Hawkamah and UAB.
NCB
Abdullah Althaqafi, director of education, Makkah Region, recently honored the National Commercial Bank (NCB) for its outstanding role in the field of social work in the education sector, at a ceremony in Jeddah recently. Abdulmohsen Al-Harthy, education and health programs manager at NCB’s community service unit, received a plaque during the closing ceremony of the student activities held by the Department of Public Administration at the Education Administration for Makkah Region. Al-Harthy said the honor was an affirmation of the fruitful cooperation between the NCB and Saudi educational institutions and as an extension of the bank’s efforts in the distinctive community service. Althaqafi referred to the role played by the bank in the education sector in the Kingdom and said such efforts support student training activities. He commended the bank for its continued support for such activities through various community service programs of the bank.
Kraft Foods
In a recent ranking of public opinions about company reputations and standings, Kraft Foods tops the list of the most respected companies in the US and 15th in the world (out of 600 companies) in a survey conducted by Reputation Institute research firm. Patrick Satamian, managing director, Kraft Foods GCC, said: “I am extremely pleased with the outcome of this survey and feel very proud to receive such positive feedback from consumers. It reflects public confidence in Kraft Foods.” He added: “This important acknowledgment demonstrates Kraft Foods’ commitment to offer the best in products and services to consumers. It confirms the standards and ethics that Kraft Foods applies to key stakeholders involved in the business including consumers, employees and partners, both around the world and across the GCC.” The survey was conducted among 60,000 consumers who were asked to complete an online questionnaire to vote for companies in their own respective countries.