GBCORP GETS AWARD
Manama-based Global Banking Corporation (GBCORP) was named as the “Best new Islamic investment bank” at a ceremony held in Dubai recently. Major players in the Islamic finance industry were honored on the occasion. Islamic Finance News selected GBCORP as the winner. The Malaysia-based weekly focuses on Shariah-compliant financial markets. Investors, issuers and government officials were polled and 1,316 votes were cast in this year’s poll, providing an unbiased guide to the leaders in the field of Islamic finance. The annual dinner was held in Dubai and honored the winners and over 300 guests attended the event including senior industry leaders. Upon collecting the award, Mark Hanson, chief executive of GBCORP, said that it had begun the New Year on a winning note and those at the bank were delighted to have won an award during its first six months of operation. “The award is an honor that complements our drive for a new era of global Islamic banking,” he said.
PEPSI TEEN APPEAL
PepsiCo International has launched a massive GCC marketing campaign to reinvigorate the Pepsi brand image by further building on and enhancing the strong relationship with teenagers who form the core of its consumer base in the region. “We are not changing what Pepsi is, we are changing how Pepsi connects with people,” said Hossam Dabbous, marketing director, beverages — GCC markets, PEPSICO International. “Globally, technology is changing the world we live in, how we work, how we play — even how we think — and teenagers, our main market, are at the frontier of this new age, keen to adopt the latest innovations that will help them fast forward their education, their careers and the quality of their lifestyles.” While remaining true to its brand DNA and spirit, Pepsi has redesigned the labeling of bottles, cans and cups to express today’s key trends, with themes such as digital download, emoticons, SMS and Global Festival, all of which have been inspired by teens. In addition, the look of Diet Pepsi has been given a makeover to connect with the interests and hobbies of female consumers. “With the rapid advancement of technology, youth in our region are more exposed to international standards and realize that in the workplace they will have to compete with the best in the world,” added Dabbous.
NISSAN
Nissan has issued in the UAE an alert to potential customers looking to acquire the parallel imports of its all-new and highly sought-after Nissan GT-R sports sedan. Anyone considering bringing a GT-R into the country through unofficial channels will be ineligible for any Nissan warranty claim on such imports. Before the official regional launch of the GT-R, parallel imports cannot get the full service necessary for its maintenance, even at Nissan dealers. Nissan Middle East strongly recommends customers buy the super-car through any authorized channels only to ensure the complete validity of the warranty on their cars. “The version especially produced for the region will be modified to deliver the best performance by matching local road and climate conditions. Nissan Middle East cannot guarantee that a parallel-imported GT-R will deliver the optimum performance as intended for this car as it may be wholly unsuited to the environment,” said Monal Zeidan, GM, marketing and corporate communications at Nissan Middle East.
TVTC-GM JOINT PLAN
The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) recently celebrated the graduation of the first batch of trainees from the joint training program established between TVTC and General Motors (GM). The function was attended by representatives of GM’s dealers in the Kingdom - Al-Jomaih Automotive Company, Universal Motors Agencies, Omar A. Balubaid Company, and Abdullatif Alissa Automotive Company. The event took place at the Technical Institute in Jeddah. TVTC Governor Dr. Ali ibn Nasser Al-Ghofais described how this program is considered a model for the joint training program that the Corporation has set up in collaboration with the private sector, with the aim of training and qualifying Saudi youth to work in the car maintenance industry. Terry Johnsson, president GM, Middle East Operations, confirmed GM’s commitment to training young Saudi nationals and providing them with the appropriate skills and education to allow them to enter employment with General Motors’ dealers in KSA.
ARAB AD AWARD
Dr. Saad Al-Barrak, CEO of Zain Group, a major mobile telecommunication company in the Middle East and Africa, recently received the “Man of the Year 2008” award, organized by Arab Ad magazine. Arab Ad organized a dinner reception in honor of Dr. Saad Al Barrak at the Phoenica InterContinental Hotel, Beirut gathering the elite of advertising and communication figures as well as a large representation of Zain personnel. Al-Barrak thanked Arab Ad and its General Manager and Editor in Chief Walid Azzi for this prestigious award. “This is the most gratifying award I have received so far, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart,” he said. “I am the last person to deserve this award; the ones who really deserve it are my brothers and sisters at Zain, who lead us forward and made Zain this great entity that today ranks fourth worldwide in terms of geographical reach. We should all take pride of this achievement in the Arab World,” he added. “The launch and creativity of the Zain brand and its theme ‘A Wonderful World’ has greatly impressed the advertising and media industry, and made an enormous impact in the markets where Zain operates,” Walid Azzi said.
DANA GAS, EMARAT
Dana Gas, the Middle East’s first and largest regional private-sector natural gas company, and Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat), have agreed to form a joint venture to own, manage and operate the Middle East’s first common user gas pipeline, which will be completed in March this year. Dana Gas and Emarat, along with the three end-users the Federal Electricity & Water Authority of the UAE (FEWA), the Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority (SEWA), and Dana Gas affiliate Crescent Natural Gas Company Ltd. (CNGCL) — signed a memorandum of understanding for the implementation and utilization of the pipeline in January 2006. Soon after its completion in March this year, the 48-inch pipeline will deliver gas supplies to the three end-users. Rashid Al-Jarwan, GM, Dana Gas, said, “This project is a prime example of the solutions that can be achieved through the cooperation of government and private sector entities.”
LG, BADGHAISH
LG, the South Korean consumer electronics giant, has signed an agreement with Ahmad Ali Badghaish Electronics Co. to distribute LG’s automotive audio and navigation systems in the Kingdom. Simon Lee, general manager LG Electronics in the Kingdom, said that with over 25 years’ of LG Electronics OEM experience in the car infotainment industry, LG was the biggest supplier of Telematics. LG claims to be the first company to introduce Arabic navigation in the Middle East and is still the only company providing factory fit navigation systems. Since 1958, Ahmad Ali Badghaish Electronics Co. is engaged in bringing modern consumer electronics and home appliances to the Kingdom. The company became the leader in supplying consumer electronics in a much shorter time than its rivals, says is Chairman Ali Badghaish’s.
T-BOUTIQUE
A leading tea manufacturing company in Sri Lanka has opened the first ever tea boutique in the capital last week. Located at the Plaza Level of Harvey Nichols store at Al-Faisaliah Mall, t-Boutique is the result of the business partnership between Coffee Moments Establishment of Riyadh and the MJF Group of Colombo, Sri Lanka, brand owners of Dilmah and t-Series. “We have plans to introduce more outlets in the major cities of the Kingdom, “ Dilhan Fernando, managing director of MJF told Arab News, pointing out that the present outlet is a permanent store and a significant one as it offers an unmatched collection of boutique teas for the first time in the Kingdom. Dilmah tea is served on board Saudi Arabian Airlines to its domestic and international passengers. The new boutique features Seasonal Flush and Limited Edition Teas, which are not offered in any supermarkets in the Kingdom. “As tea growers, our commitment is to authenticity, quality and ethics.” “The boutique brings to the discerning connoisseur of tea, a variety of some of the finest teas in the world, attractively packaged and all bearing the distinction and quality of Dilmah.”