ATM
Dozens of Saudi companies are taking part in the four-day Arabian Travel Market 2008 (ATM) that began in Dubai on Tuesday. Leading the Saudi contingent is the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (GCTA) and the Kingdom’s two private airlines, Sama and National Air Services (NAS). Joining the GCTA, NAS and Sama at this year’s ATM — the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism event — are Hyatt International EAME Ltd, Elaf Group of Companies, Mamlakat Al-Asfar Travel & Tourism, Alrawada Investment for Real Estate Development and Unique Choice. “Arabian Travel Market allows us to showcase Saudi Arabia as a destination and offers an opportunity for participating tourism partners to see latest trends impacting our industry. The show also puts us in touch with key leaders in the travel and tourism industry,” said Dr. Fahad Al-Jarboa, assistant deputy secretary general for marketing, GCTA.
AUTOMECH
The 13th edition of AUTOMECH AKHBAR EL YOM, the leading Arab and African trade fair for vehicles, buses, motorcar workshops, service station equipment, automobile spare parts, accessories and feeding industries was inaugurated at the Cairo International Fair Ground, Egypt, on Tuesday. The fiar, which will run until tomorrow, is set to attract more than 450,000 trade visitors from Egypt, Sudan, Libya, North Africa, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the GCC countries. AUTOMECH, an established business-to-business and business-to-consumer fair, is an important platform for the automotive industry in the region. Last year, the AUTOMECH exhibition attracted more than 420,000 visitors, including 345 exhibitors from Egypt and abroad.
Luxury Trade Fair
The first ever business and luxury goods trade fair combined, the Saudi Gulf Luxury Trade Fair that will take place at London’s InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane on August 2nd and 3rd 2008 is already attracting a very wide and varied range of stand exhibitors. British finance and investment companies who want to develop business links with the Middle East are joining forces at the trade fair with world leading brands such as Aston Martin whose stand will be surrounded with diamond dealers, couture fashion designers, private jet charter companies, top end kitchenware companies, and a unique designer from New York named Damjan who makes 18 carat gold cigar ashtrays that sell at £6,000 each. Also exhibiting at the trade fair will be the Arab British Chamber of Commerce which is marketing the event to their members.
Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Saudia, the sole distributor of Suzuki vehicles in Saudi Arabia and part of Bamarouf Group, has confirmed that the solid market performance of its Suzuki Swift compact is contributing to its growing appeal as an enjoyable vehicle across all automobile categories where the sales posted 43 percent in the first quarter of 2008 in comparison with the same period of 2007 among youth generation. Suzuki “Swift” demand increased tremendously within this region among drivers, ranging between 16 to 25 years old. “Suzuki Motor Corp. has recently predicted an 8 percent growth in 2008 and the production of 3 million units by 2010, reflecting its solid performance in growth of markets such as Saudi Arabia as we are the sole distributor of Suzuki vehicles.” said Ahmed Al-Shamaile, Suzuki Saudia, Sales Manager.
Chapal World
Chapal Corals — the latest $66 million worth project of Chapal World, the foremost property developers in UAE, has had a victorious sales campaign at the eleventh ‘Riyadh Real Estate and Urban Development Exhibition’ which was inaugurated on Sunday and concludes today in Riyadh. A 30-story building has 472 apartments and is conveniently located off Emirates Road within Emirates Lake Towers in Ajman just 25 minutes away from Dubai International Airport. Chapal Corals seeks to meet the needs of the value conscious end-user segment. The project’s high investment prospective, prime location just at the lakeside, spacious studio, 1, 2 bedroom units and community-centric facilities enhanced its appeal to both investors and end-users alike.
NCB
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) has won the first place for its continued efforts to nationalize jobs. The news was announced during a ceremony held recently at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh. The bank has been honored for its pioneering role in Saudization of jobs and its efforts to train and employ national human resources. Interior Minister Prince Naif ibn Abdul Aziz, who is also the director of the Board of Saudization, presented the 2007 Manpower Award to Abdulkareem Abu Al-Nasr, NCB’s chief executive officer, who expressed his deep gratitude for the honor. Abu Al-Nasr said that Saudization is the pillar of social service and a way to payback to dear nation.
Larsen & Toubro
Larsen & Toubro Electricals Saudi Arabia Company Limited (LTESA), the leading technical engineering company formed through the joint venture between Larsen & Toubro International FZE (LTFZE), and Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo on Sunday inaugurated its Electrical and Automation products manufacturing facility in Dammam. LTESA will engage in design, engineering and manufacturing, solution of conventional and intelligent power and motor control systems with automation in the Low Voltage (LV) and Medium Voltage (MV) categories as well as offering projects comprising allied products, to the fast developing Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, oil and gas and industrial sectors. The factory at Dammam Industrial Estate II was inaugurated by chief patrons R.N. Mukhija, president, Operations and Member of the Board of L&T, and Abdul Aziz Qassim Kanoo, deputy chairman of Saudi Arabia YBA Kanoo. Senior officials present on the occasion included the directors of LTESA board, S.C. Bhargava, Bader Kanoo and S.K. Mukherjee.
Dubai Maritime City
Dubai Maritime City, the world’s first purpose-built maritime center and member of the Dubai World Group, has recently announced that registration and licensing of all maritime businesses in Dubai, which was previously the responsibility of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED), will now be handled by the Dubai Maritime City Authority as part of initiatives to provide a centralized point of access for all maritime-related activities in the emirate. Under the new setup, Dubai Maritime City Authority will facilitate various maritime-related transactions including trade name, issuance of license, renewal of license, amendment of license and cancellation of license.
Deutsche Bank
DB Advisors, the fiduciary institutional investment management business of Deutsche Bank’s Asset management division, convened a high-level conference for its institutional investors in Abu Dhabi yesterday. The conference is covering issues relating to the global implications of the US housing crisis, investing in climate change, liquidity management, risk, private equity, and opportunities in Asia’s infrastructure, among other topics.
EBWA
The winners of the 2008 Emirates Businesswomen Awards (EBWA) were determined on Monday following the final meeting by jury members who spent several weeks assessing all entries. The jury panel was impressed by the quality of entries this year, which they say indicates the rising standards of expertise characterizing professional women in the UAE. Attending the final deliberations included Najlaa Al-Awadhi, member of the Federal National Council and general manager of Dubai One; Dr. Mariam Matar, assistant undersecretary, public health and primary health care, ministry of heath and chairperson of the National Diabetes Committee; and Judge Dr. Jamal Alsumaiti, general manager, Institute of advanced Legal and Judicial Studies, Dubai. The winners will be announced during the final ceremony on May 20.
ESL
Emirates Shipping Line (ESL) has recently announced that it has been nominated for the “Best Ship Liner Operator of 2008” Award in the prestigious Seatrade Asia Awards 2008 to be held in Singapore on May 13, 2008. The award recognizes the contributions and commitment of maritime operators in achieving service excellence across the region, and Emirates is proud to be one out of the three top contenders for the award short-listed by the eminent panel of judges. The nomination reflects ESL’s dedication in ensuring superior service quality and will continue to pursue for the best value for customers.
AGG
Arabian Gulf Gate (AGG), an Oman-based property developer, has announced its plans to develop ‘Ryad Al-Sawadi,’ a 44 million Omani riyals project, located in the coastal plains of Barkaa state in Oman, which is expected to attract more regional and global investors to acquire high quality but competitively-priced properties in the country. With aims of highlighting the excellent investment opportunities amidst the rapidly growing economy in the Sultanate, the developer has appointed Eqarat.com, a leading total solutions provider to the real estate sector, to exclusively manage and drive the sales of its Marrakech-inspired community project. The developer also revealed that all the units within the project have been booked during its launch in the early part of 2008.