MAN
Nearly two years after first breaking ground, Anton Weinman, chairman of the executive board of MAN Trucks, visited Jeddah to inaugurate the Middle East’s first MAN truck assembly plant owned and operated by MAN’s distributor in Saudi Arabia, Haji Husein Alireza and Co. Ltd. (HHA) recently. MAN, which is one of Germany’s most important industrial companies, recently celebrated its 250th anniversary in its home city of Munich. The assembly facility in Jeddah is the latest in MAN’s production expansion around the world and is already regarded by the company as a model for future expansion in other world markets. “MAN has introduced modern supply chain concepts and efficient solutions for logistics and production making this plant an exemplary model of best practices in truck assembly and producing the highest quality trucks that can operate under harshest working conditions for its customers,” Weinman said.
AFPSA
Alhamrani-Fuchs Petroleum Saudi Arabia (AFPSA) held a two-day seminar in Yanbu recently. Lubrizol TransArabia Co. Ltd. arranged the first part of the seminar, with resource speaker from the Lubrizol-UK. The seminar tackled the latest trend in the lubricating industries. The second part of the seminar was staged on the second day and was arranged by AFPSA with speakers from Fuchs Petrolube-Manheim. Wolfgang Bock and Garb Markus presented various technical aspects of the automotive and industrial lubricants. Some 40 delegates attended the event including Alf Untersteller, EVP for Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia, India and Subcontinent, and Africa. Mezahem Basrawi, president-AFPSA and FOMEL, Zafar Talpur, VP, sales and marketing AFPSA, and Mohammed Hanif Sattar, GM, operations, AFPSA and FOMEL. Mezahem Basrawi and Alf Untersteller emphasized the commitment of the Fuchs Team for the development of lubricants in a highly competitive environment. They advised the participants to take advantage of the technical knowledge derived from such seminars to cater for the future needs of Fuchs customers in a professional way.
CHEVROLET
The all-new Chevrolet Spark, making its world premiere at the Geneva auto show in March, is a small car designed to make a big statement. “It is big on style, big on fuel economy and, like all products carrying the gold bowtie, big on refinement and value,” the company stated. Its design breaks the mold for mini-cars and takes Chevrolet’s signature styling elements to this vehicle segment in a youthful, fun and fashion-conscious way. Spark was inspired by the Chevrolet Beat concept, the “most popular of a trio of mini-car concepts” that has toured international auto shows in 2007. A clear majority among 1.9 million Internet voters said it was the car they wanted produced. The crisp lines of the five-door hatchback provide a wedge-like profile. The design of Spark’s spacious cabin clearly matches its fun and fashion exterior look and functionality. Sales will start in Europe featuring 1.0 and 1.2-liter 16-valve four-cylinder double overhead camshaft gasoline engines, delivering excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions.
AL-RAJHI BANK
Al-Rajhi Bank has announced the upgrade of its “Al-Tawafuq” card specially launched for students and “Al-Baraka” card specifically created for charity organizations in the Kingdom. This upgrade resulted in adding new services for both cards. Ibrahim Al-Malik, PR and communications director at Al-Rajhi Bank said the new services added to both Al-Tawafuq and Al-Baraka cards allowed payment of bills through SADAD system as well as the ability to make transfers using the card to any Al-Rajhi Bank account. “These new services will complement the already existing features for both cards which include balance inquiry, cash withdrawal, short statement of account, as well changing the pin number,” he added. “This upgrade is a clear reflection of the bank’s interest in serving the various segments of the community. Al-Rajhi Bank is considered the pioneer in launching ATMs for various segments of the society such as students or others such as charity organizations. This step aims to provide the easiest and most effective means in dispensing students’ bonuses and donations to charity organizations,” Al-Malik added.
AL-RABIE
Dallah Albaraka Group, a diversified international conglomerate that has been consistently named among the top five Saudi companies for the past 10 years, has commended Al-Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd., a major producer of dairy products and juices in the Kingdom and one of the largest juice manufacturers in the Middle East, for its use of state-of-the-art technology and equipment as well as its adherence to international industry standards. Al-Rabie’s Chairman Mohieddine Kamel and General Manager Monther Al-Harthi escorted the delegates from Dallah Albaraka who toured Al-Rabie’s factory, in addition to the company’s various departments. The visitors were impressed by Al-Rabie’s efficient implementation of its plans and strategies, as well as its total commitment to the corporate motto of “Al-Rabie: Health for All.” Dallah Albaraka also took the opportunity to discuss vital industry trends and possible partnerships.
NCB
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) recently received the international certificate for data security of electronic payment cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) as the first Saudi bank to apply all the criteria required by the international authority for electronic payment cards industry. This is in keeping with the directives of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency and the bank’s strategy to protect the customer’s electronic accounts and information. Adel Al-Howar, the bank’s senior EVP and head of consumer finance services group, said: “The bank’s attainment of this certificate achieves the standards of international security and is also part of the bank’s pursuit to adopt the highest international standards to protect clients money and information from scams and frauds that have spread in recent times.” The presenter of the certificate is the international security standards authority for the electronic payment card industry. It is the most important global organization responsible for laying the foundations and data security standards and the maintenance of accounts and customer information.