JOTUN PAINTS
Jotun Paints, one of the world’s major producers and suppliers of paints and coatings, is offering protection for property and infrastructure in the Middle East for as long as 20 years through its wide range of high quality products. Having invested in intensive research and development as well as in the latest manufacturing technologies, the company has emerged as a leader in delivering protective and decorative paints and coatings for concrete that can withstand the harsh weather conditions prevalent in the Middle East. “Amid the negative implications of the economic crisis to the construction sector, we can still see a significant number of infrastructure projects being funded in the region — from bridges, transport infrastructure, reservoirs to waste treatment plants and desalination plants, as well as the construction of high profile commercial and residential developments. This poses an excellent opportunity for us to help governments, developers and homeowners extend the lifespan of property and infrastructure, and in effect fuel the growth of the construction and property sector in the region,” said Eirik Kristensen, regional marketing manager — MENA, Jotun Paints.
EURO RSCG
The advertising industry is affected by the global financial crisis, according to a team of industry veterans. “The advertising industry’s results in the first quarter of 2009 show that there is a five to 10 percent downturn in business compared to the same period last year,” Chris Pennington, global chief operating officer of London-based Euro RSCG Worldwide, said in Jeddah. Pinnington, who was accompanied by Pierre Soued, CEO of the Dubai-based regional office Euro RSCG Middle East and MPG ME, said during a visit to the local Euro RSCG office: “It is like being caught in a fog and waiting to see when the fog is going to clear. We are, however, hopeful and optimistic about the industry starting to make recovery later this year. That is the time when the credit crunch the world over is expected to start improving.” Saudi Arabia is the largest advertising market in the region, accounting for 40 percent of all advertising expenditures in the Gulf alone. The Saudis, with their relatively high per-capita income and market-oriented economy, have become the prime target of producers of consumer goods and thus the prime target of the best international advertising firms.
SG/GMS
A new joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Shoaibi Group (SG) and the UAE’s Gulf Marine Services (GMS) has been created to provide offshore barge operation services. The new company, named “Gulf Marine Services Saudi Arabia Ltd.” (GMSSA), will be based in Alkhobar and allow the JV partners to expand their off-shore operations of barge charters and avail from the scale of opportunity and future potential for all offshore areas arising in the region. Gulf Marine Services is currently the largest Elevating Support Vessel operator in the Middle East, supplying an unrivalled modern fleet of self propelled barges to the oil and gas market. Shoaibi Group claims to have unmatched expertise in the oil and gas market in the Kingdom. The new JV will, therefore, capitalize on this expertise, and on the substantial offshore capital expenditure forecast for the region.
ATP
Arab Telemedia Productions (ATP) recently reaped three awards at the fourteenth Arab Radio and Television Festival, which was lately held at Tunisia’s coastal resort of Hammamet. At the prestigious event, ATP’s “Sultana” received third-place award in the social television series category, while “Abu Ja’afar Al Mansour” received first-place award in the historical series category, and its Tunisian director, Shawqi Al Majeri, received the award for best director. Amid the award-harvesting season, the General Manager of ATP, Mr. Fadi Shweihat, said, “We are honored and pleased to have participated in the fourteenth Arab Radio and Television Festival, and we are elated to have received these outstanding awards. Such an accomplishment demonstrates the trail-blazing quality of our productions and their appeal to Arab viewers, from all walks of life and wherever they may be, in terms of unique content and state of the art production, reaffirming our tireless efforts to deliver exceptional works.”
SAUDI E-COMMERCE
An economic report released by the Arab Advisors Group, a specialized research, analysis and consulting company focusing on communications, media, technology and financial markets throughout the MENA region, revealed a 9.3 percent current growth in the Kingdom’s IT sector. The report ranked the Kingdom first among Arab countries in terms of e-Commerce growth, as the value of e-Commerce transactions in Saudi has peaked at SR12 billion. It further showed that 3.5 million Internet users or 14.26 percent of the Saudi population were engaged in e-Commerce transactions. The results affirmed the country’s emergence as an ideal market for regional e-Commerce activities. The report attributed the boom in e-Commerce use to a substantial growth in the number of Internet users, many of whom have become familiar and confident with using credit card for online transactions.
AUD
After recently launching two new MBA concentrations (Management of Construction Enterprises and Health Care Management), the American University in Dubai (AUD) has announced the newest additions to its academic programs: a Bachelor’s of Architecture and a Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies. Building on the success of its BFA in Interior Design, AUD launches its Bachelor’s of Architecture, a five-year program designed to meet the standards of the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) in the United States. As of September 2009, the 166 credit programs will introduce students to the technological, artistic, socio-cultural, legal and financial dimensions of architecture, while promoting professional ethical values, cultural diversity and environmental awareness. AUD’s Bachelor’s of Architecture is endorsed by an advisory council that includes honorary members such as Malaysian architect, ecologist and author Kenneth Yeang, Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, architect Hazel Wong and master planner Larry Zeibarth, who have all announced being delighted to participate in the advisory council and highly supportive of the program. AUD has also created a Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies, effective Fall 2009.
PANASONIC
Panasonic launched on Monday its new Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards with class 10 speed specifications, an “ideal storage devise for Panasonic’s award winning range of high definition cameras.” The new gold series of SDHC cards offer more than 12 hours of continuous high definition recording. These cards are more durable and shock resistant since there are no moving parts and are capable of functioning in temperatures ranging from -25˚C to +85˚C. “Our new line of SDHC cards is a perfect partner for our award winning cameras. We strongly believe that SD and SD High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards are the key. By using these postage stamp-sized memory cards as recording media, Panasonic is able to achieve small sized but powerful camcorders which give users complete flexibility to consumers to take their camcorder with them where ever they go,” said Hitesh Ojha, product manager, Panasonic Marketing, Middle East. These cards have been manufactured exclusively in Japan, and the GOLD line series will be the world’s first memory cards to adopt new class 10 speed.