Economist Conferences is hosting an Iraq Business and Investment Summit in Bahrain on Sept. 29. The summit will discuss the broader Iraqi economy and will touch on a variety of sectors ranging from politics to energy and infrastructure to investment in the country. David Butter, regional director, MENA, Economist Intelligence Unit, will chair the meeting. Speakers and panelists include Ali Al-Saffar, Iraq Editor, Economist Intelligence Unit; Xan Smiley, MENA editor, The Economist; Ali Dabbagh, official spokesman of the government of Iraq; Fawzi Al-Hariri, minister of industry and minerals of Iraq; Ali Sindi, minister of planning, Kurdistan regional government; Farhad Alaaldin, senior adviser to the prime minister of the Kurdistan regional government, and Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, executive chairperson, Iraq Britain, aside from some CEOs of prominent corporate entities. There will be a networking lunch featuring welcoming remarks from Hussein Al Uzri, chairman, Trade Bank of Iraq. Topics for discussion include Economist Intelligence Unit’s research presentation. This is the first-time presentation of the key findings of an EIU white paper on international investor perceptions of Iraq. Panel discussions will be on “Iraq from an international business perspective,” “Why invest in Iraq?” and the challenges and advice for investors in Iraq, with focus on from reconstruction to recovery, Kurdistan and Iraq’s political future: The Economist’s view.
 

The BMW Group has been named as the automotive industry’s Supersector leader for the sixth consecutive year, and is therefore the “world’s most sustainable automobile manufacturer.” This was the conclusion of the SAM Group, published in its latest evaluation for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). “The BMW Group is the only company in the automotive industry to have been listed in this important group of sustainability indexes every year since it was established in 1999 and named Supersector leader for each of the past six years. This year, the BMW Group is also the only German company to be ranked among the 19 Supersector leaders worldwide,” said Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG. “We are delighted to be recognized by the renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. This independent ranking confirms once again that the BMW Group plays a leading role in the automotive industry of the future. For us, being the world’s most sustainable automobile company means accepting responsibility as a good corporate citizen. It motivates us to continue along this path towards our vision of sustainable individual mobility,” he added. The fact that sustainability is an integral part of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy was rated particularly highly by SAM Group analysts. The board of management of the BMW Group declared sustainability one of the company’s core strategic principles back in 2000.
 

Demand for high caliber professionals within the real estate sector across the Middle East is set to increase in 2010, according to Macdonald & Company, a leading specialist property recruitment consultancy, as developers focus on delivery and owners and investors concentrate on maximizing real estate asset value. In order to provide employers and workers with the latest information on salary and other employment trends, the company is set to launch the fourth ‘Middle East Salary Survey 2010’ at ‘Cityscape Dubai 2010’, which runs from Oct. 4 to 7 in Dubai. This year’s study will focus on the changes in salaries and benefits over the past 12 months, how demand for talent is steadily increasing, and how the workforce is being redistributed across the region. “The general sentiment within the real estate sector is gradually improving and property developers are now focusing on delivery and offering more realistic affordable and middle income housing products,” said Ben Waddilove, director, Macdonald & Company Property Middle East. “We are also noticing increasing demand for high caliber individuals from our blue chip clients especially to augment existing teams, and those who have an excellent financial acumen, cost saving and asset management capabilities are much sought after. Overall we would expect salaries to even out this year and the region to remains attractive from a career and family/lifestyle perspective together with tax advantages and political stability.”
 

Royal Jet has launched 100 Club, a new corporate relationship program being introduced by the region’s premier international luxury flight services, which has been operating in Saudi Arabia for more than one year in association with ARABASCO. Corporates looking to invest in their most precious asset — time — can now enjoy discounts when traveling by private jet thanks to 100 Club, which rewards frequent private jet travel with increased discounts of up to nine percent, plus other benefits. “If you factor in other airline cost implications for any regional business trip involving several senior executives, a private jet will almost always be more cost effective than conventional travel when taking into account the value of wasted executive time,” said the Kingdom’s Royal Jet Sales Director Monther Alhumyanee. “Additionally, with Royal Jet’s ‘100 Club’ membership, this cost-effectiveness and efficiency has taken a step further with its corresponding discounts and privileges,” Alhumyanee added. There is no upfront payment or financial commitment required in order to join the ‘100 Club’. “Corporates can therefore enjoy all the benefits of membership without incurring any risk. ‘100 Club’ members will have access to the entire Royal Jet fleet, including Learjet 60, Gulfstream, Embraer Lineage 1000 and Boeing Business Jet aircraft. Also, Royal Jet’s Charter Brokerage guarantees aircraft availability whenever a Royal Jet aircraft is not available,” he said.
 

“With Saudi Arabia’s consumer electronics market demonstrating strong growth and as local customers continue to embrace new innovations in home and personal audio computer systems, we have outlined a strategic plan to further entrench our presence in the Kingdom,” said Amit Malani, president, Harman Middle East. “In addition to the fast-paced development of new technologies, the growing competition among manufacturers and resellers is also transforming the consumer electronics industry, thereby leading to the presence of more advanced and innovative lifestyle products. In line with this, our goal is to let Saudi-based customers enjoy the ultimate consumer and professional sound equipment.” Harman ME addresses the diverse needs of a wide range of customers — from students to music enthusiasts as well as recording industry professionals through its innovative JBL speakers and multiroom systems. Incorporating professional-grade technologies, materials and engineering to achieve an unequalled level of sonic accuracy, high-end JBL home loudspeakers include floor speakers, bookshelf speakers, center channels, subwoofers, in wall/ceiling speakers, outdoor speakers as well as speaker packages. The company also carries personal audio products such as headphones, computer speakers and speaker docks, in addition to world-class car audio equipment including amplifiers, sound enhancers, subwoofers and speakers.
 

Jet Airways’ JetPrivilege, one of India’s largest frequent flyer programs, has entered into a partnership with The Leading Hotels of the World. With this, JetPrivilege members may now earn JPMiles at several leading hotels in key cities. These include the Al Maha Resort & Spa (Dubai), Banyan Tree Bangkok, Capella Singapore, The Pierre — a Taj Hotel (New York), The Ritz London and participating hotels of the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. JetPrivilege members are now able to earn 1,000 JPMiles on qualifying reservations and stays as part of the regular offer. During the festive season between Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, members will earn 2,000 bonus JPMiles as a part of the launch offer thus enabling them to earn 3,000 JPMiles during the offer period. To enjoy the privileges of this partnership, JetPrivilege members must initiate the booking process through the exclusive booking link or call on India toll free reservations number or the local Leading Hotels of The World contact numbers. Sudheer Raghavan, chief commercial officer, Jet Airways, said: “This partnership positions us among the leading airline frequent flyer programs in India with the high value it offers members and the wide range of product choices. This is an effort to create an exceptional experience.” Philip Ho, VP, Asia Pacific The Leading Hotels of the World, said: “Opportunities to engage with like-minded premium brands are of huge value to us.”
 

MTE Studios, a consultancy firm specializing in themed architecture and interactive exhibitions, is set to participate and interact with industry peers, clients at the upcoming ‘Cityscape Global 2010’, which will run from Oct. 4-7 at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC). Confident in the regional property market, MTE Studios is geared to strengthen its project management and consultancy position by leveraging on the presence of potential partners and clients at the event. The firm will showcase its design services in the area of themed architecture at its booth. “Our architectural and artistic ability enables us to translate the vision of our clients into inspiring and tangible architectural concepts and storyboards, followed by design development, detail design, method statements, tender documentation, project management and art direction during construction. This, combined with our extensive expertise and experience in various architectural fields, makes us a strategic partner for iconic projects that intends to set a new bar in the region’s architecture realm,” said Ludo Verheyen, CEO, MTE Studios.” MTE Studios has a portfolio of world renowned clients in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that include the recently completed Museum of Science and Technology in Islam at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. MTE Studio’s portfolio of completed projects includes museums, shopping malls, theme parks and residential developments.