TOYOTA

Given a challenging opportunity to show their creative talents, thousands of boys and girls in the Kingdom got out their crayons and paints to draw their idea of the car of the future for the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest. Saudi Arabia, where it is held for the first time, is one of the 64 countries and regions around the world participating in the fifth edition of the competition. There were three age categories in the contest with five prizes in each. Inder-10 winners: Ahmed Khalid Ahmed Saklooa, Mohamed Hawi Afandu Hakami, Roo'a Ashraf Mohamed Al-Halawani, Abdulaziz Fawaz Muhsen Al Ghosin, Alyah Salah Zuher Al Humaidi; 10-12 age goup: Mohamed Omar Ba Habri; Osama Maan Abdulsamad Al Mubarak, Reda Habib Ayesh Al Breman, Leen Kamal Abdulrahman Al Mutlaq, Abdullah Maher Hamed Idrees. 13-15 age group: Batool Jawad Mousa BoKhamseen, Maymonah Abdulrahman Mohamed Moner Hajar, Nawaf Omar Mohamed BaWajeeh Al Amodi, Mashael Haroon Kareem, Mustafa Mohamed Tawfeeq Noor Al Deen Al Hadad. Delighted at his son winning first place in the youngest age group, the father of Ahmed Khalid Ahmed Saklooa said: "Ahmed was so enthusiastic and excited about drawing his dream car of the future and now all the family is thrilled that he has won first prize. It really is a marvelous idea of Toyota and ALJ to give young people this wonderful opportunity to use their imagination and express their creativity." Faisal Mirza, GM, Toyota Marketing Communications, said more than 2,000 entries were received.
 
ALSHAYA/H&M

Alshaya International Trading Co. and H&M, an international fashion brand, have teamed up in Saudi Arabia to establish a seven-week retail-training scheme for Saudi women. The scheme, which started in April, is running in partnership with the Future Institute of Higher Training for Ladies and aims to provide women who want to work in retail with the chance to learn about the sector and develop skills that will support them in future retail career opportunities. Alshaya owns and operates the H&M brand franchise in Saudi Arabia. With sustained growth predicted for the retail sector in the Kingdom, demand for skilled employees is set to rise and there is a shortage of local candidates. H&M's new training scheme will help to bridge that gap and is focused specifically on women. The new course will support the sector by providing an introduction to Saudi females who wish to start working in a fashion retail store, but who have little or no experience or knowledge of the sector. Through a mix of practical and theoretical training, it aims to equip students with all the skills and experience they need to succeed in the fashion retail sector. Students will study the principles of fashion retailing including product knowledge, customer services, selling skills store operations and visual merchandising. In addition, they will be trained in general skills. The students will also undertake periods of in-store work placement. Students who can successfully fulfill the necessary requirements will be supported in placement.
 
JOTUN PAINTS

Jotun Paints, a world producer and supplier of paints and coatings, is moving toward strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia with the opening of the company's new offices at Bilda Mall, Riyadh. Norwegian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carl Schiotz Wibye opened the new facilities. The new offices will act as the company's sales, marketing and administrative office and also house the protective marine and powder functions. The opening reflects Jotun's continuing business growth in the Kingdom and also complements the company's initiatives that are aimed at providing better customer service. Jotun Saudia maintains a strong presence in the Kingdom with a total of over two environmental friendly factories in key locations like Yanbu and Jeddah. The company's new offices are located within accessible distance to the warehouse and CSD, and maintain a fully computerized set-up, which is equipped with the latest communication software that allows them 24/7 seamless connection to the Jotun global network. Jotun's warehousing and customer service department (CSD) facilities will still be based in its old facility in Solay, Riyadh. "The opening of our new Jotun offices in Saudi Arabia shows the continued business growth that we are enjoying in the country and also marks our commitment to better serve our growing customer base," said Kjell Gundersen, MD, Jotun Saudia Co. Ltd. "We affirm our support in the government's continuing efforts to attract investments into the Kingdom."
 
CMH

Capital Management House (CMH), the Bahrain based investment bank, has made the first distribution of dividends to investors of its aircraft leasing investment fund, which was established in partnership with Novus Aviation and Muzun Partner Ltd. Early investors in the fund have received the first payment calculated at 10 percent per annum for the period ended March 31, 2011. Subsequent distributions will be made on a quarterly basis. Investors in the fund include a number of high net worth individuals, family offices and institutions from across the GCC region.

The fund has been structured around a transaction with Emirates Airlines, one of the world's leading airlines, consisting of the acquisition of a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft from the airline and an agreement whereby it will be leased back to Emirates for a six-year period. The fund is now being offered to additional investors across the region, providing them with a unique opportunity to benefit from positive trends in the global aviation industry, which has shown consistent long-term growth despite the various challenges in the financial markets. Khalid M. Najibi, MD, CMH, said: "The fund and our existing investment in the Boeing 777-200ER airliner acquired and leased back to Emirates has affirmed our strategy that acquiring income yielding assets not only provides the bank and our investors with strong potential for capital appreciation over time but, importantly, ensures a recurring and sustained stream of income."
 
SCHLUMBERGER/KAU

Global oilfield services provider Schlumberger has donated the state-of-the-art "Petrel seismic to simulation collaboration technology" valued at SR21 million to the faculty of engineering at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), in a commitment to bring on-ground experience and support skills development of future oil and gas professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The technology, originally created to help increase reservoir performance by improving asset team productivity, will enable engineering students gain experience in developing collaborative workflows and integrate operations to streamline processes in upstream oil and gas operations. Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain Manager Abdel Wahab Chebata said: "Education is the foundation for building generations of professionals who will have a role in sustaining natural resources and bringing energy to people. However, we believe that sustainable development can be best accomplished with the partnership between theoretical education and professional training, or in other words, between education and the industry. We look forward to working closely with the universities and students here to help them acquire experience and develop their capabilities for the benefit of the industry in the Kingdom." Faculty of Earth Dean at King Abdulaziz University Amar Ameen said: "This marks another milestone in the relationship between our University and Schlumberger."
 
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

Now open, the new Elements restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh brings a new dining experience to the Kingdom's capital with a multi-buffet concept that offers global cuisines from China, Japan, India and the Middle East, prepared to order from fresh ingredients by specialty chefs in gleaming display kitchens. The interactive dining experience that allows diners to see their orders being prepared "cannot be found at any other venue in Riyadh." The highlight of Elements at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh is the Open Kitchen laid out in four sections: Italian — where the chef and his team prepare a wide selection of fresh, homemade pasta including tortellini, fettuccine, farfalle and penne with a variety of sauces; Asian — preparing miso soups, wok-fried noodles, dim-sum, and buns for lunch and dinner buffets; Middle Eastern — where regional favorites from all over the Middle East are prepared in open view; and the Carvery offering ouzi, beef tenderloin, grilled salmon and more. Different menus have been crafted for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while an a la carte menu is also available throughout the day. In addition, Elements offers weekly themed nights: Asian Night on Saturday; Seafood Night on Monday; and Middle-Eastern Silk Road on Wednesday. A Brunch menu is the specialty on Friday. Supplementing the Open Kitchen are the Middle Eastern Corner, offering kebbeh, falafel, shawarma and a variety of hot mezzah, and the Indian Corner where two genuine tandoors, the first in Riyadh, provide the authentic flavours of India.