Samba Financial Group, in collaboration with Panda, has launched the Samba-Panda Islamic credit card, the first co-branded credit card in the retail grocery field. The card provides Samba and Panda clients with a variety of exclusive benefits when they purchase from any Panda or Hyper Panda markets anywhere in the Kingdom or use the card anywhere in the world. Launching the Samba-Panda Islamic credit card highlights the pioneering role of Samba Financial Group in providing Shariah-compliant services to its clients. The card provides its users with points for each purchase transaction; furthermore, the value of points reaches two percent of the total purchase value of the transaction if it takes place in Panda or Hyper Panda stores, which can be found extensively throughout the Kingdom. If the card is used in any other outlet, the value of points will be one percent of the purchase value of the invoices. The client may redeem points for purchase vouchers, which can be used in Panda markets or Hyper Panda. In addition, the card provides free shopping vouchers redeemable at Panda and Hyper Panda to the customer each year. This is yet another pioneering advantage of the card. The Samba-Panda Islamic credit card is an example of one more of the innovative credit card benefits, which Samba has launched in order to promote the numerous benefits assigned to the users of Shariah-compliant credit cards. The group has already launched a wide suite of Shariah-complaint Cards: Samba Al-Fursan credit card, in collaboration with Saudi Arabian Airlines, Samba Mobily card, in cooperation with Mobily, Samba Ladies Card, Samba Business Card for small businesses, and a generic Samba Al-Khair Islamic card, as well as other products.
 

Southern Air Holdings Inc, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US, announced the addition of Saudi airlines Cargo Company to its list of blue chip global clients. Southern Air and Saudi Cargo Company have signed a definitive agreement under which Southern Air will operate one Boeing 747 freighter on behalf of Saudi cargo on an ACMI basis (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance). The aircraft will begin to be operated for SACC in July 2011 and will be painted in its livery. Fahad Hammad, chief executive officer of Saudi cargo, said,:“We welcome Southern Air to our roster of ACMI providers. Southern Air’s offers the widest selection of wide body freighters with their 747-200s and B777LRF program and the introduction of the 747-400’s will be an important attraction for us. We look forward to working with the Southern team.” Southern Air’s chief executive officer, Daniel J. McHugh, commented: “We are proud to add Saudi Airlines Cargo company to our client roster. Leading carriers continue to recognize the value that our outstanding operating platform and decades of global experience can bring to their own businesses. We look forward to establishing a long-term relationship with Saudi cargo and are committed to exceeding their expectations by delivering excellent results and service.” With a network of more than 225 domestic and international stations and sub-stations, Saudi Airlines Cargo now has a strong presence in most world markets with improved airfreight services being rendered with its fleet of 12 cargo aircraft fleet and cargo space available on board 125 passenger aircraft of Saudi Arabian Airlines.
 

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has retained its unrivaled leadership in 3D TV both in North America and Europe where TV makers compete fiercely. According to a market research firm, Gfk, Samsung kept its overwhelming No.1 position in LCD TV, capturing 31.9 percent market share in May alone, and 30.8 percent cumulative market share from January to May as well. In particular, Samsung took the largest market share in LCD TVs 40-inches and larger as well as premium TVs such as full HD LCD TVs-widening its market share gap with a distant second by more than 20 percentage points. In LCD TVs 40-inches and larger, Samsung took 39.4 percent value market share, in May alone, and 37.3 percent cumulative share for the past five months. In full HD LCD TVs 40-inches and larger, the company captured 39.5 percent in May and 37.3 percent from January to May respectively. Samsung has also demonstrated its unrivaled strong leadership in 3D TV in Europe with 50.5 percent in value in May and 45.4 percent from January to May. Samsung’s 3D TV market share in North America recorded a staggering 58.4 percent in May as well, positioning itself as the most loved 3D TV brand both in North America and in Europe.
 

Launched in May 2011, the Siemens Student Award has recorded an outstanding number of registrations and submissions, comments and votes from students across the Middle East. This regional contest is seeking the best answers to the world’s toughest questions related to four megatrends: Demographic change, climate change, urbanization, and globalization. Siemens is calling for final entries to this competition, which will close its online submission page on Aug. 15. Winners of the award will take home a total of $45,000 and be presented with internship opportunities at Siemens in the Middle East. With its Student Award, Siemens encourages bachelor and master students enrolled at accredited universities in the Middle East and Pakistan to submit essays of up to 500 words that deal with one central question "How to build sustainable cities in the desert?" In addition to their essays, students are also encouraged to submit creative visuals that illustrate their ideas. Registrants for the competition include students from universities across the Middle East and Pakistan. Students from more than 219 universities have so far registered on the award’s website and engaged online, submitting their ideas and rating others. “Male students are currently leading the way with 72 percent overall participation. We certainly like to encourage female students to take up the challenge too, thinking of effective and efficient ways to building a sustainable city in the desert,” said Arja Talakar, CEO Siemens, Saudi Arabia. In line with its belief in team play Siemens is not only inviting entries from individuals but also from groups of up to three students. Siemens will invite the ten finalists to present their ideas at the awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar at the beginning of November, where the winner will be announced. Submissions must be made online via the website: Siemens.com/studentaward, where applicants can learn more about the award.
 

Al-Sorayai Trading and Industrial Group PJSC, a leading Tadawul-listed producer of carpets and rugs in the Middle East, has recently announced the launch of its summer internship and fellowship program for 2011 targeting public education, technical college and university students. This program comprises courses that address the needs of students from all educational backgrounds and levels; secondary grade students, and technical college and university students, who are to take part in the program from the group’s headquarters, factories and all the group’s branches across the Kingdom. “The company has worked closely with a wide variety of private institutes for training well over 47 secondary education and university students in addition to affiliates of the Collage of the Deaf during summer vacation. We have also coordinated with the Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh labor offices in naming a number of students for participation in the summer internship program and receiving courses that aim at developing their basic skills in the industrial and administrative sectors; each participant will be granted a monetary award at the conclusion of the course taken,” said Managing Director Saleh Nasser Al-Sorayai. “Our group has always been keen on developing human resources, as we believe in investing in the real national treasure; our youth, who are the pillar that bears the burden of social development. The group takes on a host of students willing to participate in the annual summer internship program for their own benefit and practical development,” added Al-Sorayai.
 

Chevrolet will officially start its 100-day countdown to its 100th anniversary on Wednesday. The Chevrolet Centennial will be celebrated on November 3 when it will commemorate the many milestones and achievements that Chevrolet has accomplished across the Middle East. Chevrolet has become part of the fabric of life in the Middle East and has influenced the region’s automotive history ever since the first Chevrolet vehicles were introduced in the early 20th Century. “Chevrolet’s success was built on the cornerstones of value, reliability, performance and expressive design. For millions of Chevrolet customers in the Middle East and around the world, it continues to represent these same qualities today,” says John Stadwick, president and managing director of General Motors Middle East Operations. “Chevrolet features in Arabic songs, poetry and film as much as it does in the US. That’s because Chevrolet has shaped the region’s automotive landscape, revolutionized the way that people travel and affected their lives in many positive ways,” says Stadwick. “Chevrolet has had as much influence in the Middle East as it has had on the States with vehicles such as the Suburban and the Caprice engrained in the hearts and minds of Arab drivers.” To ensure it could meet the sales and service needs of all Chevrolet customers in the region, GM opened a new regional headquarters in Dubai in 1991 — General Motors Middle East Operations. From here, it supports the growing number of Chevrolet showrooms and service workshops across the region. The opening of GM’s Middle East Parts Distribution Center in 2003 ensures that all Chevrolet customers receive vehicle parts in a timely fashion. Today, the Middle East is one of Chevrolet’s fastest growing markets as it attracts a new generation of customers. Vehicles such as the Tahoe, Malibu, Cruze, Aveo and the all-new Camaro have become popular models throughout the region. In 2010, more than 83,000 Chevrolet vehicles were sold in the Middle East — an increase of 9.2 percent compared to 2009.
 

Riyadh-based Elekta Gulf launched a line-up of gaming consoles under the brand name of "Funhom" in Riyadh on Monday. “The main rationale behind launching the gaming line is to target the young generation,” Niyas Mohammed, country head of Elekta, said following the launch. The product line currently consists of a family game box with motion sensor technology, dancing mat and an extra remote control, providing multi-player gaming experience. Eason, sales manager of Games Business Unit at Guangzhou Shirui Electronics Company described the product as an activity game where war and violence are not included. “It is a set of fun games where grandparents, parents and children can compete and laugh together within the four walls of the house,” Eason said, adding that there are certain games that could be played as if one is playing physically at a table tennis table or on the grounds. Having its production base in China, Guangzhou Shirui Electronics Company, manufacturers of Funhom games are known for their extensive investments on research and development for offering customized products with cutting edge technology in the consumer electronics industry. Elekta Gulf has six service centers and five outlets in major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Makkah and Madinah.