Gulf DTH, which owns and operates the Showtime pay-TV platform in the Middle East, is relocating its headquarters and broadcast center operations from London and Cairo to Dubai. The move will consolidate the network’s broadcast operations which are currently split between a facility at the MTVNiacom studios in London, and an uplink center in Cairo. Sony Professional Services has been selected as the system integrator for the network operations center, with Digital Video Broadcast systems from Harmonic, Omneon providing central server and ingest operations hardware and Pebble Beach Systems supplying playout automation equipment. Showtime broadcasts 50 channels of predominantly Western entertainment to the Middle East and North Africa from the NileSat position. The network also has customer contact centers located in Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. Located in the rapidly expanding Dubai Media City campus, the Showtime headquarters and transmission center is expected to be operational by June this year.
BMW Group Middle East
BMW Group Middle East sales teams have completed the “BMW Group Certified Sales Consultant” program, an initiative aimed at continuously enhancing the carmaker’s staff knowledge and skills. The first graduates were honored at an event held recently in Dubai. Among those who received certificates were staff from Mohammed Y. Naghi Motors, the exclusive BMW importer for Saudi Arabia. “All importers’ sales forces are required to undergo training courses in product and selling skills as part of our commitment to deliver the highest standards of customer service. We are proud to be the first region to launch this innovative project,” said Robert Bailey-McEwan, managing director, BMW Group Middle East. Managed under the BMW Training Academy, the program requires new sales staff to take an induction-training course followed by a series of other courses.
Mikyajy
Mikyajy, the fastest-growing mid-range cosmetic retail concept in the Middle East, has launched its first innovative Capsule Concept store in Taif International Mall. This innovative store, designed by UK retail designer Hugo, has been specially created to provide convenience and flexibility to both customers and mall owners across the region. This compact store covers an area of just 50 sq. m., and offers Mall owners the ideal retail solution in already fully occupied malls. Speaking about this new store concept, Chief Executive Officer of KOJ Establishment, Kamal Osman Jamjoom, said: “This groundbreaking concept not only allows Mikyajy to have a presence in already populated area, but also adds value to mall retailers by creating new revenue generating channels with the already existing space. Such is the initial success of this unique store concept, that we have decided to roll out this store concept in other malls across the region very soon.”
Naizak
Naizak Global Engineering Systems, an affiliate of the Dammam-based Al-Abdulkarim Group and Integrated Production Control Systems (IPCOS) have joined together to deploy Advanced Process Control (APC) Technology in the Middle East. According to Ahmad Jadwad, business development consultant at Naizak, the two companies have signed an exclusive partnership agreement. He said the partnership will offer control and optimization solutions for the petrochemical, power and glass manufacturing industries in the GCC and Iraq. He said IPCOS brings APC technology and domain expert engineers to the partnership and Naizak brings in field expertise and integration and project skills. He said the two companies together will offer technology, implementation and maintenance services to the Middle East market. The companies offer solutions from the basic instrumentation and automation level to the collaborative production management and enterprise resource planning.
Eastern Networks
Eastern Networks, an IT banking solutions provider and SWIFT business and service partner for Pakistan, has announced plans to build a presence in the Pakistani banking sector. Hazem Mulhim, CEO, Eastern Networks said the company joined up with Synergy Computers Ltd. (SCL), a leading information technology solutions provider in Pakistan, to meet local demand for reliable and cost-effective solutions, based on international banking standards through the establishment of Eastern Networks Pakistan. Eastern Networks has a well-established network of offices across the MENA region, with headquarters at Dubai Internet City (DIC), UAE.
Nissan
Sneak previews of the new Nissan Altima at motor shows in Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia generated “huge interest”, the manufacturer claims. Since its introduction in the North American market, the car has had an immediate impact on Nissan’s sales and image and brought customers into Nissan showrooms across the United States. The Altima won North American Car of the Year award. “The North American Car of the Year award is one of the most prestigious accolades in the automotive industry — it’s a tremendous honor for Altima,” said Takeshi Nakajima, regional director, Nissan Middle East FZE.
