JEDDAH, 24 April 2005 — Saudi Arabia’s second LG Academy will open in Jeddah next month. “The academy is essentially a training center being established with the cooperation and support of our partner H.G. Ibrahim Shaker Company,” LG Electronics’ Middle East & Africa Operations President Ki Ho Kim, said yesterday.
“This institution, after the Kingdom’s first academy which is functioning in Riyadh for a year, will facilitate transfer of air-conditioning expertise to our partners, dealers and their technicians and sales staff,” he told a press conference at Jeddah InterContinental, during the launch of the Korean giant’s “world’s first’ multi-power system technology that combines multiple compressors in a single air-conditioning system.
The new technology reduces the energy consumption by a maximum 70 percent compared to conventional units, he said, adding that the company has upgraded its wide panel-type “Artcool” that displays prints of local art and design.” It will be a perfect piece with a blend of art and cool in your place,” Kim said.
The academy is intended to train young Saudis for various jobs and skills, he said in the presence of H.G. Ibrahim Shaker Company CEO Hassan Shaker, LG General Manager for Saudi Arabia C.K. Cho, and Sol Bou-Nacklie, vice president marketing and sales at H.G. Ibrahim Shaker Company.
The Korean company’s third academy is proposed to be set up in Alkhobar, he said, adding that the company’s academies exist in all GCC states. Such academies also exist in many other countries including Turkey, Egypt, North Africa, Spain, Italy, France, Mexico and China, aside from Korea.
The new academy, being located at Suhaili Center on Andalus Road, will offer a variety of courses for participants at beginners, intermediate, advanced and specialized levels.
Hassan Shaker said 500 trainees have taken advantage of the Riyadh academy, located at the Shaker-LG showroom on King Fahd Street in Olaya district, during its yearlong operation. “We’ve 30 to 40 courses, each of them ranging from three days to a week, which will be offered depending on the needs of participants,” Bou-Nacklie said.
The new Jeddah center will offer courses to 600 trainees a year. Participants will include local dealers, technicians, and Saudi students.
LG’s new product lineup for 2005 is aimed to be more comprehensive to suit the local climatic conditions and equipped with more advanced and sophisticated features. “When we talk of more advanced technology, we talk about the enhanced 11-stage neo plasma technology, which ensures the best sterilization and decomposition that helps you lead healthier and cleaner life.
We talk about Xbtro technology, which enables LG window-type air conditioner to operate efficiency in any tropical condition,” M.G. Rhee, chief engineer for air conditioners at LG’s Jeddah office, said.
LG claims to be in first position globally since 2000 in terms of air conditioner sales. It sold a total of 4.1 million units in 2000, which increased to 10 million in 2004. For the fifth consecutive year, LG Air Conditioner Division has been recognized No. 1 in the world by Fuji-Keizai, Japan’s marketing research company. The local market for LG air conditioners has expanded by 20 percent over a year in spite of tough competition, the executives said.
