GCF’S MEDIA PARTNERS
The Global Competitiveness Forum “GCF” has announced recently its media partners for broadcasting the conference across the world to tuned-in viewers. Entitled “Competitiveness as an Engine for Economic Growth,” this year’s forum on Jan. 20-22 in Riyadh. Key regional and international media have confirmed supporting the GCF 2008 to ensure that audiences around the Middle East and further abroad will be able to share the benefits of the event’s proceedings. Appointing a fully dedicated team of professionals, Al-Arabiya News Channel will be providing live and uninterrupted coverage of the event. Since its launch in 2003, Al-Arabiya has become the news source of choice for Arabs seeking credible news and information about the Middle East and the world beyond. Running an extensive global network of correspondents and reporters, Al-Arabiya enjoys a competitive edge in providing on the ground, first hand coverage of major events of relevance to its audience and the world at large. Regular updates on the GCF will be made possible for viewers in the Far East and Asia to tune into through FinanceAsia, Asia’s leading financial publishing company, covering Asia’s fast moving financial and capital markets and providing the finance professional reader with an intelligent, timely and subjective view of the markets. Saudi Research and Marketing Group ‘SRMG’ will dedicate three of its publications to cover the “GCF.” Reporting this year’s forum to Arabic readers will be Asharq Alawsat. A leading Pan-Arab Arabic newspaper, which targets the top segment of Saudis and Arabs in the Kingdom and the Arab world, as well as Arab speakers in non-Arab speaking countries, in addition to Al-Eqtisadiah, the only Saudi and regional Arabic daily newspaper with an exclusive focus on business and economics news and analysis. The newspaper includes translated extracts from major international business publications such as the Financial Times, the Harvard Business Review, and Frankfurter. Also covering the event will be, Arab News — A leading English language daily in the Kingdom. The paper targets English-speaking individuals in the GCC and the Arab world.
UAE E-LEARNING MARKET UP
Eye of Dubai, the premier comprehensive tourism and investment guidebook and online portal for Dubai residents and visitors, has announced that it is leveraging the popularity and reach of its web portal www.eyeofdubai.com to promote ‘e-Learning Excellence in the Middle East 2008’, the four-day forum held in Dubai aimed at bringing together leaders and decision-makers to create an action agenda focused on e-Learning quality throughout the region. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, minister of higher education and scientific research, the forum was organized by the e-TQM College in partnership with Microsoft and Visionaire, at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai from Jan. 15 to 18. “As media partners of this forum we are keen on ensuring maximum publicity for the event, especially since the pace of growth and adoption of e-Learning in the Middle East is a fair reflection of the overall progress and advancement of the region,” said Abdullah Al- Harbi, CEO, Eye of Dubai. “With the modern-day focus on lifelong learning and the demand for continuous professional development, an increasing number of individuals and corporations across the Middle East are turning towards e-Learning, and this forum will serve as a perfect platform for participants to stay abreast of latest developments in the realm of electronic education.” E-Learning is fast gaining momentum in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE where the total spending on e-Learning is expected to achieve a compounded average growth rate of 26 per cent to reach $72.6 million by the end of 2010, according to statistics provided by Madar Research Group. “The steady growth in infrastructure across the region has boosted the overall readiness of GCC countries with regard to adoption of an electronic approach to education,” said Al-Harbi.
HP TAKES PART IN IT WEEK
HP Saudi Arabia announced yesterday its participation in the Riyadh Military Hospital IT Technology Week (RMH) held during January in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. HP showcased the latest solutions and services for the healthcare sector during the show. The key focus was on the launch of HP’s Digital Hospital solutions, which delivers premium tailored IT innovations needed to develop healthcare services at low cost. During the RMH week, the latest IT applications and systems in the healthcare industry were showcased through workshops and training sessions, increasing awareness regarding the latest advances in IT and health systems. Digital Hospital is a strategy for employing and integrating advanced technologies to upgrade the level of medical operations and procedures within the hospital. These technologies include critical media devices, intelligent information systems and instant communication tools, which help create a highly productive, secure and safe environment for patients and healthcare professionals. Speaking about the show, Ammar Al-Dhobaie, marketing manager, technology solution group, HP Saudi Arabia, said, “The RMH IT Technology Week gives HP the opportunity to influence healthcare decision makers in Saudi throughout its “Digital Hospital Infrastructure” solutions and services. HP’s framework of products and services will allow healthcare providers develop their IT structure, thus increasing patient/customer satisfaction. Digital Hospital unites people, processes and technologies into a coherent whole.”
NEW COO OF SABB
Richard Groves has been appointed executive director and chief operating officer of The Saudi British Bank (SABB). He also takes over as chairman of SABB Securities Ltd. Groves has been with the HSBC Group, which includes SABB as an associate member, since April 1981. Immediately before moving to SABB he was chief executive officer of HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd., Sultanate of Oman, from June 2004. Previously, Groves was regional head Northern India for HSBC India after working in Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom in various roles. Speaking about the SAAB, Groves said, “In the intensifying competitive environment in Saudi Arabia, SABB must maintain and expand its reputation as one of the Kingdom’s top financial institutions. I very much look forward to taking up that challenge in my new post.” SABB’s Managing Director John Coverdale said, “Richard has exactly the kind of experience that will help us to further leverage our relationship with HSBC, ensuring that our branch network, communications, systems and support services are operating at the highest level delivered by the Group worldwide. This is essential to enable us to continue to offer to our customers a full range of products and services that meet their increasingly sophisticated needs. “We welcome Richard’s arrival as a key member of SABB’s top management team.”
