NAKHEEL
Nakheel was a winner at the second Emirates Energy Awards (EEA) held in Dubai this week, picking up the ‘Minor energy project award’ for its pilot energy conservation projects at the Gardens Furnished Apartments, as well as the ‘Energy engineer award’ as a personal gratitude for Mohamed P.A., manager, facility management, for his contribution in developing this achievement for energy conservation. Nakheel, developing a number of iconic communities, picked up the award for ‘The EDGE’. This project, executed by Nakheel Asset Management (NAM,) has seen a series of energy saving measures introduced at two of the Gardens Furnished Apartment blocks. “With the help of ‘Smart-metering’ technology, we looked at all energy consuming devices in the common areas of the Gardens Furnished Apartments, such as lighting, ventilation and lifts and analyzed the best possible design solutions to meet demand as well as ways to reduce consumption,” David McKenna, environmental operations manager, Nakheel Asset Management, said. Kevin Dickinson, GM, infrastructure and facilities management department of Nakheel Asset Management, received the award.
HUMAX
Humax, a global major in satellite television reception industry, has introduced its new Humax portable satellite TV system that viewers can carry with them wherever they go. The system was launched in Saudi Arabia by Samir Photographic Supplies (SPS), the exclusive distributor for Humax products in the Kingdom. “The new Humax Portable Satellite TV System is likely to change how we watch TV in the Kingdom. Imagine, taking your TV with you on a vacation, to a picnic, or simply to your front lawn to enjoy crystal clear, digital quality TV wherever you please,” SPS Marketing Director Omar Hindi said. The SATBox, as the product is called, has a 17-inch LCD monitor and an integrated Humax satellite receiver with a compact and portable flat antenna to receive channels and rechargeable laptop-style batteries, all packed together in an easy to carry, briefcase-like design. The SATBox can also be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, available in all cars for recharging. The whole pack weighs 12 kilos. The subscription to satellite TV works like in a normal receiver and viewers can subscribe to any of their favorite satellite TV services such as Nile Sat. The SATBox comes with a built-in compass, to help position the antenna toward available satellites in the area, for easy installation, tuning and connection.
SAMSUNG/YAHOO!
Yahoo! Inc., a major global Internet company, has announced that its new Internet-based service to Samsung televisions will be available in the spring of 2009. Yahoo will power select models in Samsung’s 2009 flat-panel HDTV line-up! Widget Engine, a fifth-generation applications platform that enables TV watchers to interact with and enjoy a rich set of “TV Widgets.” TV Widgets make it easy to interact with Internet content and services to complement and enhance the traditional TV viewing experience. The new televisions were displayed at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas earlier this month. The service, which adapts the Yahoo! Widget Engine, enables users to engage in a variety of experiences that traditionally could only be enjoyed on a PC. “Samsung has been a proven innovator in Internet-enabled TV technology for some time now, offering the ground-breaking InfoLink service last year in 2008,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, EVP, of Samsung’s visual display division, said.
GWC/AGILITY
Agility Qatar has signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into merger discussions with the Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC), a company listed on the Doha Securities Market. The merger aims to create one of the strongest logistics players in the Qatar market with a comprehensive service portfolio for existing and prospective customers in the country. The new entity will be called GWC-Agility. “This is clearly a defining moment for both Agility and GWC. We are entering into a new era of unprecedented growth, and this merger would increase our commitment to development in the State of Qatar. The integration of our companies will greatly strengthen our service portfolio, creating a win-win situation for the customers of both companies,” Agility CEO for Middle East and Africa Elias Monem said. GWC Chairman Mohammed El-Emadi added that the merger would lead to the creation of a powerful new force in the region’s logistics and warehousing industry with the size and scope to offer the best in supply chain services to customers.
NOKIA
Nokia, a global major in the mobile industry, will kick off its first ever Nokia tour project in Saudi Arabia as a step forward in engaging Nokia fans through emphasis on cutting edge software and solutions. Nokia Tour, a tailor-made program designed to engage Nokia mobile users to discover a whole new dimension of sharing, is scheduled early this year in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam with its focus on enhanced applications including navigation, e-mail, and Windows Live as the initiation of consumer education on software and solutions aiming to redefine the use of mobile devices. “Nokia as a brand is not only about inventing but innovating. Therefore, we are in a constant pursuit to seek for technological advancement not only in terms of hardware but unique software and applications that redefine the way Nokia is connecting people,” Mohammed Hassan, GM, Nokia International Oy-Saudi Arabia, said.
QDC
Qassim Development Corporation (QDC) has signed a dual commercial consulting agreement with KPMG and SHI Inc. The deal is aimed at developing the company’s investment strategy and business plan whereby KPMG will be advising QDC on projects in the building materials, agriculture, tourism, and information and technology sectors, along with development of the overall business plan, while SHI Inc. will advise QDC on health care and pharmaceutical industry projects. QDC CEO Mujahid AlGain and Abdullah Al-Fouzan from KPMG signed the agreement, and Dr. Ryan Wiley signed on behalf of SHI Inc. Abdullah S. Al-Othaim, the founding partner and head of the founding committee of QDC attended the signature ceremony. “Our decision to partner with KPMG and SHI Inc. came after a careful analysis of a number of measures including technical capabilities, professional standards and work procedures in accordance with QDC requirements,” AlGain said. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, governor of Qassim region, and his deputy Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud reviewed earlier QDC plans for next stage and voiced their strong support for QDC initiatives. This initiative will help improve the economies of the region and contribute to the job creation for Saudi citizens.
CLOROX
During 2008, M.A. Abudawood and Partners for Industry, manufacturer of Clorox cleaning and disinfecting products, launched a series of community awareness initiatives on how to adopt a healthy family lifestyle. During the year, the company launched several educational campaigns to increase the health awareness among society members, especially among new mothers, informing them on how to protect their families against bacteria and viruses that may cause and spread diseases. In addition, the company sponsored several local campaigns, events and conferences aimed at educating society on health related issues including a school healthcare education program in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. “For many years, Clorox has been successfully disinfecting homes, private and public buildings and healthcare institutions in Saudi Arabia, providing healthy environments and aiding in the prevention of harmful illnesses,” said Mohammed Hassan Abudawood, GM of both M.A. Abudawood and Partners for Industry, and the National Cleaning Products Co.
MEETES
The 14th edition of Middle East education, training equipment and solutions exhibition and symposium (meetes’09) will be organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events from March 15-18. Described as the single most important educational and training exhibition in the Kingdom, meetes provides an unrivalled marketing platform for local and international exhibitors to showcase their products to a wide profile of visitors from within the Kingdom and neighboring countries. This annual exhibition last year concluded to great acclaim after four days of busy trading. Its international participants included key groups from Canada, Cyprus, Malaysia and the UK, as well as numerous individual exhibitors from Australia, France, Germany, India, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. International exhibitors were complimented by leading Arab and Saudi participants that included Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), King Abdul Aziz University, Batterjee Medical College, Effat College and Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute.
