SEC/DOW
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Dow Wire & Cable, a business unit of the Dow Chemical Company, hosted a joint technical workshop in Jeddah recently to discuss SEC’s needs and state-of-the-art product solutions available for the utility company to optimize power delivery systems throughout the Kingdom. Presenters from Dow were Ramachandran, global end-use marketing director for Dow Wire & Cable, Ashish Arora, sales manager for India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), and Milind S. Chavan, end-use marketing manager for IMEA. The technical workshop provided an opportunity for key value chain partners to engage with one another and discuss Dow’s innovative wire and cable solutions as well as the benefits of using proven cable material systems to improve reliability and reduce life-cycle costs. “Dow is determined to actively seek opportunities with cable manufacturers and utilities to continuously improve cable performance and deliver customer-centric cable solutions,” Ramachandran said.
STC
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has launched its “new and unique Broadband Jood Plus” package for the region covering Middle East and North Africa. Via Hatif, this package allows its customers to make all internal and local phone calls free throughout the Kingdom. It also applies to the calls made to Jawal network and the network of other cell phone operators in the Kingdom at all times and throughout the whole week, as the client will enjoy free and unlimited calls. In addition, the customers will enjoy an open and unlimited Internet connection through AFAQ DSL Shamel with high speeds reaching 4 Megas. This package is available through a fixed, uniform monthly subscription of SR399. The STC pointed out that the package would provide with the voice and broadband services via AFAQ DSL Shamel. AFAQ DSL Shamel provides actual, incomparably reliable high-speeds, in addition to a modem especially manufactured to match the DSL technology in terms of quality performance and easy use.
DMCC
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has released the Arabic-language edition of the GFMS Gold Survey 2009, “the single most comprehensive, independent and authoritative knowledge tool on the global gold industry.” The current edition is the 7th edition of the Gold Survey, which is produced by London-based GFMS Ltd. and provides a wealth of statistics on the main gold trading, producing and consuming countries, in addition to in-depth analyses of market trends and developments. DMCC’s initiative aims to make the survey available as widely as possible across the Arab Gulf and the greater Middle East, said Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of DMCC. Harendra Kailath, director, Gold, DMCC, said: “Building upon Dubai’s reputation as the ‘City of Gold,’ DMCC has adopted the task of making this report readily available to all investors in the yellow metal trade.” The survey shows that amid the global economic turmoil that began last year the yellow metal held its reputation high as a dependable destination for investors.
EMAAR
Emaar Middle East, the subsidiary of global property developer Emaar Properties PJSC and Al-Oula Development, has joined hands with Jiwar Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Saudi Binladen Group of Companies, to market Emaar Residences at the Fairmont Makkah in the holy city. Alaa Abdullah Saad, CEO, Emaar Middle East, said: “Emaar Residences at the Fairmont Makkah is one of the most prestigious projects with a unique location in Makkah. Our association with Jiwar, which has strong knowledge of Makkah, will enable us to reach out a large cross-section of customers.” Dr. Saleh Habib, MD, Jiwar said: “Emaar Residences at the Fairmont Makkah is a spectacular serviced residential project that will appeal to visitors to the holy city. A premium project offering discerning customers the convenience of being at the heart of the Haram Plaza, the project also has the added advantage of being managed by a global hospitality operator. We will leverage our extensive contact list and wide product and market knowledge to promote the serviced residences.”
MEMON INVESTMENTS
Forty-five percent of projects planned in the Gulf, which have a total value of $930 billion, are currently under construction in the UAE, according to recently published reports. Forming part of the massive bulk of construction projects in the UAE is the AED1.34 billion project portfolio of Memon Investments, a leading Dubai-based property developer and part of the international business conglomerate, the Memon Group of Companies. Among the projects under this billion-dirham portfolio are high profile developments within the UAE’s most sought-after communities, including luxury residential projects ‘Champions Towers’ series, ‘Gardenia I & II’ and ‘Frankfurt Sports Tower I,’ as well as its inaugural commercial tower — ‘Cambridge Business Center’ (CBC). “The strong standing of the UAE in the construction market is an indicator of the capacity of developers of locally-based projects to proceed with the construction of launched projects amidst the challenges presented by the economic slump,” said Ahmed Shaikhani, MD, Memon Investments.
MAHINDRA SATYAM
Mahindra Satyam, the new brand identity of Satyam Computer Services Ltd., a leading global consulting and IT services provider, is currently focusing on enhancing its operations in the MENA region, with the launch of its ‘ERP Shared Support Services,’ a new service delivery model offering its ERP customers support services for Oracle and SAP in the region through its Global Solution Center (GSC) in Egypt. The company has said that the unveiling of the new service delivery model is set to leverage the Egypt GSC as a resource hub for the region and is aimed at delivering value to its customers through unmatched quality of service. The announcement follows the recent unveiling of the company’s new brand identity, ‘Mahindra Satyam, which draws from the core values of the Mahindra Group and the inherent strength of the Satyam brand and is in line with its commitment to offer integrated solution offerings to its customers in MENA region.
AUTODESK/OMINIX
Autodesk, a world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building, and media and entertainment markets, further strengthened its regional collaboration with OMNIX International, a leading regional technology service provider and integrator in the Middle East, after naming the latter as a value-added distributor for the entire Saudi market. The channel network expansion is a part of Autodesk’s aims to boost its share in the Kingdom’s design software market. In line with its expanded business relation with Autodesk, OMNIX will focus on distributing, implementation and promotion of design solutions, including AutoCAD, as well as manufacturing solutions.
MOBILY
At a special ceremony held in Madrid recently, the Trade Leaders’ Club handed the certificate of quality and the Golden Crystal prize to Khaled Sharif, Mobily’s deputy vice president for corporate affairs. Sharif reviewed Mobily’s achievements in Saudi Arabia’s hyperactive telecommunications sector since its inception in 2005. Khalid Al-Kaf, Mobily’s award-winning CEO, said Mobily’s rocketing growth was a clear indicator of impeccable strategic planning. Al-Kaf added that Mobily’s being named a quality leader reflects how far the Kingdom’s telecommunications industry has come. In a note to Mobily, Arsenio Pardo Rodriguez, CEO of the Trade Leaders’ Club, said that more than 7,000 experts from 120 countries took part in the selection process. He added that Mobily’s crowning was a result of the Saudi company’s yearlong efforts in adhering to strict international quality standards.
