SEA FOOD EXPO
Sea Food Expo 2009, which is slated to run at the Madinat Arena Conference Hall, Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, is expected to welcome some of the UAE’s largest seafood companies. A 14-member Malaysian delegation is set to participate in the show, described as the region’s only dedicated seafood event. The participation is also aimed at increasing the value of its overall fish and fishery exports to the Middle East, which is currently at $5 million, according to INFOFISH, an intergovernmental organization that provides marketing information and technical advisory services to the fishery industry of the Asia-Pacific region. Nafees Ahmed, project manager, Orange Fairs & Events, the event organizer, said the show continued to strengthen the Middle East region’s repute as the best destination to promote halal seafood products. “With the Middle East fast becoming one of the leading hubs for Halal seafood trade, Malaysian companies aim to expose their high quality certified Halal seafood products,” said Dr. S. Subasinghe, Director, INFOFISH.
GSK
In 2007, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a major oral care expert, revealed acid erosion as the 21st century biggest threat to teeth. Acid erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by the modern lifestyle, which threatens the teeth of both men and women of all ages. This dental condition is a form of erosion that is caused by acid softening the surface of the tooth’s enamel, which results in a reduced enamel thickness and can lead to changes to the teeth such as changes to texture, shape, color and appearance. Moreover, teeth can suffer from hypersensitivity. In today’s modern lifestyle, there is generally a greater understanding about lifestyle, health and nutrition. Although the modern diet is considered healthier than in the past, GSK warns that the food and drink consumed as part of this diet is often highly acidic and can irreversibly damage teeth. The acids found in many fruits, fruit juices, vinegar and soft drinks such as fizzy colas, can cause the softening of the teeth’s enamel surface making it prone to wear. Discoloration of the teeth is one of the irreversible effects of acid erosion.
MAYFAIR
Mayfair Wealth Management (MWM), a major financial and investment advisory services provider based in the Cayman Islands, has extended the subscription deadline for its ‘Real Estate Musharakah Notes’ (REMNotes), a Shariah-compliant distressed property fund worth $50 million in the UAE, until Oct. 29. The move follows the “massive demand achieved by the fund among regional investors.” Taking advantage of the correction in real estate prices, ‘REMNotes’ is expected to deliver an annual return of 12 to 15 percent to investors by allowing them to participate in the acquisition of strategically sourced undervalued properties in the UAE. Based on the Shariah principles of ‘Musharakah,’ ‘REMNotes’ gives investors an opportunity to invest in the UAE real estate market in a more secured manner while earning above average returns through future sales and long-term and short-term leasing of the properties. “The huge demand for ‘REMNotes’ is a testament to the potential of this distress property fund and its attractiveness among investors,” said Amani Choudhry, CEO, Mayfair Wealth Management.
TIME
Indonesia’s annual Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) or ‘Pasar Wisata Indonesia’ will be held from Oct.16-19 at Sentosa Villas & Resort Lombok. The 15th edition is organized by the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board and supported by entire tourism components in Indonesia. Meity Robot, TIME’s chairperson who heads the steering committee, said the TIME also supports this year’s government program of “Visit Indonesia Year.” “TIME is the only international travel mart in Indonesia with business to business concept. The event is a meeting place for those who sell tourism products and services in Indonesia to international market. TIME has been listed in the calendar of international travel mart together with ITB Berlin, WTM London, Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) and PATA Travel Mart. TIME 2009 will present all tourist destinations, tourism objects, and new product developments,” she said. “The shifting of TIME to Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara is aimed at promoting Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara to the international market,” she added.
BAYT.COM
Eighty-eight percent of those surveyed believe that the cultural norms of a country have at least some bearing on a working professional’s lifestyle and productivity, according to the results of a recent poll conducted by the Middle East’s job site, Bayt.com. While 34 percent of respondents felt that cultural norms unavoidably affect life in and out of the workplace, 20 percent took a more moderate view, agreeing that working professionals might not be able to give their best away from their cultural comfort zone. A further 34 percent differentiated between cultural impacts on personal and professional life. “The poll’s results clearly demonstrate that professionals moving to new countries for the purpose of employment expect new cultural norms to influence their lives. But varying responses regarding the strength and scope of such influence speak perhaps to the different mindsets of people currently working overseas or considering an opportunity abroad,” said Amer Zureikat, regional manager, Bayt.com.
INMARSAT
Inmarsat, a global leader in mobile satellite communications, has announced that the first FB150 deployment in the Middle East has been completed by Zahker Marine International on the offshore supply ship M/V Zakher Duty. A Thrane & Thrane SAILOR FB150 was installed by Monarch Telecom and its partner in the region, Master Systems in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with airtime provided by Stratos. Zakher Marine International is introducing the newest member of the FleetBroadband family to its fleet, according to Baret Kouyoumdjian of Monarch Telecom. Monarch Telecom and Master Systems are also celebrating another five FB150 installations in the UAE this month on Zakher’s offshore tugs, including Zakher Eagle, Zakher Pelican, Zakher Atlanta and Zakher Falcon. The decision by Capt. Anil Kumar Verma for the vessels to adopt this higher speed data service was made because of the increasing volume of data communications the company vessels were experiencing.
MEMON INVESTMENTS
Current property prices are providing a strong basis for long-term growth, as the on-going correction phase drives the market toward more realistic and stable condition, according to Memon Investments, a major Dubai-based property developer and part of the international business conglomerate, the Memon Group of Companies. In addition, the developer is also confident that its current portfolio of projects, which are located in several high profile master developments — including Dubai Sports City, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Jumeirah Village, is providing buyers a wide range of investment options that offers excellent return potential. “As property prices drop to their lowest levels and the market evolves to be healthier and more stabilized, Dubai is gaining popularity among domestic and global investors in search of excellent investment options within a location that is poised for further long-term growth,” said Ahmed Shaikhani, MD, Memon Investments.
