SEHAI
On the occasion of Janadriyah festival, a Japanese mission to Saudi Electronics & Home Appliances Institute (SEHAI) in Riyadh, headed by Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) and former chairman of Toyota Motors Corp., together with Tadatsuna Kohda, president of JCCME and former Japanese Ambassador to Oman, were welcomed by SEHAI Saudi Working Group's (SWG) top management including Muhammad Abdul Latif Jameel, president of Abdul Latif Jameel Co., Salim Al-Asmarei, head of SWG, and Fahd Al-Dohish of TVTC, and representatives from Al-Essa Industries (Hitachi) and Modern Electronics Co. (Sony) at SEHAI Diraiya campus on Saturday. At SEHAI, Okuda communicated with SWG members and students while visiting SEHAI workshops (air conditioner, home appliances, PC and office equipment and electronics) where the first batch of students was being given practical training under qualified instructors. On the other hand, Kohda made a speech of gratitude in Arabic for Saudi partners. Recognizing that SEHAI is on the right track on Saudization, Al-Asmarei thanked the Japanese for continuously supporting SEHAI and emphasized that Japanese cooperation is inevitable to develop SEHAI's quality further. SWG also delivered their sincere condolence messages on the tragedy in Japan to Okuda that brought both groups united firmly. Their visit to SEHAI was successful and encouraged Saudi students for further studies in the field of electronics and home appliances.
LG
LG Electronics (LG), an innovator in home appliances, has announced the second edition of “Conceptualife” - a regional design competition that provides a platform for university students to unleash their creativity and present their depiction of future kitchen designs and appliances. Last year's event saw nearly 600 registrations from participating countries - Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran and South Africa. This year, with a focus on eco-friendly and futuristic designs, LG has expanded the event format with the addition of two new countries - Egypt and Turkey - and expects a 30-40 percent increase in participation. John Lee, managing director of LG Electronics Saudi Arabia, said: "Conceptualife as the name suggests is about developing concepts that can make life better and this is in line with LG's philosophy. Our goal is to encourage local talent by giving design students from across the MEA region the opportunity to showcase their ideas to a wider audience. This also provides LG with insight into design visions for a greener tomorrow from the region's youth and next generation consumers. We were highly impressed with the submissions last year." Participating this year from Saudi Arabia are Effat University and Dar Al-Hekma. The finale, which takes place on May 24 in Dubai, will see two short-listed finalists from each country battle it out for first place. Each individual will be invited to present and explain their designs to an expert panel that will evaluate their work.
KIA MOTORS
The all-new 2011 Kia Optima midsize sedan has achieved an overall five-star crash safety rating - the highest possible score - after attaining five stars in each of the overall rating categories in the latest crash tests conducted by the US Department of Transportation's NHTSA. Already a recipient of a "Top Safety Pick" award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Optima offers consumers exceptional levels of standard safety equipment and technologies. "The 2011 Optima incorporates some of Kia's most advanced safety technologies with head-turning style, performance and comfort to provide consumers with high value and peace-of-mind," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "As the first Korean-built vehicle to be awarded a five-star crash safety rating under NHTSA's new, stricter guidelines, Optima creates a new benchmark in the segment and underscores Kia's commitment to offering consumers the highest levels of quality and safety in all of our vehicles." In all, 24 passenger cars, 20 sport utility vehicles, two vans, and nine 2011 model year pickups were rated under the new system that not only includes tougher crash tests, but, for the first time, provides consumers with a single overall safety score per vehicle. The new testing program also provides consumers with information about new advanced crash avoidance technologies, such as lane departure and forward collision warning systems.
SAMSUNG
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, recently launched in Dubai its new SH100, a compact Wi-Fi enabled camera that delivers great shots that one can share over the Internet and social networks with one's friends and family. The SH100 is set to be Samsung's leading fully connected camera in 2011, building on the success of the company's wirelessly connected cameras to date and allowing Samsung to take a dominant position within this growing market. The new camera is available in the UAE for AED999. Samsung's pioneering steps within the connected camera market can be seen in the SH100's unique innovation, which allows you to connect wirelessly to your other devices with ease. Bo Joong Kim, director of Audio Visual Sales Group at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said: "At Samsung we are always striving to innovate; from our in-depth consumer research we know that younger users have different needs from their digital camera - they don't want to wait until they get home to share their favorite moments with their friends, they want to be able to do this instantly from wherever they are. The SH100 gives young people the chance to bring their world closer, by drawing on Samsung's technological strength to deliver total connectivity in a compact camera at an accessible price. Through the SH100 we hope to provide the best product for people looking for the ultimate connectivity from their camera".
NCB/SOURCE ENERGY
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) outsourced its O&M in 2004 to Source Energy (part of National Tri-generation CHP Company) for its Jeddah based IT building and then later the bank also outsourced its Riyadh regional building as well to Source Energy in the year 2007. As a reliable and efficient source of cooling, heating and power, Source Energy transforms utilities from commodities into a strategy for delivering substantial financial and operational benefits. According to Taher F. Al-Draweshi, regional manager for maintenance at NCB in Central Region. "NCB has gained many benefits with this approach. By outsourcing to Source Energy, the supervision is done by highly trained and experienced personnel." Kirk Belmont, head of operation and maintenance at Source Energy, said: "The Operations and Maintenance program we have implemented at NCB is one based on a proactive approach using predictive, preventative and corrective maintenance through a computerized maintenance management system. This program is implemented using safety standards to ensure workplace safety. Performance through technology, safety, and service is what we have established. Additionally, we are able to remotely monitor and control plant conditions from our control room in Riyadh." Steve Drawe, COO of SE, said: "As an example, during the recent Jeddah flood we mobilized additional resources from other places in the Kingdom to help our clients to be fully operational in the shortest time."
AHIC
Ahead of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2011 (AHIC) which commences in Dubai on April 30 and closes on May 2, the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) has demonstrated a strong growth in the Saudi hotel industry achieved in the first decade of the 21st century and outlines the potential for the next 10 years. Ahmed Al-Issa, general director for licensing and quality, SCTA, a speaker at this year's event, said: "The future outlook of the Saudi Arabian hotel industry is today more prosperous than ever, with the enhanced competition through more and more international and local companies of a high caliber investing in the sector with improved services and standards." AHIC 2011 will feature a dedicated panel discussion on the Kingdom, entitled “Kingdom Investment Spotlight”. The focus of which will be to explore the transformation of Makkah and Madinah, and the impact this will have on the region's religious tourism industry and the opportunities for hotel investors and operators. Other key figures including Yasir Abu Sulayman, head of structured finance, NCB; Muhammad Al-Amir, MD, Riyada International Hotels & Resorts Co. Ltd; and Tarik H. Nabulsi, deputy CEO, Elaf Group will join Al Issa. Chiheb Ben-Mahmoud, SVP hotels, Jones Lang LaSalle, will be the moderator. However, in addition to the opportunity for religious tourism, there is a strong underlying business case for investing in the Kingdom's hotel industry.
LAMBORGHINI
The Rabigh Wings Aviation Academy hosted the Lamborghini club members to a show of speed and excitement coupled with an air and ground display in Jeddah recently. It was held in collaboration with Al-Ghassan Motors. There were 15 Lamborghini car models of different categories giving a display, with the Jeddah Corniche being the starting point. Then everyone moved to the academy for a 150 km excitement of speed. Prince Turki bin Meqren Al-Saud, who was inside a plane, surprised the club members and the spectators with his show of flying. Lamborghini provided more than 15 cars including racing cars, SV sport, Murcielago and Gallardo, and 10 aircraft from the academy. The show was full of speed and excitement on the academy's runway. The guests were also given a chance to experience flying in the aircraft and trying Lamborghini cars. Attending the event were Ghassan Al-Sulaiman, owner of Al-Ghassan motors and Lamborghini distributor in the Kingdom and Bahrain, Farooq Ghulam, president of Lamborghini club, pilots, VIPs and businessmen. Finally, the two sides exchanged the trophies. Farooq Ghulam, Lamborghini club president, thanked Prince Turki for all the support and hospitality extended to the event." Lamborghini is distributed throughout the Kingdom and Bahrain by Al-Ghassan Motors, formed in Jeddah in 1992. Al-Ghassan Motors, owned by Ghassan A.H Al-Sulaiman began by specializing in all makes of super sport and luxury vehicles and then earning distribution rights for Lamborghini, Lotus, McLaren and Ducati across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as for Bentley and Bugatti for the Kingdom.
