MID EAST INVESTORS EYEING SOUTH AFRICAN PROPERTY

KM Dubai bureau

Dubai: 10^th April 2004 IFA Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Kuwait-based International Financial Advisers, says Middle East investors are now turning to South Africa for investments in real-estate within resorts. “A number of investors from the region have bought land in our Zimbali resort, in KwaZulu Natal, following the continued exposure IFA is giving to South Africa via exhibitions and road shows across the Middle East,” said James Wilson, President and Chief Operating Officer, IFA Hotels & Resorts. “Our already significant and expanding client base, which has invested in Portugal and on The Palm-Jumeirah in Dubai, is now being exposed to the South African potential via the IFA network.” Meanwhile, prime golf fairway and golf course land surrounding the Zimbali golf course and which offers magnificent sea and fairway views is to be released for sale at the end of this month by Moreland/IFA Resort Developments – a joint venture between IFA and South Africa’s Moreland Developers. “This long-awaited release of land around the fourth and fifth fairways of the existing golf course, is expected to create great excitement among prospective buyers,” said Wilson.

 “The sales of residential sites at Zimbali, has confirmed that our investment in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal coastline was the right decision as the take up on sales has surpassed our expectations.” Prime beach front sites in Zimbali have increased in value over 500% in five years. “The next phase of site releases at the end of March will be the largest, and these sites have not been available for seven years,” said Wilson. “Since we invested in Zimbali at the end of 2003, we have been in a process of consolidation and expect to make some further announcements shortly that will add value to our investments in Zimbali and will create tremendous value to our network of Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean investments.” Moreland/IFA Resort Developments says the surge in property investment in KwaZulu Natal has resulted in over US $15 million worth of new sites being sold within Zimbali over the past three months.  “Buyers from all over the globe, including the Middle East, have purchased and this has been facilitated by the existing IFA Hotels & Resorts international client base that Zimbali is now able to access,” added Wilson. The Zimbali Coastal Resort is a flagship signature development undertaken by Moreland/IFA Developments. “It highlights our total commitment on an economic level to investing in the future of the Northern corridor of KwaZulu Natal South Africa.

The amazing sales success of the first and second phases can be attributed to the sound development philosophy and project management skills provided by Moreland and the resort marketing and operational experience brought on board by our joint venture partner, IFA Hotels & Resorts,” said Neels Brink, Development Director, Moreland. IFA Hotels & Resorts recently secured a strategic alliance with Sun International – South Africa’s leading hospitality provider. “We anticipate strong local and international demand for Zimbali properties and the tie-up with Sun International will lead to significant travel avenues opening up to Europe, Africa and the Middle East which, in turn, will result in a significant upsurge in new markets visiting KwaZulu Natal,” said Wilson. “It is the aim of IFA Hotels & Resorts to link its resorts in Portugal, Zanzibar and Dubai with South Africa and firmly place KwaZulu Natal on the international hotel and destination resort tourism map. Our Zimbali objective is to move towards closing the gap between Zimbali property prices and those of quality European resorts.” (keralamonitor.com)

 

 

Crown Prince of Monaco visits the Nakheel Sales Centre

 

3 April 2004, Dubai, UAE – Whilst in Dubai last week, Prince Albert, Crown Prince of Monaco made a special visit to the Nakheel Sales Centre to take in Dubai’s extraordinary island developments, The Palm and The World. Accompanied by Wahid Attalla, Executive Director Commercial and Operations for Nakheel and a number of VIP’s, the Prince marveled over the hugely ambitious projects that have captured the imaginations of people from all around the world.

Discussing the projects with the Prince, Attalla said, “Both projects will bring tremendous tourism, leisure and residential benefits to Dubai”. Attalla then further elaborated by outlining the particulars of each project and said that construction was progressing rapidly on The Palm, Jumeirah with the infrastructure phase now well underway and that reclamation on The Palm, Jebel Ali was more than 25 percent completed. He also highlighted that the UAE island in The World project was now above water and that much of the footprint for the remainder of the development was now in place underwater.

Positioned to be Dubai ’s most exclusive property development yet, The World project will consist of approximately 300 islands strategically positioned to form the shape of the world map. The exclusive investors in the islands will have the option of utilising them for private or commercial use. Furthermore, Nakheel’s, two palm tree shaped islands - The Palm, Jumeirah and The Palm, Jebel Ali - are expected to contribute to the city’s position as a premier global tourist destination. The project will increase Dubai’s shoreline by a total of 120km and create a large number of residential, leisure and entertainment opportunities, all within a unique and inspiring setting.According to Attalla, the Prince had previously seen documentaries of The Palm and The World and was impressed by the magnitude, level of research and logistics that has gone into each project. The Prince was also amazed at challenging set of deadlines that Nakheel had set itself and its success in achieving these. (keralamonitor.com)

 

BSA extends IPR campaign across the Middle East, hosts roundtable discussion with Kuwaiti judiciary

 

Kuwaiti authorities pledge stronger commitment to accelerating IPR implementation

KUWAIT April 4, 2004

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Information, Kuwait , in association with Business Software Alliance; the organisation that represents the interests of global software developers, a roundtable discussion on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) was held recently in Kuwait . The meeting, attended by officials from the Ministry of Justice, Department of Customs, National Kuwaiti Library and Ministry of Trade and Industry, was part of BSA’s ongoing campaign to raise awareness about the importance of IPR. This was the third roundtable on IPR organised by BSA in the Middle East .

The meeting was attended by Sheikha Rasha Nayef Al Sub ah , Director, IPR Department in the Ministry of Information (MOI), Kuwait; Jawad Al Redha, Co-chairman, BSA Middle East; several prominent members of the prosecution; and representatives from the Department of Customs, Kuwait National Library, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Labour, and the IPR department in the MOI, Kuwait.

The round-table discussion highlighted the importance of IPR protection and the campaign to fight software piracy. The attendees discussed an enforcement plan on copyright legislation submitted by the Kuwaiti judiciary. Kuwaiti companies that signed BSA’s Code of ethics, pledging their commitment to fight software piracy, were also felicitated at the meeting.

“IPR is an extremely complex issue that has a great impact on business environment of a country. As technology transfer involves global interaction, e ven developed countries are battling to implement laws that have minimum room for misinterpretation. Companies and individuals in the Arab world stand to lose out on their rightful gains, if their work is not adequately protected. Greater joint efforts and more complex licensing agreements are now necessary to maintain healthy business growth,” stated Sheikha Rasha Nayef Al Subah, Director, IPR Department in the Ministry of Information (MOI) . “The IPR department at the Ministry of Information in Kuwait has made considerable progress in highlighting issues to business and judiciary, and implementing IPR-friendly policies. We are grateful to BSA for organizing this event, and extend our full support to this timely initiative,” she added.

“As the Arab world progresses towards an open economy, protection of IPR is a growing concern. There is an urgent need to create and implement well-structured copyright protection laws that will safeguard the rights of innovators, especially in the field of software and multimedia. At the same time, low awareness levels among enforcement officials and individuals needs to be addressed through extensive public campaigns. The round-table discussion served as an excellent vehicle to bring together all the officials and the judiciary at a common platform to discuss a concrete action plan aimed at eliminating the hurdles in the way of effective implementation of IPR laws,” said Jawad Al Redha, Co-chairman, BSA Middle East. “BSA has been conducting an intensive awareness campaign targeted at specific market segments, including distributors and resellers, large enterprises, small and medium enterprises and individual users. In our role as facilitators, we are committed to taking the IPR campaign across the Middle East . This recent meeting in Kuwait has strengthened our resolve to pull together authorities to support this campaign, crucial to protecting the future of our economy,” added Redha. (keralamonitor.com)

 

Gulf Extrusions projects 15 per cent market growth for 2004

Leading aluminium extrusion company targets new global markets and increase in its market share in Gulf region

 April 1, 2004

Gulf Extrusions, the UAE-based pioneer and market leader in aluminium extrusion for the GCC region, has announced a projected 15 per cent market growth for the year 2004. The growth will be based on a three-pronged strategy of building on the company’s already considerable 50 per cent market share in the UAE market, the increase of its exports to other GCC and Middle East countries, as well as its entry into new global markets following the company’s success in penetrating several markets in Europe, West Africa, Asia and Canada.

“As a pioneering manufacturer of aluminium extrusion in the GCC, with 25 years of manufacturing history, Gulf Extrusions has witnessed the development of both the regional construction industry and the manufacturing sector. This has allowed us to observe the trends in materials use and understand the needs of the regional construction industry,” said Robert Holtkamp, Director of Sales and Marketing, Gulf Extrusions. “Over the past 25 years, we have also followed a policy of continual technological upgrades that have allowed us to maintain the high quality of our processes and solutions.”

“The success of Gulf Extrusions’ entry into global markets was due mainly to our ability to provide best of breed extrusion products and systems. The process was also aided by the cost effectiveness of our products as a UAE manufacturer, as compared to the higher priced European products,” added Holtkamp. “Our entry into European markets has now put us in the unique position of studying first-hand global construction trends and predicting their entry into regional markets.”

The aluminium extrusions market in the GCC region is currently divided between extruders based in the UAE, Saudi Arabia , Bahrain and Oman . Small quantities are also imported from outside the region, from countries such as Taiwan . Within the region, besides the UAE, Gulf Extrusions exports to Jordan , Syria and Yemen , with plans to extend its market to other GCC countries.

On the one hand, the current marketing strategy of Gulf Extrusions will focus on increasing the company’s presence in the UAE and GCC markets, as well as European and South East Asian markets. With an existing capacity of 30,000 tonnes a year, Gulf Extrusion is also considering investment in increasing this capacity to meet the projected market growth.

Gulf Extrusions will also seek, on the other hand, to counter a recent trend of use of environmentally unfriendly materials, in place of aluminium, in the construction industry. Aluminium is 100 per cent recyclable and costs 95 per cent less in energy terms when produced through recycling. Aluminium is also better suited to the climatic conditions in the region, with no danger of degradation due to harsh weather conditions. (keralamonitor.com)

International Training Institute appointed as Adobe’s first Authorised Training Centre in the Gulf

Adobe to establish a network of authorised training centres in the Middle East

April 3, 2004

International Training Institute (ITI), a Knowledge Village based IT training provider, has been appointed as Adobe’s first Authorized Training Centre (AATC) in the Gulf. Adobe Systems, the world leader in network publishing software solutions, has announced further plans for establishing a network of authorised training centres in the Middle East , to facilitate the induction of its popular design and enterprise software into business environments in the regional markets.

“When launching a new software technology in the market, Adobe is fully conscious of its responsibility of providing the right training support to the users of its new or updated software. For the optimal application of any software’s potential, it might not be enough to spend long hours pouring over the manual. Personal contact with a competent trainer can encourage creative applications of the tools incorporated in a software,” said Ibrahim Lahoud, Middle East Regional Manager, Adobe Systems Europe Ltd. “That is why Adobe has created a worldwide network of Adobe Authorised Training Centres (AATC) with Adobe Certified Instructors (ACI), who are equipped to provide in-depth and hands-on training for every new software or software update entering the market.”

“As part of Adobe’s marketing strategy to expand and consolidate its base in the design and publishing software market in the Middle East , we have chalked out plans to create an AATC network in the region. The appointment of ITI to this network is the first step in this direction. As the next step, we are in the process of finalizing the appointment of a centre in Jordan to join the network,” added Lahoud.

“The selection of training centres for the AATC network is a rigorous process and entails post-selection training and product support. To become AATCs, training centers must employ Adobe Certified Instructors to teach their Adobe courses, and meet additional requirements. Our decision to seek this certification was based on our strategic commitment to providing quality education to learners joining our institute,” said Jihan Achkar, Managing Director, ITI.

At present, ITI offers training courses on the full Adobe Creative Suite, which includes Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign and Adobe GoLive, as well as Adobe’s Photoshop Albums for amateur photographers. All course outlines can be customized , to ensure course packages tailored to individual or company requirements and scheduled to suit the learner’s convenience. The training courses culminate in a certificate issued to the student by Adobe. ITI also has plans to institute “train the trainer” programs and facilitate trainer certification.

“ O ur objective is to provide best-of-breed training to both professionals and amateurs. We believe that this certification will enable us to meet our objectives, as it ensures a high standard of training endorsed by Adobe. Our trainers are certified in Adobe and they are all specialized experts in their field. This means, in addition to technical brilliance, they have proven through rigorous written and practical examinations that they are exceptionally equipped to convey knowledge and expertise to others. Through these certified trainers and original training material from Adobe we will ensure the best quality training for professionals while giving them the latest trends, tricks and tips and value added knowledge,” added Achkar. Adobe’s Creative Suite design platform, launched in October 2003, will soon be available in the region in the Arabic version. The new training centres will provide users with training for both the English and Arabic versions.

Emirates Environment Group’s 3 rd General Meeting highlights importance of water conservation

 

With UAE population set to double by 2025, sustainable use of water is an urgent necessity, says Al Marashi

 

March 31, 2004

The importance of conserving water resources and treating water as a precious natural resource was highlighted at the 3 rd General Meeting of the Emirates Environment Group (EEG), the leading non-governmental organisation working in the field of environmental protection in the UAE . The meeting, held on March 30, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai focused on the water crisis created by “Human Practices and their impact on natural resources”. It was addressed by Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, EEG and Mr. Mohammed S Shelli, Research and Development engineer in the Department of Water Resources Studies in the office of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , the President of UAE.

“ UAE, as indeed most of the Arab world, is situated in one of the most arid regions of the world. The region is characterized by large variability in rainfall, limited renewable groundwater resources, problems with groundwater salinity, and the absence of rivers and lakes,” said Al Marashi. “ Recent socio-economic development, high population growth, the availability of modern water pumping and irrigation technology, as well as expanded urbanization and agricultural activity, have placed substantial strains on water resources, particularly in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The population of UAE alone is set to double by the year 2025. The high rate of population growth in combination with increase in per capita water consumption, owing to needlessly high consumption patterns, has contributed to the overall escalation in the use of this scarce resource.

The intensive use of groundwater resources from shallow and deep aquifers to meet rising demand has led to exploitation of water resources in excess of natural renewability and has contributed towards water-quality deterioration, especially in the coastal zones. This has compelled all the countries in the Arabian Peninsula , with the exception of Yemen , to invest in the construction of sea-water desalination plants. By necessity, desalination has become a major component of the water-supply system in these countries for providing water to satisfy domestic requirements. However, desalination of seawater has proven outrageously expensive and leaves behind brackish water mostly uninhabitable for marine life” pointed out Al Marashi.

The water consumption levels in the Emirates is very high and available statistics for average consumption rates have indicated a rising curve, which is a source of growing concern among the authorities as well as other organisations active in the field of water conservation and management. For e.g. the average daily consumption in Abu Dhabi emirate is 150 gallons per day, in Dubai it is 90 gallons per day, while the average international standard is 25-80 gallons per day. The highest consumption rates belong to commercial establishments and households. The civic authorities in the emirates have been trying to tackle the growing water needs through various opportune measures including artificially boosting groundwater reserves, expanding the carrying capacity of sewage plants so that more used water can be treated and used for irrigation and greenery purposes, and new regulations to bring down consumption in upcoming buildings.

However, a crosscutting understanding of the local water crisis running through all associated entities has focused heavily on the need for community awareness in order to manage and control the demands of the urban population. Both local municipalities, as well as concerned departments and civil society are relying on conveying to the consumer the message of sustainable water consumption and judicial practices related to the use of this precious natural resource. The EEG, playing a pro-active role in building community consciousness and knowledge of this critical issue, has channeled its own efforts to address water conservation issues through public lectures, publications and other information tools, media campaigns, educational projects like workshops and debates, and so on. The third public lecture of this year answered the urgent need for sensitizing the community about practical ways to conserve water and avoid wasteful habits and practices of water consumption.

The meeting focused on these wasteful human practices and their impact on the natural resources, specifically water resources. In his presentation, the expert of the day addressed issues like Water Scarcity and water shortage worldwide; Water Scarcity and water shortage in the Arabian Peninsula ; major driving forces behind sustainable water development in the Arab region and Islam’s remedy for water problems. In addition, he also identified the real and hidden reasons behind what is called the new millennium wars and battles on water resources.

Mohammed S Shelli, the expert addressing meeting, has worked as a Technical Manager of a private company working in the field of water desalination treatment in Libya and Egypt , before heading the Department of Research and Development in the Higher College of Science in Libya , and later moving to the UAE to join the president’s office. He pointed out that the region needed better water management practices, if the available resources are to satisfy the demands made by growth in population, as well as the industrial and agricultural requirements for water.