December 15, 2004
Cabinet Approves Draft Concession Agreement For Hydrabad International Airport
The Union Cabinet today has approved the Draft Concession Agreement to be executed between the Government of India and the Hyderabad International Airports Limited (HIAL).In December, 1997 the Ministry Civil Aviation announced its policy on Airport Infrastructure. Amongst others, the policy provided for private sector participation in airport infrastructure. This encouraged the State Government of Andhra Pradesh (GOAP) to promote a Greenfield airport at Shamshabad near Hyderabad under joint venture with private sector participation.The Union Cabinet, on 13 April 2004, had accorded ‘in principle’ approval of the proposals of the Andhra Pradesh Government for the construction of Greenfield airport of international standards at Shamshabad near Hyderabad under joint venture with private sector participation.
To carry the airport project forward, on 23rd November 2000, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Government of Andhra Pradesh. As per the MOU, Government of Andhra Pradesh and AAI together will hold 26% of equity of the project, while balance 74% would be held by the Joint Venture Partner (JVP).
Through a bidding process, the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has selected a consortium - led by GMR Infrastructure with Malaysian Airport Holding Berhard (MAHB) as the other member - as the JVP for implementation of the project. The JVP will hold the majority equity (74%) in the project. A new company namely Hyderabad International Airport Limited (HIAL) has been formed. On 30 September 2003, a Shareholders’ Agreement of the project was signed amongst the ‘State Promoters i.e. Government of Andhra Pradesh and Airports Authority of India’ and ‘Private Promoters e.g. GMR and MAHB’.
The project is proposed to be implemented on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis with private sector participation and the total estimated cost of the project is INR 1385 crore including INR 422 crore (Rs. 107 crore Grant and Rs. 315 crore Interest Free Loan) of State Support to be provided by Government of Andhra Pradesh for making the project economically viable.
The Air Space Management Structure for the proposed airport has also been finalized in consultation with Indian Air Force, Airports Authority of India and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and forwarded to the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence has issued an NOC for the project as have the Ministry of Environment and Forest.In order to provide a legal frame work for setting up of Greenfield airports, the AAI Act, 1994 has already been amended. The amended Act has come into being w.e.f. 1st July, 2004.
A series of meetings between the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India and the HIAL Led to the formulation of a Draft Concession Agreement which was then circulated to the Ministries of Finance(Department of Economic Affairs), Law, Home Affairs, Defence and the Planning Commission. Their comments were received and incorporated in the Draft Agreement.
Vibe Middle East supports Special Olympics MENA with Joaquin Cortes "LIVE" in Dubai Giving one million more people a chance
Dubai, UAE, 15 December 2004 The Special Olympics Middle East & North Africa today presented certificates to Vibe Middle East entertainment agency, Joaquin Cortes, the king of flamenco, and Mrad El Khoury, area sales and marketing director Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, as a token of appreciation for the event's support of the Special Olympics."By the end of 2005, we aim to add one million more people to the Special Olympics athletes roster globally," said Ayman Abdel Wahab, Managing Director, Special Olympics MENA. Having traveled from the headquarters in Egypt especially for this event, Mr. Abdel Wahab expressed his appreciation for Vibe's efforts in supporting this cause, and "we are very proud of the efforts being directed at realizing this very important goal." Attending also was Special Olympics United Arab Emirates athlete Seif Al Dubal, who presented his experience with Special Olympics to the press. "Being part of the Special Olympics Family is an honor," said Al Dubal. "What I achieved for myself and my country was a dream that finally came true through my practice of sports." (Click Picture for detailed view)
UAE Nationals complete Tanmia-sponsored 'Certified Professional Human Resource and Compensation' course
Three-month program delivered world-class training to jobseekers in the field of HR management and development
December 15, 2004 -A batch of 20 UAE Nationals successfully completed a three-month training course in Certified Professional Human Resource and Compensation (CPHRC) organized by the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) in Dubai.This CPHRC program is the region's first program to successfully impart world-class training to National jobseekers and prepare them to take up employment in the field of Human Resource Management and Development.
"The move to launch the CPHRC program was driven by our strategy to guide professionals who could seamlessly take up positions in Human Resource Management, a field that offers great career opportunities," said Ayesh Al Barguthi, Director, Employment and Skills Development Centre, Tanmia.
Al Barguthi said the project had attracted the attention of a number of corporate organizations, including Al Futtaim Group, Dubal, Emirates Airline, DCCI, Citibank, National Bank of Dubai, MashreqBank, Dubai Internet City, Emirates Bank and Jumeirah International. These companies offered support as well as commitment to offer employment to successful candidates.
The participants praised Tanmia's initiative in devising such a course and expressed the need for more similar programs. "The quality of the course material and the teaching techniques considerably increased my understanding of HR as a strategic function. The training I received at Dubal further helped me link theory to practice and excel at all the certification exams. I feel very confident about starting a career in HR," said Farooq Qais.
Hessa Darwish Al Haddad commented: "I feel lucky to have been selected to attend this certified program. It increased my scope of knowledge and the on-the-job training provided me with all the fundamental skills needed to take up employment with an international company where I would be able to apply my knowledge and add value to my job."
Khawla Ali Ibrahim, who will take up the position of HR Administrator with Al Futtaim, said: "The practical knowledge gained during my training at Al Futtaim, supported by the theoretical knowledge on all aspects of HR as a strategic function, has provided a strong foundation for a successful and rewarding career in HR."
Tanmia launched the CPHRC course in September 2004 after extensive research on job market trends and following consultation with partners who guaranteed job placements for successful candidates. Encouraged by the success, Tanmia is planning to conduct a similar program during the year 2005.
PRESS COUNCIL CONSTITUTES FFC REGARDING ATTACK ON PRESS PERSONNEL AT KERALA
The Press Council of India has taken suo motu cognizance of the incidents of violence against media persons and the media establishments following exposure of the role of a Minister of Kerala, in connection with ice cream parlour sex scandal. It has set up a three member Fact Finding Committee (FFC) to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry into the alleged incidents. The Council felt that the said incidents prima facie amounted to stifling and undermining the freedom of the Press in Kerala.The FFC of the Council is likely to visit Kerala in early January, 2005 to collect material and hear the affected media-men and the witnesses to be produced by the media-men as well as the authorities.The Committee comprises of S/Shri Uttam Chandra Sharma (Convenor), Pratapbhai T. Shah and Joginder Chawla, Members of the Council.Train Accident in India Kills 34 people, injure 50
About 34 people, including 11 women and a child, were today killed and about 50 injured, 16 of them seriously, when Ahmedabad-bound Jammu Tawi Express collided head-on with a local train here, about 40 kms from Jalandhar. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, who visited the accident site, termed the collision as a "murder" and said station masters of Chak Kalan and Bangara would be charged with culpable homicide
not amounting to murder under IPC on the charge of allowing the two trains to travel on the same track. According to PTI, Gurudaspur Deputy Commissioner Harjit Singh, who supervised rescue operations, said that 24 bodies have been kept at Dasuya civil hospital and nine in Mukherian civil hospital. The body of the assistant driver of the Express train lay trapped in the the mangled remain of the engine, he added.Drivers of both the trains are among the dead, a Northern Railway spokesman said.Prasad put the toll at 31 but did not rule out the possibility of finding more bodies once the search of the four badly damaged bogies of the two trains was completed. PTI said quoting railway sources that the collision took place after both the trains were given permission to travel on the single line Jalandhar-Pathankot section of Ferozepur division of Northern Railway. While the local train DMU was cleared from Bangara railway station, the Ahmedabad-bound Express train was given the go-ahead from Chak Kalan station.Three coaches of the DMU and one of the express train alongwith the two engines were badly damaged in the collision that took place in the afternoon
Dubai Muncipality Encourages School Students
Dubai, 13 December 2004
Photo: Ameena Ahmed Mohammed gives away prize to a student.
DUBAI - December 14, 2004 Eng. Abdullah Al Shaibani, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Technical Services said that as part of the keenness of the Municipality in serving different sections of the society and its constant endeavour in supporting the future generation, the Dubai Central Laboratory Department has recently been associating itself with several government and private schools in various activities. He said this was aimed at attracting this important section of the society and encouraging their contribution in building up a promising generation.
Officials from the Central lab have been participating in functions at schools where students who excelled in studies were honoured. They were also participating in various other activities including exhibitions, seminars and lectures organized in co-ordination with the management of the schools.Al Shaibani said that these associations have helped the Central Lab in introducing its services and increasing awareness and providing guidance to the students about what is happening around them.
Eng. Salah Amiri, Director of Dubai Central Laboratory Department said representatives of the lab have been making field visits to various schools in order to ascertain the opinions of the educational authorities and the student community about their participation in the activities organized by these schools.
He said the department has found that this has been welcomed by the concerned people at the schools and they have been showing keen interest in having co-operation with the central lab so that the children benefit from it. Amiri said that department has drawn out a detailed programme for participating in the activities of a number of schools during the educational year 2004-2005. A number of technicians and specialists would deliver lectures and conduct workshops during the open day, sports day and exhibition day activities in the schools. Officials from the Central Lab would also distribute prizes to the students who participate in these activities and also to those who excel in studies.
According to the schedule prepared in this regard, the Central lab participated for the first time in the activities held at Al Wasl School on 28 November. Fatima AbdulRahman from the Food and Environment Lab delivered a lecture on the food aspects of diabetes as part of the World Diabetes Day activities. The lecture was attended by more than 60 students of the school in addition to people from other schools and managements and also the school nurse. The lecture focused on the food items that have to be avoided and reduced, especially those items, which leave negative impact on health and bring diabetes or increase fat and cholesterol. She also advised the students to go back to nature and eat more vegetables and fruits and also to practice physical exercises and stay away from drugs.
Ameena Ahmed Mohammed, Head of Food and Environment Lab Section distributed prizes to 124 students who excelled in science subjects in the school. She explained the role of the lab in monitoring foodstuff, whether it is produced locally or imported from other countries. The lab also takes specimen of all of them for analyses as part of an annual programme. This is done to ensure the health and hygiene of the consumers, especially children.
In addition to this, the lab also conducts annual surveys on different variety of food items aimed at studying their quality and storage condition, as also the impact of climatic conditions on them.It also conducts annual studies for further developing the methods of analysis using the most advanced and accurate equipments approved all over the world in the field of food analysis.
AGREEMENTS ON IMPORT OF OIL
Rajya SabhaBoth Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and private refineries in India buy crude under agreements called “Term Contracts” from national oil companies/other companies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Iran, Malaysia, Brunei, Oman and Qatar. Such agreements are normally for a period of one year for the supply of agreed quantities of crude, specifying the delivery schedule. The price for such ‘Term Contacts” is fixed by the national oil companies of the supplying countries on a monthly basis. Such prices are based on the average of the day-to-day prevailing prices in international markets.
For the year 2004-05, oil PSUs have signed Term Contracts for the supply of 42.51 million metric tonnes (MMT) of crude. Oil PSUs have also signed Term Contracts for the supply of 2.143 MMT of LPG from the national oil companies of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Malaysia.
Besides terms contracts, crude is also purchased on a spot basis by both PSUs and Private Refineries. For the period April-September 2004, PSUs purchased 10.991 MMT of crude and 0.2760 MMT of products from the spot market.
This was stated by Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
MiNC Adds New Member to Dubai Team
Haddad appointed as international property consultant
(Dubai, December 2004): MiNC Property Enterprises, the London property wealth consultants, has extended its Dubai-based team in response to the growing regional market. Tariq Haddad joins MiNC as international property consultant, and his 20 years of experience cover a number of sectors across sales, business development, consultancy and investment management."The Dubai property market is growing exponentially, while residents look to balance an investment portfolio between regional and international property. MiNC acts as a wealth consultant to advise on these property portfolios, rather than acting as a buy-and-sell agent alone," explained Haddad.Before moving to Dubai, Haddad worked as a stockbroker and bespoke financial planner in the UK. He has also worked in other countries in Europe and the Middle East.
Fluent in both English and Arabic, Haddad is a professionally qualified wealth manager who has an in-depth knowledge of the Middle East on a business and cultural level. His extensive experience has allowed him to handle both high net worth individuals and corporate clients while working closely with solicitors and accountants. Haddad will be working on MiNC's wide portfolio of properties in London and Dubai, as well as the company's services which include residential investment, investment portfolio development, syndication and financing.
MiNC has premiered 16 UK developments to UAE buyers in the last two years, and the company is trading at a level of more than £100million per annum.MiNC is also selling a selection of Dubai properties off plan, including units from each of the major freehold developments such as Palm Island and others in EMAAR, Nakheel and Esthitmaar developments.
Joaquin Cortes set to stun Dubai audience with "LIVE"
Vibe Middle East presents the sensational flamenco king on 16th December
Dubai, 14th December 2004
Joaquin Cortes, the world's flamenco superstar, has arrived in Dubai for the long-awaited performance of his "LIVE" show at Dubai Media City on Thursday, 16th December, presented by Vibe Middle East, the region's leading entertainment agency.
Yassin Matbouly, managing director, Vibe Middle East, said: "This is truly a fantastic performance, and we've been getting an unbelievable response from Joaquin's fans around the region. It's definitely a show not to be missed. It is the most unique, the most exclusive modern show in the world. "LIVE" is a show full of energy, passion and a fusion of different musical rhythms that appeal to a diverse audience. Joaquin Cortes has toured the world with it, and now we're proud to be hosting him in Dubai, for a one night only, world class, experience that will stand out in the history of the region's events." It's been said that Joaquin Cortes does to and for the flamenco what Michael Flatley does for the Irish jig in Lord Of The Dance. "My style is a flamenco with fusion with other music and styles of dance," he says. "This is first time that I visit Dubai. I only hope that people like my show, and that the public go out happy after they see my show, because I would like to be able to return in future, early, with another new show. I believe that my show is going to please (the audience) because my show has many musical influences of Arab origin."
"Live" features a live orchestra performing original music composed by Joaquin Cortes himself, inspired by a number of different genres including Jazz, Cuban and Flamenco with costumes designed by the trendiest and most exclusive designer in the world, Giorgio Armani.The show is supporting the Special Olympics and is brought to you by Vibe Middle East, in collaboration with the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Alitalia, Khaleej Times, Evian and Diamond Lease. For ticket information please contact TimeOut Ticketline 8004669, www.itptickets.com, www.boxofficeme.com , Planet Hollywood Dubai, All Virgin Megastores, Hallmark Outlets and Vibe Office (+971 4 3432360).
Symbiosis, India's largest university for international students, to showcase two new institutes at the 17th GETEX
The Institute of Design and Institute of Geo-Informatics will meet increased global demand for trained professionals in these career fields
December 13, 2004 -Symbiosis, the leading Indian centre of higher education for international students, has announced that it will showcase two new institutes - the Institute of Design and the Institute of Geo-Informatics at the 17th Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX) to be held from April 5 to 8 2005 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. Speaking about the new institutes, Sunita Thakur, Academic Advisor in the UAE, Symbiosis, explained that the two new institutes have been incorporated to meet the increased global demand for trained professionals in these career fields.
The Institute of Design offers a 4-Year Undergraduate Program in Communication Design. The students passing out will be specializing in one of the following areas: Print & Advertising, Animation, Film & TV, Interaction Design. The institute has plans to start a 4-Year Undergraduate program in Industrial Design from the academic year 2005-06. On the other hand, with the Symbiosis Institute of Geo-Informatics, students have the opportunity of exploring a lesser-known, yet extremely important career of the future.
"Geo-Informatics combines advanced information technology with earth sciences to create a fascinating field of study, a futuristic career path, which will interest and challenge those students who are passionate about IT and yet are looking to explore newer career avenues both in terms of work profile and remuneration," says Thakur. "Imagine measuring the shape of the earth with the greatest degree of precision and determining crustal movements affecting earthquake risk areas or global sea level increases. In addition to the traditional measuring tools, Geo-Informatics scientists make use of information systems, modern satellite technology and digital remote sensors to develop automatic, computer-aided processes for recording, processing, analysing and visualising spatially-related information about the earth."
Geo-informatics, as a science, finds increasing application in areas as diverse as predicting earth-quakes; the effects of global warming on polar ice-caps; and environment protection and management.
"At the GETEX forum, we are constantly seeking to place the spotlight on such ground-breaking study areas as the Institute of Geo-Informatics," says Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions, organisers of the 17th GETEX. "New commercial, geographical, and scientific challenges rear their heads continuously. For the progress of any country, indeed the global society, it is important to develop human talent with the appropriate skills to meet these new professional challenges. New study areas need to get enough exposure, so that the next generation of human talent is channelled towards such study options. This is where GETEX seeks to play an important role."
Founded in 1971 by Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, Symbiosis was incorporated for the international students studying in India and looking for an Institute where they could feel at home. Today Symbiosis hosts 29 institutes of higher education, including amongst others undergraduate and postgraduate schools of management, IT, Mass Communication, Law and Health Sciences. It has 8 campuses, with 35,000 students on campus from 42 countries and 80,000 students around the world enrolled in its Distance Learning program. The Symbiosis Institute of Business Management is ranked fifth in the list business schools in India. With a motto of "Promoting International Understanding through Quality Education", Symbiosis has been selected by the Universities Grants Commission in India to promote Indian Education overseas.
