Al Shaibani appointed exclusive distributor for Kaleseramik, the largest ceramic tile manufacturer in the world UNITED GULF AIRCRAFT FUELLING COMPANY LAUNCHED

Information Communication technology to be used in a big way for expansion of higher education: Dr Joshi

Private universities asked to comply with UGC regulations within three months Consultative committee of HRD Ministry meets

Dec 10: Information and communication technology will be used in a big way to expand higher education and improve the quality of teaching in colleges spread all over the country.

This was stated by the Union HRD and S&T Minister Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi while addressing the parliamentary Consultative Committee addressed to his Ministry, here last evening.

Emphasizing that huge financial resources would be required to cater to the future needs and to create infrastructure for quality education and research, Dr. Joshi said that the only alternative available is to use modern technologies such as satellite communication, internet and electronics. He informed that a large number of initiatives have been taken in the recent years towards this, with promising results. Out of 309 universities, 124 have already been connected with the UGC Information Network and the rest would be connected by March next year. All over-15000 colleges will eventually become part of this network. To facilitate research and multi-media communication, the communication backbone is being expanded manifold from the present 8 mbps level. From 1st January this year, 120 journals in science and technology disciplines and 250 in humanities and other disciplines have been made available electronically to the universities at a low cost. A satellite devoted exclusively to education is proposed to be launched within the next few months to make quality study material available through television and other communication channels.

Dr. Joshi also informed that keeping in view the requirements of the globalised economy and also to provide employment to the rising population of educated youth, a dual education mode is being introduced at the under graduate level. Under it, UGC is asking universities and colleges to introduce utility-oriented programmes along with the traditional degrees. This will enable students to have utility-oriented certificates along with their undergraduate degree, or two degrees in a span of four years. While this would make higher education relevant and productive, it would also lead to better utilisation of available infrastructure, he said.

The meeting was also informed of the steps initiated to improve the quality of teaching and research. It was informed that at post-graduate level a credit-based, modular approach is being introduced. UGC has recently upgraded monetary support at individual, group and department levels and has opened for colleges such incentive schemes as were earlier confined to universities. While five universities were identified this year, with potential for excellence, viz. Chennai, Hyderabad, Jadhavpur, Pune and Jawaharlal Nehru Open University, five more universities will be identified next year to promote excellence among universities especially in matters of research. Four national-level institutes are also being established at Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Pune and Allahabad.

It was informed that UGC has started monitoring the health of universities using parameters for academic performance, research performance and governance. It intends to provide incentives to universities and colleges scoring high on these parameters.

Stressing that despite many recent initiatives, the quality of research still remains a matter of concern, Dr. Joshi asked UGC to promote scientific excellence in teaching institutions at a fast pace. While welcoming the exchange of students among countries, he said that if the quality of teaching and research in Indian universities is brought to top global standards, such exchanges of students would be economically beneficial to the country.

Dr. Joshi also expressed concern at the low interest shown by students in basic sciences. Arguing that today's technologies are the outcome of fundamental research undertaken in the past, Dr. Joshi called upon UGC to see how students' interest in basic sciences could be rejuvenated. He informed that the Government has decided to observe 2004 as the year of scientific awareness and a vigyan rail, i.e. science exhibition on wheels, is being flagged off by the Prime Minister next week.

In the presentation for the Members of Parliament, it was informed that a large number of private universities have come up in the recent past, especially in Chhattisgarh. Members expressed concern over mushrooming of institutions of learning without requisite infrastructure and faculty. UGC informed the Members that it has recently issued regulations for establishment and maintenance of private universities and the Council has asked the private universities already established to comply with the regulations within three months failing which their degrees would be de-recognised.

Dr. Joshi also emphasised the need for promotion of sports in universities. He also agreed with the members that the working of UGC needs to be reviewed in the present context and informed that an amendment to the UGC Act is being drafted to give more teeth to the Council to enable it to usher in reforms in the higher education sector.

The following members were present from Lok Sabha : S/Shri/ Ms. Sharad Pawar, Savshibhai Makwana, Dr.Beatrix D'Souza, Vinay Kumar Sorake Ananta Nayak and Ramseth Thakur. The members present from Rajya Sabha were: S/Shri/Ms. Savita Sharda, Chandra Kala Pandey, Dr. A.K. Patel, Dr. Kumkum Rai, Dr. Faguni Ram, K.Rahman Khan, Jayantilal S. Barot and Dr. Bimal Jalan. -Keralamonitor.com

Inculcate leadership quality in the cadets - Lt Gem SK Sinha

Dec 10: Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Lt Gen SK Sinha called upon the youth to work for the strengthening of the country. Addressing an Annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) lecture on the subject "Youth As Tomorrow's Leaders" at Delhi Cant today, he said that youth have a great responsibility and called upon them to get the rightful place to India in the world. Lt Gen Sinha said that to become a good leader you must have five attributes i.e. knowledge, character, courage, loyalty and discipline.

He complimented the NCC for grooming leadership quality in the cadets. He said during his college days there were only University Officer training course which prepared officer for the Armed Forces. The total strength of the Cadets at that time in all the universities were limited to 1000 only. Lt Gen Sinha said at present NCC has about 13 lakh cadets who are being given training in not in the Armed Forces but also in other spheres like adventure, social activities and creating awareness against various evils prevalent in the society. He said this training will make you good leaders.

Addressing the cadets in the occasion guest of honour Shri Kuldip Nayar said that he had a dream where all religions without any fear can live together. He called upon the cadets to help them to realize this dream. Earlier welcoming the audience Director General NCC Lt Gen BK Bopanna said that NCC was created as university corps with the objective to train the students for the army. In 1920, University Corps was replaced by University Training Corps. Again in 1942, the University training corps was renamed as university officer training corps. The present NCC training corps was established after independence in 1948. The Girls Division of NCC was introduced in 1949 and the Air Force and Naval NCC wings were started in 1950 and 1952 respectively. He said NCC is the largest uniform youth organization not in the country but in the entire world. The NCC offers opportunity for institutional training and adventure sports community development to the cadets. Lt Gen Bopanna further added that NCC also have Youth Exchange Programme with several friendly countries which helps to have better relations with them. -Keralamonitor.com

Immigration 'fixer' jailed at Manchester Crown court

Dec 10: A Manchester man was jailed today as a result of a large
intelligence-led operation by the Immigration Service and Greater
Manchester Police into a student visa scam.

Samoury Toure, 53, of Moss Side, in Manchester, was sentenced to 18
months imprisonment for six counts of facilitating leave to remain in
the United Kingdom by deception, and one count of the provision of
unqualified immigration services. He had forged college papers to
obtain fraudulently visas for people claiming to be students,
charging up to £500 each time.

The Immigration Service has already tracked down and removed thirty
of the pretend students from the UK.

Immigration Minister, Beverley Hughes, said:

"This operation is a real success for the Immigration Service and
it's joint work with the police. It sends a clear message that those
seeking to abuse our immigration system will be caught and
prosecuted.

"The UK welcomes all foreign nationals who come to the UK
legitimately - as visitors, students or workers - with the intention
of making a contribution. However, we will take tough action on
people here illegally and those who make money by facilitating them.
This kind of racket undermines the confidence of local people and we
are determined to ensure we disrupt and prosecute those responsible."

John Graves, Chief Inspector, Greenheys Police Station, Moss Side,
Manchester said:

"This joint action by the police and the Immigration Service has
effectively terminated a criminal business that threatened both the
image and the stability of South Manchester. Those who seek to profit
from the misery and distress of others have no place in this
community, and this should serve as a deterrent to all those who
continue to engage in this type of criminal behaviour.

"South Manchester prides itself on the diversity of its population,
and the harmony in which the community exists. The defendant has
taken advantage of this atmosphere for his own purpose, irrespective
of the consequences that this has had on housing, opportunities and
services for local people. This sentence will be well received by the
law abiding community." -Keralamonitor.com

 

£60 million to tackle homelessness in England

Dec 10: Local authorities and voluntary organisations across the country will
receive a share of £60 million in 2004/05 to support them in tackling
homelessness more effectively, homelessness Minister Jeff Rooker
announced today.

Councils throughout England will receive around £45 million from the
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, to support the continued
implementation of their homelessness strategies.

Voluntary organisations funded directly by ODPM will also benefit,
receiving around £15 million to support their work with homeless
people.

Speaking at the Association of London Government's homelessness
conference today, Jeff Rooker said:

"This funding is good news for local authorities and the voluntary
sector and demonstrates our continued commitment to tackling and
preventing homelessness. The additional resources will support local
authorities in delivering their homelessness strategies which they
had to publish for the first time this year.

"The funding will also help to ensure that local authorities do not
use bed and breakfast hotels for homeless families with children and
will sustain achievements in reducing levels of rough sleeping."

Latest homelessness statistics published today show that the number
of homeless families with children living in B&B accommodation for
more than six weeks has continued to fall and in September was 1,590
compared with 1,980 in June.

The figures, which cover July to September 2003, also show that the
total number of families with children in B&B accommodation at the
end of September was 3,190 - a fall of 14 per cent since June.

Jeff Rooker continued:

"As expected, the latest statistics show that we are tackling two of
the worst manifestations of homelessness effectively - we are on
target to ensure that no homeless family with children has to live in
B&B, and we are successfully sustaining the rough sleeping target,
which was met two years ago.

"However, as we predicted, overall levels of homelessness are
increasing. Local authorities' homelessness reviews and strategies
help to explain at a local level the reasons for the increases and
their plans for addressing them.

"Local authorities now need to ensure that they deliver these plans
efficiently and effectively and the money I am announcing today
supports them in this work."

Twenty-one of London's 33 boroughs have ended, or are close to
ending, the use of B&B for families with children. Nearly 80 per cent
of local authorities across the country have met, or are very close
to meeting, the April 2004 target early.

Welcoming the local government funding, Tony Newman, Chair of Housing
for the Association of London Government, said:

"London boroughs have reduced the number of families with children in
B&B for more than six weeks by 73 per cent in the last year.

"The funding announced today will go towards helping boroughs make
the use of B&Bs a thing of the past.

"There is still a lot to be done to reduce the reliance of B&B, and
to tackle the rising numbers living in other forms of temporary
accommodation." -Keralamonitor.com

AL TAYER INAUGURATES GULF TRAFFIC

Congress facilitates international dialogue says Sheikh Hamdan

Dubai : December 8, 2003 Keralamonitor Bureau

The Gulf Traffic & MENA Rail 2003 Congress was today officially opened by Matar Al Tayer, Director of Roads, Dubai Municipality. Al Tayer welcomed over 250 delegates from around the world and 50 industry leaders on behalf of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubais Deputy Ruler and the Minister of Finance and Industry. In his message, Sheikh Hamdan said Gulf Traffic was an opportunity for important issues to be shared internationally. We are all aware that we still have a lot to do but we can benefit from the experience of others and we highly appreciate the positive benefits from holding this conference and exhibition. We are glad to share with them our different experiences, he said.

Dubais Chief of Police Dhahi Khalfan officially inaugurated the Gulf Traffic exhibition running alongside the congress at Dubais International Exhibition Centre until December 10. The exhibition is more than four times larger than last years launch edition with more than 150 exhibitors from over 30 countries taking part. For the first time the exhibitor line-up includes organizations from Iran, Jordan, South Africa, Taiwan, Spain and Australia. VIP delegates toured stands packed with the latest technology and eye catching exhibits ranging from large flashing road signs to high tech traffic management systems.

Project Director for IIR Exhibitions, Davyd Farrell said almost two-thirds of the show is focused on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) developments. The fact that there are so many industry leaders, international transport associations and urban planners under one roof demonstrates the importance of the issues being discussed. This show is highly technology based and the conference also has many presentations on the very latest in this exciting field of development, Farrell said.

The first speaker at the Congress was Dr Nabil Safwat, Chief Transport Section, Globalisation and Regional Integration Division for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) in Lebanon. He highlighted the demands that globalization is placing on transport infrastructure.
Theres an important need for developing countries to provide infrastructure. And theres a need to remove obstacles to trade, Safwat said.

He pointed out that to complete port formalities it takes 45 signatures in Alexandria, Egypt, 18 in Aqaba Jordan and just four in Dubai where cargo can be cleared in a matter of hours compared to five or six days in Egypt. The Chairman of the Centre of Transportation Research Studies in Bahrain, Dr Aldulrahman Al Janahi said there are huge investments underway in transport infrastructure employing the latest technology and thousands of people.

Every one is affected, no matter where we live, where we work, whether we like it or not. Traffic investment is vital for the future. Traffic is not a side issue any more. Lifestyles are affected positively or negatively. We are facing new challenges on an every day basis and people turn to us for a solution or more often to blame, Al Janahi said. Some of the issues due to be highlighted on day two (Tuesday) of the Gulf Traffic Congress include traffic accidents and their effects on national economies and the MENA Rail Congress will highlight Dubais new Light Rail project as well as expansion of railways in Saudi Arabia, Iran, the Middle East and North Africa.

Gulf Traffic 2003 is organised by IIR Exhibitions with the support of the chief event sponsors Dubai Municipality and premier event sponsors UAE Ministry of Interior as well as more than 40 Government authorities from across the Middle East and North Africa and 15 international professional associations.
More than 90 Government VIPs from throughout the wider Middle East and North African region and transport ministers from Turkey and Azerbaijan are attending the conference. Included for the first time is a MENA Rail Congress to highlight new train systems being built across the region.

Gulf Business

Al Shaibani appointed exclusive distributor for Kaleseramik, the largest ceramic tile manufacturer in the world

Partnership brings Kaleseramik products to the UAE

Dubai December 8, 2003

Al Shaibani, the specialty material supplier in the UAE, has signed an agreement with Kaleseramik, the largest ceramic tile manufacturer in the world, which operates under the Kale Group, designating Al Shaibani as the exclusive agent and distributor of the entire Kaleseramik product range in the UAE. Kaleseramik, a Turkey-based company, produces 27 million square metres of wall tiles, 30 million square metres of floor tiles and 5 million square metres of porcelain tiles each year, as well as pool tiles, decorations and accessories.
Al Shaibani, which has been actively trading in the UAE market for over two years, is a supplier of ceramic tiles, kitchen equipment and other building products for both residential and commercial properties in the UAE. Currently, Al Shaibani supplies many items to clients across the region at competitive prices and of high quality. The company is based in Dubai and hopes to expand its business next year.

Al Shaibani is expecting the Kaleseramik products to be highly popular in the UAE and predict high sales due to the demand for building and home materials from the surge in construction work across the UAE. "The current demand for building and home materials makes it the ideal time to enter the market. We predict that the boom will continue for at least the next four to five years," said Abdulla Al Shaibani, Owner and CEO of Al Shaibani Specialty Materials.

"The quality assurance of Kaleseramik tiles sets the products apart from other competitors and we are confident that the product range will be successful in the UAE. We ultimately aim to open a state of the art showroom in Salah Al Din road in 2004." Kale eksport, the export company of the Kale Group, ships 22 million square metres of ceramic tiles worldwide each year and has been in business for 50 years with high profile clients in the USA, Europe and Japan. It exports to more than 40 countries all over the world and is continually expanding its customer base. Kaleseramik uses the most advanced and modern technology in the world. Its capacity is equal to 33 per cent of Turkish ceramics production, and the company single-handedly covers 40 per cent of the country's ceramics exports.

Bahadir Kayan, General Manager, Kale Group Export, said: "We are looking forward to expanding our services to the UAE. Al Shaibani's knowledge of the local market and experience in our industry assures us that we have an ideal partnership. The competition in the ceramic industry is fierce in the UAE as development across the region has demanded quality and cost-effective material, but we are confident that Kaleseramik will be in high demand."

"We regularly produce more than 3,500 types of ceramic wall and floor tiles each year. We constantly work on updating existing lines and creating new, innovative lines for our customers. We manufacture approximately 400 new products on a yearly basis," added Kayan. Kaleseramik products will be exhibited by Al Shaibani at fairs across the region. The products have previously been exhibited at fairs worldwide including CERSAI, ISH, BAU, MosBuild, Ceramitec and recently, at the Big 5 show.

ENOC/ARABASCO FORGE JEDDAH REFUELLING JOINT VENTURE

UNITED GULF AIRCRAFT FUELLING COMPANY LAUNCHED

Monday, December 8, 2003.

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) LLC has forged a joint venture aircraft refuelling company with Saudi Arabia's Arabian Aircraft Services Company (ARABASCO). The new joint venture - United Gulf Aircraft Fuelling Company (UGAFCO) - is 51% owned by ARABASCO and 49% by ENOC. The company, which has a paid up capital of US $3 million, will offer refuelling services at the King AbdulAziz International Airport in Jeddah - the second busiest airport in the Gulf.

The new joint venture is ENOC's first move into aviation services and supply outside the United Arab Emirates, where, through its aviation subsidiaries and associates, it stores and supplies fuel at international airports in Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.

"This is the first step in realising our international aviation ambitions of becoming a global Energy Partner of Choice," said Hussain Sultan, Group Chief Executive and Board Member. "With a 20-year history of ground handling at King AbdulAziz airport and a client portfolio built up through years of providing total quality aviation services and solutions, ARABASCO was an ideal partner through which to penetrate Saudi Arabia's competitive aviation fuel supply sector."

Under the agreement, ENOC will market UGAFCO and provide the company with technical know-how.

UGAFCO will be headquartered in Jeddah and run by a Board of Directors comprising both ENOC and ARABASCO representatives.

"ENOC's valuable aircraft fuelling operations expertise has opened up a new opportunity for ARABASCO and one which we will actively pursue," said Mohammed Al Shablan, President and CEO, ARABASCO. "This joint venture will assist us in achieving our aim of becoming the region's full spectrum aircraft services provider."

ENOC says it is also pursuing other international aviation opportunities and is aiming to make the name a key brand within the international aviation industry.

"Throughout its ten year history ENOC has time and again, proven its worth as a productive and reliable joint venture partner," said Sultan. "We are looking to build on this reputation to take this Government of Dubai name to shores much further afield and achieve our initial objective of diversification within the UAE economy." UGAFCO brings to a total of 27 the number of subsidiaries with the ENOC Group.

In a decade of excellence, the highly diversified ENOC Group has built a constantly expanding portfolio of subsidiaries and joint ventures. The Group's interests span areas as diverse as refining to information technology supply, from shipping to petroleum retailing.Since 1984, ARABASCO has been Saudi Arabia's premier fixed base operator and maintenance facility offering a wide range of operational, maintenance and management support services to the VIP, private and business aviation communities of the region.

MRO Software targets Middle East as high growth region for its MAXIMO solutions

Global results for fiscal year show increase in revenue, earnings

December 1, 2003 MRO Software, the leading provider of strategic asset management solutions, which recently reported significant increases in revenue, software sales, earnings and cash for the fiscal year (ended September 30, 2003), is stepping up its Middle East operations, driven by an improved IT scenario as a result of the stability in the region.

"The start of a new fiscal year is an appropriate time for us to review our operations in the Middle East," said Oliver Schulz, Sales and Marketing Manager, eSolutions trading as MRO Software Middle East. "The region is on track to proceed with its development goals, including major IT projects. MRO has identified the Middle East as a high potential area, particularly for our MAXIMO solution, which has strong applications in core areas such as oil and gas and other maintenance intensive verticals. All this makes us extremely upbeat about our operations in the Middle East."

During the fiscal year, MRO earned US$ 94.6 million in cash and marketable securities, with no long-term debt, against US$ 67.8 million in cash and marketable securities of the previous financial year, representing a 40 percent increase year-over-year. To date MAXIMO is still the only asset management application with Sun Microsystem's Java Verification Certification making it 100% compatible with all Java2™ platforms and J2EE technology based products.

"Businesses in the Middle East are increasingly adopting global standards to achieve success in a world that has become highly competitive. MRO's industry leading edge solutions have been helping businesses achieve a quicker return on investment. We are pleased to say that companies in the Middle East have shown tremendous interest in our products," said Schulz. "Our new strategy for the Middle East is to target new businesses and industries by demonstrating our global success in helping enterprises achieve higher productivity and profitability."

MRO's financial results showed revenues of US$ 176.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, compared with US$ 171.9 million for the prior year, an increase of 3 percent. Software revenues were US$ 49.9 million compared with US$ 49.0 million for the prior year, an increase of 2 percent. Support and services revenues were US$ 127.0 million compared with US$ 122.9 million for the prior year, an increase of 3 percent.

"During the recently ended fiscal year we have improved every important metric with increases in revenue, software sales, earnings and cash," said Chip Drapeau, president and CEO, MRO Software. "Last year's results were driven by the increased adoption of MAXIMO's Web-architecture, increased sales of our IT Asset Management solution and a continuation of our high customer retention rates delivered by our support and services organizations."

Peter Rice, Executive Vice President and CFO, MRO Software said: "For the fiscal year 2004, we expect total revenues to grow by approximately 5 percent above fiscal 2003 results. We believe that our operating margins will continue to increase and that will result in improved earnings that are expected to be in the range of US$ 0.30-US$ 0.40 per share on a GAAP basis and US$ 0.40-US$ 0.50 per share on a pro forma basis."

ADBI Launches Developing Asia Journalism Awards

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (4 December 2003) - The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) yesterday launched the "Developing Asia Journalism Awards" to acknowledge Asian and Pacific print journalists who cover development issues.

"The purpose of the awards is to publicly recognize the efforts made by Asian journalists from developing countries, who provide high-quality, balanced coverage of the real issues affecting growth and development," said Peter McCawley, Dean of ADBI, in the official launch at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. The awards will recognize excellent journalistic reporting in six strategic areas of development:

ADBI will award a winner, a second, and a third runner-up in each category, who will receive US$1,500, US$1,000, and US$500, respectively.Four special prizes of US$2,000 each will also be given to a Development Journalist of the Year, a Development Woman Journalist of the Year (in case a woman doesn't win the Development Journalist of the Year prize), a Young Development Journalist of the Year (under 30 years of age), and an Islands Journalist Award (from the Pacific Islands and Maldives).

Print journalists from eligible developing member countries can submit up to three 700 to 2000 word-long articles published between 1 January 2001 and 27 February 2004. Deadline for submission of entries is on 27 February 2004. ADBI will provide the finalists with three-day, all-expenses paid trips to Tokyo for the award ceremony and a two-day program for visiting media agencies and familiarization with ADBI in April 2004.