- Air India, Indian Airlines to carry 50 kg free luggage of Indians who die in the Gulf
- New General Managers at Radissons SAS Middle East
- IBM, Intel and Microsoft Bring Powerful new Servers to the Middle East Market
- Delta Air Lines Adds Jumeirah International Hotels as a SkyMilesâ Partner
- MoICT Partners with UNESCO to Get E-Government Staff Ready
keralamonitor.com
Amman: June 23, 2002. The MoICT introduces the ICDL program to government employees as part of its move towards e-government implementation, recognizing the growing importance of ICT literacy in enhancing efficiency and increasing productivity. Amman, Jordan, 23th June 2002 - The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MoICT) today announced a partnership with UNESCO Cairo Office (UCO) to provide IT training to Jordanian government employees. The partnership, which builds on the initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah II for technology adoption in Jordan, facilitates the introduction of the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) for the pilot training and certification programme, which will involve over 15 Jordanian government institutes.
"Successful e-government implementation depends on ensuring that all public sector employees have the appropriate IT skills needed for them to function effectively. The ICDL programme is important in helping us to fulfill these requirements and works towards the goal of advancing technology development and growth within government," said Dr. Fawaz H. Zu'bi, Minister of ICT. "It is our responsibility to increase the IT competency of civil servants. ICDL provides a solid benchmark for government employees to attain and builds their skill sets in preparation of the Kingdom's e-government rollout. This will help us secure a consistent level of IT capability, whilst increasing the productivity of all employees using computers, not only for their work but in their daily lives as well."
"The overall objective of the ICDL programme is to raise the level of core knowledge about Information Technology and computer skills competency on a global basis while providing an internationally recognised certification," said Dr. Amr Azzouz, ICDL Project Director, UNESCO Cairo. "The ICDL training will provide the government employees with comprehensive knowledge and stronger capability in all office applications while achieving their qualification, giving all those who pass a real competitive advantage in the market place."
The ICDL programme consists of 7 modules, including: Introduction to computers and ICT, file management, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation tools (graphics for meetings and flow charts), Communications and Internet. An examination is conducted after the completion of each module and a certificate is awarded after all seven modules have been successfully passed.
The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology is responsible for articulating policy in the areas of information technology, telecommunications, and post in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. With the objective of providing Jordanians access to benefits of information and communications technologies (ICT), the Ministry's mandate includes creating an enabling environment for ICT investment, overseeing promotion of ICT opportunities in Jordan, and creating national awareness about the importance of the sector to economic development. Dubbed as Jordan's e-Ministry, it has also been assigned the responsibility of overseeing the Jordan e-Government Initiative.(keralamonitor.com)
IBM, Intel and Microsoft Bring Powerful new Servers to the Middle East Market
Dubai, UAE, June 23, 2002 - IBM, Intel and Microsoft have joined forces to promote the powerful new server systems that were previously out of reach of many mid-sized and large companies in the Middle East. The new generation of eServers has a "building block"-style, highly fault-tolerant architecture that allows customers to pay for computing power incrementally as they need it, but still have the mainframe-like features that large enterprises already enjoy.
"Our customers in the Middle East want to get the maximum bang for their buck in the data centre," said Andy Parkinson, eServer xSeries sales manager, IBM Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan. "They need enterprise-quality systems, with all the mainframe-like management, reliability and performance features, but often cannot fit them into their budgets. With the new generation of Intel-based IBM eServers with Microsoft Windows 2000, this type of server is now within their reach. With the x440's modular approach, customers only buy what they need today and then simply add the processing performance as they require it"
Showcased at the event today was IBM's xSeries 440, which uses Intel's new generation Xeon™ server processor technology with IBM's Enterprise X-Architecture™ scalability, combined with the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 high-performance server platform."IBM's eServer x440 is one of the first in the industry to offer the fastest new Intel Xeon Processor MP 1.6GHz server chip in a modular server. It brings our customers a great deal of flexibility. They can implement the most powerful technologies available, but not break the bank," said Ferhad Patel, Intel Marketing Development Manager Middle East and North Africa. "With its innovative new features such as Intel® Netburst™ microarchitecture and Hyper-Threading technology, the Intel® Xeon™ processor family, provides a number of benefits which enable an enterprise business to be more competitive. They can increase the number of users that a server can support, improve reaction and response time, increase the number of transactions that can be executed, while being compatible with existing IA-32 software. This means that business users in the Middle East will have access to the advanced technology that is required to enable them to compete in today's global marketplace," added Patel.
The new IBM system with Enterprise X-Architecture™ technology, caps a three-year development effort to build an exceptionally powerful and modular Intel-based machine. The x440 is currently number one in six of the industry's most recognized benchmarks; this leading performance and modular approach brings the x440 into new competitive environment at Intel prices. Using industry standard technologies, the x440 is designed to handle the core applications that power e-businesses, utilizing many of the benefits of Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Datacenter Server product to offer customers high reliability and scalability.
"It is vital that businesses in this region are aware of the scalability issues of their hardware, before they make purchases," said Haider Salloum, product marketing manager, Microsoft Gulf. "The Microsoft Windows 2000 Server platform will support anything from one-way servers to large enterprise clusters. What is key today is that organizations plan ahead: using Windows 2000 in conjunction with a scaleable hardware platform will allow businesses to simply add the performance they need, as they need it. It is an excellent scale-up story that nobody else in the industry can match."
The new IBM eServer x440 can be used as a single big server to run a large database for business intelligence, or to consolidate many small "virtual servers" - such as multiple e-mail servers - in one box to reduce costs. The eServer x440 supports the Microsoft Windows® operating system within a single SMP configuration, and also is designed to support up to four physical partitions or up to 64 virtual partitions. Powered by IBM's Enterprise X-Architecture technology, the x440 server is designed to scale to 16 Intel IA-32 Xeon™ processors MP -this is twice the number of processors in an 8U system than the nearest competitor with a 7U system, and four times the processors of most other shipped Intel Xeon™-based systems.(keralamonitor.com)
New General Managers at Radissons SAS Middle East
Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, which operates nine Middle East and African properties with five under development in Turkey, Egypt and Lebanon, has appointed Dane, Per Kyd Jacobsen as General Manager of Radisson SAS Conference & Airport Hotel, Istanbul.
Jacobsen, 57, replaces Morrocan Mohammed Benamar who moves to Egypt as General Manager of the company's landmark Egyptian property, Radisson SAS Golden Resort, Sharm El Sheikh."This dual move is part of our regionwide restructuring as our expansion plans in Egypt and Turkey are well under way," said Werner Kuendig, Senior Vice President, Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, Middle East & Africa.
Jacobsen joins from the chain's operations in Copenhagen where he was Director of Human Resources, Denmark. His hospitality industry career spans over 30 years since he first joined Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts in 1969. Benamar, 54, joined Radisson SAS in 1989 as a member of the pre-opening team of the company's flagship Norwegian hotel, Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel, Oslo. During his Turkish tenure, multi-lingual Benamar almost quadrupled the hotel's gross operating profit from 11% in 1999 to 41% in 2001.
Other Middle East & Africa Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts are in Amman, Aqaba, Bahrain, Baku, Cape Town, Kuwait and Muscat. The chain has hotels under development in Al Quseir, Beirut, Hurghada, Istanbul, and Taba. (keralamonitor.com)
Delta Air Lines Adds Jumeirah International Hotels as a SkyMilesâ Partner
Receive Special Room Rate and Six Miles for Every $1 Spent at London Hotels this Summer
Dubai, 22th June, 2002. Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles programme has entered into a partnership with Jumeirah International, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality group with properties in London and Dubai. The partnership enables SkyMiles members to earn three miles per every U.S. dollar spent at select Jumeirah properties.
To mark the agreement, SkyMiles members will earn six miles per every U.S. dollar spent and will receive discounted rates through Aug. 31, 2002, at Jumeirah International's two London properties, The Carlton Tower and The Lowndes Hotel. SkyMiles guests will receive the rate of 155 pounds per night at The Lowndes Hotel and 240 pounds per night at The Carlton Tower.
"We're excited to partner with Jumeirah International and impressed by its strong commitment to quality and outstanding customer service," said Christine Pierce, Delta's Director of Partnership Marketing. "Delta is the leading U.S. airline across the Atlantic, and we encourage our members to fly to London and take advantage of this special summer offer at two of the city's most prestigious hotels. "SkyMiles members can also earn miles when they fly to Dubai with our partners Air France and Emirates, and can stay at one of Jumeirah International's world-renowned properties."
Bill Walshe, Corporate Director Sales & Marketing for Jumeirah International said: "We look forward to welcoming Delta's SkyMiles members to our hotels in Dubai and London and are delighted to be a partner of the Delta SkyMiles programme. We took over the management of The Carlton Tower and The Lowndes Hotel in London in December last year, which marked Jumeirah International's first international expansion. By partnering with Delta we are particularly pleased for SkyMiles members to experience the Jumeirah International hospitality in London." (keralamonitor.com)
First Gulf Bank listed on ADSMFirst Gulf Bank (FGB), one of the UAE's fastest growing financial institutions, has been listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM). Abdulhamid Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, FGB, said: "We are proud to be listed on ADSM and this move will now provide transparency to the shareholders and potential investors.
"By trading FGB's 374.4 million shares, the shareholders will benefit by electronic record keeping and ADSM's safe custody, which will also allow efficient and swift trade transactions." Looking ahead, the move means that FGB will offer regulated and market-oriented fee structures, while protecting investors and stake holders from conflicts of interest.
Overall, FGB's strategy to concentrate on core Corporate Banking and Treasury & Investment Banking resulted in a net income of Dhs 18.1million as of end Quarter 1, 2002, a 58% increase on the same period last year.
In line with FGB's planned business expansion programmes, total assets increased from Dhs 2.6 billion to Dhs 3.3 billion as of end Quarter 1, 2002, a 24% increase on the same period last year. The Corporate Banking Group has increased overall loan portfolio from Dhs 1.4 billion to Dhs 1.9 billion, and customer deposits from Dhs 1.8 billion to Dhs 2.6 billion, a 31% and 39% increase respectively.
In line with FBG's diversification into Treasury and Investment Banking, investments have increased to Dhs 865 million as of end of Quarter 1, 2002, compared to Dhs 63 million in the same period last year."This sterling performance is the result of our strategy and direction; our customer-centric approach provides premium innovative services and groundbreaking products, which have had a positive impact on our end results," said Saeed."This move will help achieve FGB's objective of putting the first into banking," he added.(keralamonitor.com)
Air India, Indian Airlines to carry 50 kg free luggage of Indians who die in the GulfMumbai : As a humanitarian gesture to the large number of Non Resident Indians in the Gulf, Air India and Indian Airlines have jointly decided to carry fifty kilograms of luggage belonging to people who die in the Gulf countries. Even though the two airlines have been carrying dead bodies of Indians who die in the Gulf countries free of charge, their belongings posed a problem. Now both the airlines will freely carry 50 kg of the belongings weight. It may be recalled that the Indian Airlines and Air India used to charge money for sending the dead body and their luggage.
Due to a number of representations made by the concerned Indian social organisations in the Gulf, both the airlines decided to carry deadbodies free of charge. 'Indian Airlines has already issued instructions for free transportation of dead bodies of NRIs, in genuine cases, based on recommendations of Indian Missions/Posts. Air India would not like to give a blanket approval, but would consider on case to case basis based on recommendations of Indian Missions/Posts.
Now with the latest decision, the belongings of Indians who die in a foreign country will also reach their relatives free of charge. While only Air India and Indian Airlines show such generosity towards the Indian community, they should reciprocate the same by preferring these national carriers. However, the major problem from Air India and Indian Airlines continues - high air fare from various Gulf destinations to India.
Recently Kerala Minister for NORKA, M.M.Hassan, had written a letter to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shanavaz Hussain, regarding the Air India fare hike in the Gulf Sector from April last. Majority of the 7.5 lakh Malayalis who fly between the Middle East and the three airports in the State belong to the low and middle income segments and work under restrictive conditions to eke a living. The new rates are unaffordable for them. "The fare between Thiruvananthapuram and Dubai is Rs.11,400 whereas, from Dubai to Mumbai is Rs.8,600. An additional tax has been imposed in this sector. The commission to travel agencies has been reduced from 9 per cent to 7 per cent leading to a negative impact on the travellers as the travel agencies will be denying commission on tickets. Moreover, Indian Airlines which comes under the same Ministry has not made any hike in the Gulf Sector. Mr. Hassan has said that he had received a number of complaints in this regard and wanted the Civil Aviation ministry to take steps to revise the fare.
A similar memorandum was submitted to the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to reduce airfare to the Gulf sectors. 'The policy of the Government is to go along with the fares decided by the IATA Coordinating Conference where all the Airlines participate and pass unanimous resolutions for increase in fares, etc. As the fares respond to the market dynamics, there does not exist any relationship between distance and fares,' said the Prime Minister's office. The real humanitarian gesture from the national carrers should come in the form of reduced air fare. (keralamonitor.com)
