Indian Businessman Shot Dead in Dubai

Is Dubai becoming a miniature crime capital like Mumbai, a den of underworld kings and dons? The recent series of crimes and murders involving the Indian underworld directly and indirectly indicate that the once peaceful emirate is becoming a den of underworld kings. The latest crime that occured in the UAE is the killing or a leading Indian hotelier inside a social club premises.

A Dubai-based Indian businessman associated with the Dawood Ibrahim gang was gunned down in the India Club last night when a board meeting was in progress.The victim identified as Sharad Shetty, 43, was a resident of the UAE and an active member of the club, which was formerly known as the Indian Sports Club. According to employees of the India Club Sharad Shetty was murdered as he was entering the club. "He was in the hall when it happened," said one employee, who requested anonymity.

Shetty, who owns two Dubai hotels and heads the Rami Group of Hotels, was allegedly a long-time associate of Dawood Ibrahim. According to Major General Sharafuddin Mohammed Hussain Sharaf, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Crimi-nal Investigative Affairs, the victim was shot at point blank range and died on the spot. The killers emptied five bullets from a revolver and fled. The incident occurred around 8pm. Eyewitnesses reported that the two killers who were dressed in dark-coloured suits fled from the scene, and shocked eyewitnesses did nothing to stop them. The police have launched a massive manhunt. Shetty who owns the Regent Palace Hotel and the Regal Hotel, had, however, long since parted ways with Dawood and set up his own business enterprise here. A board meeting of the India Club was taking place at the time of the murder. According to a board member he heard what he thought was a burst of firecrackers at around 8.00pm. Soon after, one of the employees of the club called the board members out of the meeting and informed them of the killing. The head of the club immediately called the police.

According to reports, a lone gunman went up the stairs of the club and killed Shetty as he was entering the hall to attend a function there. Shetty, who was a member of the club and a regular visitor, had been invited for a dinner hosted by two other club members.An eyewitness said that the killer, who is believed to be in his mid-30s, fled the scene. (keralamonitor.com)

GLOBAL VILLAGE GUIDE PROVES A BIG HIT

Booklet Contains Essential Information on 2003 Extravaganza

Global Village, the international attraction of the Dubai Shopping Festival, announced its first ever guide has proved a big hit for the colourful international entertainment and shopping extravaganza.Containing over 100 pages of essential information, the guide assists visitors in making the most of their time at Global Village. "With such a large and diverse event, it is vital that visitors have as much information as possible to make the most of the Global Village experience," said Alan Gordon, General Manager, Global Village. "We developed the Global Village guide as a reference point on all the happenings and activities that are on show at this year's event and it's proving to be very popular."

Global Village 2003 is bigger than in previous years with 31 international pavilions, a special jewellery court, enlarged funfair and bigger entertainment schedule. "There's a lot more fun packed into Global Village this year, so the guide is set out to show visitors where everything is, what it is, and when it's happening," said Gordon. "We've included maps and listings of all the pavilions, restaurants, kiosks and special areas set up for this year's event. "In addition, the guide has entertainment listings and four pages dedicated to what's new at this year's Global Village." Gordon said the number of visitors expected in 2003 will top last year's 2.3 million.

"That means a lot of traffic trying to get into the car-park," added Gordon. "The guide gives detailed information on the best routes to use whether arriving by private car, public transport or taxi. "In addition, up-to-date traffic information is posted daily onto the Global Village website, www.globalvillagedubai.com." The Global Village 2003 guide is now available from designated Spinney' outlets, the DSF Office at the Economic Department and at the Global Village itself, priced at Dhs.5. The A5-pocket-sized guide also contains a history of Global Village with introductions from Dubai Shopping Festival and from the Al-Futtaim Group, developers of Dubai Festival City, the permanent host of Global Village.

The Global Village is being hosted by Dubai Festival City, a key sponsor of the Dubai Shopping Festival. The Dubai Festival City development is the signature ‘city-within-a-city’ project being developed on the banks of Dubai Creek by the Al-Futtaim Group. Global Village 2003 is jointly produced and managed by the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Al-Futtaim Group. It will feature 32 pavilions, the fun fair, stage and street entertainment, restaurants, coffee shops and a new children's play area.

MMI Logistics launches unique packaging product, enters liquid logistics industry

Environment friendly and cost effective product a first for the region

Dubai - January 20, 2003- MMI Logistics, a division of Maritime and Mercantile International, has announced that they will soon offer the services of flexitanks - a revolutionary packaging and storage product - to customers in the region. The launch of flexitanks signifies the company's entry into the liquid logistics market, and comes on the heels of their exclusive regional partnership with Trans Ocean Distribution, the world's largest manufacturers and operators of flexitanks.

Announcing the imminent launch, Mike Lee, Head of MMI Logistics, explained that while flexitanks have been used by international logistics companies since the 1970s to transport bulk liquids, it is only recently that the concept has gained popularity in the Middle East, and that the company is among the first to launch it for regional customers.

"Our resident experts have been closely following the changing demands in the logistics market and have observed that more and more customers are beginning to seek the benefits of the flexitank logistics system over the classic tank container, particularly where transports have to be forwarded to long-haul destinations without any backloads. Flexitanks offer the most cost-effective means of bulk liquid transportation," Lee stated, adding that MMI Logistics had already been approached by large companies in the region and is presently in discussions with them about the use of flexitanks as an important constituent of the supply chain process.

"Apart from traditional logistics companies, manufacturers and retailers, flexitanks also address the needs of audience segments like oil trading companies. Together with our core business products - logistics support, warehousing, distribution and packaging - we will be able to offer a new dimension by introducing an efficient liquid logistics service to the region," he added.

Flexitanks are flexible tanks that convert a 20FT General Purpose (GP) container from a dry goods carrier to a liquid carrier, and are available in a wide range of guises for the purpose of transporting non-hazardous liquids. The collapsible thermoplastic or rubber tanks fit inside ocean containers, providing a healthier and cost-effective alternative to shippers of fruit juices, beverages, edible oils, base and finished lubricants, pharmaceuticals and similar bulk liquid products. Using flexitanks completely eliminates the costs of repositioning of tank containers, cleaning and disposal.

Elaborating on the many advantages for customers, Malcolm Thornewill, Freight Manager, MMI Logistics, stated that flexitanks have a capacity of between 14,000 and 24,000 litres, which prove hugely effective in utilising the weight capacity of any container.

"Flexitank users can expect to carry 40 per cent or more cargo per container when compared to drums, 50 per cent or more than bottles, and 15 per cent additional payload when compared
to Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs). They can also expect a significant reduction in the delivery prices of products," he stated, explaining that the freight rates per container remained the same whether they chose to ship 80 x 205 litre drums equalling 16,400 litres or used a flexitank for the same purpose, accommodating up to 24,000 litres, where the specific gravity of the product allow such volume to be carried.

"All our flexitanks are recyclable and are made of a variety of thermoplastic materials like reinforced PVC, PU or a PVC/PU combination, with a plasticized inner surface, and are approved by stringent international bodies for the carriage of potable products - rendering it safe and sound, and making it a highly environment-friendly packaging medium. Moisture and oxygen barriers are incorporated within the inner liners for sensitive cargoes, and these can also be irradiated for sterile filling. "Apart from the economically viable and environmentally sound packaging products, we can also provide larger flexitanks that have a capacity of up to 135,000 litres, for purposes of static storage applications," he added.

Global digital leader LG Electronics (LGE) has retained its ranking as the world's leading air conditioner supplier for the third year in a row.

Dubai - January 20, 2003 The ranking follows a worldwide survey by the Japanese Air Conditioning Journal (JARN), one of the world's leading trade magazines for the a/c sector and Fuji-Keiai, one of Japan's leading market research firms. It puts LG's 2002 room air conditioners global sales tally at 6.7 million units. "LG now has 14.3% of the global room air conditioning market," said S.S. Kim, Vice President, LGE. "This means that one out of every seven air conditioners sold around the world last year was made by LG.

"Until the mid 1990s, the world air conditioner market was led by Japanese companies owing to the high demand in Japan, a country which, at that time, accounted for a quarter of global demand, amounting to seven million units. But LGE has now achieved significant international a/c sales in the USA, the Middle East and Europe and emerged as the world's leading supply three years ago, a position it still retains." According to the JARN/Fuji-Keiai survey, LGE is now the best-selling a/c across 41 countries - 11 of which are in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. "This is a rare achievement in the cut-throat competitive world of global home appliances," said Kim. "LGE will continue to lead the industry with world-beating technologies and products."

After recording total a/c sales of US $2.2 billion last year, LGE plans to aggressively target the premium air conditioning market to increase sales to US $3.5 billion by 2005. The company has conducted detailed consumer and market surveys to develop products tailored to local consumer requirements as part of its marketing strategy. In the Middle East, known as a tough market for foreign brands, LGE has implemented customer-oriented marketing including an enhanced focus on its distribution network.

"We have organised dealer conventions and participated in regional trade exhibitions to ensure we are instantly recognised on the market," said Mr M.B. Shin, President, LG Electronics Middle East and Africa. "Recently we opened our own training centre in Dubai to assist marketing efforts through dealer training." (keralamonitor.com)