Celebrity News H.E. Sheikha Lubna Honored with Brand Leadership Award at Asia Brand Congress Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy and former CEO of Tejari.com (www.tejari.com), the leading B2B online marketplace in emerging markets, has received an award for leadership in the development of the Tejari brand at the 16th Asia Brand Congress which took place on the 26th and 27th of September in Mumbai. The primary focus of this year's event was ensuring brand clarity and consistency in today's multi-channel world, with 70 speakers from 60 countries taking part. Tejari’s achievements in fostering awareness about the benefits of online procurement and the expansion of its brand into international markets are among the justifications for the honor. On hand to receive the Brand Leadership award at the Asia Brand Congress was Tejari’s founding CEO and current board member, HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, as well as current CEO Omar Hijazi. "Given that Tejari enables companies to do business internationally by delivering access to opportunities in new markets, it is a significant honor to be recognized by an international body within Asia. Our initial remit was to streamline business opportunities in the UAE, and this award highlights the international nature of Tejari’s operations today,” said Sheikha Lubna. Under Sheikha Lubna’s leadership, Tejari has been recognized with Superbrand status as well as awards by Gulf Marketing Review and other industry bodies. In 2004, only three years after its inception, Tejari first received Superbrand status, an honor usually bestowed upon companies with more than 10 years experience. However, according to a panel of leading independent business experts, the brand awareness of Tejari is so strong; it was only a matter of time before they were rewarded for their accomplishments. Tejari has been recognized with Superbrand status for an impressive three consecutive years, further reinforcing its position as one of the Middle East's leading brand names. In selecting Tejari as a brand innovator at the Asia Brand Congress 2007, the selection committee considered the breadth of services offered by Tejari, from its online marketplace to its range of online communities, Manshoori online tender publishing service and ventures such as the Simsari real estate portal. Tejari’s visibility and presence in markets outside the Middle East, including Asia and Africa, were also deciding factors. “Throughout Tejari’s seven years of operation, we have succeeded in integrating our innovation in e-procurement and creating new business opportunities online with our communications strategy, which has resulted in increased confidence in these business models, and the growth of Tejari’s brand regionally and internationally,” said Omar Hijazi, Tejari’s CEO. When accepting the Brand Leadership award, Sheikha Lubna highlighted for attendees Tejari’s growth from the inception of the brand to its current 75,000 member community, evolving from a start up brand in 2000 to a full eCommerce provider and platform. Hijazi outlined how the company’s brand strategy has contributed to the more than 70,000 online tenders that have been conducted on Tejari, with a combined worth of more than $4 billion. A number of guest speakers attended the event, detailing their experiences in the turbulent business world. They spoke about what has worked well for them, and also how easily things can go wrong. Dr. Joseph Michelli, author of the "Starbucks Experience", Suresh Rangarajan, President, Times of Money, and Graham Hales, Chief Communications Officer, Interbrand, UK were just some of the speakers who addressed the audience throughout the two day event. Last year the award for Brand Leadership went to kingfisher, Nokia, Lenovo, Morico, Mindshare and Hero Honda. The Asia Brand Congress, an annual event, aims to bring together the brains behind some of the world’s most successful and sought-after brands. In addition, it provides a platform for networking and experience sharing on the latest trends and best practices in marketing, and challenges in brand building. New pharmaceutical facility of Cadila Pharmaceutical (Ethiopia)PLC Adis Ababa - A new pharmaceutical facility by M/s Cadila Pharmaceutical was inaugurated on 22nd September, 2007, at Akaki near Addis Ababa. Cadila Pharmaceuticals (Ethiopia) PLC is a Joint Venture between Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., India and Almeta Impex PLC, Ethiopia. H.E. Mr. Girma Birru, Minister of Trade and Industry, FDRE, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Those who were present on the occasion included Ambassador Gurjit Singh, H.E. Mr. Berket Simone, Advisor to the Prime Minister, FDRE, Mrs. Elisabeth Tankkeu, Commissioner, Trade and Industry, African Union Commission, Ambassadors of COMESA countries in Addis Ababa, Mr. Alemu Sime, Commissioner, Oromia Investment Commission, Mr. Eyessus Work Zafu, President, Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, Mr. I.A. Modi, Chairman, Cadilla India, prominent doctors, businessmen and media personnel. In his opening remarks, Mr. I.A. Modi welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries. He outlined the highlights of M/s Cadilla Pharmaceutical (Ethiopia) PLC. The plant at Ethiopia is Cadila’s first overseas formulation manufacturing facility approved by Drug Administration and Control Authority (DACA) and conforming to GMP standards. The total cost of the project amounts to around USD 10 million and has the capacity to manufacture 390 million tablets, 165 million capsules and 144 million liters per year. Stringent QA and QC processes and a robust Supply Chain Management will be a signature feature of the Ethiopia Plant in sync with other manufacturing facilities of Cadila India. Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Mr. Gurjit Singh, Ambassador of India, complimented Cadila for their first overseas manufacturing facility in Ethiopia and congratulated the promoters of this project Mr. I. A. Modi, Chairman of Cadila Pharmaceuticals (Ethiopia) PLC and Mr. Mesfin Teshome for joining hands for this important venture which fits in perfectly with India’s goals of supporting the industrialization and development of Ethiopia. Ambassador mentioned that India-Ethiopia relations have a history longer than the millennium and on the important occasion of the Ethiopian Millennium and the 60th anniversary of India’s independence being celebrated in 2007 it is indeed fitting that a private health sector facility in Ethiopia as a joint venture of India and Ethiopia is inaugurated fully manifesting the new dimensions of Ethio-India cooperation. Ambassador expressed his confidence that in the search for fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals Ethiopia would find the Cadila Pharmaceutical facility a positive contribution from the Indian private sector. Ambassador hoped that this project also supports not only import substitution in Ethiopia but would also cater to exports in the future particularly to COMESA countries. Ambassador also highlighted the achievements of Indian pharmaceutical industry. In his inaugural address, H.E. Mr. Girma Birru, Minister of Trade and Industry congratulated the Cadila for their first overseas manufacturing plant in Ethiopia. Further he emphasized that this joint venture is a milestone in the relationship between India and Ethiopia through the private sector. According to the data, 262 private Indian companies had secured licenses in different areas. 71 of them are already operational, 11 projects are under implementation and 180 of them are under implementation stage with a total investment of 4.5 billion Ethiopian Birr (ETB). He expressed his confidence that there will be possibility of export from this factory to COMESA countries with a total population of about 30 million. Further he hoped that more investment will come after the establishment of the Cadila Pharmaceutical, as Ethiopia is now an emerging economy in Africa with a economic growth rate of approximately 10% and providing good opportunity and friendly environment for the invesors. Further he thanked Ambassador of India for continued support and encouragement given to the investors from India to Ethiopia. The speeches were followed by visit to the factory. In the evening, Cadila has organized a reception, which was attended by H.E. Mr. Tadesse Haile, State Minister of Trade and Industry with other dignitaries. Sheikh Mohammed rated “coolest celebrity” by young men in the GCC Young males in the GCC rank Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the “coolest celebrity,” according to a recent survey published in Communicate magazine. The UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai ranked first among males and fourth overall in the survey, which asked young people living in the Gulf region and hailing from across the Arab world to name the “coolest” and “least cool” celebrities. The survey, commissioned by Communicate and carried out in August by Out of Bounds, a Dubai-based youth marketing agency, asked 500 GCC residents, spread evenly between the ages of 15 and 24, to name their coolest, second coolest, least cool, and second least cool celebrities. The overall “coolest” ranking placed three American actors at the top: Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, and George Clooney. “It was interesting to see Sheikh Mohammed taking a top spot alongside such well-known global celebrities,” says Communicate editor Scott MacMillan. “This is especially notable because a majority of the respondents did not even live in Dubai, and only 10 percent of them were UAE nationals.” Of the respondents, 20 percent were Saudi; 10 percent each were Egyptian, Emirati, Indian, Jordanian, Kuwaiti and Lebanese; and 5 percent each were American, European, Qatari and Syrian. All respondents were GCC residents and 227 lived in the UAE.Participants were not prompted for answers and could choose any person they wished. “Seconds” received 80 percent weighting relative to coolest and least cool. Of the 20 celebrities deemed “coolest,” nine were Arabs. Of the 20 “least cool,” all were Westerners. Britney Spears topped the “uncool” list, with more than twice as many respondents choosing the American pop star as the least cool or second least cool celebrity than the runner-up, British singer Victoria Beckham.The complete results appear in the September issue of Communicate, the Middle East’s leading trade magazine covering the regional advertising, media and marketing industries. Communicate is part of a rapidly growing international media group, MediaQuest Corp, whose aim is to build bridges of understanding between East and the West. With activities ranging from publishing to TV production and digital communication - spanning Arabic, English and Frends languages - MediaQuest Corp. is in a unique position to achieve this goal. MediaQuest Corp, founded by Yasser Hawari in 1987, has offices in North Africa, Europe and the Middle East and boasts extensive operations in these Arabic and French speaking areas. Real Estate Danube invests AED 30 million in Ras Al Khaimah September 16, 2007 Danube Building Materials FZCO has announced an investment of AED 30 million for a state-of-the-art facility. The move is aimed at catering to a massive demand for building materials and construction materials, as the emirate's construction industry witnesses an unprecedented boom with multi-billion development projects being undertaken and scheduled for implementation. Located near the RAK Police Headquarters, the new 80,000 sq. ft. facility is aimed at catering to home consumers and property developers and will carry Danube's range of industry-leading products including high quality wood, laminates, MDF, steel, aluminum, glass, hardware and sanitary solutions. Customers in the northern emirate will also be able to access low to high-end flooring, ceiling, doors and kitchen fixtures. Danube has started partial business operations in its new showroom in response to client demands, while construction activities for the entire facility are still in progress and will be completed in mid-December when it will be formally inaugurated. "Prestigious property developments in Ras Al Khaimah such as the multi-billion dirham Al Marjan Islands and Mina Al Arab have spurred a huge demand for our high quality construction and building materials. We have always been keen on strategically expanding into booming markets in the UAE and the region, which has enabled us to maximize our penetration by delivering high quality products to a wide location. Our newest facility will allow us to quickly meet client demands with a ready stock as well as provide immediate response to local customer queries," said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman of Danube. Ras Al Khaimah is rapidly developing into a high-end tourism destination in the Gulf with a unique landscape that combines beautiful rugged mountains and pristine white beaches that border the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Gulf. Danube is one of the largest building suppliers in the UAE and the region with an extensive portfolio of over 10,000 products . ‘Green footprint’ to grow to 10 million square feet by 2008 Cityscape India 2007 – The International Property Investment and Development Conference - from 19-21 November at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, will be examining the rapid pace of India’s real estate market, including how it can be sustained. Cityscape India also features India’s first business-to-business real estate exhibition.Sustainable development was a key issue at the Cityscape Abu Dhabi event which took place in the capital of the United Arab Emirates in April this year. Property developers in India are also now looking for ways of increasing their “green footprint.” In 2003, only 20,000 square feet of new buildings in India could be described as “green.” That figure, it is estimated, will rise to 10 million square feet by the end of next year.“The idea of ‘green buildings’ is catching the imagination of the construction and real estate industry worldwide, including the Middle East and India” said Dubai-based Rohan Marwaha, Group Director, Cityscape. “Increasingly, developers are incorporating energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly systems and processes into their buildings so as not to overburden already stretched infrastructure. Green building projects are coming up in Indian residential complexes, exhibition centres, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, information technology parks, airports, government buildings and corporate offices. The move is opening up new challenges and opportunities for everyone from architects, builders, material and equipment suppliers to real estate developers and property operators and owners. Of the numerous buildings in India now incorporating green materials and practices, those that stand out have been awarded certification under a scheme called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Started in the US, and adopted in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it has become a standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings and an international benchmark. Among the pioneering buildings in India to have received an LEED rating are the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad; the ITC Green Centre, Gurgaon; NEG Micon India, Chennai; Wipro Technologies, Gurgaon; and Grundfos Pumps, Chennai. The CII-Godrej building was the first to get the highest level platinum rating under the LEED system in India and is a model of sustainable development. It has zero water discharge with all waste water biologically treated. There is a 50% saving in overall energy consumption when compared with a normal building as well as an 88% reduction in lighting consumption. The building also harvests solar energy with 20% of its energy requirement coming from solar photovoltaic cells directly converting sunlight into electricity. In construction, 80% of the materials used were either recycled or are recyclable and more than 50% of construction waste was recycled within the building or sent to other sites. LEED-India has been established to give building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. It aims to do so by promoting a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognising performance in five key areas: sustainable site development; water savings; energy efficiency; materials selection; and indoor environmental quality. The Cityscape India Real Estate Awards will also be launched at the November event to honour both existing and future projects within India. Cityscape India has drawn support from leading industry players. Jordan-based Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority; Dheeraj and East Coast, from Dubai; and major Indian developer Shipra Group, have all confirmed platinum sponsorship. Middle East developer Tanmiyat is gold sponsor and Global property service company GVA Intercapitalis and India’s Shristi have taken silver.
Celebrity News
H.E. Sheikha Lubna Honored with Brand Leadership Award at Asia Brand Congress
Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy and former CEO of Tejari.com (www.tejari.com), the leading B2B online marketplace in emerging markets, has received an award for leadership in the development of the Tejari brand at the 16th Asia Brand Congress which took place on the 26th and 27th of September in Mumbai. The primary focus of this year's event was ensuring brand clarity and consistency in today's multi-channel world, with 70 speakers from 60 countries taking part.
Tejari’s achievements in fostering awareness about the benefits of online procurement and the expansion of its brand into international markets are among the justifications for the honor. On hand to receive the Brand Leadership award at the Asia Brand Congress was Tejari’s founding CEO and current board member, HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, as well as current CEO Omar Hijazi.
"Given that Tejari enables companies to do business internationally by delivering access to opportunities in new markets, it is a significant honor to be recognized by an international body within Asia. Our initial remit was to streamline business opportunities in the UAE, and this award highlights the international nature of Tejari’s operations today,” said Sheikha Lubna.
Under Sheikha Lubna’s leadership, Tejari has been recognized with Superbrand status as well as awards by Gulf Marketing Review and other industry bodies. In 2004, only three years after its inception, Tejari first received Superbrand status, an honor usually bestowed upon companies with more than 10 years experience. However, according to a panel of leading independent business experts, the brand awareness of Tejari is so strong; it was only a matter of time before they were rewarded for their accomplishments. Tejari has been recognized with Superbrand status for an impressive three consecutive years, further reinforcing its position as one of the Middle East's leading brand names.
In selecting Tejari as a brand innovator at the Asia Brand Congress 2007, the selection committee considered the breadth of services offered by Tejari, from its online marketplace to its range of online communities, Manshoori online tender publishing service and ventures such as the Simsari real estate portal. Tejari’s visibility and presence in markets outside the Middle East, including Asia and Africa, were also deciding factors.
“Throughout Tejari’s seven years of operation, we have succeeded in integrating our innovation in e-procurement and creating new business opportunities online with our communications strategy, which has resulted in increased confidence in these business models, and the growth of Tejari’s brand regionally and internationally,” said Omar Hijazi, Tejari’s CEO.
When accepting the Brand Leadership award, Sheikha Lubna highlighted for attendees Tejari’s growth from the inception of the brand to its current 75,000 member community, evolving from a start up brand in 2000 to a full eCommerce provider and platform. Hijazi outlined how the company’s brand strategy has contributed to the more than 70,000 online tenders that have been conducted on Tejari, with a combined worth of more than $4 billion.
A number of guest speakers attended the event, detailing their experiences in the turbulent business world. They spoke about what has worked well for them, and also how easily things can go wrong. Dr. Joseph Michelli, author of the "Starbucks Experience", Suresh Rangarajan, President, Times of Money, and Graham Hales, Chief Communications Officer, Interbrand, UK were just some of the speakers who addressed the audience throughout the two day event.
Last year the award for Brand Leadership went to kingfisher, Nokia, Lenovo, Morico, Mindshare and Hero Honda.
The Asia Brand Congress, an annual event, aims to bring together the brains behind some of the world’s most successful and sought-after brands. In addition, it provides a platform for networking and experience sharing on the latest trends and best practices in marketing, and challenges in brand building.
New pharmaceutical facility of Cadila Pharmaceutical (Ethiopia)PLC
Adis Ababa - A new pharmaceutical facility by M/s Cadila Pharmaceutical was inaugurated on 22nd September, 2007, at Akaki near Addis Ababa. Cadila Pharmaceuticals (Ethiopia) PLC is a Joint Venture between Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., India and Almeta Impex PLC, Ethiopia. H.E. Mr. Girma Birru, Minister of Trade and Industry, FDRE, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Those who were present on the occasion included Ambassador Gurjit Singh, H.E. Mr. Berket Simone, Advisor to the Prime Minister, FDRE, Mrs. Elisabeth Tankkeu, Commissioner, Trade and Industry, African Union Commission, Ambassadors of COMESA countries in Addis Ababa, Mr. Alemu Sime, Commissioner, Oromia Investment Commission, Mr. Eyessus Work Zafu, President, Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, Mr. I.A. Modi, Chairman, Cadilla India, prominent doctors, businessmen and media personnel.
In his opening remarks, Mr. I.A. Modi welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries. He outlined the highlights of M/s Cadilla Pharmaceutical (Ethiopia) PLC. The plant at Ethiopia is Cadila’s first overseas formulation manufacturing facility approved by Drug Administration and Control Authority (DACA) and conforming to GMP standards. The total cost of the project amounts to around USD 10 million and has the capacity to manufacture 390 million tablets, 165 million capsules and 144 million liters per year. Stringent QA and QC processes and a robust Supply Chain Management will be a signature feature of the Ethiopia Plant in sync with other manufacturing facilities of Cadila India.
Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Mr. Gurjit Singh, Ambassador of India, complimented Cadila for their first overseas manufacturing facility in Ethiopia and congratulated the promoters of this project Mr. I. A. Modi, Chairman of Cadila Pharmaceuticals (Ethiopia) PLC and Mr. Mesfin Teshome for joining hands for this important venture which fits in perfectly with India’s goals of supporting the industrialization and development of Ethiopia. Ambassador mentioned that India-Ethiopia relations have a history longer than the millennium and on the important occasion of the Ethiopian Millennium and the 60th anniversary of India’s independence being celebrated in 2007 it is indeed fitting that a private health sector facility in Ethiopia as a joint venture of India and Ethiopia is inaugurated fully manifesting the new dimensions of Ethio-India cooperation. Ambassador expressed his confidence that in the search for fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals Ethiopia would find the Cadila Pharmaceutical facility a positive contribution from the Indian private sector. Ambassador hoped that this project also supports not only import substitution in Ethiopia but would also cater to exports in the future particularly to COMESA countries. Ambassador also highlighted the achievements of Indian pharmaceutical industry.
In his inaugural address, H.E. Mr. Girma Birru, Minister of Trade and Industry congratulated the Cadila for their first overseas manufacturing plant in Ethiopia. Further he emphasized that this joint venture is a milestone in the relationship between India and Ethiopia through the private sector. According to the data, 262 private Indian companies had secured licenses in different areas. 71 of them are already operational, 11 projects are under implementation and 180 of them are under implementation stage with a total investment of 4.5 billion Ethiopian Birr (ETB). He expressed his confidence that there will be possibility of export from this factory to COMESA countries with a total population of about 30 million. Further he hoped that more investment will come after the establishment of the Cadila Pharmaceutical, as Ethiopia is now an emerging economy in Africa with a economic growth rate of approximately 10% and providing good opportunity and friendly environment for the invesors. Further he thanked Ambassador of India for continued support and encouragement given to the investors from India to Ethiopia.
The speeches were followed by visit to the factory. In the evening, Cadila has organized a reception, which was attended by H.E. Mr. Tadesse Haile, State Minister of Trade and Industry with other dignitaries.
Sheikh Mohammed rated “coolest celebrity” by young men in the GCC
Young males in the GCC rank Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the “coolest celebrity,” according to a recent survey published in Communicate magazine.
The UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai ranked first among males and fourth overall in the survey, which asked young people living in the Gulf region and hailing from across the Arab world to name the “coolest” and “least cool” celebrities.
The survey, commissioned by Communicate and carried out in August by Out of Bounds, a Dubai-based youth marketing agency, asked 500 GCC residents, spread evenly between the ages of 15 and 24, to name their coolest, second coolest, least cool, and second least cool celebrities. The overall “coolest” ranking placed three American actors at the top: Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, and George Clooney.
“It was interesting to see Sheikh Mohammed taking a top spot alongside such well-known global celebrities,” says Communicate editor Scott MacMillan. “This is especially notable because a majority of the respondents did not even live in Dubai, and only 10 percent of them were UAE nationals.”
Of the respondents, 20 percent were Saudi; 10 percent each were Egyptian, Emirati, Indian, Jordanian, Kuwaiti and Lebanese; and 5 percent each were American, European, Qatari and Syrian. All respondents were GCC residents and 227 lived in the UAE.Participants were not prompted for answers and could choose any person they wished. “Seconds” received 80 percent weighting relative to coolest and least cool.
Of the 20 celebrities deemed “coolest,” nine were Arabs. Of the 20 “least cool,” all were Westerners. Britney Spears topped the “uncool” list, with more than twice as many respondents choosing the American pop star as the least cool or second least cool celebrity than the runner-up, British singer Victoria Beckham.The complete results appear in the September issue of Communicate, the Middle East’s leading trade magazine covering the regional advertising, media and marketing industries.
Communicate is part of a rapidly growing international media group, MediaQuest Corp, whose aim is to build bridges of understanding between East and the West. With activities ranging from publishing to TV production and digital communication - spanning Arabic, English and Frends languages - MediaQuest Corp. is in a unique position to achieve this goal. MediaQuest Corp, founded by Yasser Hawari in 1987, has offices in North Africa, Europe and the Middle East and boasts extensive operations in these Arabic and French speaking areas.
Real Estate
Danube invests AED 30 million in Ras Al Khaimah
September 16, 2007
Danube Building Materials FZCO has announced an investment of AED 30 million for a state-of-the-art facility. The move is aimed at catering to a massive demand for building materials and construction materials, as the emirate's construction industry witnesses an unprecedented boom with multi-billion development projects being undertaken and scheduled for implementation.
Located near the RAK Police Headquarters, the new 80,000 sq. ft. facility is aimed at catering to home consumers and property developers and will carry Danube's range of industry-leading products including high quality wood, laminates, MDF, steel, aluminum, glass, hardware and sanitary solutions. Customers in the northern emirate will also be able to access low to high-end flooring, ceiling, doors and kitchen fixtures. Danube has started partial business operations in its new showroom in response to client demands, while construction activities for the entire facility are still in progress and will be completed in mid-December when it will be formally inaugurated.
"Prestigious property developments in Ras Al Khaimah such as the multi-billion dirham Al Marjan Islands and Mina Al Arab have spurred a huge demand for our high quality construction and building materials. We have always been keen on strategically expanding into booming markets in the UAE and the region, which has enabled us to maximize our penetration by delivering high quality products to a wide location. Our newest facility will allow us to quickly meet client demands with a ready stock as well as provide immediate response to local customer queries," said Rizwan Sajan, Chairman of Danube.
Ras Al Khaimah is rapidly developing into a high-end tourism destination in the Gulf with a unique landscape that combines beautiful rugged mountains and pristine white beaches that border the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Gulf. Danube is one of the largest building suppliers in the UAE and the region with an extensive portfolio of over 10,000 products .
‘Green footprint’ to grow to 10 million square feet by 2008
Cityscape India 2007 – The International Property Investment and Development Conference - from 19-21 November at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, will be examining the rapid pace of India’s real estate market, including how it can be sustained. Cityscape India also features India’s first business-to-business real estate exhibition.Sustainable development was a key issue at the Cityscape Abu Dhabi event which took place in the capital of the United Arab Emirates in April this year. Property developers in India are also now looking for ways of increasing their “green footprint.”
In 2003, only 20,000 square feet of new buildings in India could be described as “green.” That figure, it is estimated, will rise to 10 million square feet by the end of next year.“The idea of ‘green buildings’ is catching the imagination of the construction and real estate industry worldwide, including the Middle East and India” said Dubai-based Rohan Marwaha, Group Director, Cityscape. “Increasingly, developers are incorporating energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly systems and processes into their buildings so as not to overburden already stretched infrastructure.
Green building projects are coming up in Indian residential complexes, exhibition centres, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, information technology parks, airports, government buildings and corporate offices. The move is opening up new challenges and opportunities for everyone from architects, builders, material and equipment suppliers to real estate developers and property operators and owners.
Of the numerous buildings in India now incorporating green materials and practices, those that stand out have been awarded certification under a scheme called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Started in the US, and adopted in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it has become a standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings and an international benchmark.
Among the pioneering buildings in India to have received an LEED rating are the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad; the ITC Green Centre, Gurgaon; NEG Micon India, Chennai; Wipro Technologies, Gurgaon; and Grundfos Pumps, Chennai.
The CII-Godrej building was the first to get the highest level platinum rating under the LEED system in India and is a model of sustainable development. It has zero water discharge with all waste water biologically treated. There is a 50% saving in overall energy consumption when compared with a normal building as well as an 88% reduction in lighting consumption.
The building also harvests solar energy with 20% of its energy requirement coming from solar photovoltaic cells directly converting sunlight into electricity. In construction, 80% of the materials used were either recycled or are recyclable and more than 50% of construction waste was recycled within the building or sent to other sites.
LEED-India has been established to give building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. It aims to do so by promoting a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognising performance in five key areas: sustainable site development; water savings; energy efficiency; materials selection; and indoor environmental quality.
The Cityscape India Real Estate Awards will also be launched at the November event to honour both existing and future projects within India.
Cityscape India has drawn support from leading industry players. Jordan-based Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority; Dheeraj and East Coast, from Dubai; and major Indian developer Shipra Group, have all confirmed platinum sponsorship. Middle East developer Tanmiyat is gold sponsor and Global property service company GVA Intercapitalis and India’s Shristi have taken silver.
India British Joint Exercise!!! Himalayan Warrior, a joint UK-India exercise comprising specialist high altitude training, will be held in the Ladakh region 17 September-11 October including a period of acclimatisation. This is a unique opportunity to share best practice between elite soldiers of both British and Indian Armed Forces. This specialist environmental training is the culmination of three years interaction between the Royal Marine (RM) mountain leaders and the Indian Army High Altitude Warfare School. Emphasis will be given to survival and basic infantry skills in order to improve their ability to operate above 5000 metres. The RM welcome the opportunity to train alongside the Indian Army in one of the most challenging environments in the world that will test their specialist high altitude and mountain leadership skills. The RM are the amphibious infantry of the UK and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary form the Naval Service. They are also the UK's amphibious force and specialists in mountain and Arctic warfare. A core component of the country's Rapid Deployment Force, the Corps is able to operate independently in all types of terrain and is highly-trained as a commando force designed to be able to quickly deploy and fight in any terrain in the world. The Indian airborne forces who are taking part in this Exercise ‘HIMALAYAN WARRIOR’, are especially trained high altitude warfare troops capable of operating independently in varied snow-bound mountainous regions. They are well equipped and experienced for conduct of all types of operations in all environments. 17 Kerala Tea Plantations to Reopen Nine tea gardens out of 17 closed ones in Kerala have reopened consequent to the rehabilitation package announced by the government recently. The owners of the closed tea gardens were asked to avail the package by the end of August 2007 and reopen the gardens expeditiously. Five gardens are in the process of settling their accounts and would open soon. In West Bengal one garden, out of 14 closed tea gardens, has reopened and started functioning. Three gardens are in the process of being taken over by the new management. Two gardens have been negotiating with the banks for restructuring of the outstanding dues. Two more garden owners have indicated that they intend to sell the gardens and are on the look out for prospective entrepreneurs. All these are expected to reopen soon. The two closed tea gardens in Assam have got new management who is in the process of restarting the garden. A rehabilitation was announced by the Government of India on 29th June, 2007 for 33 tea gardens which were closed as on 1st April, 2007. More than 30,000 workers employed in these gardens were affected due to their closure. The package provides for restructuring of the outstanding bank dues, provision of fresh working capital with interest subsidy from Government, waiver of outstanding loan dues to Tea Board and settlement of Provident Fund dues in instalments. Once the accounts of these gardens are regularized, they will become eligible for term loan for replanting under the Special Purpose Tea Fund, and upfront subsidy for the machinery items under the Quality Upgradation Scheme of Tea Board. (KM) Crime and investigation New Zealand TV Show 'Sensing Murder' On Murder of Kiwi and British Divers in Persian Gulf Eight years after the investigators closed a case of mysterious double murder on board a survey ship in the Persian Gulf in January 1999, the New Zealand Media is rife with reports urging the authorities to reinvestigate the case. On September 11, a special TV programme on the murder mystery sought public support for reopening the case. The story of Aaron Hopa and his and British colleague Robert Glazzard, who were killed at the same time, surfaced in the New Zealand media when the UAE based investors were bidding for a major airport operation there. KM learns that the story was floated in the media as part of the campaign against Dubai Aerospace Enterprises multibillion bid for the Auckland International Airport'sThe divers bodies were reportedly thrown overboard, with their bodies discovered two weeks later. Following the Aaron murder reinvestigation campaign in a New Zealand TV programme, the TV channel received about 2000 emails urging the New Zealand government to reopen the case.Hopa inquiry up to Dubai --Read from the New Zeland Media A BBC Report in 1999 said the two experienced deep sea divers, Robert Glazzard and Aaron Hopa, disappeared from their ship, the MV Seabulk Hercules, near Dubai on the night of 10 January. They were last seen drinking coffee and listening to music on deck in the small hours of the morning. The divers were surveying a sunken wreck for insurance purposes at the time and no one can explain why both their diving logbooks are now missing, the BBC report said More Their task - to survey a Russian ship that had sunk under mysterious circumstances in Iranian waters. Bad weather and equipment failure forced the ship to return early to a port . When the ship docked, Aaron and Robert were missing. It was presumed they'd fallen overboard and drowned after a night of drinking.
India British Joint Exercise!!!
Himalayan Warrior, a joint UK-India exercise comprising specialist high altitude training, will be held in the Ladakh region 17 September-11 October including a period of acclimatisation. This is a unique opportunity to share best practice between elite soldiers of both British and Indian Armed Forces.
This specialist environmental training is the culmination of three years interaction between the Royal Marine (RM) mountain leaders and the Indian Army High Altitude Warfare School. Emphasis will be given to survival and basic infantry skills in order to improve their ability to operate above 5000 metres. The RM welcome the opportunity to train alongside the Indian Army in one of the most challenging environments in the world that will test their specialist high altitude and mountain leadership skills.
The RM are the amphibious infantry of the UK and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary form the Naval Service. They are also the UK's amphibious force and specialists in mountain and Arctic warfare. A core component of the country's Rapid Deployment Force, the Corps is able to operate independently in all types of terrain and is highly-trained as a commando force designed to be able to quickly deploy and fight in any terrain in the world.
The Indian airborne forces who are taking part in this Exercise ‘HIMALAYAN WARRIOR’, are especially trained high altitude warfare troops capable of operating independently in varied snow-bound mountainous regions. They are well equipped and experienced for conduct of all types of operations in all environments.
17 Kerala Tea Plantations to Reopen
Nine tea gardens out of 17 closed ones in Kerala have reopened consequent to the rehabilitation package announced by the government recently. The owners of the closed tea gardens were asked to avail the package by the end of August 2007 and reopen the gardens expeditiously.
Five gardens are in the process of settling their accounts and would open soon. In West Bengal one garden, out of 14 closed tea gardens, has reopened and started functioning. Three gardens are in the process of being taken over by the new management. Two gardens have been negotiating with the banks for restructuring of the outstanding dues. Two more garden owners have indicated that they intend to sell the gardens and are on the look out for prospective entrepreneurs. All these are expected to reopen soon. The two closed tea gardens in Assam have got new management who is in the process of restarting the garden.
A rehabilitation was announced by the Government of India on 29th June, 2007 for 33 tea gardens which were closed as on 1st April, 2007. More than 30,000 workers employed in these gardens were affected due to their closure.
The package provides for restructuring of the outstanding bank dues, provision of fresh working capital with interest subsidy from Government, waiver of outstanding loan dues to Tea Board and settlement of Provident Fund dues in instalments. Once the accounts of these gardens are regularized, they will become eligible for term loan for replanting under the Special Purpose Tea Fund, and upfront subsidy for the machinery items under the Quality Upgradation Scheme of Tea Board. (KM)
Crime and investigation
New Zealand TV Show 'Sensing Murder' On Murder of Kiwi and British Divers in Persian Gulf
Eight years after the investigators closed a case of mysterious double murder on board a survey ship in the Persian Gulf in January 1999, the New Zealand Media is rife with reports urging the authorities to reinvestigate the case. On September 11, a special TV programme on the murder mystery sought public support for reopening the case.
The story of Aaron Hopa and his and British colleague Robert Glazzard, who were killed at the same time, surfaced in the New Zealand media when the UAE based investors were bidding for a major airport operation there. KM learns that the story was floated in the media as part of the campaign against Dubai Aerospace Enterprises multibillion bid for the Auckland International Airport'sThe divers bodies were reportedly thrown overboard, with their bodies discovered two weeks later. Following the Aaron murder reinvestigation campaign in a New Zealand TV programme, the TV channel received about 2000 emails urging the New Zealand government to reopen the case.Hopa inquiry up to Dubai --Read from the New Zeland Media
A BBC Report in 1999 said the two experienced deep sea divers, Robert Glazzard and Aaron Hopa, disappeared from their ship, the MV Seabulk Hercules, near Dubai on the night of 10 January. They were last seen drinking coffee and listening to music on deck in the small hours of the morning. The divers were surveying a sunken wreck for insurance purposes at the time and no one can explain why both their diving logbooks are now missing, the BBC report said More
Their task - to survey a Russian ship that had sunk under mysterious circumstances in Iranian waters. Bad weather and equipment failure forced the ship to return early to a port . When the ship docked, Aaron and Robert were missing. It was presumed they'd fallen overboard and drowned after a night of drinking.