KERALA MONITOR

IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR DUBAI SAYS H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED

"Business in Dubai is normal and everything is going ahead as planned," HH told reporters. "The international situation has had no major impact on business activities here. The use of the word 'war' in relation to the situation is wrong. What it is, is an operation against terrorists."

Trading Companies in the UAE, Gulf countries under investigation for Osama bin Laden links

A number of companies run by ex-Pakistan military officials have been involved in purchasing munitions and spare parts from Dubai and Hongkong and then exporting them to Afghanistan for resale to the Taliban are under the close scrutiny of western intelligence agenices. Private Pakistani companies have been reportedly buying arms from Chinese manufacturers through dealers in Hong Kong and also from dealers in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said reports
 
Saudi Financial Assistance to Taleban: A Report
 
Western intelligence sources have stated that Saudi Arabia offered as much as U.S.$400 million to the Taliban a few years back in exchange for Bin Laden, an offer which succeeded in causing some riftt within the Taleban leadership.
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    Trading Companies in the UAE under investigation for Osama bin Laden links.

    keralamonitor.com

    Dubai: A number of companies run by ex-Pakistan military officials have been involved in purchasing munitions and spare parts from Dubai and Hongkong and then exporting them to Afghanistan for resale to the Taliban are under the close scrutiny of western intelligence agenices. Private Pakistani companies have been reportedly buying arms from Chinese manufacturers through dealers in Hong Kong and also from dealers in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said reports. Commonly imported munitions included 122mm artillery rounds for Soviet-designed D-30 howitzers, a weapon system in wide use in Afghanistan and a number of which are also in use by the Pakistani Army.

    The system of private arms procurement has was due to Taliban mistrust of and impatience with the system employed by Pakistan's ISI to control the Taliban's military operations. The means to develop this capability came following the Al Faran kidnapping crisis in Kashmir in 1994) when the Bhutto government fired dozens of ISI officers and forced others to retire, including a number of officers who had already established links with the Taliban or who had been active in establishing Pakistan's policy of supporting Pashtun leaders like Gulbuddin Hikmatyar who had forsworn nationalist in favor of religious appeals. "A number of these officers either started import-export companies of their own, or joined already existing companies with large private security operations and import-export operations. They then capitalized on their new business connections and their old Taliban ties to prosper as middlemen, locating and purchasing arms and ammunition needed by the Taliban and expediting delivery to Afghanistan," said a report.

    Such Pakistan-based companies are suspected to have bases in the UAE and other Gulf countries. They are believed to have buying teams in Hong Kong and Dubai. Members of these teams search for new technologies, weapons, and sources of ammunition and spare parts that will fit with Taliban needs. In some cases, Chinese companies manufacturing arms and munitions approach these teams themselves to try interesting them in various items. Arms purchased in this manner appear to move primarily by ship. Sealed containers are brought into the port of Karachi and then moved by truck to Afghanistan without inspection, as per the trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, says a report.Top

    October 3, 2001

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    October 3, 2001

    Young Newspaper editor killed in South Africa

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    JOHANNESBURG, 2 October (IRIN) - The editor of Swaziland's state-owned newspaper was shot dead on Monday morning, apparently in an attempted carjacking, agencies reported. Sandile Ntshakala, 29, had just finished editing the latest edition of 'The Swazi Observer' when armed men sprayed his car with bullets, killing him, Wilton Mamba, news editor of the newspaper said. The attack occurred in Mbuleni township, about 10 km from the industrial city of Manzini.

    "We are dumbfounded about the attack," Mamba told AP. Ntshakala had been editor of the paper for five months. "This is a real loss to the profession. We have lost such a young and talented journalist who was role model to aspiring journalists in Swaziland," said Sibusiso Mngadi, secretary-general of the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ).

    A reporter at the newspaper, Bongani Mtjali, was driving Ntshakala home when a group of armed robbers blocked the road and demanded the car, Mamba said. When the pair eluded the ambush, the robbers opened fire on the car, killing Ntshakala, but missing Mtjali, who drove to a nearby police station. Police later confirmed the attack. The death of Ntshakala came barely a month after a senior journalist with the same newspaper, Mfanukhona Nkambule, was attacked by an unknown gunman who assaulted and later shot him in his house in Manzini.Top

    October 3, 2001

    UN: Annan urges global action against terrorism

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    NEW YORK, 2 October (IRIN) - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday urged all countries of the world to join the international fight against terrorism, warning that without united, global action the effort would fail."Terrorism will be defeated if the international community summons the will to unite in a broad coalition, or it will not be defeated at all," Annan told the United Nations General Assembly as it opened a weeklong meeting on measures to combat international terrorism.

    Annan welcomed the Security Council's adoption late Friday of a broad resolution aimed at targeting terrorists and those who harbour, aid or support them. "I applaud the Council for acting so swiftly to enshrine in law the steps needed to carry this fight forward with new vigour and determination," he said, urging all States to support the effort.

    While focusing his remarks on the fight against terrorism, Annan also called attention to the need to care for victims of that scourge, "whether they are the direct targets or other populations who will be affected by our common effort." In particular, he urged donors to support the recent UN humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan.Seeking to draw lessons from the recent attacks, Annan said, "just as a concerted international response can make the work of terrorists much harder to accomplish, so should the unity born of this tragedy bring all nations together in defence of the most basic right - the right of all peoples to live in peace and security."Top

    October 3, 2001

    CALTEX SETS INDUSTRY BENCHMARK IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH LAUNCH OF NEW HAVOLINE FORMULA

    Groundbreaking engine oil offers outstanding engine protection and performance

    Mr John Merrigan, Regional Marketing Manager, Caltex AlKhalij, in Dubai, shows off groundbreaking Caltex Havoline Formula.

    Dubai, October 1, 2001: International oil products giant Caltex has set a new industry benchmark in the Middle East with the launch of new Caltex Havoline Formula, the first engine oil in the region to meet and exceed the latest global industry standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API). All-new Caltex Havoline Formula meets and technically exceeds the API's most recent engine oil specification, API SL, issued in July this year.Groundbreaking Caltex Havoline Formula, tailor-made for petrol-engine passenger cars, is now available across Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.

    John Merrigan, Regional Marketing Manager of Caltex Alkhalij, said: "New-and-improved Caltex Havoline Formula gives us a clear advantage over the competition and is great news for motorists, offering outstanding engine protection and performance.

    "Raising the industry standards ahead of our competitors demonstrates our commitment to extending value and choice, and reinforces the reputation of Caltex in the Middle East as a byword for innovation and motoring excellence."Continued Merrigan: "Many engine oils on the market have API specifications dating back nearly 20 years. For example, engine oils with API classification SF, dating back to 1980, are still widely used in the region. Caltex Havoline Formula meets the most advanced API engine oil specifications, issued in July 2001. Now motorists have the choice of an engine oil truly suited to the needs of modern car engines and 21st century motoring."

    "Caltex Havoline Formula sets new industry standards for quality and performance, providing excellent protection against starting friction, heat stress, oil oxidation and thickening, and helping to extend the life of your car's engine," said Merrigan.Caltex Havoline Formula's advanced 'base additive technology' with high-grade base fluids protects against both high and low temperature engine deposits caused by high-speed motorway driving and stop-start urban motoring.

    New Caltex Havoline Formula has been launched in Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar with an aggressive direct marketing campaign, comprising revamped product packaging and graphics, together with focused trade and customer marketing activities. 'Add More Life To Your Car!' is the message to motorists across the region.New Caltex Havoline Formula is distributed by Hanna Ghantous & Sons in Jordan, Jassim Abdulwahab & Partner Co. (JAPCO) in Kuwait, and Mannai Trading in Qatar. Technique LLC are approved distributors in Oman.

    The Caltex Corporation, its affiliates and joint venture partners specialise in the refining, distribution and the commercial and retail marketing of fuels, lubrication oils, motor oils, LPG and gas products in more than 55 countries, principally the Middle East, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. They are also involved in shipping, storage, supply and trading operations.

    October 3, 2001

    IslamiQ.com Shifts Office from London to friendly Dubai, appoints PR Agency

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    Dubai : IslamiQ, the specialized financial services provider and authority on Islamic investment services, announced its plans to further enhance awareness and communications with the appointment of Zeidan Consultancy to handle its public relations management in the GCC. IslamiQ recently enhanced its presence in Dubai with the transfer of its London operations and team to its office in the Emirate.

    Marketing Islam in the Gulf Hasnita Hashim, CEO of IslamiQ

    "Islamic investment and financing is gaining ground and acceptance in the Middle East. We have found the response to be very positive, both from corporates, as well as consumers. IslamiQ aims to enhance its position as the authority on online Islamic investment services, and to empower Muslims investors worldwide, with access to sophisticated information and tools which will allow them to make informed investment decisions," commented Hasnita Hashim, CEO of IslamiQ.

    "There is a large community of investors who will be delighted to receive news and information about IslamiQ's services, particularly as these have been sanctioned by IslamiQ's internationally renowned Shari'ah board," noted Monal Zeidan, Managing Director of Zeidan Consultancy.IslamiQ has offices in Dubai, Malaysia, Kuwait and the United States.Top

    October 3, 2001

    .BBCArabic.com Regional Partnership Programme Reports High Interest in e-Content

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    Dubai, 2nd October 2001: BBCArabic.com, BBC's 24/7 Arabic online news and information service, announced today that its first series of regional partnerships with Arabic websites has shown that e-Content is an important issue in the evolving dotcom environment.

    "High interest in content clearly equals demand," said Hosam Sokkari, Head of BBCArabic.com. "The response to the first phase of our partnership programme is underlining the importance of content to end users. In BBCArabic.com we are trying to give our users in the global Arabic-speaking population the most accurate, up-to-the-minute news content they are seeking on the web." Websites in the Middle East are increasingly aware that up-to-date, regionally relevant content is a key issue in the overall offering of a site. The cost of procuring or generating such content can be a very expensive exercise involving numerous editors and journalists, working round the clock.


    Commenting on this, Annabel Blair, Special Projects Manager, BBC World Service UK, explained: "The difference is that we do not have to start from scratch. BBC is a huge information gathering machine, we are able to verify our stories and deliver relevant content to the Middle East at little extra cost to our partners. We can help our partners enhance their site content 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."


    BBC World Service, the worldwide news provider offering customised news to the Arabic-speaking internet community, is currently capitalising on its B2B offering. This new programme has provided regional news partners with a tailored Arabic news service, from the world's biggest broadcast newsgathering organisation. It has allowed BBCArabic.com and its online partners to build closer relations with their target audience. Sokkari added: "Since its introduction to the Arab community as a 24/7 news site in November 1999, BBCArabic.com's span of operations has witnessed a tremendous expansion. Today, our service offers full multimedia features, with live and on-demand audio streaming from BBC Arabic radio, as well as video and webcast capability. As BBCArabic.com adapts to the needs of the Arabic online market, our partners can benefit from content offered by the Arab world's award winning 24/7 online news and information provider."

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    October 3, 2001

    No Terrorrist Accounts in Oman, Central Bank Chief

    Large scale repatriation of Arab deposits from Western Banks

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    Muscat--Hamood bin Sangour Al Zadjali, executive president of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), has claimed that the Sultanate is free from any kind of suspicious accounts or assets related to terrorist groups. "This is owed to the strict laws and procedures adopted by CBO - binding all commercial banks working in the Sultanate," said Hamood Sangour in a discussion on Sultanate's financial policy organised by the Muscat Securities Market yesterday. The CBO official said the Sultanate, like other countries, had received from the United States a list of suspicious accounts related to international terrorist groups.
    He added that a circular referring to the list had been sent to all commercial banks and they had been asked to exercise caution with regard to such accounts and provide information to CBO in case any such account existed.He said the CBO had directed all banks in the Sultanate to keep the identity and details of all accounts in order to avoid the possibility of fictitious operation.


    Several banks in the region are likely to benefit from the controversy surrounding Taleban financing and Osama Bin Laden's because many Arab investors are reportedly trying to repatriate their deposits from the international banks in Western countries, especially the USA and UK, to friendly Arab countries. While the UK Government has already frozen Taleban Gvoernment assets worth $90 million, the US government has followed suit. Even the UAE and Saudi Arabia have asked their banks to monitor possible terrorrist support through the banking system.

    Arab investment in the global market, especially the US and UK, has been estimated to be a whopping $80 billion. Recent fall in the stock index caused severe loss to Arab investors who are trying to find alterantive avenues to deploy their funds. Further the investigating agencies in the western countries are looking suspiciously at all the Arab and Islamic accounts in their banks.Top

    October 3, 2001

    Saudi Financial Assistance to Taleban: Human Rights Watch Report

    keralamonitor.com

    Saudi , Gulf Monarchs under intense US Pressure

    Riyadh: After the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989 and the overthrow of the Najibullah government in 1992 Saudi aid to Afghan factions was driven primarily by a desire to counter Iranian influence in Afghanistan by opposing the growth in power of Iranian clients such as ISA leaders Rabbani and Massoud. Once Pakistan threw its support behind the emerging Taliban movement in late 1994, Saudi aid increasingly followed suit.

    Saudi Arabia has been a major financial supporter of the Taliban between the defeat of Hizb-i Wahdat and Hizb-i Islami forces by the Taliban in Kabul in 1996 and the August 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya by a group of persons who were suspected of being followers of Osama bin Laden, the Saudi expatriate. The Taliban's decision to shelter Bin Laden led to U.S. pressure on Saudi Arabia to terminate its support of the Taliban. Even though official Saudi aid stopped, Saudi money and support has continued to find its way to the Taliban in the form of private contributions.

    Bin Laden:

    Press accounts described Saudi aid to Afghan factions as reaching U.S.$2 billion during the period 1991-93, with Gulbuddin Hikmatyar's Hizb-i Islami as the primary recipient. During the 1993-94 period, Saudi aid amounting to U.S.$150 million was also given to the Massoud-Rabbani government following criticism by Massoud of Iranian involvement in Afghanistan's internal affairs, reported a Middle East journal. Although the Taliban became active in late 1994, it did not immediately attract Saudi assistance; the Saudi-Taliban relationship began only after Pakistan adopted the Taliban as proxies. Prince Turki al-Faisal Saud, head of the Saudi General Intelligence Agency, traveled to Pakistan in July 1996; shortly thereafter Saudi Arabia became the Taliban's main financial supporter.

    Saudi assistance to the Taliban has at times extended beyond the strictly financial to encompass military and organizational assistance. Western journalists saw white-painted C-130 Hercules transport aircraft which they identified as Saudi Arabian at Qandahar airport in 1996 delivering artillery and small-arms ammunition to Taliban soldiers. The Taliban security service, the Ministry of Enforcement of Virtue and Suppression of Vice, bears the same name as its sister service in Saudi Arabia and has been funded directly by Saudi Arabia; this relatively generous funding-as compared to the general poverty of other government organs in the Taliban administration-enabled it to become the most powerful agency within the Islamic Emirate.

    Following the reported cut-off of official Saudi assistance in 1998, significant funds continued to flow to the Taliban from private Saudi sources. Some of this money has been raised by Saudi individuals dedicated to the Taliban cause; much of the rest comes in the form of charitable activity, some of which may be allocated to military purposes.

    Osama bin Laden has a long history of involvement in Afghanistan. Although he did not work with CIA-supported elements of the Afghan resistance to the Soviet Union, an unclassified U.S. State Department report identified him as a significant supporter of the mujahidin. Bin Laden, whose family fortune was made through construction contracts with the Saudi government, reportedly supplied earth-moving equipment and skilled personnel during the Soviet war to dig underground hospitals, mountain roads, and bunkers. He is also reported to have given financial support to several hundred Arab mujahidin including some of the suspects in the World Trade Centre assault.

    Following the reported cut-off of official Saudi assistance in 1998, significant funds continued to flow to the Taliban from private Saudi sources. Some of this money has been raised by Saudi individuals dedicated to the Taliban cause; much of the rest comes in the form of charitable activity, some of which may be allocated to military purposes.
    Since 1998 Bin Laden has sheltered from his pursuers in the Taliban-held sectors of Afghanistan. While the Taliban's decision not to extradite or expel Bin Laden has been presented as a function of Islamic codes of chivalry and courtesy, which require the protection of guests from harm, it is also a product of calculated self-interest. It is thought that Bin Laden has continued to serve as a source of funds for the Taliban, paying for their protection of him, even though much of his personal fortune-estimated to total U.S.$300 million-was frozen by Saudi authorities following the embassy bombings. He is also reported to maintain, at his own expense, a 400-man unit of non-Afghan fighters-the 055 Brigade-at the Rishikor base southwest of Kabul which serves as an assault force for the Taliban forces fighting north of the capital. According to reports, Western intelligence sources have stated that Saudi Arabia offered as much as U.S.$400 million to the Taliban in exchange for Bin Laden, an offer which succeeded in causing some divisions within the Taliban leadership.Top

     

    DELTA SUSPENDS DUBAI-NEW YORK SERVICE

    AMERICAN CARRIER LOOKS TO RESUME SERVICE NEXT YEAR

    Dubai, October 3, 2001 - Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) has announced the continued suspension of its thrice-weekly Dubai-New York JFK service citing the severe economic downturn in global air transport demand.Delta says the suspension is expected to last until at least March next year but is hopeful that once demand for travel returns to normal levels, it will be able to re-instate the service.

    "We have made this decision with a heavy heart as we had hoped to continue a long and uninterrupted presence in Dubai," said Paul G. Matsen, Delta's Senior Vice President International and Alliances. "Let me reiterate that we do, however, hope to return to Dubai in the future.

    "The recent tragedy in the U.S. has severely affected our business to the point where Delta has been forced to eliminate a number of flights. Delta is not alone in making these decisions, airlines from around the world are having to suspend a number of services in order to reduce costs."In addition, in international markets, Delta is also suspending through to March 15, 2002, flights from John F. Kennedy airport in New York to Tokyo, Munich, Dublin, Shannon, Cairo, Zurich and Brussels, while service to Stockholm will be suspended indefinitely.

    Last week, Delta said that due to dramatically lower demand for air travel following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and resulting unprecedented financial losses, the company would reduce staffing by up to 13,000 jobs across all major work groups over the next few months, with a significant number of reductions expected to come through voluntary programmes. The airline said it also planned to reduce capacity by 15% from November 1, 2001 as measured by available seat miles from the level of service provided before September 11, 2001.

    Delta is also adjusting its short-term fleet plan in line with its schedule reductions. The current fleet plan provides for accelerated retirement of various aircraft, temporary grounding of aircraft and possible delay of new aircraft deliveries. Current plans call for up to 60 aircraft being grounded at any given time. Delta will continually review that strategy based on demand and operational needs.Delta will continue to have a network sales and reservations presence in the Emirates through Sharaf Travel in Dubai and Sultan Bin Yousuf Travels in Abu Dhabi.

    October 3, 2001

    Afghanistan: EURO 4 million EC emergency aid

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    Brussels: The European Commission released details of its emergency decision to allocate a further €4 million for the crisis in Afghanistan. The funds, managed by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), are being deployed in support of the relief efforts of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This financing decision comes on top of the €23.3 million in humanitarian aid already provided this year for Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries, bringing the total so far in 2001 to €27.3 million. This aid will be channelled through ECHO, which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson.

    This €4 million is designed to address the needs of the displaced Afghan populations wherever they are in the region such as Pakistan and Iran, but also in lesser numbers in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The decision will also allow the continuation of humanitarian assistance to Afghans inside their country via cross-border operations where conditions allow.

    €2 million has been allocated to UNHCR for the provision of non-food items such as tents and blankets and also for the deployment of three emergency teams in the region. This money will cover the needs of 100 000 people. €1 million has been earmarked for the WFP's logistical work (trucking and airlift capacity, telecommunications and warehousing) which is vital in ensuring that food supplies can be delivered to those who are most in need. ICRC will receive €1 million for its food aid operation to assist 40 000 displaced families. It includes rice, ghee and split peas.The Commission is also preparing a request to the Council and Parliament to release a further €25 million from the budget reserve to help deal with the latest escalation in the crisis. Top

    2 October 2001

    Microsoft Roadshow in Dubai

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    In Dubai, The Microsoft Business Forum was held yesterday, with the OpenDoor Seminar scheduled to be held today.

    The Roadshow, which is being held in partnership with Hewlett Packard and Avaya Communication, started on the 20th of August in Pakistan and travelled to Jordan, Bahrain & Qatar, before arriving in Dubai. From Dubai it will move on to Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, Cyprus, Abu Dhabi and finally Oman. The Roadshow is also being supported by Emirates Airlines.

    "The IT industry in the region is constantly evolving and is mapping better and better with any company's business objectives", said Abdullatif Almulla, Microsoft Country Manager for UAE, Oman and Yemen. "We are therefore structuring our Roadshow series in a way that addresses specific needs and specific communities. OpenDoor will focus on updating IT professionals and developers on the latest in Microsoft technologies while The Microsoft Business Forum, on the other hand, shows business decision makers how their companies can benefit from Microsoft and its partners technology solutions."

    "OpenDoor, has been the longest running and largest seminar program in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean region for several years now and has helped many businesses around the region build cutting edge IT solutions as well as make better informed IT investment decisions," said Simon Ransom, Community Development Manager, Microsoft GEM. "We are now extending this concept to include a business forum in each country that will present a sound business value proposition to decision makers, especially those of small and medium sized businesses - the primary drivers of the region's economy."

    At OpenDoor, hosted specifically for IT professionals, Microsoft and its partners will present updates on Windowsxp, the latest version of the Windows operating system that will launch internationally in October. OpenDoor will also include multiple sessions looking at various levels and aspects of security; security on desktop applications, security while browsing or creating applications for the internet as well as security for companies while staying connected to the internet. Sessions will also focus on Microsoft's Internet Security & Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 and other members of the .NET Enterprise Server family including Visual Studio .NET that is slated for release soon. The OpenDoor developer track will lay emphasis on Office XP web components in developing applications for the .NET future.

    The Microsoft Business Forum, which was hosted for business decisions makers yesterday, included sessions on business productivity and project management, decision support systems and information for mobile workers. "The forum is an opportunity for business decision makers in the region to better understand the clear business advantages that can be gained through the implementation of technology," added Ramson.

    "The Microsoft Business Forum is a non-technical event that draws clear connections between business objectives such as productivity, profit maximisation, market expansion, return on investment, etc. and technology adoption". In select countries, the Roadshow will also include Microsoft for Partners, an event for Microsoft resellers around the region and OpenDoor Education for the student community and university faculty members.

    IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR DUBAI SAYS H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED


    October 3, 2001

    Dubai: HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, today declared 'Business As Usual' in Dubai as he officially opened one of the Middle East's acknowledged 'mega' trade shows.

    Accompanied by a strong delegation of Dubai government and business VIPs, HH General Sheikh Mohammed inaugurated the Index 2001 international furnishings and design exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The show, which features 1,150 exhibitors from over 50 countries and fills all DWTC halls, including the new hall 8 and two temporary outdoor pavilions, is the largest in the event's 11-year-history."Business in Dubai is normal and everything is going ahead as planned," HH told reporters. "The international situation has had no major impact on business activities here. The use of the word 'war' in relation to the situation is wrong. What it is, is an operation against terrorists."

    HH General Sheikh Mohammed spent well over an hour touring Index 2001 during which time he visited all of the 20 national pavilions at the show. He was escorted by Bernard Walsh, Managing Director, dmg Index Exhibitions Limited, which organises the show.

    Sheikh Mohammed praised Index and congratulated dmg Index on delivering an event, which he said, was "world-class, equal to anything which can be seen in Milan or any other international trade show destination."

    After touring the show, HH General Sheikh Mohammed met with the President of the American Business Council of Dubai and the Northern Emirates, T.B. McClelland, Jr.

    "We came today to thank His Highness and the Government of Dubai for their hospitality and assurances of safety for American companies operating here and US citizens living here," said Mr McClelland.

    Commenting on any impact on US companies in the area, McClelland said: "It is difficult to claim that all sectors have emerged unscathed, some have been affected, some have not. The furnishing sector appears to have been unaffected and we can see that plainly at Index 2001 where there is an active American pavilion."

    Index 2001 is the largest exhibition to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and the biggest show of its kind in the Middle East. Bernard Walsh said the show had been largely unscathed by the events of September 11 with only half a dozen exhibitors cancelling.

    "Being the first of the region's mega shows, Index 2001 can quite rightly be judged as a vote of confidence in Dubai and in the regional marketplace," said Walsh.Index 2001, which also features its sister Arabshop show for the retail fittings market, is 8% bigger in terms of nett floor space than last year and Arabshop, for the first time, has official German participation. Italy is once again fielding the largest official Index group while 131 exhibitors are from throughout the GCC.

    Index 2001 runs at the DWTC until next Sunday night (October 7). The show is open to trade only on October 3,4,6 and 7, from 9.30am until 1pm. It is open each evening from 5pm-9pm when the public will also be allowed admission on payment of a Dhs20 entrance fee. Children under 14 are not admitted.

    Among the VIP party touring the show were: HE Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director General, Department of Information, Government of Dubai; Mattar Al Tayer, UAE Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; Sultan Bin Sulayem, Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai Ports Authority; Khalid Bin Sulayem, Director General, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai; Mohammed Al Gergawi, CEO, TEKOM; Mohammed Al Abbar, Director General, Department of Economic Affairs, Government of Dubai; Col. Saaed Bin Belaila, Director General of Naturalisation and Residency Department; Mohammed Al Zarouni, Director, Dubai Airport Free Zone; Brigadier Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Head of Dubai Police; Qassim Sultan, Director General, Dubai Municipality; Obaid Al Tayer, President, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ahmed Al Banna, Assistant Director General Studies and Research Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ahmed Al Matrooshi, Director General of Dubai Development Board as well as numerous ambassadors, commercial consuls and attaches.


     

    Ahmed Al Banna, Assistant Director General Studies and Research Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ahmed Al Matrooshi, Director General of Dubai Development Board as well as numerous ambassadors, commercial consuls and attaches.