June 10 2005
India and Australia Agreement for Protecting Whales
India and Australia have agreed to enhance cooperation in dealing with issues related to proper conservation and protection of whales. This was indicated at a meeting between the Minister for Environment and Forests, Thiru A. Raja, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia Mr. Alexander Downer, here today. Stating that Australia is committed towards protecting whales and to facilitate the recovery of all whale populations, Mr Downer emphasized the need for pursuing an international ban on commercial whaling.Speaking on the occasion, Thiru Raja reiterated India’s commitment to continue supporting ban on commercial whaling. He further added that India has always stood for non-consumptive use of wildlife wealth and is against killing of endangered species.Thiru Raja also informed the visiting Minister that emission of green house gases by India is very low, both in terms of per capita as well as aggregate emissions, amounting to about 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. He further stated that India is in favour of all countries joining hands in mitigation of problems brought by climate change.
PHASE-I TRIAL OF AIDS VACCINE TO BEGIN THIS MONTH
The phase-I trial of Adeno Associated Virus Vaccine against AIDS is planned for June,2005. Clinical trials of the vaccine has already commenced in February, 2005. Announcing this at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies’ Conference on Task Force on HIV/AIDS in Washington on Tuesday, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said that the Indian Council of Medical Research, the National AIDS Control Organisation in collaboration with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative are developing the HIV sub-type C vaccine.Dr. Ramadoss gave an overview of the action taken by the Government of India and said that the latest estimates have shown 5.124 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the country. He said, there is no room for complacence in our efforts to control HIV/AIDS. He said, the focus was on behaviour change communications and the effort was to ensure that vulnerable populations avoid high risk behaviour.
On ART therapy, the Minister said that since April, 2004, 25 ART Centres in 13 states of the country are offering free ART services. He said that the National Council on AIDS is under constitution and the structure of the National AIDS Committee and the National AIDS Control Board are being revamped. The process of independent evaluation of the National AIDS Control Programme has also been started with the objective of studying all components of the programme including the process of HIV estimation. He said, the future challenge was to scale up and diversify the responses and in this, the Government was looking for public-private partnership and involvement of the corporate sector. He also said that the Government was looking at strengthening and accreditation of HIV testing laboratories and blood banks and scaling up anti-retroviral therapy for 100,000 patients by setting up more ART centers by 2007.
Qatar Airways bags Major World Airlines Awards, Voted Among Top 10 Airlines In The World
9 June 2005 Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways has continued its award-winning streak by securing a string of accolades in the annual World Airline Awards 2005 carried out by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency. Qatar Airways has held onto the coveted Five Star award for excellence, service and high standards, being one of only four airlines in the world – and the only Middle East carrier – to earn such an illustrious accolade.
The airline has also been voted as having the Best First Class and Business Class products in the Middle East.Qatar Airways’ cabin crew have retained their award-winning status by being named Best in the Middle East for the third year running, while maintaining their position as 5th best inflight crew in the world. The Doha-based carrier also holds onto the prestigious ranking of being voted among the top 10 airlines in the world for the second year running.
Qatar Airways’ First Class lounge in Doha, the airline’s operational hub, has been named among the top 10 in the world – and best in the Middle East – for its facilities and high service levels. And Qatar Airways’ inflight cuisine across all three cabins – First, Business and Economy – has been widely recognised as being among the best in the world, achieving top 10 status once again. With over 375 airlines featuring in the awards and voting by more than 12 million passengers worldwide, the survey is regarded as totally independent – free of outside or financial influences. It is the only airline survey that achieves a truly global audience comprising more than 94 different respondent nationalities in 2005.
With a superior inflight service, Qatar Airways’ First Class and Business Class products feature seats that recline into beds, 15-inch personal TV screens – the largest of any Middle East carrier – and a fully-interactive Audio and Video entertainment system. First Class passengers are provided with that extra personal touch, chauffeur driven in 7-series BMWs to and from their aircraft at Doha International Airport.Qatar Airways beat fierce competition from regional neighbours to also win the cabin crew award for the third year running, having first earned the honour in 2003. The best cabin crew award was based on a number of quality attributes covering a variety of areas that included; assistance during boarding, welcoming passengers, service efficiency, applying safety procedures, language skills, problem solving ability, enthusiasm, sincerity of staff, friendliness and staff presentation and grooming.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker expressed delight at the achievements which he said recognised the sheer hard work and determination of staff who have made the airline a success it is today. “Qatar Airways was just a small airline with only a handful of routes and destinations at the time of its relaunch in 1997. Today we operate to 63 destinations around the world with a young and modern fleet which is growing at a phenomenal rate,” he said. “The pressures of growth have been enormous, but our employees on the ground and in the air have risen to the challenge. As an airline we have matured very quickly and being recognised among a highly competitive list of established and well-respected airlines is a huge honour.
“Qatar Airways is no longer a small player in a big market. We can compete with the bigger players who have been around a lot longer than us and recognition demonstrates our ability to prove to the global marketplace that we can successfully compete and prove our standards are among the best in the world.” Qatar Airways currently operates scheduled flights from Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, to 63 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and the Far East. New destinations added in recent weeks have included Osaka, Tunis, Algiers and Mashad. By the end of 2005, the airline plans to serve at least 70 destinations, including Alexandria from June 9 and the Greek capital Athens, starting on June 15.
Qatar Airways operates a modern all-Airbus fleet of 40 aircraft which will double in size over the next few years following a $5.1bn order for 34 additional Airbus jets signed in 2003. The airline is one of the launch customers of the twin-deck A380 ‘super jumbos’ with four aircraft on order, scheduled for delivery from 2009. Its current fleet includes the Airbus A330 long-haul aircraft, one of the most spacious jets in the sky featuring Qatar Airways’ seat-cum-flat beds in First and Business Class. With an award-winning interactive Audio Video On Demand system which allows passengers in all three classes to view a large selection of programmes on their individual TV screens and listen to scores of audio options, Qatar Airways is simply an airline of choice.
Keralamonitor.com June 7 2005
India Pakistan Agreement for Transnational Gas Pipeline
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF MANI SHANKAR AIYAR’S DISCUSSIONS WITH PAKISTANI LEADERS
India and Pakistan have agreed to give top priority to transnational pipeline projects as there would be substantial advantage to both countries in pursuing and realizing cooperation in these projects to serve their energy security interest, and to create linkages and interdependencies for establishing an enduring relationship between the two countries. This was emphasized in the joint press statement issued at Islamabad today at the conclusion of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar’s discussions with his Pakistani counterpart and other leaders and the two day delegation level talks between the two countries on the subject. Earlier in the morning, Shri Aiyar called on the President of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf earlier today. During the hour long meeting he briefed the President about his discussions with his Pakistani counterpart and other leaders. General Musharraf extended his blessings to the attempts of the two Petroleum Ministers to conclude all preliminary matters expeditiously with regard to realization of the proposed transnational gas pipeline projects.The following is the text of the joint statement:
“In accordance with the Joint Press Statement of April 18, 2005, in New Delhi by the President of Pakistan, His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Mr. Manmohan Singh, it was agreed that the Ministers of Petroleum and Natural Gas would meet to explore cooperation on the issue of pipelines. Accordingly, the Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj, Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, visited Pakistan at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources of Pakistan, between June 5-7, 2005. The two Ministers discussed cooperation between India and Pakistan with regard to the import of gas through transnational pipelines.
In Islamabad, H.E. Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar had the honour of calling on H.E. President General Pervez Musharraf and H.E. Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz. He had a one-on-one meeting and delegation-level talks with H.E Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon. The two Ministers agreed that the transnational pipeline projects should be given top priority as there would be substantial advantage to both countries in pursuing and realizing cooperation in these projects, to serve their energy security interests, and to create linkages and inter-dependencies for establishing an enduring relationship between the two countries. They were of the shared view that, given the substantial requirements of gas their countries, the processing of pipeline projects should be accelerated.
The Indian Minister explained to the Pakistani Minister India’s requirements of gas by pipeline and the arrangements worked out by India. The Pakistan side gave a detailed presentation of the position regarding supply and demand for natural gas in Pakistan and provided an overview of the gas sector economy. The Indian Minister thanked the Pakistani side for the detailed information provided and, in turn, provided some details of arrangements made by India to import LNG and agreed to share technical information and experience in this regard with the Pakistani side.
Iran-Pakistan-India Pipeline: The two Ministers reviewed the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline proposal. They agreed that the project, which envisaged supply of gas to Pakistan and India through a transnational pipeline, would go a long way in meeting the energy security requirements of the two countries and, thus, should be seen as a significant project for the benefit of the peoples of these countries. The Indian and Pakistani delegations agreed to exchange information in regard to the financial structuring, technical, commercial, legal and related issues to realize a safe and secure world class project. To this end, it was agreed that the momentum pertaining to the project should be accelerated by constituting a Joint Working Group at the Secretary-level, which will meet regularly and report progress to the Ministers to facilitate definitive decisions by them, at the earliest.
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Pipeline: H.E. Mr. Amanullah Khan Jadoon provided the Indian Minister with details of this project in which the Indian side expressed interest. The Indian Minister confirmed that he would respond positively to an invitation to attend the next Steering Committee Meeting. Gulf South Asia (GUSA) Pipeline: The Pakistani side outlined the parameters of the proposed GUSA project and India expressed interest in participating in this project.
The Indian Minister conveyed his gratitude to H.E. Mr. Amanullah Khan Jadoon for the warm hospitality and courtesy extended to him and his delegation throughout their say in Pakistan. Minister Aiyar invited Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon to visit India to pursue transnational pipeline projects to maintain the momentum of dialogue and cooperation. The invitation was accepted. It was decided that H.E. the Pakistani Minister would visit India at the earliest convenience. It was also agreed that the Indian Minister would again visit Pakistan at mutual convenience later in the year. These visits would be preceded by meetings of the Joint Working Group, alternately in India and Pakistan, to discuss all issues relevant to the realization of world-class pipeline projects to meet the gas requirements of the two countries
Gulf Air and Oman Air Alliance for Mutual Benefit
A delegation headed by Oman Air Divisional Manager Commercial Ziad Al-Haremi, met with Gulf Air Vice President Network Fareed Al-Alawi and other senior airline commercial executives in Bahrain last week to increase the areas of co-operation and synergies that will benefit the two national carriers’ strategic partnership and their customers. Discussions centred on areas of co-operation, including the network, the loyalty programme, common pricing, sharing infrastructure, expansion of code sharing, and other opportunities to promote economic development and tourism in the airlines’ owner states. “At a time when the airline industry is facing so many challenges, it is important that we should look into ways of working together and supporting each other, to remove obstacles and create economies of scale,” said Mr Al Alawi after the discussions.
“Partnerships and co-operation hold the potential to make our industry more efficient. We will continue to explore synergies in service delivery to meet the requirements of the market and serve our customers better. “We also share the important task of promoting and encouraging economic development within this region,” he said. “Following on from the introduction of Arabian Experience, we will continue our focus, in collaboration with ministries and institutions, on developing the region’s unique tourism proposition of unparalleled natural beauty and cultural richness.” In closing the parties re-iterated their continued commitment to co-operation in pursuing shared goals and the development of the region.
INDIA AND PAK AGREE TO JOINTLY WORK TO UPLIFT POOR AND RURAL ECONOMY
India and Pakistan today agreed to work jointly in the field of local self governance (Panchayati Raj) and exchange their experience in this important field with an object to give empowerment to rural and poor people of both countries. The decision emerged after The Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar’s meeting with Mr. Daniel Aziz, Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau, the apex body in charge of local governance and development in Pakistan, at Islamabad today.
The Minister, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan regarding Iran-India gas pipeline, called on Mr. Daniel just before he left for Karachi. The two leaders also decided that work at different levels including the bilateral and multi-lateral level including SARRC. It was also decided that Pakistani National Reconstruction Bureau Chairman Daniel Aziz will visit New Delhi with 50 members of local self governance in next three months to understand the issues and problem of region. Pakistan will soon submit a draft proposal to start frequent meetings of national-level representatives of local bodies, representatives and bureaucrats handling the local bodies’ departments.
Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, said that it was an area where India can learn from Pakistan— empowerment of local bodies including village pantheist and to have district level development cadre to run the development work. Giving a further boost to the ongoing peace and trade talks, India and Pakistan have agreed to set up a formal exchange programme between the representatives of the local bodies to learn from each other’s experiences in running the local bodies at the bilateral and regional level.
How PPP is being targeted by Musharraf regime Pakistan: US-backed military regime mounts new wave of repression
Scores, possibly hundreds, of activists of Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) remain in detention after a massive crackdown launched last month by the US-backed military regime of Pervez Musharraf.Some of the PPP detainees are facing charges under Section 7-A of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act. Yet their only “crime” was to seek to organize peaceful anti-government protests.
In a statement issued last Wednesday, PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani and Naheed Khan, the political secretary of PPP Life Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, accused the government of trying to stifle the opposition with a view to rigging local body elections planned for this summer.
The attack on the PPP is part of a wider campaign of repression. The speaker of the National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan’s parliament, warned this week that legislators who criticize Musharraf for serving as both president and chief of Pakistan’s armed services could be barred from participating in the assembly. On May 3 police attacked journalists who were marking World Press Freedom Day with a demonstration outside the prime minister’s official residence. According to a report in the Dawn, the police attack all but turned “press freedom day into a police freedom day” and “was probably the roughest-ever physical handling of the press in Islamabad.”
A demonstration mounted by human rights activists May 14 to draw attention to the lack of women’s rights in Pakistan and the government’s failure to stand up to the religious right’s attempt to impose rigid sexual segregation was broken up by police, with several dozen protesters manhandled and arrested. Recently the Punjab provincial government responded to a mob attack, led by an Islamic fundamentalist legislator, on a men’s and women’s marathon by proscribing further mixed sports events.
“Forcibly preventing participation in public events by women can only act to encourage extremism, and send a message to orthodox elements that their actions are condoned by the state,” declared the non-governmental Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, in a statement deploring the police attack on the May 14 protest.
Following a longstanding practice of the Pakistani military, the Musharraf regime has actively promoted the Islamic fundamentalist right as a bulwark against the working class and the traditional ruling class parties, most notably Bhutto’s PPP and the section of the Pakistan Muslim League that has remained loyal to the elected prime minister whom Musharraf deposed, Nawaz Sharif.
The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), an alliance of six Islamic parties which has been able to garner increased support by appealing to popular opposition to the US occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, has repeatedly come to the aid of Musharraf, most infamously in December 2003, when it helped secure parliament’s adoption of a series of constitutional amendments that legitimized Musharraf’s 1999 coup and his remaining president, with significantly augmented powers, until 2007.
Many of the PPP activists were detained a month ago, when Pakistani security forces took tens of thousands of PPP members and leaders into custody so as to prevent an April 16 rally to welcome Bhutto’s husband, Asif Zardari, on his return to the country. Others were arrested May 4, when the police mounted a second wave of arrests to prevent the PPP from mounting a march the next day from the Lahore High Court to the Punjab governor’s house.
The state repression against the PPP points to the authoritarian character of the Musharraf regime—a regime the Bush administration has repeatedly praised for its contributions to the war on terrorism and commitment to building democracy. As the Asian director of Human Rights Watch said in an April 20 statement, “Democracies don’t use force to prevent peaceful gatherings.”
The mass arrests also underscore the increasing nervousness of Musharraf and the civilian government that he and the Pakistani military have constructed from defectors from the PPP, the Muslim League of Nawaz Sharif, and other members of the country’s business and political elite.
Musharraf is rightly seen by broad sections of the Pakistani people as a pliant ally of the Bush administration in its policy of neo-colonial aggression in the Middle East and Central Asia. The policy reversals Musharraf has been compelled to make by Washington, including withdrawing support for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and opening peace talks with India, have also rankled much of the country’s elite, because they cut across their traditional interests and ambitions.
Musharraf and his prime minister, former Citibank official Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, routinely boast that Pakistan’s economy is taking off. But it is widely conceded in the press that the privatization and retrenchment policies of the regime have resulted in growing poverty and social inequality and that these have been compounded in recent months by a spurt in inflation, which is currently running at an annual rate of more than 10 percent.
In an attempt to shore up his rule, Musharraf has for months been conducting secret negotiations with the PPP leadership. Bhutto and Zardari have reputedly offered to endorse the general remaining president for two more years in exchange for his agreeing to the staging of new elections this year, rather than in 2007. To facilitate a reconciliation, the authorities arranged for Zardari, who faces a number of corruption and other criminal charges, to be released last November on bail after eight years in jail. Then they permitted him to leave the country to visit his family and consult with Bhutto, who, for fear of herself being hauled before the Pakistani courts on corruption charges, has taken up residence in Dubai. But even if the PPP leadership has bent over backwards to demonstrate its readiness to deal with Musharraf and repeatedly affirmed that the military is the bulwark of the Pakistani state, so isolated is the regime that it dare not allow the PPP to make any public display of its popular support.
To thwart the April 16 PPP welcome rally for Zardari, the Punjab provincial government, which is led by the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q), invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Designed by the British colonial authorities, Section 144 makes gathering of four or more persons illegal.
Beginning on April 14, large numbers of PPP leaders and party workers were taken into police custody. More than 25,000 police and paramilitary forces were mobilized in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab and the country’s second largest city, to detain PPP activists. Travel in much of the country was disrupted, as all trains to Lahore were cancelled, flights diverted and the Punjab’s borders temporarily sealed.
The government admits that 5,000 people were taken into custody, including many PPP National Assembly members and provincial legislators. Other accounts put the number of arrests in the tens of thousands. Zardari, who was himself briefly taken into custody on his arrival at Lahore airport, told the BBC that as many as 70,000 PPP members had been detained and that a significant number were physically abused. PPP provincial assemblywoman Azma Bokhari was so badly roughed up she had to be admitted to hospital.
The legislators and other top PPP leaders were released in the days immediately after April 16. But this has not put an end to the incarceration and harassment of PPP supporters.
The government crackdown has been condemned by the entire opposition, including the MMA. In a rare show of anti-government unity, all opposition legislators walked out of the Senate April 22 to protest the attack on the PPP.
The PPP leadership has contrasted the repression of its welcome rally for Zardari with the hands-off approach the government took to a recent “million man” series of rallies the MMA held to demand that Musharraf give up at least one of his two key state posts.
While there is no doubt that the government has frequently given a boost to the MMA, the PPP is no more capable than the Islamic right of mounting a consistent and genuine popular struggle against the Musharraf regime. The PPP looks to the military to defend the property and privileges of the ruling elite against Pakistan’s toiling masses and appeals to the US and other imperialist powers for support in loosening the military’s grip on political power. If Bhutto and Zardari have not come to a deal with Musharraf, it is because the general fears parting with any real measure of power and because his plans to cut a deal with the PPP have triggered a quasi-revolt in the ranks of his own “court” party, the pro-military PML (Q).
Speaking two weeks after the beginning of the anti-PPP crackdown, Zatdari tried to put some distance between himself and the military regime, saying the PPP had no interest in gaining power through the “backdoor.” But his comments pointed to the true rule of the PPP as a party that uses populist appeals to garner mass support, but speaks for a section of the Pakistani bourgeoisie. According to the Dawn, the PPP leader “said the ‘establishment people’ were in a mess and the PPP wanted to open for them a door out of this situation.”
MOTOROLA E680 DELIVERS MULTIMEDIA AND MOBILITY ON DEMAND
Delivering the Optimum in Multi-Media Content for Mobile Music Enthusiasts, New Model E680 Fuses Connectivity with Entertainment
Muscat, Oman, 7 June, 2005 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a global leader in wireless communications recently introduced the new Motorola E680 in the region.Created to spark excitement from mobile music and video visionaries, the model E680 offers innovative entertainment functionality - with 3D stereo surround sound speakers, RealPlayer™ software, MP3 music download and playback, and an integrated VGA camera for picture/video capture and playback in portrait or landscape mode. Rounding out this powerful feature set, the model E680 boasts a 50MB in-built memory and a personal removable SD/MMC memory card for downloading of up-to 1 GB of memory – promising that this mobile has the bandwidth to support all of the features bundled into its palm-sized package.
Designed with an 8-way navigation key, vibe sync feature , and J2ME™ technology for downloading music, 3D games, screensavers, musical ringtones and more*, the model E680 beats any moment of boredom with ease. Providing an ideal complement to these entertainment features, Bluetooth® wireless technology, extensive PIM functionality with picture caller-ID* and Instant Messaging Support offer seamless connectivity and content. “The commercial availability in the Middle East of the model E680 is the latest example of our commitment to Motorola’s global music initiative,” said Patrick Mulligan, Area Director for Motorola´s Mobile Devices Business. “For consumers, who desire the combination of whimsical and practical, features such as surround sound speakers, video playback and record of up to 2 hours, 3D graphics and the ability to transfer downloads onto a PC via USB or Bluetooth® Wireless technology make the Motorola E680 the ultimate mobile companion.”
BATELCO Jordan Awarded First Individual License in Jordan
Batelco Jordan has been awarded the country’s first ‘individual license’ by Jordan’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) in a move that kick starts the liberalization of Jordan’s telecoms market and paves the way for further developments in Middle Eastern communications industry. Batelco Jordan was formed as a result of the 2001 merger between NETS – Jordan’s leading online service provider, First Telecommunications Group – the country’s first data communications company, and Batelco Middle East – which now owns a majority share in Batelco Jordan.
The three-way partnership was named Batelco Jordan and represents the first major regional investment in Jordan’s telecommunications sector. “Batelco Jordan secured the license by fully complying with the TRC’s requirements and providing evidence of the company’s comprehensive technical plans, cutting edge expertise and its commitment to developing communications in Jordan,” explained HE Muna Nijem, CEO of Jordan’s TRC. “Consumers across Jordan and throughout the Middle East will soon see the benefits that competition can bring to the communications market through cost-efficient, state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructures.”
Full liberalization of the Jordanian telecoms market means that Batelco Jordan is now poised to provide a cutting-edge service to its new customers by capitalizing on the latest echnological developments to build a state of the art infrastructure which integrates voice, video, and data and provides a host of new and exciting products and services. “Securing this license is a resounding endorsement of our vision for extending communications across Jordan,” says Marwan Juma, Chief Executive Officer for Batelco Jordan. “This license will make a real difference in what we can offer the consumer and contribute to Jordan’s telecoms market.”
“Batelco Jordan will provide consumers with high-quality, cost-efficient valuable services and we will – through SMART technologies – take Jordan forward in huge leaps into the wider world of global communications,” explained Marwan. “The people of Jordan will welcome the element of choice and the contribution we can make in terms of employment opportunities.” Batelco Jordan is currently the country’s leading data communications and web development and hosting provider, serving tens of thousands of Jordanians and catering to all sectors of the economy – ranging from individual prepaid Internet subscribers to the largest multi-nationals.
At present, the company’s products and services include Jordan’s largest frame-relay network, connecting banks, multi-branch companies and government offices; broadband IP connectivity in the form of leased lines and ADSL as well as dial-up Internet; web-based solutions, interactive sites and hosting services. The scope and number of services which Batelco Jordan will offer customers as a direct result of this license being granted is set to take Jordan’s telecoms market to new highs in terms of quality and state-of-the-art product offerings. “Batelco’s domestic strengths - combined with the company’s strong working relationship with Cable & Wireless and its joint ventures in Jordan, Kuwait (Qualitynet) and Egypt (Batelco Egypt Communications S.A.E.) – mean that Batelco can offer multi-national companies an unrivalled range of products and services,” says Peter Kaliaropoulos, Chief Executive at Batelco and Chairman of Batelco Middle East.
Nakheel "Thank You Dinner" for students of the American
University of Dubai
6 June, 2005 Nakheel, the UAE's leading property developer, last night held a "Thank
You Dinner" at Jumeirah Beach Hotel for all students and staff who contributed to the success of this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM). ATM, recognised as the leading industry event for the Middle East and Pan-Arab region, took place from May 3 – 6 2005 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Nakheel captured the world’s attention by showcasing all of its mega projects together on what was the largest stand space in the history of the ATM.This is the third year Nakheel has worked with UAE universities to recruit students to offer support on the Nakheel stand at ATM. This year Nakheel employed both local and international students from the American University of Dubai. Before the event, the students underwent an in-depth training programme; not only to equip them with an extensive knowledge of Nakheel's projects, but also with the necessary people skills and industry knowledge that an experienced sales executive in the market would possess.
The dinner was attended by over fifty staff and students, and was a token of appreciation for their sterling efforts at ATM. Sales Manager Manal Shaheen presented certificates to the students in recognition of their achievements. James Wilson, Nakheel Chief Executive said, "ATM was a huge success for Nakheel – the show's largest stand also saw some of the show's largest crowds. The students' support was invaluable, and their professionalism and commitment over the four days of ATM was impressive. We hope to continue such a mutually beneficial relationship with the American University of Dubai."
Noor Al Geziry, a third year student majoring in Graphic Design, said "The experience I gained working on the stand with one of Dubai's most visionary companies, at one of the year's most important exhibitions, was both thrilling and educational." Habib Mohammed Saeed al Alaqili, a fourth year student majoring in Marketing similarly enjoyed the event, "The initial training and ATM itself was my first real life experience of training and working in a professional environment. I would love to continue gaining such professional experience; as the late Sheikh Zayed said "Nations are not made by cement, they are made by people."
Ibn Battuta Mall ready to “mall” competition with region’s first Megaplex
June 6, 2005 Ibn Battuta Mall, the world’s largest themed mall, has cemented its reputation as a destination for leisure and entertainment after a red-carpet screening of the Hollywood blockbuster Sahara raised the curtain on the Middle East’s first 21 screen Megaplex. More than 500 VIPs and members of the press were in attendance at the lavish cocktail reception as Nakheel Executive Chairman, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem (pictured), cut the ribbon to the newest and by far the largest addition to the Grand Cinema chain. Grand Megaplex 21 Screens features cutting-edge technology with automated cinemas, wall-to-wall screens, stadium seats with extra leg room, full digital sound, and an ultra stylish lobby. The cinema currently seats more than 3,000 people, but will host an additional 350 when the IMAX theatre opens next month.
Since the launch of Ibn Battuta in April, the mall has exceeded all expectations and the addition of the state-of-the art cinema is expected to draw even more visitors from all over the region.Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “Nakheel took great care when designing Ibn Battuta Mall so that it would provide shoppers with an exciting and varied shopping experience, but also a wealth of entertainment and leisure facilities. A Fitness First gym will open over the summer months and now this stunning 21 screen cinema gives visitors a focal point for leisure activity at Ibn Battuta Mall in addition to the diverse offering of restaurants and eclectic range of shopping.”
Guests to the launch, which featured a spectacular laser light show, welcomed the arrival of Grand Megaplex 21 Screens to the already impressive mall, praising its cutting-edge facilities.Speaking after the screening, one VIP said: “The new cinema is stunning; I’ve already visited Ibn Battuta Mall several times, obviously because of the shopping, but also because of the stunning architecture which is a draw in itself. Now I have this amazing cinema on my doorstep - I feel very lucky!” Another visitor added: “Ibn Battuta Mall keeps on getting better and better. I live at The Gardens so it is really convenient to have all these facilities nearby. I can’t wait for the gym to open!” Gulf Film took the decision to locate their largest cinema to date at Ibn Battuta Mall because of its strategic location and proximity to key residential and retail projects such as The Palm, Jumeirah; The Palm, Jebel Ali; Jumeirah Lake Towers; Jumeirah Islands; Discovery Gardens; The Gardens; and other surrounding developments.
By the end of 2004, the population within a 5-minute driving vicinity from Ibn Battuta Mall was around 150,000 and this is expected to reach 275,000 by 2008. More significantly, by 2008, more than 880,000 people will be living within a 15-minute drive from the mall. Additionally, some 600,000 tourists per annum, who stay in hotels within a 15-minute radius, will visit the Mall as a recreational complex. A spokesperson from Gulf Film LLC said: “Grand Megaplex 21 Screens is our most ambitious project to date and we are geared to make it one of the most outstanding cinema experiences in the Middle East. Our partnership with Nakheel is driven by our commitment to the highest standards, matching the vision of Nakheel as the developers of Ibn Battuta Mall.”
Ibn Battuta Mall ready to “mall” competition with region’s first Megaplex
June 6, 2005 Ibn Battuta Mall, the world’s largest themed mall, has cemented its reputation as a destination for leisure and entertainment after a red-carpet screening of the Hollywood blockbuster Sahara raised the curtain on the Middle East’s first 21 screen Megaplex.More than 500 VIPs and members of the press were in attendance at the lavish cocktail reception as Nakheel Executive Chairman, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem (pictured), cut the ribbon to the newest and by far the largest addition to the Grand Cinema chain.
Grand Megaplex 21 Screens features cutting-edge technology with automated cinemas, wall-to-wall screens, stadium seats with extra leg room, full digital sound, and an ultra stylish lobby. The cinema currently seats more than 3,000 people, but will host an additional 350 when the IMAX theatre opens next month. Since the launch of Ibn Battuta in April, the mall has exceeded all expectations and the addition of the state-of-the art cinema is expected to draw even more visitors from all over the region.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “Nakheel took great care when designing Ibn Battuta Mall so that it would provide shoppers with an exciting and varied shopping experience, but also a wealth of entertainment and leisure facilities. A Fitness First gym will open over the summer months and now this stunning 21 screen cinema gives visitors a focal point for leisure activity at Ibn Battuta Mall in addition to the diverse offering of restaurants and eclectic range of shopping.” Guests to the launch, which featured a spectacular laser light show, welcomed the arrival of Grand Megaplex 21 Screens to the already impressive mall, praising its cutting-edge facilities.
Speaking after the screening, one VIP said: “The new cinema is stunning; I’ve already visited Ibn Battuta Mall several times, obviously because of the shopping, but also because of the stunning architecture which is a draw in itself. Now I have this amazing cinema on my doorstep - I feel very lucky!”Another visitor added: “Ibn Battuta Mall keeps on getting better and better. I live at The Gardens so it is really convenient to have all these facilities nearby. I can’t wait for the gym to open!” Gulf Film took the decision to locate their largest cinema to date at Ibn Battuta Mall because of its strategic location and proximity to key residential and retail projects such as The Palm, Jumeirah; The Palm, Jebel Ali; Jumeirah Lake Towers; Jumeirah Islands; Discovery Gardens; The Gardens; and other surrounding developments.
By the end of 2004, the population within a 5-minute driving vicinity from Ibn Battuta Mall was around 150,000 and this is expected to reach 275,000 by 2008. More significantly, by 2008, more than 880,000 people will be living within a 15-minute drive from the mall. Additionally, some 600,000 tourists per annum, who stay in hotels within a 15-minute radius, will visit the Mall as a recreational complex. A spokesperson from Gulf Film LLC said: “Grand Megaplex 21 Screens is our most ambitious project to date and we are geared to make it one of the most outstanding cinema experiences in the Middle East. Our partnership with Nakheel is driven by our commitment to the highest standards, matching the vision of Nakheel as the developers of Ibn Battuta Mall.”
Dubai Techno Park to target top European companies at UAE-Italy Economic Partnership Forum 2005
Techno Park will showcase its world-class facilities and services at the Forum with the aim to attract Italian and European investment
June 06, 2005 Dubai Techno Park, the leading local economic zone in the Middle East, is to participate in the UAE-Italy Economic Partnership Forum 2005 that will be held in Milan, Italy, from June 8-10, 2005, and will seek to attract Italian and European investment in the Park. Announcing the decision, Abdullah Ahmed Al Qurashi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Techno Park, said: "Dubai Techno Park is a world-class industrial complex and a centre for hi-tech manufacturing for local and international companies. Techno Park is located in the heart of Dubai's industrial zone, and offers facilities and services comparable to the best in the world, making it an ideal investment destination. The decision to participate in the Forum is part of Techno Park's larger efforts to strengthen ties with European nations."
"The UAE-Italy Economic Partnership Forum provides an excellent platform for us to interact with top Italian companies and encourage them to set up operations in Techno Park. We will showcase the wide range of facilities and services we offer companies investing in the Techno Park and will seek to impress upon European companies the benefits of investing in the Park," he added. The UAE-Italy Economic Partnership Forum, which is jointly organized by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Planning and the Federation of UAE Chamber of Commerce and Industries, will focus on the attractive investment opportunities in the UAE and will explore the possibility of leading Italian companies investing in the Emirates. Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) are participant sponsors of the event.The UAE-Italy Economic Partnership Forum is part of a larger campaign by the UAE to attract international investors to the country
