Airport and public sector employees strike brings nation to a standstill
9/11: A barrel of conspiracies
Time to take India seriously: Saudi experts
Jeddah, Sept. 28: India is on the move and it is about time for Saudis and Arabs not only to discover the country’s different aspects but also to take them seriously. This was the conclusion of a recent seminar on the historic links between India and the Arab world.Organised by the Consulate General of India and the Saudi-Indian Business Network (SIBN), the seminar which took place on Sunday was one of the highlights of the ongoing India Festival in Jeddah. Among the participants in the seminar were Dr Abdullah Omar Naseef, former secretary-general of the influential Makkah-based Muslim World League; Dr Rashad bin Hashim Hassan, vice chairman of the establishment in charge of South Asian pilgrims; Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of Jeddah-based Arab News; and Zahid Ali Khan, editor in chief of Hyderabad-based Urdu daily Siasat. Full Report
September 29 2005 keralamonitor.com
Gulf Air Strategic Plans for Abu Dhabi Withdrawal
Manama, Bahrain: Gulf Air has announced that the process to ensure the smooth withdrawal of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi over the next six months has commenced. With the Governments of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain reinforcing their commitment to the continuity and ongoing development of the airline, a task force has been formed to oversee some key actions to help ensure the most appropriate size and shape of Gulf Air in the future. Over the next 90 days, the team will deliver an enhanced strategic plan having fully reviewed the company’s organisational structure and route network. “As we complete the smooth withdrawal of Abu Dhabi from its position as a shareholder, we are going to focus far more on a two-hub strategy, in Bahrain and in Muscat,” said Gulf Air President and Chief Executive James Hogan. “As a result, we must look at every element of our business, to establish whether we have the right systems, the right structures and the right focus to meet this two-hub strategy.”When Abu Dhabi’s decision was originally announced, he added, it was stated that the core approach to business and the core business strategy would remain absolutely the same – and this remains true.
“We will continue to operate under a strict commercial mandate, basing every decision on commercial grounds. We will continue to develop the award-winning services that define us as a leading boutique brand, with the best regional and Middle East network and both our leading brands. It is very much business as usual,” said Mr Hogan.There are however some areas in which Gulf Air will now have the opportunity to embrace positive change. “A two-hub strategy gives us the opportunity to review our network and bring in even greater business synergies in route planning,” he said.“It also gives us the opportunity to review our business operations and our cost base to ensure the long-term future prosperity of the airline.At the end of the 90 days the new strategic direction will be submitted to the board for review, at which time a further announcement will be made.
Project Falcon was a recovery plan for Gulf Air, getting its business back into sustainable commercial shape and this has been achieved. Since then, Gulf Air has come under tremendous pressure as a result of fuel price rises. “Every $1 increase in the price of fuel is costing Gulf Air more than $6 million a year – and we have seen many price surges this year,” said Vice President Finance Ahmed Al Hammadi. “We are not alone in facing pressure from fuel prices. IATA, the airline industry association, earlier this month announced it estimated total airline losses this year would reach more than $7 billion as a result of the fuel price rises.“We have applied fuel surcharges where the competitive environment has allowed us to do so - but on many routes, we have been unable to impose them. That means the surcharges have covered only a small part of the extra costs from fuel.”
Hughes Faces Female Wrath in Turkey, S. Arabia
US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes, tasked with improving the badly battered US image in the Arab and Muslim worlds, was harshly criticized by Turkish women over the US Middle East policies. Facing a second critical reception on her Middle East tour after a similar encounter in Saudi Arabia, Turkish women activists Wednesday, September 29, grilled the US envoy over the US-led invasion of Iraq and the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
"You cannot bring in war for the sake of peace. The United States cannot interfere in the democracy problem and solve it through war," Feray Sazman, a women's rights leader, told Hughes during a meeting in an Ankara museum. Hughes was in Turkey on the last leg of a regional tour aimed at improving Washington's bad image, which has already taken her to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Human rights leader Hidayet Sefkatli .Read Full Report from Islam OnlineOil reserves are double previous estimates, says Saudi
Kuwiat Expert Visits Bahrain Islamic Bank
A meeting was held this morning between Bahrain Islamic Bank's (BIsB) Chief Executive Officer, Yousif Saleh Khalaf, and Dr. Abdul Hameed Mahmood El Baaly, Member of the Higher Consultative Committee for the Finalization of the Application of the Provisions of the Islamic Shareaa, Amiri Court, State of Kuwait. The meeting, which took place at BIsB's headquarter at the Diplomatic Area, Manama, covered several topics of Islamic Banking and business in general, and the ways of finding Islamic solutions for relevant transactions.
Discussions also covered issues faced by Arab and other communities worldwide, such as poverty and unemployment. Dr. El Baaly said that the world's economy has failed to find proper solutions for such issues. "However, through our tolerant Shariah rules, the Islamic economy has created the Zakat system which is capable of eradicating such problems", Dr. Al-Baali explained.
Apart from the many specialist books and researches published by him, Dr. El Baaly fingerprints are quite prominent on Islamic banking worldwide through his leading role as chairman and president of a number of Islamic economic institutions. Dr. El Baaly praised Bahrain Islamic Bank and referred to the quantum leap forward being witnessed by the Bank through the well-conceived strategic plan under the leadership of Mr. Khalaf. In particular, he was impressed by the investment being employed by the Bank's Management in human resources development, in attracting highly qualified Bahrainis and in keeping abreast of relevant state-of-the-art technologies. "These are basic elements required to ensure the Bank's leading role in the Islamic banking industry", he said.
The meeting was also attended by Bank officials, Tariq Mohammed Bucheery, Senior Manager – Business Development & Corporate Communications, and Yacoub Yousuf Al-Aseeri, First Manager – Priority Banking. Mr. El Baaly was then taken on a tour of the Bank's departments and facilities. Dr. Abdul Hameed El Baaly is a holder of several academic high degrees, including a first honour Ph. D. in Islamic Comparative Jurisprudence from the Al-Azher University, Egypt, and a Master Degree in Common Law. He enjoys 30-year experience in Islamic economy and banking.
CCEA APPROVES DECISION OF EGOM ON IA FLEET ACQUISITION
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today noted and approved the EGOM decision on fleet acquisition plan of the public carrier Indian Airlines. With the approval of the CCEA, the Ministry of Civil Aviation will now give the go ahead to Indian Airlines to get the aircrafts. After a gap of 15 years the fleet acquisition plan of the public carrier Indian Airlines has got the approval of the Government. The plan was deliberated in details by the Empowered Group of Minister headed by the Finance Minister and including the Law Minister, Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation and the Minister for Civil Aviation, on 6 September 2005. It got the approval of the Prime Minister on 7 September 2005. The Carrier will now be acquiring a fleet of 43 Airbus aircrafts, a mix of A319s, A320s and A32s to replace its ageing fleet.There were two rounds of price negotiations with the aircraft manufacturing company Airbus Industrie. Substantive saving of price was achieved in these two rounds. In the first round of price negotiation which was held in March 2005 by the Oversight Committee headed by Shri C.G.Somaiah, Indian Airlines got a saving of $ 32 million. In the 2nd round of price negotiation held on 6th September, 2005 by the Empowered Group of Ministers, the EGOM could secure a further direct concession of $ 75 million amounting to Rs. 349 crores. Thus the net cost of Rs. 10237 crores was brought down to Rs. 9890 crores yesterday amounting to a discount 3.4%.
There were several other concessions that the EGOM managed to get:
Counter trade and off sets by both Airbus and engine manufacturer CFM was increased from 30% to 40%. This will result in an increase of trade opportunities worth $ 145 million for India with France. Airbus will now set up an ultra modern training centre for pilots in India with an investment of $ 75 million. This will go a long way in helping to cope with the growing shortage of pilots. Airbus Industry shall establish spare-parts, warehouses in India, not only for Indian Airlines but for other carriers as well. Airbus has given a commitment of setting up MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) facility in India along with other promoters which will result in an investment of $ 100 million. The Airbus industrie has also included the “Integrity” clause and the “Most favoured” clause in the deal.
Saudi’s Answer to DIC is Riyadh High Tech City
By V.M.Sathish
DUBAI – Militancy may be a problem in Saudi Arabia that forced companies to relocate their operation. But Saudi Government will offer a tough competition to the Dubai Internet City (DIC) by setting up a high tech city in Riyadh in a bid to attract major multinational companies to set up IT projects. While almost every GCC country can boast of hosting an IT or science park, Saudi Arabia is the last to come up with its own High Tech City, which will be a free zone in Riyadh that will follow different free market rules from the strict government controls outside the city. While DIC has been planned as a major hub for the regional IT market, Saudi venture with a captive domestic market of $6 billion per year is tempting many IT companies to set up shop in the proposed high tech city. Rent will be just a fraction of the corresponding cost in Dubai and long-term agreements at discounted rates are offered. As cost of operation, especially rent is skyrocketing some IT companies in DIC have already started thinking of cheaper destinations. PPA is present in Gitex 2005 to lure more IT companies from Dubai to Riyadh.
“Currently Saudi Arabia accounts for 60 per cent of the GCC market for Information Technology and the first IT park in Saudi Arabia will have half a million square meter and another half a million built up area,” says Eng.Yasser N Al-Beaiwe, a senior Engineer of Public Pension Agency of Saudi Arabia. “The high tech city will not be only a real estate or construction venture. It will be a park for high tech companies to do research. Saudi Government will encourage serious research and development in the park,” he said. Apparently the 2.8 billion Saudi Rial project will arrest the migration of multinational companies from Riyadh. “The city will contain headquarters of large, small and growing companies, labs and research utility and hotels accommodation and restaurants. PPA is building the High Tech City on its own land in King Saudi Bin Abdul Aziz Road. Saudi Telecommunication and information Commission headquarters occupy the South East corner.
According to him, many multinational IT companies including some from the Dubai Internet City have shown keen interest in participating in the project, because of the huge size of the Saudi IT market and its tremendous growth potential. The Saudi Government agency is in serious talks with many IT multinationals like Microsoft, Intel, Oracle and other hardware and software companies, some of which have their presence in the DIC. “Twelve leading IT companies have already approached us with keen interest in setting up their offices. Some have shown interest in buying land and building their own buildings. We offer them discounted rent for long term,” he added. “Even some companies which are operating from DIC have approached us,” added Dr.Hussein Shaheer, Project Consultant. “The IT sector in Saudi Arabia has been booming. The average annual growth rate of IT sector is 12 per cent compared to just 6 per cent in other sectors. With the continued increase in oil price, the boom will continue unabated. Saudi Arabia constitute 65 per cent of the GCC IT market,” he added. The market size of $6 billion per year is tempting many companies to start operation within the High Tech City, he added.
Even though security is a major concern for multinational companies, Saudi Government is ensuring total safety, as the High Tech city will be a closed city within Riyadh. “Saudi Arabia will sign the World Trade Organisation agreement soon and there will be total protection and ownership for private investors. It will be closed from the rest of the city,” he ensured. “Fifty per cent of the land will be filled with green environment, artificial rivers, gardens and other recreational facilities. There are also five star hotels and government offices within the park,” added the consultant of Juron International and Ernst and Young, which have subcontracted the by Zuhair Fayer Partnership, the main consultant. Construction will start soon and the Government is bullish about the project prospects. (Courtesy: Emirates Evening Post)
Sheikh Hamdan honoured at Arab Technology Awards
Dubai, 26th September 2005 His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been awarded the prestigious Arab Technology Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his achievements as Chairman of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the organizers of the GITEX exhibition, which this week celebrates 25 years’ leadership of the Middle East’s information technology market. The awards were held under the patronage of His Highness Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. The award, presented by Mr. Mohammed Al Gergawi to HH Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum who accepted it on his father’s behalf, also recognized HH Sheikh Hamdan’s outstanding leadership as UAE Minister for Finance and Industry. The Arabian Technology Awards, now in their 15th consecutive year, were sponsored by Etisalat, and organized by leading regional publisher ITP’s IT Weekly magazine. The Awards recognised more than 25 distinguished technology pioneers and innovators from throughout the Arab World.
HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy and Planning was also awarded at the event for Outstanding Contribution to E-Commerce, recognizing Her Excellency’s leadership of Tejari, accepting her Award in true technophile fashion by satellite from Malaysia. Jordan’s Minister of ICT, HE Nadia Al Saeed accepted her Award in person from Mr. Mohammed Gergawi, in joint recognition both of the MoICT and Jordan’s technology association, int@j. The Award marks the successful track record of co-operation between Jordan’s public and private sector organizations in building and developing ICT as a national opportunity for the Kindgom.Again marking 25 years of success for GITEX, Helal Al Marri, General Manager of DWTC, accepted an Award recognizing his achievements in developing even further GITEX’s leading role in driving innovation throughout the region.
Dubai Metro targets 1.85m travellers a day by 2020
First trains to be in operation by summer 2008
(Dubai, September 27, 2005): Dubai Metro, the ambitious light rail project that will cross the city, will handle 1.85 million travellers a day by 2020, according to a project official. The fast-track project, which started work at the end of August, will be focused around two metro lines connecting strategic locations on Dubai. The first trains are scheduled to be in operation as early as summer 2008, according to Dr Abdelgarder Elshabani, Assistant Director General for Dubai Metro and Public transport Affairs. In his opening speech at MEED’s 2nd Middle East Rail Project Conference in Dubai, Dr Elshabani said: “Dubai’s population is increasing at an average of 6 per cent a year – a figure that is due to increase. Meanwhile, visitor numbers to Dubai are set to skyrocket, Dubai would have ground to a halt if the transport challenge hadn’t been addressed quickly.
“In 1997 we looked at the infrastructure in Dubai and it became apparent that the fastest growing city in the world could no longer just rely of its road network to meet all its mobility demands. The light rail system will answer this need.” The metro project is part of Dubai Municipality’s masterplan for an integrated transport system that will consider rail as part of a network including buses, water transport and cars. These will all work in conjunction to make sure that mobility demands are met efficiently.“It is paramount for a project of this magnitude to be supported by policies that will generate the right environment for the new infrastructure to thrive,” said Dr Elshabani.
The two lines - named the red and green line - will be partly underground and partly raised above ground according to the best environmental fit. All stations will be ultra-modern and environmentally friendly and trains will include first class and women only sections, to ensure maximum appeal for passengers. “In order to ensure that the Metro is right for Dubai, we have travelled to Europe and South East Asia to learn about other experiences and then adapt them to Dubai. In particular we borrowed best practices from London with the smartcard access concept and the automated driverless system from Paris.” Dr. Elshabani also touched on the connection between infrastructure development and new real estate opportunities. “We are already seeing that the planned stops are attracting new real estate developments and we know their success will depend on ours. “Further subprojects being considered also include the possible development of a blue line that would link the existing airport with the new Jebel Ali airport,” he concluded.
Iraqi Families flee Samara ahead of planned offensive
SALAH AL DIN/BAGHDAD, 27 September (IRIN) - Hundreds of families have started to flee the Iraqi city of Samara, some 120km north of the capital, Baghdad, following a recent Ministry of Defense announcement that preparations had started for an offensive by Coalition forces against insurgents holed up there, officials said.Hamad al-Kashty, governor of Salah al-Din province, said on Monday that nearly 500 families had so far fled the city. Many were presently in the outskirts, particularly around al-Dur, al-Salam, Baghdad and within empty schools and government buildings near the city of Tikrit."I know that the city has become an important place for insurgents who increase their numbers everyday, but the government should be careful and not transform our city into another terror as happened with Fallujah and Talafar," al-Kashty added.
He explained that there was a lack of security inside the city, especially after insurgent groups announced that any military or government-armed group who did not leave his job would be considered a target. The announcement made dozens of Iraqis leave their jobs to keep their families safe from revenge.A spokesperson at the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said such operations would continue to rid the country of insurgents.
"Salah al-Din province has been another worrying spot of insurgency in Iraq and we should have control over it to give security and comfort to Iraqis, but we do not have a certain date for operations and people should await our announcement to leave," Ahmed Diar, a senior official of the ministry, said.Local residents in the city said insurgents could be seen walking freely carrying machine guns, forcing them to barricade themselves inside their houses."I have closed my shop and will not reopen it until I see how the government will stop this insurgency there. I took my family to this abandoned building until I can arrange somewhere to stay in Baghdad," said Muhammad Bakr, 42, a shopkeeper in Samara and father of five.However, the Iraq Red Crescent Society (IRCS) urged the Iraq government not to proceed with their operation, saying the last offensive against insurgents in Talafar had forced nearly 5,000 families to flee the city.
"We put all our efforts to help the people who fled Talafar, another operation will just bring more injustice and pain to Iraqis. We had difficulties getting aid to Talafar as our stores were empty and another offensive will be much worse," Ferdous al-Abadi, spokeswoman for the IRCS, said.Fleeing residents said there had been a build up of Iraqi and Coalition forces in the city following the announcement last week.
"I preferred to take my family and leave the city afraid that they suffer what our brothers in Talafar are suffering. We can see the increase in US and Iraq forces around the city and fleeing is the better solution to guarantee our lives," said Mahmoud Tikrit, 56, father of three who fled the city for its outskirts.
Officials also said an operation in Samara could affect the upcoming 15 October referendum on a new Iraqi constitution, by deterring the few Sunni voters who might want to cast their ballots despite calls by their leaders not to endorse the constitution.On 21 September, the IRCS said nearly 1,500 displaced Iraqi families had returned to Talafar after Coalition forces ended an operation to rout insurgents hiding there. Returnees said dozens of their homes had been totally destroyed.
Despite the returns, however, thousands of displaced people are still living in camps and surviving on aid from various humanitarian organisations. The fighting also disrupted the school year, which has now been delayed across the city, residents said.Up to 3,800 United States forces and 5,000 Iraqi troops took part in the operation in which 153 terrorists have been killed and 187 captured, US officials said, denying there were any civilian casualties.
Lebanon : Attacks on journalists condemned
BEIRUT, 26 September (IRIN) - Lebanese journalists, shocked by a bomb that seriously injured a television talk show host on Sunday, have condemned the increasing attacks on their colleagues, as well as writers and intellectuals.However, they said they were determined to stay true to their principles and to report freely and independently.TV journalist May Chidiac had her left leg and hand amputated yesterday, after a bomb hidden under the driver's seat exploded as she started her car. Chidiac is an anchorwoman and talk show host for the Lebanese Broadcasting Company (LBC), a TV station which ranks among the region's most popular.
"The general mood at the newspaper is one of horror and sadness," said Abdo Chakhtoura, managing director at L'Orient le Jour, one of Lebanon's leading newspapers.
"May Chidiac is a colleague and we feel for her. However, physically we may feel threatened, yet that does not deter us from our cause. We are determined not to go back to the old ways. We cherish our freedom."
Just hours before the explosion, Chidiac had hosted a programme on possible Syrian involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on 14 February.
"Naturally we strongly condemn the attack," said Georges Skaff, vice-president of the Lebanese Press Syndicate. "What bothers us most is that we don't have any indication of who is behind it. One thing is certain. They may attempt to frighten us, but they will fail, because this will only strengthen us in our conviction to fight for liberty and sovereignty."
Sunday's attack on Chidiac is the latest in a string of bomb attacks that have rocked Beirut and its suburbs ever since the Syrian retreat from Lebanon last April. Explosions predominantly targeted Christian residential and commercial areas, as well as prominent anti-Syrian voices.
Samir Kassir, a journalist for the Lebanese daily al-Nahar newspaper, who was generally regarded as one of Lebanon's leading intellectuals, was killed on 2 June by a bomb that also detonated with the car's ignition. The same is true for Georges Hawi, the former head of the Lebanese communist party and a strong advocate of Lebanese independence. Hawi was killed on 21 June."Chidiac was not a leading intellectual," said Michael Karam, editor of Lebanese business monthly Executive. "But she was the face of LBC and as such reached millions of people. In that sense, it seems a symbolic attack."
Following the death of Kassir, L'Orient le Jour took measures to protect its employees. Known as fervently critical of Syria, the French language daily employed a number of security guards and installed video cameras around the paper's main premises in downtown Beirut.According to Chakhtoura however, it is impossible to protect every individual journalist both in and outside the office.
"Everyone takes his own measures," said Chakhtoura. "But we should not forget, it is not just journalists who are threatened. Everyone is, from politicians to civilians. A bomb explosion on 16 September killed one person and wounded 20 others in the heart of a popular residential area in Beirut."Asked about who he thinks is behind the series of bomb attacks, he replied cynically: "Who do you think? Nicaragua?"
According to al-Nahar newspaper, there was a growing expectation that the number of attacks would increase as the UN probe into murder of Hariri reaches its conclusion.Detlev Mehlis, head of the UN team investigating the killing of Hariri, last week returned from Damascus where he questioned several senior officials including former heads of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon, Brigadier Generals Rustom Ghazaleh and Ghazi Kanaan, the current Interior Minister. He is to report his findings by the end of October.
