• Egypt Sales Centre will now operate from Emaar Misr’s master-planned community

Hamptons MENA expands Egypt office to Uptown Cairo

Cairo, Egypt; July 28, 2010: Hamptons MENA, a premier property services company with a strong geographic presence in the Middle East and North Africa region, has cemented its Egypt operations with the opening of its full-fledged office in Uptown Cairo.

A master-planned community developed by Emaar Misr, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, Uptown Cairo is described as the new downtown of Cairo, with easy access to all commercial, business and governmental nerve-centres of the city.

As part of the expansion plans for Egypt, Hamptons has relocated its office, previously in the Mohandessin area in Giza City, to Uptown Cairo. The office, from its central location near Mokattam Hills, showcases a strong portfolio of projects including prestigious projects throughout Egypt and a wide range of ready rental and sales properties in Cairo.

A spokesperson of Hamptons MENA said: “The expansion of our Egypt office to Uptown Cairo underscores our strategy to focus on the regional markets, and offer our customers a wider portfolio of projects. By relocating to Uptown Cairo, a residential and commercial hub that is fast taking shape, we will be closer to our customers and it will help us strengthen our footprint in the Egyptian market by offering world-class property services.”

A 4 million sq m development, Uptown Cairo is located some 200 metres above sea level offering a refreshing lifestyle environment. The first homes in the community are scheduled for hand over later this year. The Hamptons office will be part of this integrated community with world-class residences, commercial offices, retail and hospitality amenities in close proximity.

In addition to offering Emaar Misr properties, Hamptons also has strong partnerships with other developers with projects located around Cairo, the North Coast, and also in the Red Sea vicinity including Sukhna, Sharm Al Sheikh and Hurghada areas.

The office will offer the full spectrum of Hamptons services including sale and leasing of primary and secondary properties in Egypt and other markets, property management, mortgage advisory, valuation and research services.

Visitors to the Hamptons MENA office in Uptown Cairo can evaluate the range of properties including Uptown Cairo, Marassi and Mivida – three of Emaar’s prestigious lifestyle projects in the country – as well as a strong portfolio of other leading developments and ready properties in Egypt. They can call + 201 0431 6316 or email: info@hamptonseg.com for more details.

• Air Arabia Egypt’s fifth destination
• Four roundtrip flights per week between Alexandria and Abu Dhabi commencing July 12, 2010
• Promotional launch fares are available on www.airarabia.com

Alexandria, Egypt: July 3, 2010: Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that the next destination from latest hub in Alexandria, Egypt, will be Abu Dhabi. The new service to the UAE’s capital will commence on July 12, 2010.

Roundtrip flights to Air Arabia fifth destination from its Egyptian hub will operate four times per week between Burj Al Arab International Airport, Alexandria, Egypt and Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE.

The LCC will fly to Abu Dhabi on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Flights depart Alexandria at 22.00 arriving in Abu Dhabi at 02.40 the following day, and return flights depart Abu Dhabi at 03:20, arriving in Alexandria at 06:20 the same day. 

“We have received incredible demand from both our Abu Dhabi and Alexandria residents for low-cost travel solutions between the two countries,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “In line with the increasing demand, we are pleased to announce that our fifth destination from Alexandria will connect North Africa to the UAE.”

Air Arabia is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier that operates over 65 routes from three hubs in Sharjah, UAE; Casablanca, Morocco and Alexandria, Egypt. The airline recently announced plans of launching its fourth hub in Amman, and currently offers its services to Khartoum, Kuwait, Beirut and Amman from Alexandria.

Air Arabia’s fleet consists of brand new Airbus A320 aircrafts, offering its passengers the best economy configuration in the market with a 32” seat pitch as well as all inclusive free baggage allowance. The carrier offers customers comfort, reliability, and value-for-money air travel.

For flight schedules and promotional fares, please visit: www.airarabia.com.

Cerner solutions help reduce transcription errors, ensure medication safety for more than 1,500 pediatric cancer patients

The Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 (CCHE) has successfully gone live with state-of-the-art healthcare information technology (HIT) solutions from Cerner Corporation. More than 700 clinicians and staff are using Cerner Millennium® solutions to provide superior care and improve patient safety for cancer patients at Egypt’s leading pediatric cancer hospital. The Cerner® electronic health record (EHR) is the Single Source of Truth™ for accurate patient information, including allergies, the latest diagnostic results and accurate patient weight at the point of care so that CCHE caregivers can safeguard their pediatric patients. CCHF implemented Cerner technology to help ensure safety and reliability in the delicate process of caring for pediatric cancer patients.

Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 is a pediatric cancer hospital in the historic El Sayeda Zeinab district of Cairo, Egypt and is the largest children’s cancer hospital in the world.  CCHE 57357 was founded with a mission to care for pediatric cancer patients free of charge regardless of race, creed or financial status. The hospital is using Cerner Millennium solutions to help clinicians provide state-of-the-art care for an estimated 1,500 new pediatric cancer patients each year. By providing clinicians with access to medical best practices and ensuring that they have the right information at the right time, Cerner Millennium solutions can help CCHF clinicians realize the hospital’s mission of improving childhood cancer survival rates in Egypt from less than 40 percent to the 75-80 percent overall survival rate for children in Western countries.

“The unified electronic health record provides doctors and nurses with real-time patient information and access to evidence-based protocols designed to improve clinician knowledge and prevent medical errors,” said Dr. Sherif Abouelnaga, vice president academic affairs, research, and outreach of CCHE. “This access to best practices and clinical guidelines ensures the latest medical information is at the clinician’s fingertips, allowing them to make informed decisions about patient care.”

The Cerner Millennium solutions benefit CCHE patients in a number of ways including:

• Ensuring medication safety. When prescribing medications, physicians can access a patient’s medical history, including allergies and diagnostic results, along with medication dosing guidelines based on age and weight to ensure accurate medication administration.
• Reducing medical errors. If a physician were to inadvertently prescribe an adult dose to a child, the decision support features within the system would alert him or her of the potential overdose as well us drug interactions and alternatives.
• Providing quality care. The use of standardized treatment guidelines promotes evidence-based, effective and consistent care for every patient while enabling quality improvement and operational efficiency.
• Reducing transcription errors. All care is documented electronically, virtually eliminating the possibility of errors due to illegible handwriting.
• Improving access to information. Clinicians have instant access to patient information when and where they need it and no longer have to spend time searching for misplaced paper charts.

Cerner solutions automate processes in multiple departments, provide instant access to clinical information and integrate workflow with the patient’s EHR. Cerner Millennium solutions automate nursing communication, intensive care unit operations, clinician documentation, image management, pharmacy and laboratory operations, medication administration processes, patient accounting and surgery operations. Clinicians at CCHE also are using Cerner Millennium solutions to document care and place orders in the EHR. These solutions operate on the Cerner Millennium architecture, a unified HIT computing platform that helps health professionals elevate safety, quality and efficiency.

“This relationship reflects CCHE and Cerner’s shared vision to improve the healthcare delivery process and create a safer environment for patients,” said Richard Berner, Cerner vice president and general manager. “Cerner Millennium solutions are helping CCHE clinicians achieve their mission of delivering the highest-quality of care possible to children.”

CAGR of 12%, Placing Egypt in Top-Tier of Global IT Growth Markets;

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK Provides Platform for Expansive Growth Throughout Region
 
Cairo, Egypt

IT spending in Egypt is set to reach US$ 2.1 billion by 2014, making it one of the fastest growing IT economies in the world.

The latest research from Business Monitor International for the first quarter of 2010 states that Egypt’s IT spending will grow from US$ 1.3 billion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 percent due to the economic recovery, higher incomes and new hardware and software upgrade cycles.

Egypt has one of the most established and developed IT infrastructures in the Middle East and North Africa and is a lucrative sector for international companies looking to expand their presence in the region.

Information Technology Industry Development Agency, (ITIDA) will lead the Egyptian participation at this year’s GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, the region’s most influential and high-profile ICT event, as companies look to build on the strong relationships between Egypt and the world’s leading companies in the ICT field. The event takes place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from 17 – 21 October 2010.

Dubai World Trade Centre has a long standing relationship with ITIDA, as the official pavilion from Egypt with the support of the Egyptian government, to attract a high number of participants and trade visitors from Egypt, to reinforce the country’s position as one of the region’s fastest growing ICT markets.

“ITIDA plays a pivotal role in promoting the growth of Egypt’s ICT market and attracting more international companies to set up operations in our country,” said Dr. Hazem Y. Abdelazim, Chief Executive Officer for ITIDA. “GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK is the leading ICT exhibition in the region, and one of the best in the world. It is critically important that we work closely with the show organisers to bring the great news from Egyptian companies to the many thousands of international visitors.”

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK will be one of the most significant events of the year in the industry and will help to provide Egyptian exhibitors a dedicated platform to highlight the latest technological advancements.

“Relations between Egypt and the UAE are stronger than ever with more than one billion U.S. dollars worth of trade exchanged each year. With continued growth expected in the Egyptian IT sector in the coming four years GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK is going to provide the ideal platform for companies hoping to capitalise on this impressive growth,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK.

“We look forward to a strong Egyptian presence at GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK to celebrate our 30th anniversary show.”

Egyptian companies will be participating in every sector within GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK with key suppliers and market innovators bringing new technological developments to the global ICT community.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK has an established reputation for delivering outstanding return on investment for companies, both looking to market their new products to the Middle East and North Africa, whilst also generating new business for companies within the GCC.

More than 3,500 companies will again participate in the landmark event, with more than 133,000 ICT professionals visiting the exhibition from 134 countries during the five days.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK is presented in four key disciplines: GITEX Business Solutions, GULFCOMMS, Consumer Electronics and the GITEX Global Conferences, including the GITEX Telecoms Executive Summit and the GITEX Cloud Confex.

Another new area which will prove extremely popular at this year’s event is GITEX Mobile Apps World. With a combination of device manufacturers, operating software (O.S.) platforms, apps stores and developers, as well as interactive features, this sector will be the place to learn, download and interact with the Middle East’s premier and only Mobile Apps platform.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK runs from 17 - 21 October 2010, at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, UAE. To register or for more information please visit www.gitex.com.

Photo Caption: ICT Spending in Egypt to reach US$ 2.1 Billion by 2014

• EGP 250 million investment by Emaar Misr

Cairo, Egypt; May 3, 2010: Emaar Misr, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has begun construction of The Emaar Drive Project, a new road infrastructure development that will connect Uptown Cairo, its master-planned community, to the 6th of October bridge and the Ring Road. The EGP 250 million project will directly link Uptown Cairo to key destinations in central and greater Cairo.

Phase One of The Emaar Drive Project will enhance ease of access of travelers coming from West Cairo areas such as Mohandessin and Zamalek through 6th of October Bridge, to the last exit landing on the extension of Ramsis Street.  The new road will connect directly to Uptown Cairo’s main gate on the Nasr city side. The trip time from the 6th of October Bridge exit to the Uptown Cairo gate through the new road will be less than 3 minutes.

Phase two of the road project will link Uptown Cairo to the ring road and New Cairo through Shaheed Highway, and will be completed by 2011. This also complements the Government’s plans to move government entities to New Cairo to overcome the congestion and space constraints in downtown Cairo and facilitate commuting to and from central Cairo to New Cairo.

The first phase of The Emaar Drive Project is scheduled for completion later this year. This is to ensure the road is ready for Uptown Cairo customers, who will receive their homes in the first phase of the development in the coming months.  

Mr Hazem Ashery, General Manager, Emaar Misr, said that one of Uptown Cairo’s main attractions is its ideal location. “Uptown Cairo is the only new development being built in Central Cairo. No other project can offer the same location advantage as that of Uptown Cairo, and The Emaar Drive Project brings the community even closer to the centre of Cairo.”

The Emaar Drive Project will consist of two roads of three lanes, together sprawling a length of over 3 km. Phase one is a 1.5 km long and 37 meters wide road while phase two is a 1.5 km long and 48 meters wide road. Together, the roads are expected to serve over 5,800 vehicles daily, currently commuting to and from key areas in central and New Cairo.

The three-lane roads are built to international standards and specifications and will be built and maintained by Emaar Misr. The company will undertake daily cleaning and yearly asphalt works for the road in addition to monthly sidewalk landscaping and lighting maintenance.

With 2,000 construction workers and engineers on site, construction is progressing rapidly at Uptown Cairo in preparation for handover of phase one of the project in the coming months.  Work has begun on the interior finishing of residential units, as external work is reaching its final stages. Final touches are simultaneously being added to the Golf Clubhouse interior, which will also open shortly. 

Uptown Cairo, the pioneering master-planned golf community in Egypt, is developed to world-class quality standards to include all needed amenities. Located some 200 metres above sea level, the neighborhoods offer residents the comfort of cooler climate, lower pollution levels and spectacular views from the hilltop of the city. The fully integrated community is divided into gated urban villages, each constructed around a golf course and enjoying an individual community centre.

Emaar Misr is also making rapid progress on Marassi, where the first phase of homes will be completed in the coming months. In Mivida, work on the Business Park is progressing as per schedule.

• Launch of Optima CT660, a GE healthymagination and an ecomagination product is highlight of GE’s participation in key regional event
• GE Healthcare is Platinum Sponsor of event that brings together healthcare professionals across the Middle East

Amman, Jordan; May 3, 2010: GE Healthcare, the healthcare business of General Electric Company (GE), will highlight its advanced range of innovative diagnostic technologies at the third Arabian Radiology Congress to be held from April 29 to May 2, 2010, at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center at The Dead Sea in Jordan.

GE Healthcare is the Platinum Sponsor of the event, which will feature more than 20 international speakers and over 100 specialized lectures on wide-ranging topics that address the challenges and advances in modern diagnostic services.

Through its participation at the Arab Radiological Congress (ARC) 2010, GE Healthcare aims to enhance awareness on the need for ‘earlier healthcare’ and to promote healthymagination, GE’s vision to develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery. 

At the event, GE Healthcare will launch its groundbreaking Optima CT660, a Computed Tomography (CT) product -both GE ecomagination certified and healthymagination validated – two of GE’s global initiatives aimed at transforming healthcare delivery via innovation, partnerships and sustainability.

Capturing the attention of ARC attendees, Optima CT660 is a brand new total body scanner, suitable for all clinical applications including cardiac. It includes flow down technologies and applications from the well known GE’s Discovery CT750 HD and the  LightSpeed VCT scanners, such as ASiR ultra low dose reduction technique, as well as the Volume Helical Shuttle which enables 500 slices equivalent coverage for dynamic angiography and full organ perfusion studies. It has a very small footprint and it is capable to reduce CO2 emission up to 60% versus previous systems generation.

Jordan is one of the key markets for GE Healthcare in the Middle East and North Africa region, where the company has established leading public and private sector partnerships that are aimed at bringing the latest in healthcare technologies to people and reducing the growing costs – with the focus to transform healthcare delivery.

Elie Chahoud, General Manager – Levant region of GE Healthcare, said: “We are very pleased to be a part of the Arab Radiology Congress again this year and privileged to present to industry experts, institutions and the public the latest GE Healthcare innovations. It is also an educational platform that provides radiologists in the region insights into the new technologies and solutions. GE’s sponsorship in this initiative highlights our commitment to the region, and underscores our efforts to provide continued training to increase the technical competencies of healthcare providers.”

Among the innovative equipment to be showcased at Arab Radiology Congress, GE introduces Vscan – a pocket-sized, ultraportable, easy-to-use visualization tool – launched earlier at Arab Health 2010. Developed to help make point-of-care imaging a reality, Vscan has the potential to redefine the way doctors examine patients and ultimately help improve patient care by enhancing the physical exam and enabling more rapid diagnosis at the point of care. 

GE also spotlights GE’s Discovery CT750 HD, a CT scanner which delivers fine detail with its Gemstone detector. This one tube, one detector scanner allows dual energy spectral imaging which improves significantly image quality, reduces artifacts  and help characterize lesions. Also highlighted is ASiR, an exclusive technology for ultra low dose reduction, which can deliver up to 50 percent less dose for patients of all ages. ASiR is now available on BrightSpeed CT scanners, to make it available and affordable for all customers and patients for all clinical routine exams. More than one million patients worldwide were scanned so far with ASiR.

On the health challenges in the region, Chahoud added:  “Rising healthcare costs is one of the biggest challenges faced by regional governments. This can be addressed through earlier diagnosis and timely intervention. It has been clinically proven that earlier treatment can increase the efficiency of treatment across most of the lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and heart problems, which are increasing in incidence in the region. GE’s diagnostic technologies and solutions can help make a difference in this regard.”

In addition to its long-standing partnerships with governmental and private sector healthcare providers in Jordan, GE Healthcare recently signed with Jordan Hospital, a premier healthcare provider in Amman, to equip the hospital with the latest diagnostic equipment solutions including the Kingdom’s first-ever high definition computed tomography (CT) diagnostic equipment – the Discovery CT750 HD and Signa 1.5T HDxT magnetic resonance (MR) system. 

Further strengthening GE’s presence in Jordan, GE’s Innova 3100 cathlab will soon be installed at Al Hayat General Hospital, a leading private sector healthcare provider. Also, the comprehensive radiology department at the New Military Hospital in Aqaba will be equipped with GE systems. 

Royal Medical Services will also host an event to be held from May 3 to 5, with GE as a platinum sponsor, which reinforces GE’s commitment to the Royal Medical Services.

Cairo, Egypt; May 1, 2010: Emaar Misr, the wholly owned subsidiary of global property developer Emaar Properties PJSC, is highlighting the countdown to handover by the end of this year of residences and commercial property within its world-class developments in Egypt at the Next Move 2010 exhibition to be held from April 28 to May 1 at the Cairo International Convention Centre.

Emaar Misr is showcasing its integrated lifestyle developments – Uptown Cairo, Marassi and Mivida – at the premier real estate exhibition under the theme ‘Unveiling World Class Living.’ The pioneer of integrated master-planned communities in Egypt is also emphasizing on the world-class standards it upholds in all its developments featuring fully-finished homes, superior lifestyle amenities, superb location, focus on community interaction and modern facility management services.

Hazem Ashry, General Manager, Emaar Misr, said that the three projects by Emaar Misr are progressing as per schedule with the first residences in the first phase of Uptown Cairo and Marassi to be handed over by the end of this year.

“The excitement is building up as we move closer to the hand-over date of the first residential units. Emaar Misr has provided consumers with a taste of Emaar’s superior quality standards with the opening of the Marassi Beach Clubhouse. Customers are now aware of the advanced quality and superior standards that we bring to our projects including our market-leading initiative of offering fully finished and fully managed residences. With the planned handover of homes in Marassi and Uptown Cairo later this year, we will further highlight the unique lifestyle and advanced facility management that we bring to our communities.”

In preparation to welcome the first residents, Emaar Misr has also made remarkable progress in terms of infrastructure support, power and water supply at Uptown Cairo and Marassi.

Uptown Cairo golf clubhouse is nearing completion and billed to be finished in summer this year.  Emaar Misr is also developing a new road infrastructure project that will connect Uptown Cairo, the only project in central Cairo, to the 6th of October bridge and the Ring Road, thus making the community just minutes away from any Cairo address.

In Marassi, the driving range has been completed and work on the Golf Academy is in the final stages. Excavation work for lagoons is also currently ongoing, in addition to progress achieved in completing the main gate and model homes, which offer customers a true feel of the lifestyle experience that awaits them.

In Mivida, the Office Park, set amidst serene parks and wide open spaces, is rapidly progressing for on-schedule handover. Work on the residences will commence shortly for handover in 2012.

Highlighting the theme of its participation, ‘Unveiling World Class Living,’ Emaar Misr will have a large pavilion at Next Move with three dedicated areas – each set apart for an individual development and showcasing the superior finishing and amenities provided in the project.

On display will be the projects’ masterplan, finishing boards that feature samples of the materials used for interior design as well as images of construction in progress and videos, which will be streamed on Plasma screens. The company’s management team will be present to interact with visitors and address their queries.

Emaar Misr is one of the largest foreign direct investors in Egypt’s real estate sector with an investment portfolio of EGP 31.67 billion.

Uptown Cairo, the pioneering master-planned golf community in Egypt, is developed to world-class quality standards to include all needed amenities. Located some 200 metres above sea level, the neighborhoods offer residents the comfort of cooler climate, lower pollution levels and spectacular views from the hilltop of the city. Easily accessible from all parts of Cairo through the new road infrastructure, the fully integrated community features gated urban villages, each constructed around a golf course and with an individual community center.

Marassi is a 6.25 million sq m development located on the sandy white shores of Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay. A world-class resort development, Marassi features seven distinct lifestyle districts celebrating the varied facets of Mediterranean living. With a development value of EGP 9.92 billion, Marassi will feature up to 3,000 hotel rooms, Egypt’s first Armani Residences, a marina, golf course, Golf Academy, healthcare facilities and other lifestyle amenities.

Mivida is an EGP 5.75 billion residential development at the 5th district, New Cairo City located near the new campus of the American University in Cairo. The development features world-class homes designed by international architects. With the focus of offering a robust and lively outdoor environment, Mivida is anchored by a 33-acre central park in addition to smaller parks that are ideal for community activities. To promote an environment-friendly lifestyle, there are walking trails connecting the community roads for walks and jogging, as well as promenades and cycling trails. These will be a great value addition for Cairo residents, who look forward to green spaces and outdoor activities in their living environment.

Cairo, Egypt; April 8, 2010: Emaar Misr, the wholly-owned country subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, has awarded Orascom Construction Industries (OCI), a contract worth more than EGP 300 million for executing the finishing works including the interiors and exteriors of Catania homes within Marassi, an integrated masterplanned community at the picturesque beachside development on Sidi Abdel Rahman bay in Alamein.

The award to OCI, one of the leading regional infrastructure contractors, highlights the commitment of Emaar Misr to offer superior homes featuring interiors of the highest standards using high-quality materials.

The Catania Village, an integral part of Marassi, has homes in the Santorini and Andalusian architectural styles. The Santorini style recreates the distinctive vernacular architecture of hillside coastal towns on the islands of Cyclades in Greece, while the Andalusian styled buildings are inspired by the hill-town architecture in southern Spain.

Hazem Ashry, General Manager of Emaar Misr said: “Emaar Misr is committed to ensuring a superior development that redefines the lifestyle experience for residents. Our vision to deliver world-class standards is reflected in our choice to work with OCI, which has a track-record of high quality finishes in exterior and interior construction.”

“All the units are designed by renowned architects and designers, who have paid attention to the smallest detail in the designs. We chose OCI to ensure that the meticulous planning will be executed as envisaged.”

A world-class resort development located on the sandy white shores of Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay, Marassi is a 6.25 million sq m development featuring seven distinct lifestyle districts celebrating the varied facets of Mediterranean living.

Emaar Misr is on schedule with Uptown Cairo and Mivida, two other master-planned communities in Egypt. 

Cairo, Egypt, March 31, 2010– With over 150 leaders from the private sector, the public sector and civil society from Egypt in attendance, the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement launched the Corporate Sustainability Capacity Building Program at the Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo Hotel, Garden City, Cairo.

The program has been developed to respond to the clear need for the private sector in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia to not only understand what corporate sustainability means to their business, but also to acquire the skills necessary to implement sustainable business practices.  By doing so, they will be able to both implement and integrate corporate sustainability in a manner that will serve the bottom-line of their companies and positively impact the sustainable development of their surrounding communities.

Moderated by AUC Provost Lisa Anderson, the event was highlighted with a panel discussion entitled: “Sustainability: A Paradigm Shift in Management”.  An introduction was given by David Arnold, President of the American University in Cairo. The panelists included: H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Egyptian Minister of Investment; Mr. Fadi Ghandour, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aramex International; Mr. Frederic Sicre, Executive Director of Abraaj Capital; Mr. Helmy Abouleish, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of SEKEM; and, Mr. Mounir Thabet, UNDP Country Director. During a dynamic and thought-provoking discussion, the panelists focused on the evolution of corporate sustainability in a global context with emphasis on the transformative effects corporate sustainability can have on the Arab region as a whole.

Announcing that AUC will become the first university in the region to join the UN global compact, President Arnold underscored how corporate sustainability was essential for “sound business today and in the future.” This was followed by welcoming remarks by Dr. Barbara Ibrahim, Director of the Gerhart Center, who highlighted how corporate sustainability can bring about a paradigm shift in management.

AUC Provost Lisa Anderson reflected on the program as a means by which universities can go beyond “preaching to practice” and can yield world-wide development. She praised the program and stated the Gerhart Center’s unique role as a convener and catalyst in establishing such ground-breaking programs. Mr. Youssef Mansour could not make it to the event but sent a statement that was delivered by Provost Anderson. By promoting civic engagement and corporate sustainability, Mr. Mansour asserted that The Gerhart Center has made it easier for companies to better serve their communities.

In the panel discussion, H.E. Minister Mohieldin announced that “We’ve just had our third annual conference for CSR” and related how the Egyptian government is supportive of the corporate sustainability model emphasizing the collaborative role the government has been taking to enhance industry’s ability to develop and implement sustainable factors.  H.E. the minister cited the 10% reduction in taxes and the effects it has already had as an example of this governmental engagement.  During the closing remarks, H.E. the minister also cited that the ultimate accountability for sustainable practices in society lies with the government.  Another concrete example that H.E. the minister discussed with the audience, was the development of the environmental, social and governance index that has been developed for companies listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange, which is only the second such index in the world so far.

Mr. Fadi Ghandour discussed how entrepreneurship takes root in hardships and the desire to solve problems. He elaborated on this by discussing how sustainability needs to be built into the DNA of an organization and not just used as an “add on” practice. In response to Provost Anderson’s question about how companies need to internalize a sense of responsibility and not simply use their interface with the community as a marketing strategy, Mr. Frederic Sicre stated that the environment is changing for the better and that corporations are now more directly involved in the societies with which they interact. This, he said, is “the beginning of a path that has a lot of good promise for the Arab World.”  Mr. Abouleish asserted that all envision the future to be different and discussed how corporate sustainability can be a tool to affect that difference. Mr. Mounir Thabet discussed UNDP’s role in promoting corporate sustainability and how it can be sought as a true business model.

“This program was designed out of a belief that businesses can contribute to sustainable social change in a more meaningful manner if they develop an integrated sustainability focus in the overall management of their businesses” said Dina Sherif, Associate Director of the Gerhart Center.

The program will be implemented in partnership with Abraaj Capital, Mansour Group, Aramex International, the International Executive Education Institute, AUC; Al Khazindar Business Research and Case Center, AUC; the United Nations Development Program and the Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center (ECRC).

CMCS opens offices in Cairo and Alexandria while gearing up for further North African expansion 

Spending in Egypt’s construction sector is expected to increase to USD 7.3 billion by 2015, according to Collaboration, Management and Control Solutions (CMCS), a leading provider of Project Portfolio Management solutions in the region. The continuous influx of foreign investments into the country combined with the many government-initiated development programs that have focused on developing healthcare facilities and infrastructure are also expected to further bolster Egypt’s economic development. Aiming to capitalize on this expected surge in growth, CMCS has announced the recent opening of offices in Cairo and Alexandria, a strategic move that will give the country’s project-based companies increased access to project management services and solutions.

The country’s residential construction segment will increase to USD 606 million in 2015. The increase is due to many key factors such as higher disposable incomes, development of new residential areas, and the implementation of new government policies to help create a stronger housing finance system for the country. Meanwhile, the country’s non-residential construction segment is also expected to increase to USD 6.7 billion in 2015. The introduction of investment-friendly government policies and the move for more infrastructure development is expected to encourage more spending in this segment.

Bassam Samman, CEO and Founder, CMCS, said, “These are very exciting times for Egypt’s project driven industries, particularly the construction segment. The government’s efforts to introduce investment-friendly policies and incentives, and the focus on developing basic infrastructure have led to an overwhelming increase in foreign investment projects. The increasing number of residential and non-residential construction projects further validates Egypt’s strategic position as a gateway to the North African and Libyan Markets. The opening of our two new offices in Cairo and Alexandria will not only allow us to expand our presence in Egypt and the rest of the North African region but will also give project based companies greater access to our products and services.”

Egypt, which had a GDP growth of 4.5 per cent in 2009, received a stimulus package of USD 2.7 billion from the government in 2009, favoring infrastructure projects and export subsidies, and is also likely to get an additional stimulus spending this year to mitigate the slowdown in economic growth.
 
“CMCS lauds the Egyptian government for its constant efforts in making the country an ideal investment venue. To help reinforce its efforts, CMCS is affirming its support by introducing project portfolio management solutions to Egypt’s growing number of organizations. The adoption of a project management based system will allow these organizations to be at the peak of their performance and encourage more growth and productivity for the sectors they represent,” added Samman.

CMCS is an award-winning project portfolio management solutions provider for the region’s project-based businesses. It is an authorized representative of Oracle Primavera’s line of Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Applications in the Middle East, as well as Hard Dollar, Deltek, EcoSys, ADePT, eTimeMachine, and Synchro. It is also a registered education provider for the Project Management Institute, the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering, the Construction Specifications Institute, and the International Institute of Business Analysis