Eurocom Worldwide Survey shows that more firms are involved in Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn than blogging

July 9, 2011

Nidal AbouZaki

The latest international survey conducted by Eurocom Worldwide, the global PR network, in association with Orient Planet PR and Marketing Communications,  has revealed that 38 per cent of technology companies check out potential employees’ profiles on social media sites such as Facebook.

“Job seekers may be happy for their LinkedIn profile to be viewed by a prospective employer but are they comfortable with what’s posted on their Facebook profile?” commented Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet. “They may be comfortable that their own privacy settings are locked down tight but what about the career suitability and accessibility of photos or other personal information posted on friends’ sites?” 

The Eurocom Worldwide survey found that 38 per cent of technology firms examine social media profiles to determine potential employees’ suitability for a job. “Social media is a great way to network and build career opportunities but it is becoming more difficult to differentiate between your professional and personal persona on the web,” added Abou Zaki.

The survey of over 660 senior level executives in technology companies, which was conducted during January and February 2011, also highlights corporate usage of social media.
Only just over a third (36 per cent) of technology firms have any formal process in place, other than a Google alert, for listening to what is said about their company on the web.

“The first phase of implementing a social media campaign is to listen to and monitor what is being said about your company and its service or product online,” commented Mads Christensen, network director, Eurocom Worldwide. “The majority of firms are either failing to do this or are not doing it in a very rigorous manner.”

There appears to have been no growth in corporate blogging over the last two years with the proportion of technology companies surveyed having a blog remaining flat at around one third. The main reason cited for corporate blogging is to improve interaction with public/customers, followed by raising profile/thought leadership and boosting search engine optimisation (SEO).

The Eurocom Worldwide survey found that the main barriers to corporate blogging are that “it is too time consuming”, cited by 33 per cent, followed by “don’t see the value of it” (29 per cent) and “never thought about it” (18 per cent).

“Such is the value of corporate blogging from a search perspective alone that it is a little surprising that only a third of technology firms do it,” commented Abou Zaki. “However, blogging does require a significant time commitment so companies are better not to do it at all than do it badly or infrequently.”

Despite a mixed reaction to blogging, half (51 per cent) of firms surveyed have a Facebook page, 46 per cent have a corporate Twitter account, 43 per cent are on LinkedIn and just over a third (36 per cent) of companies have a YouTube presence. Of the total, 38 per cent expect to increase their spend on Social Media over the next 12 months.   

In terms of activity, just over a quarter (26 per cent) of respondents’ companies Tweet daily and just over one in five (21 per cent) update their Facebook page each day.
The Eurocom Worldwide Technology Market Survey 2011 was conducted by the network and its member agencies during January and February 2011, and surveyed 664 senior level executives in technology based businesses across more than 30 countries worldwide.

George Ayache, General Manager, IFP Qatar, organizer of Project Qatar 2011

Eighth edition of leading exhibition to provide region with strategic platform to explore key opportunities in construction industry 

April 25, 2011
 
Companies in the Middle East region’s construction segment are looking towards playing a major role in Qatar’s current construction boom, according to the IFP Group, organisers of Project Qatar, the leading construction show for Qatar and the GCC. IFP Group made the observation today (April 25, 2011) during a press conference at the W Hotel, Doha, to announce the launch of the eighth edition of Project Qatar that will be held from May 2 to May 5, 2011 at the Doha Exhibition Centre.

Project Qatar 2011, which is being held under the patronage of Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, aims to provide a strategic platform for the construction industry’s key players to discuss current trends and issues; showcase products and services and reinforce business ties between buyers and sellers. More than 1,700 exhibitors from across 47 countries will be participating in the high-impact three day event, which will also include networking opportunities that have been designed to foster the formation of new partnerships and drive in more strategic opportunities to help bolster Qatar’s already flourishing construction industry. According to the organisers, the major growth in the country’s construction sector is attributed to two leading factors; the announcement of Qatar as the host for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the able leadership of His Highness Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who has exerted major efforts in the move to usher in progress and development.

“All eyes are on Qatar as it sets out its preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with infrastructure projects amounting to over USD 100 billion over the next 12 years. The amount of preparations needed will involve the development and creation of key infrastructure that can meet the demand of hosting one of the world’s most followed sporting events. This scale of construction projects are bound to attract the attention of construction companies from across the region wanting to take part in project opportunities created by the favorable market conditions. Project Qatar 2011 sets out to give the region a prime venue for industry players to meet, create and reinforce business ties,” said George Ayache, General Manager, IFP Qatar.

Michele Gebreal, Project Manager, Project Qatar 2011, said, “Project Qatar continues to play a big part in advancing the role of key products and services in the region’s construction industry. Our aim is to become a strategic venue and platform for companies, government agencies and individuals to talk about the latest issues in the industry; facilitate the formation and consolidation of partnerships that can lead to the creation of important business and investment opportunities and act as a launching venue for new products and services. We look forward to seeing increased participation in this year’s edition and we believe that the event will help drive in key investment opportunities for the country’s growing construction segment.”

The IFP Group has revealed that exhibition space for the coming event has already been sold out, with the UAE taking the biggest section. Also being held simultaneously with Project Qatar are Heavy Max 2011, the international trade exhibition for heavy machinery; an exclusive dedicated green pavilion offering eco-solutions and ‘The Qatar Sustainability Conference 2011’. Sponsors for Project Qatar 2011 include Orwood (Diamond Sponsor), NAFFCO (Gold Sponsor), BBK Holdings (Silver Sponsor) and ABUISSA Holdings.

DAFZA and EDC host seminar on Dubai’s Export Facilitation Services

Release date: 29th November 2010

Companies from Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) are seeking to increase their sales outside the UAE through services provided by Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC), an agency of the Government of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED), and its partners through a seminar, hosted by DAFZA and jointly conducted with EDC.

The seminar, apart from providing valuable knowledge and trade information to companies and enterprises from DAFZA, outlined selected export facilitation services available to DAFZA’s customers. Among the topics discussed were the Dubai Sub-contracting & Partnership eXchange Program (SPX), Exporter Assistance Program and EDC’s Export Publications and Market Intelligence provision for EDC Members.

EDC’s partners, Intertek Group Plc, which provides product certification, inspection and laboratory testing services to UAE firms, and the Export Credit Insurance Company of the Emirates (ECIE), that helps UAE-based companies make use of opportunities to grow their exports safely, also presented their services during the seminar.

DAFZA, officially established by the Government of Dubai, pursuant to Law No.2, 1996, now has over 1200 companies from various sectors, doing business all over the world.  It recorded a robust increase of 63 per cent in its sales in the first six months of 2010 as compared to the first half of 2009.

“Part of EDC’s strategic partnership with DAFZA is to provide its companies with necessary information on export services to enable them in entering and expanding operations in international markets. DAFZA companies will obtain export information, market intelligence, export assistance and training from Dubai SPX, Intertek and ECIE,” said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, EDC.

“This seminar focused on important areas which will encourage DAFZA companies to explore opportunities outside the UAE. Areas such as Export Credit, product certification services and sub-contracting facilities are among the essential tools which EDC is offering to local companies wishing to export,” he added.

Rami Rabia, Senior Export Relations Office at EDC, presented value-added services provided to exporters while Engineer Ahmed Al Qedrah, Industry Analyst, explained the significance of SPX. Al Qedrah also highlighted the process of matchmaking with subcontracting companies from different sectors, which will increase business opportunities for investors, traders and manufacturers. 

Meanwhile, Husny Saeed, General Manager of Intertek Dubai, focused on the topic ‘Intertek’s Government Services to DAFZA Exporters’. He tackled the requirement of Certificates of Conformity for customs clearance in certain markets and how Intertek can help exporters comply with these requirements, as well as information on Pre-Shipment Inspections (PSI) for export to countries which have implemented a Fiscal programme for the protection of duty revenues.

“Many governments around the world have implemented Product Conformity Programmes to ensure the safety and quality of goods being imported into their country and to protect their citizens from substandard products; for exporters it is a mandatory requirement in some markets to obtain a Certificate of Conformity. Other governments require compliance to their Fiscal programmes through Pre-Shipment Inspection to determine correct levels of duty payable. Intertek, with its decades of experience, can help exporters comply with these requirements and ensure smooth customs procedure.” Husny Saeed said.

Schuyler D’Souza, Chief Commercial Officer of ECIE, tackled various trade credit risk solutions and policies available for local exporters. Among these policies were the popular Short-term Trade Credit and Documentary Credit Policies, the Foreign Investment Insurance Policy; Critical/Strategic Supplies (CAPEX) Policy for supplies made by foreign companies into local projects of strategic nature; and XoL Policy suitable for crude oil suppliers and aluminium smelters and other projects.

He added that ECIE currently covers over AED 1 billion worth of business in diverse sectors from Oil & Petrochemicals; Packaging & Plastics; Food & Agriculture; Medical & Safety Equipment; and Industrial Cables. ECIE works with world class investment grade reinsurers and banks to offer innovative Trade Credit Management solutions to UAE based manufacturers, traders and service organisations assisting them in growing their exports safely by eliminating of their non-payment risk, and enabling the financing of trade.

The seminar was attended by various companies from DAFZA from sectors such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, electrical & electronic machinery and building materials.

DAFZA has been ranked second in the world and first in the Middle East, according to Global Freezone Ranking 2010/11 by Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine, a premier publication for the business of globalisation published by The Financial Times Ltd. Furthermore, it ranked second globally in the category of “Best for FDI Promotion” and second in the category of “Best Transportation Links”, a testament to the zone’s standing as a leading freezone in both the Middle East and internationally.

• Software AG grew 11.5 per cent while overall industry growth was flat

• Software AG now in the Top 50 of Software Magazine’s 28th Annual global Software 500 companies

Dubai, UAE, 17-10-2010 – Software AG has announced that it has been included in Software Magazine’s Software 500 ranking of the world’s largest software and service providers, now in its 28th year. Software AG was ranked 50th, with software revenue of USD 1.2 billion and a growth rate of 11.5 per cent. This ranking is up from 56th place in 2009 and 65th in 2008.

The Software 500 rankings are based on total worldwide software and services revenue for 2009. Software AG also is featured in the Top 10 Growth Chart of Companies in the over $1 Billion in Revenue category. This confirms that Software AG is not only one of the top 50 software companies in the world but among the fastest growing as well.

Software Magazine has been a brand name in the high-tech industry for over 30 years. The publication helps readers and site visitors in information technology to narrow down the software product and service providers they choose to work with in tackling business priorities. The Software 500 ranking is the best-known ranking in the software industry.

“Software AG is pleased to be ranked in the top 50 of the Software 500, particularly in light of our strong growth with new products,” said Karl-Heinz Streibich, CEO of Software AG. “The ranking validates our strategy of consistent growth driven by ongoing innovation and unmatched customer support. As a major player in the software industry, all signs point to continued global growth and expansion.”

Marco Gerazounis, Senior Vice President, Software AG Middle East, said: “This distinction will surely boost the reputation of Software AG and support our efforts to expand our market base in the Middle East. We remain upbeat with our long-term growth forecast and the Middle East market will definitely play a prominent role in further strengthening our global revenues and consolidating our position as one of the world’s largest software and service providers.”

“The 2010 Software 500 results show that revenue in the software and services industry basically remained the same, with total Software 500 revenue of USD 491.7 billion worldwide for 2009, representing virtually flat growth from the previous year,” said John P. Desmond, editor of Software Magazine and Softwaremag.com. “In such an environment, Software AG should be very pleased with its solid growth rate of 11.5 per cent.”

“The Software 500 helps CIOs, senior IT managers and IT staff research and create their short list of business partners,” added Desmond. “It is a quick reference of vendor viability. The online version at www.Softwaremag.com is searchable by category, making it what we call the online catalog to enterprise software.”

Meanwhile, Software AG also announced that it will be participating as one of the panellists at the GITEX Technology Week 2010 global conference in Dubai on the topic “Internal innovation vs. off-the-shelf – choice and compromise” being held on October 19, 2010 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Jiten Sil, Software AG’s Regional Sales Manager, MENA, will join other key IT personalities as speakers and panellists at the conference, which aims to help business organisations in choosing between investing in off-the-shelf IT solutions and in-house development.

The Software 500 is a revenue-based ranking of the world’s largest software and services suppliers. Its target readership include medium to large enterprises, their IT professionals, software developers and business managers involved in software and services purchasing.

Since the establishment of the Dubai Export Development Corporation (EDC), an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai it has been spearheading the export drive of the emirate through developing an innovative portfolio of services to meet the growing demands and challenges of the business community.

An important aspect of EDC‘s activities has been to build the capabilities of firms so that they are competitive in the global economy. At the same time EDC has sought to make firms aware of export opportunities in foreign markets.

EDC‘s internal research showed that firms do not enter the export arena because they perceive lack of information to be a huge problem. In response to the considerable lack of export skills in the sector and to provide appropriate information EDC established the Dubai Export Academy.

The aim of the Academy is to enhance the exporting skills of UAE firms so as to ensure that they become successful in expanding into foreign markets. As the only Centre of Excellence dedicated purely to export related knowledge, it seeks to provide a unique combination of practical on the ground information of foreign markets with generic export related management knowledge.

Engineer Saed Al Awadi, the CEO of EDC commented that, “we at EDC strongly believe that practical export knowledge is vital to the future success of the emirate’s firms and economy”

EDC has announced its 2010 Quarter 4 series of seminars which starts on 29th September 2010. The series of seminars is sponsored by Axa Insurance which is one of the leading global insurance provider.

Alexis de Beauregard Chief Officer-Marketing and Retail Product Offering at AXA Insurance Gulf stated that, “AXA is delighted to partner with the EDC. AXA’s Cargo Plus product provides a wide range of covers along with sophisticated service and expertise. We are happy to assist UAE exporters in entering foreign markets, giving them advice and protecting their business interests.”

The seminars are also sponsored by DHL Express the leading global courier express company. Frank-Uwe Ungerer Country Manager for DHL Express commented, “We are very excited to partner with EDC as it further more allows us to share our knowledge and expertise in the express logistics sector covering 220 locations worldwide with UAE’s SME exporting community”.

The media partner to the series of seminars is Khaleej times the well read newspaper in the UAE. Each Wednesday, starting 29th September 2010, for five weeks the Academy will be hosting seminars that look at export opportunities in Europe – Germany, India, Jordan, Southern Africa as well as Singapore and the Far East.

Attendance to these seminars is free and includes a networking lunch. Companies wishing to attend the seminar need to register via email at exportacademy@dedc.gov.ae.

The Dubai Export Academy has already held a number of successful courses which have been well received by the business community. Nadia Saeed from Lacnor who attended the previous seminars commented that, “the seminars not only provided valuable insight and a better understanding of procedures, rules and regulations of the importing countries but also provided a great networking opportunity with other exporters so as to learn from their experiences”.

The Academy also assists firms in developing appropriate export strategies because its experience shows that in today’s competitive business environment it is not just about having a great product but knowing how to get it into foreign markets in a profitable and sustainable manner.

The Academy capitalises on the experiences of successful companies that have penetrated foreign markets through sharing their experiences with other firms. Mohammed Sagherji from AW Rostamani Lumina and a past participant at the seminars commented, “we gained a lot of information and knowledge about export opportunities to several countries and as a result of this we are entering some of these markets.”

When a motorist goes to renew his vehicle insurance with one of the approved companies, he can renew his car registration in the same place

Dubai: Motorists can now get their car registration renewed at selected insurance company offices, said a senior official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

“The RTA has entered into an agreement with five selected insurance companies it calls ‘Trusted Agents’ giving them the authority to renew vehicle registration for their customers,” said Ahmad Hashim Behroozian, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RTA’s Licensing Agency.

This means that when a motorist goes to renew his vehicle insurance at one of the five approved insurers, he can also get his car registration renewed at the same place without visiting vehicle licensing departments or Tasjeel centres.

The motorist, however, has to get the vehicle tested and get the vehicle pass test report from Tasjeel or other authorised vehicle test centres. However, a vehicle test report is not required any more for vehicles up to three years old.

“The new service has been launched in line with the Agency’s strategic plan to introduce more online services and provide more facilities to its customers,” he told a press conference yesterday.

The five insurance companies approved by the RTA for carrying out car registration are Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance, Fujairah Insurance, Oman Insurance, AXA Insurance and Noor Takaful Insurance.

“The new service will also help reduce long queues and waiting time at the RTA’s licensing centres. The vehicle registration renewal service is the single largest transaction service done by the Licensing Agency as more than one million vehicles are registered in Dubai and their registrations have to be renewed every year,” said Behroozian.

An average of around 2,700 vehicle registrations are renewed every day. The announcement was made in a press conference held on Tuesday morning.

Traffic fines

Behroozian said insurance companies would not charge any extra for this service. Also, they will be authorised to collect traffic fines if there are any from their customers.

Every insurance company will be able to apply for registration for its own customer and not from any other insurance company, he explained.

Insurance companies representatives who were also present at the function thanked the RTA for trusting their services. They said that they would soon announce the launch of the new services at their premises.

Karl Gray, Director of personal lines at the Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance, told Gulf News that his company would launch the vehicle registration service next week.

“We will launch the service with a special offer for our customers during Ramadan as we will renew registration cards free of cost for the first 300 customers,” he added.

The normal renewal fee is Dh380.

Hussein Awada, the owner of Lebanese Roastery in Abu Dhabi, used to give cardamom to his clients free. Those days are gone, for now anyway.

The price for the cardamom that Mr Awada imports from Guatemala has rocketed, up to Dh120 (US$32.67) a kilogram from Dh20 a kg a year ago.

Similarly, the cost of his arabic coffee, which is 100 per cent arabica, has jumped 10 per cent, from Dh40 to Dh44 a kg.

In the bigger picture, Mr Awada is fortunate: heightened demand globally combined with market forces has pushed up coffee futures by more than 20 per cent in the past four days.

The cause is a combination of poor harvests in Central America over consecutive years and speculation by several large fund managers who bet prices would fall and had to cover their positions this week.

Arabica futures rose another 1.7 per cent yesterday, to $186 per 60kg bag.

Mr Awada said he refused to raise prices to ensure he retained customers who had been coming to his shops – one on Defence Road and one in Khaldiya – for years. But the increased costs are eating into his margins, which were about 20 per cent last year. This year they are much lower.

“It’s a chain reaction where everyone is being affected,” he said.

Still, Mr Awada has managed to curb the effects of the recent peak in prices because he bought in advance after his supplier, with whom he has been dealing for 30 years, provided a report last November, which stated that prices were on the rise.

Others in the coffee business are suffering more severely.

“We are not doing any purchasing,” said Khalid Mohammed, the manager at Kahrban Dubai Trading, a coffee supply company.

“With the business as bad as it is, we have cut back coffee imports. We don’t do imports anymore unless we have a confirmed order.”

Mr Mohammed said his business was down 50 per cent from a year ago, through a combination of higher prices and the broader economic downturn.

Doug Whitehead, a soft-commodities analyst at Rabobank in London, does not believe prices are sustainable at these levels for long.

“Although this has caused a fair bit of pain for the roasters, as their margins get squeezed, the majority hold enough inventory that they would be able to pass the price shock relatively well,” Mr Whitehead said.

Mr Awada hopes he is right and so do his customers.

Conference in Bahrain stresses need for retaining employees at workplace

Manama, Bahrain, 07 April, 2010: Companies in the Gulf lose millions of dollars annually due to volatile staff turnover, a Pan Gulf conference has revealed. 

The Edexcel-organised Effective Behaviours for Work conference, attended by senior delegates representing government organisations, training providers and private companies from Bahrain and KSA, attributed this situation to the fragile relationship between employers and employees.

Mark Andrews, MENA Regional Director, Edexcel said: “Gulf governments and private sector employers across a multitude of industries are facing challenges in the area of effective employment practices while fresh graduates are taking time to flow into the corporate system of any company. Therefore, it is imperative that employers allow their staff to gain skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to ensure their success in the workplace for mutual benefit.”

At the conference, Edexcel highlighted its new BTEC qualification, Effective Behaviours for Work, which is the first qualification in the world to measure and certificate people’s soft skills. The qualification was created following a major independent global research project sponsored by Edexcel, called Effective Education for Employment, which showed that employers felt potential employees lacked essential behaviours such as a willingness to learn and the ability to work as part of a team.

Andrews added: “There is an obvious prevalence of skill gaps which should be bridged in the Gulf. Most of the graduates through their academic and professional qualifications are ill-prepared for work. Employees are dissatisfied with the learning and development they receive from their employers who in turn complain that the staff turnover is high.”

Andrews further stated: “Attitude and in-work behaviours play a crucial role in building a long term relationship between employees and employers. Key skill gaps exist in the areas of leadership, teamwork, innovation and creativity.”

A training culture should take hold in the GCC if public and private sectors are to boost their businesses. Employers in every country of the GCC complain about young people graduating without a fundamental awareness of how they should behave in the workplace. They also stressed on the importance of positive attitude in developing productive employees.

The Effective Behaviours for Work qualification includes units such as “making the right decision”, “work ethic” and “managing conflict in teams” which are delivered using interactive experiential learning techniques.

Edexcel’s vocational qualifications provide a practical, real-world approach to learning alongside a theoretical background. They are designed both to replicate the professional working environment and provide learners with the skills, knowledge and behaviors they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global market.
 
Edexcel, the leading UK-based awarding organisation, is part of Pearson, one of the world’s largest education services providers. It offers academic and professional qualifications and testing to thousands of schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning globally, and has over 4 million learners enrolled on its highly regarded courses in more than 85 countries.

Chinese fly the flag over national pavilion

Dubai, 6 March 2010: China is sending a massive contingency of airport ground support equipment, building material supplies providers and other key industry experts to the Airport Show 2010. For the first time, the country will collectively show its presence through a national pavilion.

The show, which runs from 25-27 April at the Airport Expo Dubai, attracts some of the world’s most influential figures in the sector, and has accounted for billions of dollars worth of contracts since its debut in 2001. More than 10 major Chinese companies have already confirmed their attendance, hoping to benefit from the Middle East and Africa airport market, which is bucking the global trend with 39 airports under construction.

The Chinese exhibitors will showcase a wide range of products and services to help in the development and maintenance of all airport facilities, including Conventional Aircraft Tractor and Towbarless Tractor, Container/Pallet Loader, Aircraft Refuller, Aircraft Conditioning Unit, Airport bus, Airport Firefighting Vehicle, Airport Security Inspection System, Passenger Boarding Bridge System and Airport Friction Measuring System.

Mr. Hongxin Qin, GM of China Civil Aviation Technology & Equipment Corporation Limited (AVITEC), the organizer of the Chinese Pavilion described the event as a great opportunity for China to demonstrate its growth and maturity in the market. “We represent some of the greatest success stories in airport management and development over the last ten years. As an industry, aviation has come into its own, and by default, new airports and new services have grown with it. China now has more than 135 civil airports in 133 cities. We’re no longer on the outside looking in, Chinese companies have a great deal to offer in their own right,” he said.

Airport Show 2010 is supported by leading aviation authorities and trade bodies including ADAC and Dubai Airports.

Mohamad Bader-Eddin, Show Director said: “The Airport Show is an extremely high profile event and is known throughout the world as one of the prime opportunities to conduct airport business. This year’s confirmation of the Chinese National Pavilion is creating even more interest. It is an amazing gathering of companies in an extremely specialized industry with an extremely large volume of business to conduct. We sincerely hope that many of those companies will have fruitful business talks during the show.”

The Airport Show has progressed rapidly to become one of the largest airport construction, operations, technology and services events in the world. The 2009 edition showcased 210 suppliers from 30 countries, over 10,500 sqm of exhibit space, and drew more than 4700 attendees.