Dubai & New York – 19 September 2011 - SHUAA Capital, the leading financial services institution in The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), and Bloomberg Tradebook, Bloomberg’s agency broker, today announced the launch of a direct market access (DMA) trading platform. The new technology allows both local and international institutional investors to trade equity products on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Bloomberg Tradebook-SHUAA DMA platform gives global traders direct access to UAE markets via a direct-to-exchange connection through the Bloomberg Professional service. This technology enables trade execution without calling local brokers who manually process orders.

“SHUAA Capital is a large and well respected financial institution in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. The combination of SHUAA’s local expertise and Bloomberg Tradebook’s powerful tools provides real-time electronic access to these markets, more execution transparency and automated trade confirmations,” said Raymond M. Tierney III, Chief Executive Officer of Bloomberg Tradebook. “In addition, SHUAA’s award-winning equity research provides local market insight.”

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum, Chairman of SHUAA Capital, said, “The Bloomberg Tradebook-SHUAA platform will revolutionize the UAE brokerage industry. It will transform how investors access and trade UAE equity products. The UAE financial markets are now as accessible as those in New York, London and Hong Kong thanks to execution support from SHUAA Capital and Bloomberg Tradebook’s global presence through the Bloomberg Professional service, which is used by more than 310,000 business and financial professionals.”

“The collaboration between one of our leading financial institutions, SHUAA Capital, and a global leader of trading technologies, Bloomberg Tradebook, is an important step in further facilitating the accessibility of our financial markets to global institutional investors and meeting their evolving needs. This reinforces our efforts to create a favourable trading environment and contributes towards further sophistication of the UAE financial markets,” said Essa Kazim, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Financial Market.

The Bloomberg Tradebook-SHUAA DMA platform provides institutional investors with:

•Algorithmic trading strategies tailored to UAE equity products;
•Consultative execution services that help traders navigate liquidly venues; and
•Trading solutions including high-touch, low-touch, basket trading and trading analytics for enhanced execution transparency.

Qualifying academic institutions to offer subsidized ICDL Certification to their students

September 13, 2011

University students across the GCC region are poised to benefit from subsidized ICDL training and certification following the broadening of scope of the ICDL Fund for Development Programmes (IFDP). ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and the certification authority of the International Computer Driving License program, is partnering with leading universities in the GCC to implement the funding programme, which will provide subsidies to academic ICT projects offering ICDL certification for students.

The IFDP initiative complements educational reforms that occupy a significant part in the national development strategies of the Gulf States. Governments across the GCC are striving to foster knowledge-based economies and prepare their young nationals for productive citizenship and employment. Serving those same objectives, ICDL is extending the IFDP program in partnership with leading academic institutions to benefit the student community with access to the high quality skills of the ICDL certification.

“The ICDL Fund for Development Program works similarly to educational grants and scholarship programs whereby we would offer qualifying academic institutions with co-funding in support of implementing ICT skills in their teaching program. There are two dimensions to our IFDP initiative. The first is to primarily widen the reach of digital awareness within the student population. The second is based on economic principles to make it affordable for the educational community to adopt an internationally recognized and credible ICT benchmark,” commented Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation. “

Kuwait University (Kuwait), Dhofar University (Oman), Ajman University (UAE) and Al Hosn University (Abu-Dhabi-UAE) are among the first universities to benefit their students from the program, offering them the opportunity to validate their computer skills with the internationally recognized ICDL certification at a special student rate.

Through IFDP, these universities can now offer an added value to their students, empowering them with the required IT skills to better integrate in a demanding job market, be more productive in today’s digital world, and maximize their employability in the globalised economy.

Supported by UNESCO-Iraq and UN-ESCWA, IFDP was initially launched in December 2007 to subsidize digital literacy projects in Iraq. More than 18,000 individuals from various social groups in developing or economically disadvantaged countries, including women, job seekers, people of special needs, retirees and students, as well as thousands of teachers in Iraq and Yemen, have already benefited from IFDP through various ICT projects.

Owing to its worldwide recognition and its vendor neutrality, over 22,000 renowned higher education institutions from around the world recognize ICDL as the de facto standard for basic ICT skills and integrate its syllabus as part of their academic program, rewarding students who successfully complete the certification with up to four credits. With the extensive success that this program has achieved so far and its substantial merit in equipping individuals with priceless skills, ICDL has decided to further expand the scope of IFDP to include countries in the GCC and to extend its benefits to disadvantaged entities with limited funding. Binding it initially for the student community and expecting to soon extend to specific disadvantaged social groups, ICDL strives to maximize the role of IFDP in supporting socio-economic development.

GCC electricity consumption is expected to increase 2.5 percent annually until 2035

GCC electricity consumption is expected to increase 2.5 percent annually until 2035 with Gulf residents set to become the world’s highest consumers of electricity per capita, a new report has said.

Residents in the Gulf consume 47 percent of the total electricity with just 10.5 percent directed towards industry needs compared to a global average of 37.7 percent, Deloitte said in its white paper on energy and resources in the Middle East.

Consumers will have to reduce domestic demand amid an increase in industrial activity, warned Deloitte.

“Residents of GCC countries use more electricity domestically than their counterparts in the United States,” Kenneth McKellar, partner and energy and resources leader at Deloitte, Middle East, said in a statement.

“GCC countries have embarked on economic diversification plans, with industrialisation as a key component of the long term strategies which they are pursuing,” he added.

“Based on the existing electricity consumption patterns of other industrialised and industrializing countries, the success of this strategy may, alongside other measures, require a rebalancing in electricity consumption from residential to industrial sectors in the long term.”

The GCC states, controllers of nearly 45 percent of the world’s oil and 25 percent of the global gas wealth, are spending billions of dollars on industrial projects in a bid to diversify their economies away from oil.

Oil producers plan to spend nearly $25bn on new aluminum projects and expansion of their existing smelters in the next 12 years, the secretary general of the GCC’s aluminum council said in January.

“The aluminum sector has largely developed to become one of the main pillars of economic activity in the region and contribute actively to economic diversification programmes,” said Mahmoud Al Dailami.

“Investments in the aluminum sector in the GCC are expected to climb to nearly $55bn in 2022 from around $30bn at present…the investments will cover new projects and expansion of existing smelters,” he added.

Dubai in August said it would not raise water and electricity tariffs in the next few years despite rising demand for electricity in the emirate.

“There will be no increase in the tariff of electricity and water consumption during the few coming years in Dubai,” Nejib Al Zaafrani, secretary general and chief executive of Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy (SCE) said in a statement.

The move aims to engage renowned institutions to accommodate large-scale national projects with reach to remote areas

July 17, 2011

Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC

ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body of the ICDL certification program in the Gulf States and Iraq, announced today the launch of its Academy membership program with the aim of upgrading the standards of computer training being offered in the region. The Academy program plans to distinguish and engage those renowned Academic and training institutions that already have a longstanding partnership with ICDL, to accommodate large-scale national projects requiring wide geographical coverage with reach to remote areas.

The ICDL Academy program recognizes those training and academic institutions operating an ICDL Accredited Centre while meeting specific requirements pertaining to capability and capacity to address the masses. Member institutions that join the program become eligible to offer off-site training and testing giving them a regional scope and access to rural areas.

Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation, said: “The ICDL Academy program was introduced in support of our region-wide digital initiatives. Many of the Academic and training institutions that have joined already have the infrastructure and geographical presence in place to help us achieve our vision of inclusiveness. These institutions have been recognized for their outstanding achievement with the ICDL program and deserve a distinction for their ability to cope with volume while maintaining the highest quality standards. Their unique standing combined with their credibility will boost benefits to candidates and maximize their value proposition to governments that support national digital awareness initiatives.”

ICDL will empower Academy members with exclusive privileges that distinguish their partnership with ICDL among its wide network of accredited centers and enable them to maximize the benefits being offered to organizations and candidates. ICDL Academy members can exclusively provide a more diversified range of ICDL program offerings, allowing them to reach out to more groups of learners across different locations.

In addition to the e-Citizen program, which supports the e-government’s vision for a knowledge-based society, ICDL Academy members can also offer ICDL Advanced, a higher-level certification for individuals who wish to confirm their expertise in specific computer applications, and ICDL Start, an introductory level program suitable for teenagers that is being offered through the ICDL Computer Summer Camps currently running across the GCC. Owing to their high capacity in running full-size projects and their superior capability and expertise, Academy members will also have priority access to initiatives developed by ICDL GCC Foundation in cooperation with government or semi-government departments and organizations and which propose the aforementioned programs.

ICDL already named Higher College of Technology - CERT (Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training), UAE University – UGRU (University General Requirements Unit), Kuwait University –Khawarizmi Training Center, Al Khawarizmi International College, and Ibn Majed International Center, as the early entrants to the membership program and intends to expand the circle to include selected strategic partners in each country of the GCC.

APID to complement upswing with adoption of new strategies and creation of more opportunities for interior design professionals

July 14, 2011

Total spending for the GCC’s interior design segment is expected to grow in 2011, signifying a dramatic increase from last year’s recorded figure of USD 56.9 billion, according to a recent report from Proleads, a leading business intelligence and research firm. In line with this positive forecast, the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID), an organization for professional interior designers in the Gulf Region, has also shared that there is an increased demand for interior design services across the GCC in general and the UAE, in particular. The increase in services can be seen in the UAE’s current batch of world-class development projects like hotels, mixed-use projects and villas. The strong growth balances the number of projects from 2009 to 2010, which totaled USD 21.8 billion - with the UAE representing two-thirds of the total project value.

The Proleads report has also revealed that the total spending for the UAE interior design segment is forecasted to grow to USD 22.5 billion this year. The spending refers to fixtures and facilities like curtain walling, doors, windows, canopy and skylights, stone cladding, swimming pools, garbage disposal, window cleaning, parking management, lifts, sanitary fittings, light fittings, external lighting, car park, landscaping, signage, kitchen, laundry and furniture. The projected increase has encouraged APID to launch and adopt new strategic initiatives and programs that primarily aim to create more opportunities for interior design professionals based in the Middle East region. Further, the move will allow APID to reinforce its ties with the interior design industry, connecting with new markets, strengthening existing business relationships and forging new partnerships.

“The GCC’s interior design industry is currently witnessing rapid growth and development and is strongly reflected in the high number of design projects that accompany the current batch of world class development projects in the region,” said Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, President, APID. “The increase in world-class development projects and the influx of leading interior design brands into the region is a reflection of the industry’s robustness and resilience amid the global economic downturn. APID affirms its commitment towards representing the best interests of the GCC’s design professionals and to provide them with a strategic platform that will allow them to strengthen business relationships and provide key opportunities for the region’s interior design community.”

APID is currently preparing for the region’s first ‘Festival of Interior Design’ (FOiD), which will be held from October 22 to 25, 2011 across Dubai. The event is part of APID’s strategic initiatives to highlight the key role of interior design in everybody’s lives and act as a platform to discuss the industry’s timely issues and also highlight the works of emerging talents and design firms in the region. The festival will be accompanied by the ‘Interior Design Congress, which will run on October 22, 2011, and will entail a program including four keynote speakers and two panel sessions featuring well-known design personalities. FOiD is slated to become a catalyst event that binds and unifies all interior design professionals in the region and allowing them access to key opportunities created by the event.

“APID remains steadfast in its commitment to improve the status and work environment of interior design professionals in the region, by implementing strategic initiatives and programs that are aimed at further developing and improving their interior design skills. These strategic programs also aim at giving the region a better understanding of the interior design segment and the design professionals that make up the industry. We are upbeat of this projected growth and have set our sights on reinforcing our presence in other areas in the region, envisioning a wider reach for APID members,” concluded Farida Kamber Al Awadhi.

SKOPOS Consulting Group: Family businesses in the Middle East should prepare for succession to effectively manage change

July 11, 2011

Dr. Hussein El Kazzaz, Managing Director, SKOPOS Consulting Group

SKOPOS Consulting Group, a leading provider of customized Organization Development (OD) solutions to companies in the Middle East and Africa, has cited recent research which reveals that more than 90 per cent of all commercial activity in the GCC is controlled by family businesses, compared to 65 to 80 per cent in other parts of world. Almost three-quarters of the region’s family businesses are owned and managed by the second generation, and one-fifth by the third generation. According to SKOPOS, this scenario reaffirms the importance for family businesses in the region to incorporate organisational development mechanisms to ensure long term success and profitability.

Business continuity is the key for family businesses as research has shown that fewer than 6 per cent of all family businesses worldwide survive to the third generation, especially in regions such as the Middle East. An estimated 75 per cent of the Middle East’s private economy is governed by around 5,000 families whose companies generate 70 per cent of regional employment.

“Family businesses in the Middle East should prepare for succession to effectively manage change. Developing the next line of leaders is crucial to ensuring longevity and sustained success of the company, especially given the rapidly changing and highly competitive business environment in the region. Incorporating a well-planned organisational development framework that includes leadership development programs will contribute to more effective management, greater long term stability and continued business success,” said Dr. Hussein El Kazzaz, Managing Director, SKOPOS Consulting Group.
     
SKOPOS Consulting Group advises family businesses to be aware of the various issues arising from the gradual growth of their organization, and identifies three ownership stages that family businesses need to especially focus on, namely the Founder(s) (Stage1), the Sibling Partnership (Stage 2), and the Cousin Confederation (Stage 3). According to the group, Stage 1 requires a focus on leadership transition, succession, and estate planning. The group points to sustained family ownership, succession, and teamwork and harmony as key issues in Stage 2. For Stage 3, SKOPOS notes the possibility of conflicts in the allocation of corporate capital, shareholder liquidity, mission and vision, member conflicts, business participation and roles, and linkage with the business.

SKOPOS Consulting Group is leading provider of advanced executive coaching, corporate team building, and soft and hard skills development solutions across the MEA region. It was founded in 1991 in San Jose, California, USA but then moved to the Middle East in 2002 to focus on delivering high-quality Organization Development solutions to the region. SKOPOS has offices in Dubai, Cairo and Bahrain.

Digital Creator provides powerful tool to improve expertise of learners in working with digital media

July 3, 2011

Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU), a leader in the field of e-Learning and quality management in the Arab World, has recently signed an agreement with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT in the UK, to implement a pilot project in the GCC, the Levant region and Egypt, aiming to improve the expertise of learners to work with digital media. Under the agreement, HBMeU will be the region’s exclusive licensee of Digital Creator, which is a powerful tool developed by the Institute to facilitate learning in digital media.

The agreement is in line with HBMeU’s efforts to strengthen its network of partners in its mission to equip learners with skills and competencies in the areas of innovative teaching and learning. HBMeU is expected to capitalize on its expertise in the realm of e-learning and its extensive network of contacts and partner organizations in the region to ensure the successful implementation of Digital Creator.
 
Commenting on the launch of the pioneering initiative, Dr. Narimane Hadj Hamou, Learning & Academic Development, Assistant Chancellor of HBMeU, said: “Digital Creator is a very effective tool that will enhance the learning experience of students and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to work with digital media. We are therefore pleased to sign the agreement with BCS to be the exclusive licensee of Digital Creator. This partnership reinforces HBMeU’s efforts to cultivate a culture of innovation and creativity through the use of advanced technologies and concepts in learning. We are optimistic that Digital Creator will be an invaluable instrument in developing the IT proficiency of learners across the region, especially given that possessing digital media skills is vitally important in today’s highly competitive job market.”
 
Saam Nikravi, International Business Manager, BCS, said: “HBMeU has an excellent track record as the leading institution for e-learning in the MENA region and we are therefore eager to take advantage of their expertise and extensive network to introduce the Digital Creator concept in the region’s education sector. Digital Creator provides a unique and effective way of incorporating digital technology into the classroom environment, enhancing the opportunity to learn and become more proficient in working with digital media. HBMeU will definitely play a very important role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the project in the region.”
 
HBMeU and the Institute will initially introduce Digital Creator in all GCC countries, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt. Both parties have also agreed to collaborate in marketing the product and actively implementing awareness campaigns about Digital Creator in the region.

HBMeU is the first e-learning institute in the Arab World that was established with the vision to develop a new learning process through the implementation of learning practices characterised by flexibility, quality and diversity to strengthen self-leadership among learners and prepare them socially and academically for a future career through integration in the job market. HBMeU’s philosophy is based on vital methods that have been developed through extensive research and development by specialists from all over the world. These methods include offering high quality programs, supporting the pursuit of lifelong learning, promoting the freedom of information, reinforcing the culture of excellence and innovation and providing education for everyone in line with the highest standards of comprehensiveness and credibility. The university seeks to constantly identify knowledge needs, support research and development programs and create an outstanding environment for e-learning.

‘Arab Oil & Gas 2011′ to gather energy producers, service providers and technology vendors in Dubai

May 15, 2011

Arab Oil & Gas (AOGS) 2011, the premier biennial showcase for the region’s oil, gas and petrochemical industry, has so far confirmed attendance of over 150 suppliers of equipment, services and technology to support the growth and development within the energy sector in the Middle East.

With oil and gas estimated to account for 47 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively, of the USD 470 billion energy investments in the GCC from 2010 to 2014, AOGS is now poised to serve as the ideal networking platform for key players in the oil and gas industry to discuss fresh opportunities that have now emerged in the region.

AOGS 2011 will run from 18th to 20th September 2011, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, gathering over 300 exhibitors from more than 25 countries and thousands of trade visitors.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), the organisers of AOGS, said, “The oil and gas industry is expected to account for up to 83 per cent of the total energy investments in the region within the next few years. AOGS 2011 will thus serve as a suitable venue for key industry players such as investors, decision makers of oil and gas producing companies, contractors and even technical and procurement teams, to meet and discuss various issues, opportunities and challenges with potential business partners in the region and overseas. We have developed a full range of business facilities and interactive forums that will help boost the business and networking potential of all trade participants, particularly in light of the exciting long-term prospects in the GCC’s energy sector.”

AOGS will be attended by technology vendors and global suppliers in the oil and gas sector, who will be demonstrating their latest innovations and launching new products and technology, while seeking opportunities to sign contracts with regional distributors and agents. The event will also host in-depth discussions about market trends and provide a platform to learn about tender opportunities and network with industry players already trading in the region.

AOGS 2011 will also host the “Excellence in Engineering Forum”, an exclusive event that is organised to help bridge the gap between education and industry. The forum will feature high-profile speakers from the academe as well as prominent personalities from the oil and gas sector.

Yet another feature of AOGS 2011 is the Oil & Gas Job Fair where the focus is on Training, Professional Development and Employment within this sector. “The region’s energy producers and leading service providers are always on the look-out for skilled manpower and quality professional development programs”, the organisers added.

Newly formed strategic alliance with Al Taqnyah to help increase productivity and efficiencies in various UAE government entities

May 12, 2011

The IT software spending of the public sector of GCC member countries is expected to reach USD 2.6 billion in 2011 and shows a 14.3 per cent increase from the previous year, according to a recent report from IDC, global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets.  In line with this expected increase in IT spending, Sage Software, the leading global supplier of ERP, CRM and HRM solutions to medium and large organizations, has announced its partnership with Al Taqnyah Business Solutions, a subsidiary of the UAE-based ARMS Group. The newly formed alliance intends to leverage key solutions among the various government and semi-government offices in the UAE.

According to the IDC report, economies of the GCC states are implementing key strategies that not only ensure an increased output in process and productivity, but also provide integration between interconnected departments; ensuring a smoother flow of information and a better way of maintaining and archiving data. The expected USD 2.6 billion in IT spend represents 30 per cent of the IT software spending of public sectors across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. Sage’s strategic partnership with Al Taqnyah aims to achieve at least 5 per cent of the current market share for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) products in the public sector. The company enters into the partnership with its key product solutions like Sage ERPX3, Sage CRM and Sage Accpac. Al Taqnyah provides powerful, highly integrated solutions for customers seeking to automate their business processes through professional implementation and the use of internationally recognized information systems, supported by highly skilled professional consultants. The company also offers localized world-class e-solutions and e-services by partnering with leading organizations around the world and by adhering to its clear vision, mission and core values.

“Our partnership with Sage Software marks the start of a strategic relationship that aims to provide UAE government bodies with effective and reliable solutions,” said Engr. Yassir Hassan Al Naeem, CEO, ARMS Group. “This partnership will also bring us close to our vision of being a leading service provider for the region. Finally, the alliance between Sage and Al Taqnyah offers an exciting future for the customers who will benefit from the combined power and expertise of the two companies.”

Sage Software has revealed that it remains upbeat towards seeing main growth drivers in the UAE market for 2011 - which has shown a strong demand for CRM solutions. The company has further shared that even during tough economic times; the demand for more CRM products will continue to grow. The region is now witnessing an influx of activity across all verticals, which have been brought about by efforts to recover from the impacts of the global financial crisis. The renewed vibrancy is being accompanied with the need for strategic and reliable software that can help bolster productivity and ensure smooth integration in the flow of data being handled. 

“The main focus of this partnership between Al Taqnyah and Sage Software is to bring highly valued ERP solutions for the public sector and also for small to medium enterprises in the UAE. The growing need for ERP solutions across the public and private sectors gives us the advantage of leveraging key solutions to help them improve on efficiencies and productivity,” said Dr. Usman, Managing Director, Al Taqnyah Business Solutions. “Sage is offering a wide range of business solutions from Financial Management, Customer Relations Management and Human Resources; thereby providing a comprehensive service that can be applied up to enterprise level. We are keen to get started and envision a strong and successful partnership with Sage for the long term.”

“The current efforts towards recovering from the global financial crisis have created an accompanied demand for IT solutions that provide the best results for governments and corporations in the UAE. Our wide range of CRM and ERP solutions offer a host of benefits and advantages that will definitely help our partners - making it easy for the end-users to operate, without reducing the functionality. Sage Software remains steadfast in its commitment to provide all businesses with the essential software to help improve their businesses,” concluded Reggie Fernandes, Director - Gulf Operations, Sage Software Middle East. 

Federation of GCC Chambers expresses support for ‘2nd Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards 2011’

March 30, 2011

Trade between the GCC region and Malaysia reached USD 11 billion, according to a recent report coming from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE). UAE, in particular, has recorded over USD 6.418 billion of trade exchange with Malaysia, thereby affirming the latter’s developing role as a cost-competitive location for investors intending to set up offshore operations for the manufacture of advanced technological products for regional and international markets. The continuing move to strengthen trade ties and exploring more business opportunities with emerging countries in the South East Asian region like Malaysia will be a key focus in this year’s edition of the ‘Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards’ (MEBLSA) 2011, the region’s leading business leader’s forum, which will be held on April 17 to April 18, 2011, at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa.

Recent market reports have shown healthy growth in bilateral trade between UAE and Malaysia. In 2010, exports from Malaysia to UAE totalled USD 3.953 billion whilst imports from UAE to Malaysia reached USD 2.465 billion. Malaysia’s chief exports to UAE include electrical & electronic products, machinery, appliances & parts, jewellery, and palm oil. In return, the country imports crude petroleum & refined petroleum products, and chemicals & chemical products from UAE. Now on its second year, MEBLSA has become a strategic platform for the region’s top corporate leaders and officials to discuss and share important and essential breakthroughs in today’s business world. The event also aims to facilitate the development of business leaders by providing opportunities for its members and guests.

“UAE has managed to be at the forefront of Middle East growth and development because of its continuous efforts to maintain strong business and trade relations with key emerging economies,” said Shahul Hameed, Chief Executive Officer, My Events International. “The increased trade not only reflects a healthy business relationship with emerging countries in the South East Asian region but also shows its eagerness to explore key investment and financial opportunities inside and outside of the Middle East region. Respected organizations like the Federation of GCC Chambers and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry have announced their support for MEBLSA - adding strength to MEBLSA’s continuing efforts to call for the adoption of best practices across various industry verticals and helping discover and develop the region’s next generation of business leaders.”

Aside from exhibiting healthy trade exchange, Malaysia is also emerging as a key outbound destination for tourists coming from the Middle East region. Tourism figures have shown that a total of 250,000 visitors coming from the Middle East make their way to popular Malaysian destination every year. Gearing to be the investment destination for South East Asia, Malaysia has started to offer a wide spectrum of investment opportunities. The technologically-inclined economy of Malaysia is proven through the country’s involvement in advanced electronics manufacturing, R&D, biotechnology, photonics, logistics, design, innovation and a highly automated manufacturing sector. The Malaysian government has also started to implement key initiatives and programs that aim to make Malaysia a hub for other value chain activities such as R&D, design and development (D&D), procurement, logistics, distribution and marketing, business support services and shared services.

“We thank the Dubai Chamber for its show of support for MEBSLA 2011. Their trust and confidence helps us in our efforts to provide the region’s business leaders with a strategic platform to discuss issues and develop solutions for the business sector, “said Shahul Hameed. “We are also looking towards helping in the development and training of the region’s new breed of business leaders - encouraging both the private and public sectors to equip themselves with new technology, business strategies and programs as a means to be more globally competitive.”

The theme for MEBLSA 2011 is ’Thriving Leadership and Sustainability of Business in the Middle East’ and will include key business networking sessions, lectures and workshops aimed at promoting the adoption of best practices across various industry verticals and help promote better leadership skills. The forum aims to offer key advantages like learning best practices strategies and initiatives from outstanding practitioners in the market; increased quality of human capital in your organization or company and the creation of new human capital leadership. One of the key concerns to be raised in the summit is the region’s growing population and rapid economic development and the impact it has left on resources, which has so far led to socio-economic implications like the depletion of water supplies, environmental pollution and an increased demand for public services. Other issues to be raised and discussed include the need to address the demand for more quality education in the region and the development and maintenance of human capital.