• Iraq Airports, Aviation and Logistics Consortium launched by Arabian Reach will be member of IATA, TIACA and FIATA
• Providing high quality industry training integral part of consortium’s operations   

United Arab Emirates, Dubai; May 7, 2011: Arabian Reach, the UAE-based company specialising in exhibitions and events management across the region, has today announced the launch of the Iraq Airports, Aviation and Logistics Consortium (IAALC) to further boost Iraq’s growing logistics, freight and transportation sectors, which is seeing infrastructure investments to the tune of USD 50 billion.

As part of its operations, IAALC will be offering international standard training on all aspects related to the aviation, airports, freight and logistics sectors. Arabian Reach revealed that a dedicated training facility will also be established within the consortium headquarters, facilitating people to study the globally recognised FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) diplomas. The newly formed consortium will also be a member of the FIATA, IATA and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).

It was also disclosed that ordinary membership to the consortium is open to airports, and aviation, freight forwarding and logistics companies and offices holding an Iraq licence from the competent authority.

“While Iraq’s transportation, freight and logistics sectors are certainly on an upward spiral, the industry needs to take definite steps to sustain this momentum over a long period of time. The establishment of this consortium will help to optimally tap into the available opportunities in the industry, while also achieving the best standards through internationally recognised training programs,” said Raj Menon, General Manager, Arabian Reach.   

25th International Autumn Trade Fair attracts 500 exhibitors from 25 countries

Dubai, UAE, 12th December, 2010: Dubai is still the preferred destination for trading among countries globally, according to Al Fajer Information and Services, the organiser of the 25th edition the International Autumn Trade Fair (IATF10), which is taking place from December 13 to 15, 2010, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

At a press conference unveiling details of the show, it was revealed that countries around the world still look at Dubai as the preferred business destination, thanks to the world-class logistics infrastructure.

Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information & Services, said: “Dubai’s consumer goods business will continue to flourish because the logistics market is mature and the number of consumers in Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, CIS countries and Africa are increasing rapidly. Dubai offers facilities that help boost the non conventional sectors in the consumer goods field.”

Khanna added: “We heard it from several trade officials from different parts of the world that Dubai has been instrumental in boosting the trade revenues of many countries because of its unassailable position as an established re-export center.”
 
Dubai’s retailing, distribution, manufacturing and the supply chain are the best in the entire MENA region. The city’s continuous drive for globalisation has placed it as one of the best consumer goods traders in the world.

Khanna added: “Companies prefer Dubai because it has reached the status of a mature trading hub for consumer goods business. Dubai will be the leader in logistics business. The supply chain market in the city is mature and evolving rapidly. Dubai succeeded in re-engineering the consumer goods supply chains to match the regional consumer demand.”

Referring to consumers goods verticals, Khanna said that retail sub-sectors consisted of winners, losers and those just breaking even in the first three quarters of 2010. Retail spend levels has fallen in  household products, electronics goods and luxury retail categories. On the other hand, sales of food and beverage products has been very high. Also, more food products were bought for home dining instead of dining out. Cosmetics and powders were bought more to be used at home, rather than for use at salons.”

Consumer goods trade in the UAE has shown signs of growth in 2010 reflecting Dubai’s intrinsic economic strengths and dynamism as a buyer-seller meeting point for the entire region, Khanna added.

The 25th edition the International Autumn Trade Fair (IATF10) will feature around 500 exhibitors from 25 countries. The three-day Autumn Fair, to be held in Halls 2, 3 and 4, is a leading regional buyer-seller meeting ground for the consumer goods segment. The exhibition, ranked as one of the more popular general trade fairs in the region running in its successful 25th year, will occupy 13,000 square meters of space.

Khanna said: “Over the last 25 years, IATF has been recognised as a robust regional business platform for the global consumer goods industry keen to expand footprints in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”

This year, the fair will host the official national pavilions of eight countries, occupying 80 per cent of exhibition space. The national pavilions include 225 exhibitors from China, 35 from Hong Kong, 10 from Singapore, 35 from Korea, 15 from Iran, 20 from Turkey, 40 from India and 15 from Malaysia. In all, 500 companies are scheduled to participate from over 25 countries and eight of them are participating as official pavilions supported by their respective governments. Turkey and India are participating for the first time. The other countries participating at individual level are Japan, Indonesia, Italy, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

As for the Chinese participation, the total volume of trade between China and the UAE was US $21.20 billion in 2009, with exports to UAE amounting $18.6 billion against $ 2.6 billion imports into China, according to the Commercial Office of Chinese Consulate in Dubai. The bulk of products imported from China are household and domestic appliances, cookware and kitchenware, tyre and rubber products, shoes, hardware, machinery and machine tool and building materials.

Currently, the UAE has the highest number of Chinese companies in the GCC where the country is home to 2,000 Chinese companies compared with just 20 in Saudi Arabia for instance. The strategic location of the UAE and its close proximity to markets in central Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Africa are the major attractions for Chinese companies.

Nearly 70 percent of goods imported to the UAE from the China are re-exported to other countries in the Middle East, Africa and even Europe. Handicrafts, textile products, clothes and apparels, light industrial products, machinery equipments and products made of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin are the major Chinese export items to the UAE.

UAE mainly exports products like aluminum ingot, chemical fertilizer, petroleum and petrochemical products—like polythene and polypropylene.

Trade between the UAE and China rose 40.5 per cent last year to $28bn, and exports from China to the Gulf are expected to rise next year with China consolidating its position as the biggest exporter to the region, having overtaken the USA. Exports from the Asian country to the Middle East reached $60bn last year.

Trade between the GCC and China is expected to receive a further boost once China begins to buy more of the Gulf’s hydrocarbon production to meet its surging energy needs.

In particular, gold and gold jewellery trade between Dubai and China reached over AED 411 million in 2008. Imports reached 368.84 million, while imports stood at nearly AED 34 million. Over AED 9.12 million of gold and gold jewellery was re-exported from Dubai to China.

As for the Hong Kong participation, The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will bring more than 35 Hong Kong companies to Dubai under the Hong Kong Pavilion at the show.

The Hong Kong Pavilion at IATF will showcase a wide variety of Hong Kong consumer products, including gifts, premium items, electronics, house ware, household products, fashion and fashion accessories. The presence of quality Hong Kong manufacturers and exporters will provide a great opportunity for entrepreneurs from the Middle East and North Africa to meet potential suppliers from Hong Kong. Various value-added services will be also provided to visitors, including a free business matching service to help pair up buyers with the right Hong Kong suppliers.
 
“Hong Kong is renowned as a supplier of quality products with superior designs and the UAE is Hong Kong’s most important trading partner in the Middle East region. We are very committed to this market and will continue to help promote bilateral trade, in both the product as well as services sectors, between Hong Kong and the Middle East”, said Stephen Wong, Regional Director, Middle East and Africa, HKTDC. “Although we have witnessed a slight dip in the trade volume over the past year, we believe there will continue to be tremendous potential for growth in the trade flow between Hong Kong and the UAE in the longer term.”
 

The logistics wing of Dulsco ready to support the upsurge to meet the manpower needs of the sector

July 18, 2010

The UAE, is the top trade logistics service provider in the Gulf region according to the World Bank’s latest Logistics Performance Index, will lead the Middle East’s growth into a USD 27 billion transport and logistics market by 2012. Rising foreign investment and supportive government policies in particular are expected to further boost transport and logistics activities in the Emirates and across the region within the next few years.

Transport and logistics are typically among the first sectors to benefit from global economic upswings. The UAE in particular stands to gain from this growth due to the country’s strategic geographic location that has allowed it to maintain more than 60 per cent share of the Middle East’s total import flows. The logistics department of Dulsco HR Solutions helps fill in the manpower requirement of both skilled and unskilled category when the peaks arise in demand, hence working with companies in partnership to achieve their targets.

Manpower outsourcing has gained a substantial following across the Middle East due to the unpredictable business conditions brought about by the global economic crisis. Outsourcing has enabled companies in the region to focus more on their core activities and reduce overhead without compromising on operational efficiency. In addition, it enables organizations to gain access to highly skilled talent who have relevant expertise and experience in the local market.

“Over the past few years the region’s logistics industry has remained highly resilient against the recession, so a stimulated global economy would definitely elevate demand for competent manpower in this dynamic field. At Dulsco we have a pool of skilled and unskilled workers and are able to deploy them on short notice to meet the workforce needs of the market. Trained manpower reserves are made available to perform specific logistics-related roles such as stevedoring, warehouse operations, baggage handling, tally clerks, drivers and equipment handling,” said Surjeet Singh, General Manager – Logistics, Dulsco HR Solutions.

Dulsco HR Solutions is an ISO 9001:2000-certified company that offers manpower outsourcing solutions to various industries. A potential base of highly trained and capable 5,000 employees is available to be outsourced on long and short term basis.

Logistics outsourcing is still relatively underdeveloped in the region compared to other parts of the world. In the Gulf, the sector presently accounts for an estimated 2.3 per cent of combined GDP and has the potential to achieve as much as 10 per cent annual growth. The UAE aims to capture a substantial portion of the region’s logistics market by leveraging opportunities along the regional and international logistics and supply chain, especially as it is hours away from thriving economies such as India and China.

Delivering results since 2001, Materials Handling Middle East will be held next year from September 25 to 27 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, UAE.  The three day event is set to be the definitive exhibition for the logistics, supply chain, freight and cargo industries in the region and as such is a must attend event for supply chain professionals.

After individual talks and strategic sessions with the key players in the regional logistics sector, the dates for next year’s event have been set.  These have been strategically selected for exhibitors’ utmost convenience, complementing other exhibitions in the global trade fair calendar.

Mr Ahmed Pauwels, Chief Executive Officer, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organiser of Materials Handling, said: “New trends are emerging in most sectors and the supply chain industry is no different.  We are excited about embracing these trends and working to ensure Materials Handling Middle East 2011 acts as the ideal platform for key players to come together and do business.”

He added: “Dubai has always been considered a logistics hub for the region and this is set to continue.  New developments such as the Al Maktoum International Airport form part of the city’s vision to becoming the pre-eminent centre for aviation worldwide. The new airport, when complete, will have capacity for 12 million tonnes of cargo giving a big boost to the materials handling sector.”

Dubai boasts a sophisticated and world class transportation infrastructure and is served by over 242 shipping lines and is linked via 112 airlines to 165 destinations.  Dubai Ports witnessed more than 25 per cent average growth in container traffic during the past four consecutive years.

For this reason Materials Handling Middle East has identified a niche for a new product category and so will welcome a new addition, containerization, to its existing product profile for 2011’s event. 

Ms Michelle McCarthy, recently appointed Senior Show Manager, Materials Handling Middle East, said: “The exhibition has established its presence in the region since 2001 and has been growing year on year.  The 2009 event, against all odds due to the difficult economic conditions, met with great success thanks to its professionalism and established reputation.  For 2011 we will build on our long standing experience and high quality service to deliver another dedicated and focused event for this specialised and growing industry. The exhibition is ideally positioned for exhibitors keen to reach markets in the Gulf and Middle East, the Indian Sub-Continent, the CIS countries and Africa.”

The Demo-Show area will return once again next year, giving the opportunity for exhibitors to demonstrate their products and services in a more interactive environment.  The trade fair will also feature seminar sessions where experts will share their thoughts on the latest trends and developments within the logistics and supply chain industries.

The trade event is the largest congregation in the Middle East for everyone involved in the handling of goods from the loading bay to their storage and use on site, through to goods-out and beyond. The event provides professionals the latest technologies, products and services in logistics, supply chain, freight & cargo, automation and information & communication technology.

Abu Dhabi, UAE (March 15th, 2010): The Abu Dhabi University (ADU), together with the Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group (ADUKG) and the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin), today announced the launch of the Gulf region’s first-ever Centre of Excellence for Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Aimed at enhancing the skills and qualifications of logistics professionals and specialists in the GCC, the Centre was launched on the sidelines of the Global Logistics Forum, which is being held in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region

The Centre will bring together the world’s best practices and expertise, which ADU and ADUKG believe will contribute to the further development of the skills of GCC-based logistics and supply chain professionals, to enable them to cope with the growing demand for logistics services in the region.

“The Centre’s establishment is part of the strategic collaboration between ADU, ADUKG and TU Berlin to develop a long-term, high quality programme of courses, events and knowledge transfer in the field of supply chain logistics,” said Ali Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, His Excellency Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Executive Board of Governors of Abu Dhabi University.

“The Abu Dhabi University is committed to building national capacity and providing applied research that drives regional economic development in all sectors. The launch of this Centre of Excellence will build a body of knowledge in logistics for the region, as well as provide a forum for informed discussions and analysis of emerging national needs in this vital sector,” said Dr. Nabil Ibrahim, Chancellor, Abu Dhabi University.

He added that the Centre aims to support organisational and individual development through the design of effective programmes and services. It also ensures that qualifications and skills are enhanced in all areas of logistics services for local organisations to strengthen and increase the region’s share in the global logistics market.

In addition, the Centre will provide extensive researches to identify the needs of the UAE and the GCC including general surveys, benchmarking and case study development along with short training courses, consultancy services and networking support in collaboration with world-class partners from academic and professional institutions.

“A full range of courses will be developed in the next six months including a complete set of qualifications ranging from simple introductory programmes to Masters Level accredited by various leading organisations in the field,” said Rachid Benchekroun, Acting CEO of ADUKG.

Through the Centre of Excellence, Benchekroun said, ADUKG will work with world class partners to provide management training seminars on the best practice application within the global supply chain management field to improve the financial performance of organizations.

“We aim to support academic and curriculum development in the area of global supply chain management at ADU, and engage in advanced research on application tools in the supply chain management field. Our partners include universities such as TU Berlin, and business schools, professional associations and networks and specialist organizations providing expert advice and guidance” he added.

Amman, Jordan, February 9, 2010: Aramex, the global logistics and transportation solutions provider, announced today that its Chief Operating Officer Osama Fattaleh has resigned to pursue personal business interests. Iyad Kamal, a veteran of 18 years at Aramex will take over as Chief Operating Officer. Fattaleh will remain with Aramex till the end of April 2010.

“I have reluctantly and sadly accepted Osama’s resignation, but I understand his decision and I stand by him,” said Fadi Ghandour, Founder and CEO, Aramex. “Other than his great contributions to the company and its development over the years, Osama is a friend and a trusted colleague, we will all miss him.”

“After long deliberations and discussions with Fadi, I am sad to be leaving Aramex,” Fattaleh said. “I had a very productive 23 years with the company, and I am proud to have contributed to its growth and development. I leave with great confidence that the company is on solid grounds, having delivered excellent results in 2009 and is set to continue in its path of expansion. I am also very happy to have Iyad Kamal take over as COO, who is a very capable veteran of the company.”

Kamal has been part of the Aramex team since 1991 and has served as Chief Logistics Officer for the past three years. Prior to his latest position, Kamal served the company in numerous capacities including Vice President - Logistics and Ground Services, General Manager Logistics, and Express Product and Quality Manager.

“Iyad comes into this new post with an ideal set of skills and experience, and I have no doubt that he will build on Osama’s achievements” remarked Ghandour.

On his part, Fattaleh remarked that he is looking forward to walking down the path of entrepreneurship, which Aramex has always believed in and advocated for. “For years, we at the company have talked about supporting entrepreneurship. Today, I have decided to walk that talk while utilising all the knowledge I have acquired over the years working with Aramex and in the industry,” Fattaleh said.

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