Moving ahead with its ‘closer to customers’ strategy, Canon Middle East, a leader in imaging solutions, has announced that it has organised special activities for its customers to coincide with the recently concluded 2011 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held at the Yas Marina circuit on November 12th and 13th. Demonstrating Canon’s continuing focus on building relations with clients, the company gathered VIP clients for an informal networking event during the F1 race in Abu Dhabi, while it also hosted an exclusive workshop during the race to teach budding photo enthusiasts the art of sports photography.

Canon provided VIP clients with full-board stay at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort in addition to complimentary tickets for the qualifying session and the final race of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With the F1 weekend attracting a large number of its top-tier customers, Canon took the initiative to conduct informal meetings and cultivate closer interaction with clients in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

On the other hand, some 20 photographers attended the workshop, which was held on November 12 at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Yas Island and was conducted by Canon Ambassador Frits van Eldik. The workshop was organised following the huge success of Canon’s summer workshops for university students. Mr. van Eldik offered tips and techniques in sports photography and also entertained questions from participants during a Q&A session. Participants had a practical session at Yas Marina Circuit after the workshop.

Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East, said, “Major sporting events present an excellent opportunity to meet our clients in a relaxing and informal setting. Given the thrill and excitement of Formula 1 racing, this was perhaps the best sport we could choose to entertain our special clients and to also organise a special sports photography workshop. Moreover, this gesture perfectly complements our ‘closer to customers’ strategy, especially as we mark our tenth anniversary in the region.”

The networking activity and photography workshop were organised under the theme the “Power of Partnership” in line with the 10th anniversary celebration of the Canon Middle East headquarters in the region. A series of monthly activities are being conducted in celebration of Canon’s anniversary based on various themes that reinforce Canon’s commitment to the community and the environment.

Alireza Bozorgmir,Product Manager Team Leader, Secureway Network Distributors

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Secureway Network Distributors the leading Value Added Distributor in the IT Security and Mobility sectors has shown total commitment to its vendors and channel partners at MECOM 2011. Besides showcasing global brands such as Fortinet, InfoBlox and F5 Networks, special seminars addresses by Secureway highlighted some of the most crucial aspects and future trends of the industry. 

“The Middle East is one of the fastest growing markets in the IT and communications solutions sectors. Platforms such as MECOM provide members of the industry the opportunity to cooperate and work towards a strong and steady business environment. Our vendor partners, Fortinet and InfoBlox addressed some key issues in separate seminars that touched on vital aspects of the networking world and were appreciated by the attendees.” said Alireza Bozorgmir, Product Manager Team Leader, Secureway Network Distributors FZ LLC.

Fortinet has consistently been the frontier and provider of security that meets performance with introducing the world fastest firewall, IPS and AV.  ‘What’s next for the Firewalls and UTM’s?’, a seminar addressed by Mr. Bozorgmir of focused on how companies are considering the perimeter security as obstacles that effectively slow down traffic and causes latencies. In light of the Web 2.0, the legacy firewall, IPS, AV or UTM solutions are already struggling with traffic generated by the new wave of applications, interactive sites and online collaboration tools. The seminar stressed that the new era requires a next generation solution with high throughput to handle the ever increasing customer requirements in the future.

Another exclusive seminar organized by Secureway, addressed the enormity and importance of the phase-out of IPv4 by January 2012, and prepared users for the release of IPv6. Once again Mr. Bozorgmir spoke on this fresh topic in the networking world. The seminar, ‘Are you ready for IPv6 and DNSSEC?’ provided Secureway and InfoBlox a closer working relationship towards this red-letter-day in the IT industry.

Luciana Kaddoumi, Regional Marketing Manager, Secureway, added, “As a strategy, Secureway conducted a detailed survey at MECOM to identify the current needs and problems that exist in the real networking world. More importantly the data gathered will be analyzed to ensure that all concerns are addressed in future planning as well as in ongoing interaction with clients.”

Secureway has a strong presence in the Middle East and also distributes other global brands such as F5, Fortinet, Infoblox, Imprivata, Ipanema, Loglogic, Lumension, Sophos, Sourcefire, Vasco and Actividentity. It offers its resellers and systems integration partners excellent opportunities to capitalize on their growing customer base by providing end-to-end IT Security solutions, Visualization and Optimization solutions, while assisting them in the full lifecycle of the project from proof of concept to after sales support.

Release date: 9th March 2011

Aiming to strengthen the UAE’s food and beverage sector, Dubai Exports, an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED), and Dubai World Trade Centre, have jointly hosted the Gulfood Majlis Lounge during the 16th edition of the Gulfood Exhibition, the region’s biggest annual food and hospitality event.

Happening from 27th February to 2nd March, the Gulfood Majlis Lounge became a perfect venue for companies to develop business relationships and conduct trade in a comfortable business environment. In addition, Dubai Exports organised a networking breakfast for the international buyers to meet with the UAE-based companies.

More than 60 companies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, India, Jordan, Spain, and Syria attended the networking breakfast and met with the UAE companies to discuss trade and export opportunities.

In 2010, Dubai’s food exports grew by 17 per cent with the increase representing a little over 6.6 per cent of the emirate’s non-oil exports. Dubai’s producers of food and beverage products have also penetrated a number of foreign markets including Europe and have gained an international reputation for their food and beverage products, which were exported to over 130 countries.

“We have been supporting the Gulfood exhibition since last two years as this is a perfect venue to showcase our exports facilitation services to companies in the food sector. By partnering with DWTC on sponsoring the Gulfood Majlis Lounge, we are able to provide our local companies with a networking occasion to meet various international visitors and discuss business opportunities to expand and export locally made products outside the UAE,” said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Exports.

“With Dubai as the regional business hub for MENASA region, Gulfood exhibition brings together 3,800 exhibitors and 55,000 buyers from 152 countries. Through this event, local companies from the food sector will have an advantage of exchanging the newest technologies available with thousands of regional and international companies participating at the event. This opportunity allows them to open possible new markets for their products and services,” he added.

Mark Napier, Director, Exhibitions and Events, Dubai World Trade Centre said, “Gulfood is best known for its international profile and global trade. However, Gulfood is also major platform for UAE Exporters so we are delighted to support this initiative. Connecting International Buyers from more than 150 countries with relevant local producers is a logistical challenge so  having experts such as Dubai Exports helping facilitate this program is an enormous benefit and I commend them for their excellent work.”   

Maryam Al Saadi, Business Development Manager of Al Yasat Holding LLC, a member of Al Mazroui Group, said that the Gulfood exhibition was an important event in their calendar. “At the Gulfood Majlis Lounge organised by Dubai Exports, the quality of people and companies invited matches our target market to export our products. During the networking breakfast, we were able to meet potential global buyers from Brazil and Europe which are the countries we are now focusing to export,” she said.

Alad Faria, Operations Manager, Shura Trading and Hotel Supplies, a member of Al Mazroui Group also saw the networking breakfast as an important platform that gave access to potential buyers which will lead to potential deals for their products and services. The company has been exporting for seven years to Oman and is currently targeting new markets such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India, through the help of Dubai Exports.

Meanwhile, Pegasus Imports – an Indian-based company distributing high-quality food and beverage in both the food service, institutional and the retail trade – has opened its Dubai office early this year to cater to the Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Niki Khan, Director of Sales & Marketing, Pegasus Imports said the Gulfood Majlis Lounge allowed them to identify and talk to the right people to deal with in the UAE and the company’s new Dubai office is keen to work with Dubai Exports and avail its services to help in exporting to their target markets in the region.

Omar Fontana, Managing Partner at Lacteos LW in Argentina, which manufactures fresh cheese and fresh milk products, said that the Gulfood Majlis Lounge allowed them to network with local companies in order to conduct trade and export its products in the UAE. He added that there were 30 SMEs and 60 big companies from Argentina that were able to benefit from Dubai Exports-organised networking lounge.

The Gulfood exhibition also hosted 81 international pavilions during the exhibition at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

High performance networks solution to deliver better returns on investment for healthcare companies

Dubai, UAE, 12 January 2011  Allied Telesis Inc., a global provider of secure IP/Ethernet switching solutions and an industry leader in the deployment of IP Triple Play networks, will pursue Networking Infrastructure projects within the burgeoning Middle East healthcare sector, which is expected to grow upto a USD 55 billion dollar industry by 2020. The move is aimed at capitalizing on rapidly growing investments in network facilities and services within the healthcare industry. Allied Telesis is already set to launch a channel partner program in Q1 2011 which will recruit new solutions partners and focus particularly on potential healthcare-related projects.

A recent investment banking report predicts that the region’s health care sector will grow by 9 per cent annually through the next 20 years. The report also cites the UAE government’s major support to the healthcare industry by investing substantially and promoting innovative approaches that are aimed at improving medical facilities in the country. Allied Telesis high performance networking solutions can help in enhancing and empowering the UAE healthcare sector - leveraging its reliable and effective networking solutions for cutting edge medical services and facilities like Picture Archiving & Communications Systems (PACS), Medical Imaging & Resonance, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and other basic functions that aim to protect, share, and secure patient & personnel files.

Utilizing an Allied Telesis Healthcare Solution in healthcare network infrastructure can provide medical facilities, clinics and hospitals in the Middle East with key benefits such as resiliency, security, high performance and future proofing. These data network infrastructures are assured of seamless traffic flow; maximum data protection; high speed and accuracy in data handling & sharing and the flexibility to expand the network to complement the facility’s business growth.    

In fact, hospitals and medical facilities in different parts of the world are already using Allied Telesis networking solutions to improve patient care, enhance productivity, save costs, ensure data security, and improve in-building safety using advanced IP surveillance technologies. With its long history of partnering with government and healthcare organizations, Allied Telesis is adept at guiding medical providers through the often-complex world of grants and legislative mandates while simultaneously providing the network systems critical to the success of healthcare facilities, adoption or expansion of vital diagnostic and administrative solutions.

“These are exciting times for the Middle East’s healthcare industry as analysts have forecasted rapid growth over the next few years, which are reflected in the increase in healthcare related facilities like hospitals, clinics and out patient facilities and the enhancement of medical services being offered in the country today,” said Sabbahuddin Khan, Regional Manager - Middle East, Allied Telesis. “International healthcare facilities are being set up in the region as well. Allied Telesis is aiming at consolidating its position in this growing vertical by investing towards the development of key healthcare projects, and focusing on seizing more opportunities and partnerships that can benefit both Allied Telesis and the healthcare industry. Moreover, the move to leverage our key products and services in the country’s healthcare segment falls in line with the government’s call for healthcare providers to invest in enabling technologies that improve efficiency, streamline record-keeping, provide doctors with real-time access to medical images, and centrally store patient records. Further, in line with our pursuit of more healthcare partnerships, we will focus on the sector as we begin recruiting new solutions partners in 2011. Our channel partner program scheduled to launch in the region in Q1’2011 is geared towards this end.”

Allied Telesis officials have also noticed that other countries in the region have started to follow the lead on increased spending in their respective health sectors. According to a recent report from Springboard Research, a leading innovator in the IT Market research industry, the Saudi Arabian government has made considerable allocations towards the establishment of technologically equipped hospitals and medical centres to complement a strong demand for better government services in the health and education sectors. As part of its ninth five-year plan, the Saudi government has allocated over USD 73 billion for the construction and development of various initiatives that will include 117 hospitals, 750 primary healthcare centers and 400 emergency centers. To help deal with the demand for more hospitals and related medical infrastructure in both the UAE and the rest of the region, Allied Telesis has reaffirmed its commitment to provide these facilities with its signature secure IP/Ethernet switching solutions and vast experience in deploying converged multi-play networks.

“Allied Telesis remains steadfast in its commitment to play a major role in the unified bid to enhance and develop medical services and infrastructure in the country’s healthcare segment. We offer the necessary experience, knowledge and technology needed in pushing the UAE’s healthcare segment to new heights. Integrating our reliable and effective data networking solutions and services with modern medical infrastructure and facilities gives patients the confidence of obtaining world class medical treatment,” concluded Khan.

Dubai, 9 February, 2010: The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and The German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) organised a joint business networking meeting recently. The event aimed at discussing opportunities for investment and cooperation between businessmen from both countries and contributing to sustainable economic development in the emirate.

Over 200 representatives from major private sector companies and corporations attended the meeting, which highlighted the need for sustained cooperation in achieving viable and sustainable economic growth for Dubai. The meeting also saw discussions on enhancing communication between members of the Council of the Emiratis and the Germans and overcoming obstacles they may face in pursuing investment opportunities.

Representatives from DED including His Excellency Mr Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED, as well as CEOs of DED’s agencies - the Foreign Investment Office, the Export Development Corporation, Dubai Events and Promotions and the Mohamed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development - presented an overview of DED’s vision and mission and services for investors and businessmen.

“We are pleased to cooperate with AHK, which serves as the umbrella overseeing the economic and trade development, as well as exchange expertise and investment between the UAE and Germany. The meeting confirms Dubai and Germany’s keenness to find the appropriate mechanisms and vast investment opportunities available in both economies,” said Al Qamzi. “Businessmen and investors play a vital role in strengthening the relations between the two economies and this meeting supported the economic cooperation taking place in various areas.”

Al Qamzi confirmed Dubai government’s commitment to continue its diversification policy and create opportunities for German companies to establish more projects in the emirate. “Dubai and Germany enjoy strategic relations at all economic levels. The meeting contributed to promoting trade and economic relations between Dubai, which enjoys a leading position in the Gulf region, and Germany, the third largest economy in the world.”

“Through our various agencies, we will contribute to achieving DED’s objectives, supporting Dubai’s economy, and improving the investment environment to attract more foreign investments. Additionally, we continue to support small and medium enterprises, export development, and revitalization of the retail sector through our ongoing initiatives,” added Al Qamzi.

Dr Peter Goepfrich, CEO of the German Emirati Joint Council, welcomed the DED group and stressed on the importance of this event as a good opportunity for both German and Emirati companies to get acquainted with Dubai’s key governmental agencies that execute the DED’s strategies. “The interaction between economy and politics as well as economic management is very important. This is especially true in a relatively different kind of environment as in the UAE, in particular Dubai, which is indeed a regional and transitional trade hub to its neighboring countries in the Gulf and which under the influence of the latest acute economic situation is repositioning itself,” said Goepfrich.

The Department of Economic Development seeks to achieve sustainable economic development and upgrade the competitive advantage of Dubai through the development of policies, laws and economic legislation in the emirate, creating a favorable environment conducive to doing business, and maintaining a high standard of living for citizens and residents of Dubai.

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