Arab Media Forum bridges Gap between Gulf Media and Technology

Arab Media Forum 2008 opened its seventh edition with a workshop on how the Gulf media is responding to challenges posed by technological advances. The session also brought under focus the unique predicament faced by private and public media organizations with the advent of new technology, on the back of burgeoning economic growth, which has prompted the enforcement of new industry regulations.

Moderated by Abdulla Al Murr Al Zaabi, Anchor, Abu Dhabi TV Channel, speakers at the workshop agreed new trends are driving the GCC media with socio-economic features and patterns only found in advanced and mature markets. A lot of the growth in the region is attributed to the support and involvement of public sector firms. The workshop also discussed the impact of commercial aspects forcing the GCC media to be more financially driven.

Access to state of the art technology, available resources, roles of the public and private sector firms in the media industry, floating regional media companies and their challenges in dealing with global IT players and collaboration between government organizations and media firms to better the state of the industry were some of the other concerns that drew the attention of the panelists.

The media industry in the region has evolved over the years and is continuously exploring new avenues to enhance content and programming in line with international standards. New and advanced technology is slowly changing the landscape with journalists facing dynamic challenges created by the introduction of innovative tools and interfaces.

Ahmed Al Shaikh, Managing Director of Dubai Media Incorporated, said: "The UAE government is committed to highlighting the importance of media and its role as an effective disseminator of information. In line with its directive, the government has actively promoted freedom of the media and encouraged the establishment of various media firms whilst maintaining responsible and ethical journalistic standards." Al Sheikh stressed the importance of organized industry patterns and urged organizations to move away from being mere commercial entities.

Commenting on the importance of trained resources, Jamal Khadoggi, Editor-in-Chief of Saudi Arabia's Al Watan daily, said: ?Lack of trained resources in the region is one of the most important stumbling blocks for the development of the industry. Nearly 80 per cent of media graduates in the kingdom are employed with private publicity and broadcasting firms, due to the lure of a more glamorous lifestyle creating a dearth of journalistic talent.

''We need to attract talents that understand the importance of media and its role in helping dispel myths associated with the Arab world." The panelists urged media organizations and institutions to come together and collaborate on projects that will help fill gaps to encourage fresh talent to join the industry and contribute to its growth and development.

"Bridging Arab Media Through Technology", the theme for the seventh edition of the forum, has drawn the participation of over 500 local, regional and international media professionals. Over 50 intellectuals and industry experts have convened in Dubai for the annual forum to hold in-depth discussions on the impact of technology within the regional media industry. WAM

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du is Exclusive ICT Provider at Global Travel and Tourism Summit

du, the integrated telecom service provider in the UAE, has been selected as the exclusive communication technology provider at the first ever Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Dubai. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the event will run from April 20-22 at Madinat Conference Hall, Madinat Jumeirah Resort.

du will provide full telecommunications services, including wired and wireless internet (WiFi), IP Telephony and mobile telephony. Furthermore, du will host the summit’s Business Lounge, a place for delegates to work comfortably or simply relax. The business lounge will be open to all trade visitors, speakers and delegates attending the three day event. The integrated telecom operator will also host and broadcast the summit’s webcast, and audio and video recordings of the session’s highlights and conclusions.

Osman Sultan, CEO, du, said: “This is an ideal platform for du to showcase our quad-play capabilities, since tourism and communication have something in common – they bring people together and bridge divides. We are very proud to be part of such a high-level gathering which will bring world leaders from the industry to Dubai, the most exciting travel destination in the Middle East.”

The Global Travel & Tourism Summit is organized by the World Travel & Tourism Council and is considered the highest level gathering of Travel & Tourism leaders in the world. The Global Travel & Tourism Summit has been held previously in Portugal, USA, India and Qatar. (PR)

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Creativity Center to organize 10th International Forum on Management of Corporations with Global Best Practices

The 10th Forum on “Management of Corporations with the Techniques of Successful International Companies” will be held at Al Bustan Rotana from April 22 to 24, under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, will sponsor the forum, with the Emirates Marketing & Promotions being the strategic partner. The theme of this year’s event is “Strategy Development and Development of Strategies.”

The event will be preceded by a workshop on service excellence and management of talent, from April 20 to 21.
Mr. Ahmad Tahlak, CEO of EMP, said, “We are pleased to lend support to the forum as events like this provide pointers to revitaliising the management techniques that can be applied both to the government sector as well as private companies. The sharing of experiences will be of immense benefits to local participants at a time when the UAE is poised to grow dramatically economically and politically.”

Dr Ali Al Hammadi, Chairman of Creativity Center and Chairman of the Forum, said: “Decision makers need to constantly update themselves in new techniques of management in order to success in their objectives. This forum will provide a platform that will enable the participants to learn from success stories from around the world, including countries like Malaysia and Turkey. In addition, management officials from local companies will also present cases studies of their successful programs.”

Al Hammadi said the forum is a platform for showcasing integrated solutions that would respond to the development strategies adopted by the governments of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), and address issues concerning “how to run our government corporations with the mentality of successful international companies.” (PR)

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Euro-Arab Cities Forum

More than 120 mayors of European and Arab cities are attending the third edition of Euro-Arab Cities Forum, which was inaugurated yesterday by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality.

The two-day event is being held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.

In his inaugural address, Shaikh Hamdan stressed the need of more cooperation between the West and the Arab world in order to serve the interests of both regions.

The speakers at the forum urged both Arab and western worlds to establish more dialogues between the local governments to start a new era of development and bringing the people and culture together.

The speakers stressed the need of a platform for a people-to-people relations for uplifting the development process and eradicating the differences over politically-motivated issues.

Three sessions held yesterday focused on local governance, best practices, and transport and planning.

On the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Osama Albar, Mayor of Makkah, told Khaleej Times that co-operation between local governments can bring the communities together and it would open a window for people to interact each other.

“This can resolve the misunderstanding and perceptional differences between people. It would lead us to a better world,” he said.

Alberto Ruiz-Galardon Jimenez, Mayor of Madrid, said, “Both Arab and western worlds can learn a lot by sharing expertise. I think the best way to connect people is to establish relations between local governments. I don’t think the existing conflicts are an obstacle for cooperation in development. But it would be much better if we could end conflicts through dialogues,” he added.

Omar Al Bahrawi, Mayor of Rabat, opined that the best way to resolve the conflicts between the West and the Arab world was to create a proper platform for people to meet and interact. “The conflicts have a marginal effect in the cooperation. However, both the regions can learn from each other through dialogues and achieve common goals. Local governments can play a major role in facilitating these dialogues without any political involvements.”

Eng. Hussien Nasser Lootah, Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said, “Dubai Municipality has always encouraged forging of relations between the local governments in Arab and western worlds. Euro-Arab Cities Conference is an example of our effort to bring the local governments together.”

Minister of Environment and Water Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Minister of Education Dr. Hanif Hassan, Secretary-General of UAE Municipalities Jassim Mohammed bin Darwish, and a large number of prominent Arab and European personalities, including heads of municipalities and local councils were present at the function.

The forum has been jointly organised by the Arab Towns Organisation (ATO), the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), Dubai Municipality, the Standing Committee for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of Local Authorities and Regions (COPPEM), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at the Council of Europe (CLARE). Source

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Dubai to host Euro-Arab Cities Forum

The city of Dubai will host the third Euro-Arab Cities Forum at Madinat Jumeirah during 10-11 February 2008. The forum, held under the patronage of the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will be attended by 120 Mayors from European and Arab cities.

Announcing the activities of the forum at a press conference on Tuesday, Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality said the event will be held under the theme 'New Dialogue for Development.' Highlighting the significance of dialogue, he said, it is a major factor in the peaceful and amicable resolution of differences and problems, adding that dialogue breaks down any ideological barrier, build bridges and narrows differences in ideas and creates conducive atmosphere.

Lootah said: 'It is in view of these facts that we decided to organise the forum, which we hope will lead to providing solutions to these problems creating a climate of love and harmony among all the participants and helping all to achieve more progress and development in their respective areas.' He added: 'By holding this forum, we aim to establish regional partnerships and co-operation among cities, regions and local administrations whose culture, resources and interest compliment each other's. We also aim to face challenges in order to build a bright future at the level of model cities which we all agreed to call 'nurseries of development', to build a real partnership through new dialogue that will reflect positively on the cities, regions and local administrations of all partners involved and to highlight and benefit from the best practices in a way that will suit both the Arab and European sides.' Lootah pointed out that the forum will discuss a number of important issues of interest to all cities of the world, including the issue of good local governance. He said discussions would focus on ways and means of improving performance and good execution of works by adopting effective policies like decentralisation, judicious investment of resources and funds for development projects, proper handling of the issue of migration from rural to urban areas, the best administration method for new communities, development of property ownership legislations and systems and the developing of slums.

The forum will also discuss public transport and town planning, environmental and water issues, as well as financial tools for funding of joint ventures of cultural and heritage projects.

A large number of prominent Arab and European personalities, including mayors of cities, heads of municipalities and local councils, are taking part in the forum. Invitations are sent to sixty European mayors and sixty Arab mayors, in addition to a number of distinguished guests from international organisations and institutions, including Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Amr Mousa, the Secretary General of the Arab League, AbdulRahman Al Atiyya, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and other distinguished personalities.

The forum is being organised, on the Arab side, by the Arab Towns Organisation (ATO), the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) and Dubai Municipality and, on the European side, by the Standing Committee for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership of Local Authorities and Regions (COPPEM), Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at the Council of Europe (CLARE). Etisalat is the official sponsor of the event.

Dubai Municipality has completed all the preparations to hold the forum in coordination with other concerned bodies in Dubai. Six committees had been set up to supervise the activities of the forum including a public relations committee, media committee, scientific committee, secretarial and services committee, opening ceremony committee and accommodation committee.(WAM)

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Dubai Industrial Investment and Partnership Forum

The Dubai Industrial Investment and Partnership Forum (DIIPF), which will be held from February 4-6 at The Dubai World Trade Centre convenes local and regional industry experts and distinguished speakers for a three-day forum under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry.

Organised by the Dubai Export Development Corporation (DEDC), Dubai Economic Department and the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting, the three-day forum brings together a distinguished line-up of keynote speakers, informative panel discussions and workshops, as well as two days of pre-arranged matchmaking sessions between buyers and suppliers.

'By means of this forum, we aim to promote industrial subcontracting and partnership between local, regional and international industrial companies. This event will also assist Small and Medium Enterprises to discuss new businesses with major companies enabling them to expand their markets,' explained Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General of Planning and Development, Department of Economic Development and Chairman of DEDC.

'SMEs role has been crucial not only for the Dubai economy but across the world and their contribution averages about 70-80% of the GDP. The current diversification strategy focuses on SMEs as they offer greater return on investment and have proven to be the buffers in times of economic slowdowns due to their faster recovery,' added Khalid.

The UAE Government has constantly provided programmes to increase the SMEs shares in the growing economy of the country.

Eng. Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, DEDC said, 'With over 150 industry specialists, a large exhibition, outstanding workshops and match making opportunities, DIIPF is designed to maximise all potential business activities while learning the latest trends in the industry.

'The patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan emphasises the support of Dubai Government for all the indicatives that aims to encourage the manufacturing and export sectors of the country', he furthered.

During the first day of the forum, attendees will benefit from the keynote speech of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Prof. Nicolas Negroponte followed by two informative workshops featuring distinguished speakers and panellists on 'Subcontracting and Partner Exchange' and 'Manufacturing Investment Opportunities'.

'This is an essential event and a must for anyone involved in securing foreign investments for industrial projects as key stakeholders and decision makers are gathered here,' Al Awadi said. 'DIIPF presents a fantastic opportunity to support in developing the country's manufacturing sector, which will gradually decrease its dependence on foreign imports towards a more self-sustaining economy.'

Days two and three are designed to congregate delegates through a series of pre-arranged Business to Business meetings between buyers and suppliers giving everyone the opportunity to conduct important discussions.

Additionally, beside the forum, an exhibition will be held comprising of leading UAE companies from the manufacturing, oil and gas and banking sectors including DUBAL, GASCO, RAS GAS and the event's golden sponsor, Emirates International Bank.

Various companies from around the region including Qatar Fuel Additives Company and Egypt's HEDO Group will also be exhibiting.

DEDC has been launched a year ago with a main objective of facilitating export procedures, encourage investors to establish their export business and explore new markets in the UAE.

'We are confident that DIIPF will help plug up on the best business opportunities in the exporter and manufacturer sectors in UAE,' Al Awadi concluded. (AMEInfo)

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ADEF 2008 kicks off

More than 1000 eminent government, corporate and busieness leaders, bankers and economists from over 25 countries have been brought together by The Abu Dhabi Economic Forum (ADEF 2008) which was opened Sunday to discuss Abu Dhabi's brand of economic development, business and investment opportunities in the second largest economy in the Gulf region.

The 2-day high-profile event is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces.

The Forum has been co-organised by conferencing specialist Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal group, the Department of Planning and Economy of the Abu Dhabi Government and Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Participants will focus on Abu Dhabi's main economic trends and the potential impact of the government new policy agenda on investment flows, government spending and business opportunities in the Emirate's various economic sectors.

Speakers will in particular tackle the multi-billion spending programme on infrastructure designed to underpin the Emirate emerging and fast expanding economy and the government plans for developing the industry, particularly energy and capital intensive industries.

The forum will also discuss among other topics the outlook for real estate and tourism sectors in the potential impact of accelerated development and mega projects on Abu Dhabi's plan to become a major destination for tourism, businesses and leading world class industries. Another session will address the outlook and challenges for the financial sector and banks' role in supporting and servicing the economic and construction boom.

The forum's proceedings will be enriched by select elite of distinguished speakers, economists and corporate leaders. Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and Economy as well as Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall take proactive parts in the debate.

Commenting on the event, Nasser Al-Suwaidi, Chairman of Department of Planning and Economy said this year's conference comes at a very interesting time for Abu Dhabi, as the Emirate has now established its vision, policy options and development plans, these plans that will to a large extent determine its due position and growing role within the global economy.

" We expect the forum to act as a very useful platform for communicating our policies and interacting with investors, corporate leaders and high-level decision makers. We believe Abu Dhabi Economic Forum will help to demonstrate the enormous potential and business opportunities that will be offered by Abu Dhabi's economic strategy and initiatives," he added. (WAM)

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ADEF to discuss emerging business scenario

The Abu Dhabi Economic Forum which will kick off today will discuss business developments in the areas of tourism, energy, industry, and financial sector.

The two-day forum is attracting large participation from corporate leaders, bankers, economists and businessmen from the region and the entire world.
The forum is being organised by Department of Planning and Economy of the Abu Dhabi Government and Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In a number of sessions during the two-day forum, the experts will discuss Abu Dhabi's economic trends and the potential impact of the government's new policy agenda on investment flows, government spending and business opportunities in the Emirate's various economic sectors. Source

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Bill Gates to address leaders forum today

Microsoft yesterday announced that more than 250 government representatives from across the Middle East and North Africa will attend the Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Arabia 2008 which begins today.

Bill Gates will be the keynote speaker at the forum, to be held today and tomorrow at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. This is the first time the Microsoft chief is visiting the UAE.

GLF Arabia 2008 seeks to address issues related to the forum’s title — ‘Accelerating Arab Competitiveness’ — through panel discussions, examining case studies and presentations.

Every Arab country will be represented at the event, as government officials explore the most effective ways of building capacity through education and training, and also modernising government departments with the latest technologies. Source

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UAE Education Minister to open Gulf Education Forum

UAE Minister for Education, His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali will tomorrow open a major professional forum in Dubai which will probe the future of education throughout the Gulf and assist in addressing the sector's challenges that lie ahead.
Dr. Ali will deliver the keynote address at the Gulf Education Forum, which runs at the Madinat Arena from January 22-24 outlining the perspectives and challenges facing K-12 education in the UAE.

Gulf Education Forum is to be addressed by leading education experts from seven nations. The high-powered speaker panel includes: Prof. Gerhard Preiss, Neurodidactics pioneer and Mike Lloyd, Education Marketing Manager of Microsoft UK among others.

"The entire educational spectrum will come under the spotlight at this inaugural forum which will provide education professionals from throughout the region with insights into leading-edge breakthroughs in teaching techniques, technology and methodologies," said Virginia Kern, Chairman, Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), which has organised GEF.

Gulf Education Forum takes place alongside the Gulf Education Supplies Show (GESS), the region's premier educational supplies and solutions event and will examine key issues impacting the broad industry landscape, from how schools can become the centre of communities, to trends and perspectives in early childhood education, from new dimensions in classroom technology to the hidden dimension in educational reform.

Case studies on global successes and failures will back up the addresses as experts highlight how the Gulf can learn from experiences elsewhere.

Exhibitors from 22 countries spanning the USA, Europe, the Levant, North Africa, the Indian Sub-continent and Far East are taking part in GESS, which is a B2B exhibition unique in the Middle East.

GESS is being held with the official support of the UAE Ministry of Education, the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) and UK Trade and Investment Support, World Didac and the DDV - The German Educational Supplies Association assisted by AUMA - the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry.

"These twin events have received strong regional support because of the timeliness of the initiatives coming as they do at the start of the largest investment period in regional educational development," explained James Graham, Commercial Director, F&E.

Gulf Education Forum will also be attended by high ranking educational professionals from throughout the Middle East as the region moves to provide a next generation educational infrastructure. Due at the forum are: Dr. Abdallah Yousef Al Mutawa'a, Undersecretary for Curricula and Education Affairs Office, Government of Bahrain; Dr. Abdallah Mohammad Al Ghaithi, Dean of the University of Sana'a's Education College; Dr. Amal Bint Abdallah Al BuSaeediyyah, General Director for Curricular from the Sultanate of Oman; Dr. Hamad Bin Saif Al Hamani, UNESCO's representative in Doha; Dr. Rabee'a Mohammad Khamis Al Kaabi, Undersecretary at Qatar's Ministry of Education and Dr. Ali Al Karni, Director General of the Saudi-based Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf.

GESS will be open to professional visitors from 10am-6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 10am-5pm on Thursday.

For further information on GESS and GEF please log on to: www.gulfeducation.info Source

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Experts to address topics in Islamic finance, risk management

At least 60 decision makers from the local, regional and international financial services companies will gather in Dubai this week to tackle the most pressing issues in Islamic finance and risk management in the Middle East.

"We feel that the financial services sector in the UAE and the whole Middle East needs improvement," said Cordelia Henry, managing director of Interactive Events, which organised the event on Monday and Tuesday.

She said yesterday that industry experts and top executives would thrash out problems and come up with "effective solutions" to make the industry achieve better productivity and become more professional.

She added that the various challenges facing the region's Islamic finance include the need for new and innovative instruments as well as taking a proactive stance against probable market risks.

The speakers and participants to the two-day Risk Management Forum and Islamic Finance Forum include company chief executives, operating officers and heads of compliance, audit and investment departments, Islamic scholars and other industry analysts.

The forums would be held at the Emirates Towers Hotel. "They offer strategic insights, case studies from a range of organisations where practitioners share their experiences plus interactive debate sessions," she added.

She said that Ruggiero Lomonaco, head of Middle East & Islamic Private Investor Products at ABN Amro Markets, UK and the CEO of UAE's Noor Investment Group, Hussain Al Qemzi would be among the speakers. Source

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Emirates Foundation hosts Pan Arab Philanthropy meeting

The Emirates Foundation, one of the leading philanthropic institutions in the UAE, today hosted the first ever meeting in the UAE of the Arab Foundations Forum - the body coordinating philanthropic organisations across the Arab world.

The purpose of the gathering was to discuss the entire range of challenges faced by the sector, and how better to cooperate, in order to achieve better results for the many programmes being undertaken in the various countries taking part.

Institutions represented at the forum came from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine and the UAE.

Maytha Al Habsi, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Emirates Foundation, welcomed the Forum delegates. "The Forum offers an ideal opportunity for information exchange and future cooperation, especially in the fields of project assessment and feasibility studies," she said. "We look forward to further involvement with our colleagues at other Forum meetings," she added.

Khuloud Al Nuwais, Emirates Foundation Director of Projects, then briefed the participants on the activities and achievements of the Foundation since its creation in 2005. (WAM)

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Citizens from 200 countries live and co-exist peacefully in UAE

The first Alliance of Civilisations Forum was concluded here Wednesday with emotional call for promoting and fostering interfaith and cross-culture dialogue.
Having a high-profile presence in the meeting, the United Arab Emirates considers the concept of the "Alliance of Civilizations" initiative as one of the most important global initiatives of recent years.

"We offer our sincere thanks to the Governments of Spain and of Turkey for having launched this initiative, and we pledge our full support for the alliance and its objectives," said UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and community Development, Abdul Rahman Al Owais in an address he delivered at conference.

He said the promotion of dialogue between cultures and between faiths "is something to which we must all pay attention, if we are to hope for a peaceful world, where tolerance, rather than bigotry, prevails, and where misunderstandings based on ignorance are removed".

"For us in the Emirates, tolerance, of different faiths, different cultures and different races, is fundamental to our way of life and the world as a whole. People from nearly 200 countries live and co-exist peacefully and harmoniously together within our borders. Peoples of all religions, Muslim, Christian, Hindu and others, practice their faiths, side-by-side.

''Indeed, in our capital city of Abu Dhabi, one of the largest mosques is immediately adjacent to the Catholic Cathedral, the Coptic Cathedral and the Anglican Church symbolizing our respect to all faiths and commitment to inter-faith understanding," he stated.

"That is how we wish it to be. That basis of tolerance and dialogue is an essential part of the religion of Islam," he added.

He said through tolerance and dialogue comes understanding - and a recognition that a stereotyping of other cultures and other faiths can only lead to misunderstanding and a breakdown in harmony.

"Part of our understanding and of the way in which we practice tolerance in these matters is that we recognise that people of each and every culture, each and every faith, hold certain things dear to their hearts.

''As a corollary, we believe that it is incumbent upon us to ensure that persons who claim to be a part of other cultures and other faiths do not deliberately set out to cause offence, or to poke fun at those aspects of culture and belief that are so important to others, which might inflame public opinion and of further creating distrust and animosity.

''While we recognise, and value, the right to the freedom of expression, it is our view that there is a need for a greater acceptance of responsibility in the way that freedom is used, particularly by the mass media," he stated He said such freedoms should not be used to permit and to justify the publication of inflammatory material that can not only lead to a deepening of misunderstanding between cultures and faiths, but also to violence and death.

He pointed out that the promotion of dialogue and understanding, indeed the promotion of an alliance of civilizations, can only hope to be successful "if we all exert continuous and sincere efforts to build bridges, rather than to divide, to foster friendship, rather than hostility, to explain, rather than to disseminate views designed to deepen misunderstandings." "We in the United Arab Emirates will continue to play our part, both at home and elsewhere, in the pursuit of the goal to which we all aspire - a greater belief in the concept of global community and of the unity of mankind. We look forward to working with others in the effort to reach that goal," he stated.

"We hope that this meeting will succeed in laying down a framework for continuing activity that will allow concrete steps to be taken towards our shared goals, with such a framework being designed to encourage and facilitate the participation of each and every state that is represented here," he concluded.

The two-day international gathering was opened by Spanish Spanish Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapatero and addressed by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. It brought together political leaders, the media, corporate and film industry executives, and grassroots and civil society leaders. Created in 2005 at the initiative of Spain and Turkey and under UN auspices, the Alliance seeks to tackle fear and suspicion, bridge divides and overcome prejudices and polarizations between Islam and the West. (WAM)

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First Arab Intellectual Property Forum organized by UAE Ministry of Economy

The First Arab Intellectual Property Forum will be held from January 08 to 09, 2008 in Abu Dhabi, announced the UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE).
"This global event provides an important opportunity to debate and discuss IPR policies and sets a platform to highlight the success stories of companies who were able to build strong markets with their IP-centered businesses", said Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi who is patronizing the upcoming event .

This Forum, she added, provides an opportunity for regional and international companies to proactively discuss IPR issues, with emphasis on IP law enforcement and efforts against product imitation.

"Aside from concession procedures, licensing and trademark management, participants will also talk about electronic rimes and the exploitation of Web site names." Set to bring together over 300 dignitaries, special interest groups, executives and international experts is being organized by the Ministry as a major initiative in its continuing efforts to combat intellectual property rights (IPR) violations that impede the country and the region's full economic potential.

The Forum which gets the full support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will provide in-depth discussions on various IPR issues, including cross-border cooperation, public awareness campaigns, electronic commerce and online crimes. It will also tackle challenges in IP management and identify successful strategies that optimize business potential.

"The Forum will include a series of workshops, each deeply exploring specific subject that are of great importance to intellectual property rights in the Arab world, especially as embodied in the World Intellectual Property - Property-Rights Literature." According to Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi Undersecretary - Planning Sector, MoE, the contents of the forum will be as follows: the first workshop will tackle piracy and counterfeiting and the various initiatives being implemented to prevent it from proliferating across the region. It will also highlight the critical role of consumers in combating piracy, and the strong impact of an effective public awareness campaign in boosting law enforcement efforts. The second workshop will address issues concerning electronic commerce, electronic theft and various crimes committed on the web. The third workshop will focus on licensing and management of trademarks and will examine various business models and opportunities.

The Forum, he added, will be a suitable platform to facilitate a healthy debate on critical issues and promote sustained interaction to help us identify and develop new business opportunities and enforcement initiatives.

Participants, he said, will also examine current conditions and possible improvements in the implementation of IPR laws and policies throughout the Arab World. A topic of interest is the monitoring and prevention of counterfeit products through harbors, airports, and other border crossing points. We expect a good dialogue among executive authorities present regarding the border practices of their own region.

The UAE, added Sheikha Lubna, is fully aware that it must strengthen its alliances with the rest of the international community to achieve even greater success in the fight against piracy and counterfeiting.

She expressed confidence that through this Forum, the UAE is heading in the right direction towards achieving this mission. (WAM)

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Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association opens Second Annual Forum in Dubai

The Second Annual Forum of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) opened in Dubai on 12 December at the Grand Hyatt Dubai Hotel.

The two-day event, which will deal with a range of challenges and opportunities in the region's petrochemical and chemical sectors, was inaugurated by GPCA Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Al- Mady, who is also Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). The Forum provides industry experts an opportunity to share key industry insights, experiences, and discuss the global economic outlook at a critical point in the chemical industry cycle.
Addressing the press on the opening day, Mr. Al-Mady said: 'We are confident that the flow of information and exchange of ideas over these two important days will be the basis for excellent networking opportunities and interaction between industry decision-makers and corporate leaders. While the First Annual GPCA Conference was a milestone for us, this year's conference will be a step towards consolidating on our firm foundation, reviewing our achievements during the last year and sharing our vision for the future'.
In his welcome speech on the opening day, Mr. Al-Mady expressed concern over the construction cost bubble that the region is currently experiencing.

'This, I believe is of great concern as capital costs for new projects have 'gone through the roof'. It makes it difficult to achieve acceptable financial targets when capital costs have risen so much. I believe this will lead to some project delays and probably some cancellations over the next few years. In time, this bubble will deflate, as it is not sustainable at present levels'.
'I believe our industry is approaching a period of overbuilding that is accompanied by weaker markets. Simultaneously, we may see slowing of the global economic growth that is driven by a slowdown in the GDP growth in the U.S. Our industry has experienced these periods of over capacity and slow growth numerous times in the past and has worked through them successfully and emerged stronger. I am certain we will do so once more.
'One of the greatest challenges facing the industry is the environmental and health sector of our society. The regulatory environment for the chemical industry is growing more intense. Increasingly government regulators are placing the burden upon chemical producers to provide proof that their products do not harm humans or the environment. This will require our industry to be more pro-active in the future than it has been in the past, and will call for a greater commitment of human and financial resources from our industry. I am confident that our industry can work its way through these issues and provide greater benefits to our society'.
Formed in March 2006, the GPCA has eight founding members including Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), EQUATE Petrochemical Co. (EQUATE), Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. (GPIC), Petrochemical Industries Co. (PIC), Qatar Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (QAPCO), Qatar Vinyl Co. Ltd. (QVC), National Industrialization Company (TASNEE), and Abu Dhabi Polymers Co. Ltd (Borouge).

The GPCA's landmark Second Annual Forum has attracted eminent industry personalities who will share their insights and experiences with some 750 delegates at the conference and exhibition, a near doubling in size from last year. The speakers comprise a remarkable line-up of industry leaders, including Mukesh Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director, Reliance Industries; Ray Wilcox, President & CEO, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company; Andrew Liveris, CEO, The Dow Chemical Company; Peter Huntsman, CEO, Huntsman Corporation; Stephanie A. Burns, Chairman, President & CEO, Dow Corning Corporation; Volker Trautz, President and CEO Bassel Polyolefins and Abdulrahman A. Al-Zamil, Director, Al-Zamil Group; Mohamed Al Mady, Vice Chairman & CEO, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Hamad Al-Terkait, President & CEO, Equate Petrochemical Company (EQUATE) Kuwait.

The speakers will cover a range of topics including forging successful strategic petrochemical partnerships, exploring downstream opportunities beyond petrochemicals, talent management and the global challenge of attracting, developing and retaining talent in the chemical industry and the importance of the Middle East to a global corporate strategy.

Commenting on the positive response from the industry to the GPCA's initiatives, Mr. Abdullah Bin Zaid Al-Hagbani, Secretary General of the GPCA said: 'Top executives and experts are increasingly looking at the region as the centre of gravity for the global industry. Part of the reason for the Gulf's's prominence can be attributed to easy access to feedstock, access to the latest technology, and strategic location at the intersection of the Americas, Asia and the rest of the world. The GPCA is taking important steps to boost the region's petrochemicals sectors, and we want to enlighten professionals in our industry through networking events like this Forum, which is the biggest regional gathering of its kind. The response to our inaugural Forum was both gratifying and encouraging'.

The GPCA projects a surge in the export of petrochemicals from the Gulf at more than 50 million tons by 2008. By 2010, petrochemicals industries in the Gulf will grow by another 13%, research statistics revealed. Saudi Arabia, which represents about 80% of the GCC petrochemicals capacity, is rapidly emerging as a global 'hub' - and is expected to be one of the top four global producers within the next five years.
Since its inception, GPCA has crossed many significant milestones including conducting research on the petrochemicals and chemicals sector in the Gulf; organising dialogue between key stakeholders on issues related to industry growth, safety, environment, sustainable development and HR needs. (AME)

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Arab International Women's Forum

The UAE women have become a key player in all walks of public life, including business, socioeconomic development, and politics, boasted Economy Minister Lubna Al Qasimi.
In her keynote opening address at the Arab International Women's Forum (AIWF) which opened yesterday at Dubai International Financial Centre, Sheikha Lubna expressed pride at the strides made by the UAE women.

"Women finance 32% of the transactions of the financial and banking sector, hold 20% of management jobs and 22.5% of the seats of the Federal National Council," she said.
The two-day forum is being held under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein. Entitled "Powering the Future: Arab Business Women in a Modern Economy", this important event provides a focal point for increased communication, networking and information exchange between the City of Dubai and the City of London with the broader Arab world and the international financial community.

The Chairman, Mrs. Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani said AIWF aimed at creating an unrivalled forum for the development of multilateral corporate and public sector partnerships, with strong emphasis on the participation of global business, financial and governance organisations that strive to promote effective business relationships.
Participating in this initiative are 225 delegates from 35 countries including 18 Arab countries, besides representatives from government, business, academic, professional and institutional arenas and university students. (WAM)

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Intellectual Property Middle East forum 2007 kicks off

The IP Middle East Forum 2007, organized by Informa Group PLC, kicked off today at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai.
The forum aims at protecting and optimizing the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) to improve business performance and revenue.
Designed for a regional and international audience, this two-day Forum provides a platform to share cutting-edge experiences and enhance knowledge of crucial Intellectual Property (IP) issues in the Middle East.

The Forum will tackle issues related to the legal update on copyrights, trademark rights and patent rights, IPRs protection and enforcement, IPRs improvements and their commercial implications, IP portfolio management, international treaties and IP and mediation and arbitration.

The event targets in-house and private practice lawyers with responsibility for trademark, copyright, patent, and commercial law in addition to IP experts, directors, strategists, analysts and consultants.

Participants will be able to understand the importance of enhanced IPRs, become acquainted with the most crucial IP developments, keep up-to-date with current IP laws in the Middle East and their implications, explore key methods to manage IP portfolio more efficiently and assess best practices to master IP challenges and IPRs disputes.

Some of the main speakers are Vice-Chairman and CEO of Rasameel Structured Finance- Kuwait Issam Al Tawari, IP Counsel of Hikma Pharmaceuticals- Jordan Hiba A. Zarour, Head of the IP Department of Al Tamimi & Company- UAE Hoda Barakat, IP Manager of Nestlé Research Center- Switzerland Dr. Beat Mollet.

Media partners include the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP), the Licensing Executives Society-Arab Countries (LES-AC), the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) and to many others.

Informa Group PLC is a business information group committed to delivering essential business information to clients worldwide using a broad range of media formats such as newspapers, magazines, newsletters, books, exhibitions, CD-ROM, internet, electronic online services, conferences, training courses, workshops, seminars, distance learning courses, in-house sessions and managed events for leading international companies and governments. Source

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Abu Dhabi hosts International Business Forum

The 11th International Business Forum Congress (IBF) got underway on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center.
The three-day event is being held under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
The Congress is organized by MUSIAD, an Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association, International Business Forum, Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and Economy, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones in Abu Dhabi, General Holding Corporation, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (and Group of Companies), the Industrialists' Union Society and Kenzay Training and Conferences Company.
The IBF Congress aims to promote the economic, industrial and investment cooperation among Muslim businessmen in the world through establishing a platform for participating business leaders and decision makers to build bridges between Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries and the rest of the world.
The IBF Congress also aims to promote Abu Dhabi and the UAE among OIC countries and highlight the current and future investment potential of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as well as facilitate meetings between UAE businessmen and investors from the IBF members.
Senior governmental officials, businessmen and investors from over 61 countries, as well as the official delegations from IBF members, will participate in this Congress. Source

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Dubai Business Forum 2007 begins today

More than 1500 of the most influential business leaders have gathered in Dubai today for the opening of the three day IIR Leaders in Dubai Business Forum 2007 at the Dubai International Convention Centre.

Event Director Alan Kelly says the event is a complete sell out, with the last tickets being scooped up last week. Over the next two days delegates will hear from inspirational speakers like the former Secretary General of United Nations, Kofi Annan; last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Mohammed Yunus; and international entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.
On day three is a Master Class to be conducted by Daniel Pink, entitled "Giving Your Organisation a New Way of Thinking". Source

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Steve Forbes to speak in Dubai Business Forum about China

Everyone wants to know how to successfully tap into the exploding Chinese market, and delegates at the Leaders in Dubai Business Forum 2007 will get the inside running from an expert on Chinese business affairs.
Steve Forbes is President, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, one of the world’s leading business magazines.
His topics at the forum will include the rise of China and its future role in the world economy; doing business in China, the upsides and downsides; whether China’s long term growth prospects are sustainable; and how Arab states can successfully compete with China.
“There’s no need for GCC countries to fear China,” Steve Forbes said in a statement for IIR Middle East. “There is huge potential for bilateral trade between them and it’s just a case of making sure that both sides fully understand what the terms of trade mean.”
He will comment on the lack of intellectual property rights in China and why this is a burden on achieving prosperity. Delegates will also be keen to hear his views on the key elements for success when entering the Chinese market.
A widely respected economic commentator, Steve Forbes is the only writer to have won four highly prestigious Crystal Owl awards for proving to be the most accurate economic forecaster for the coming year. He was a US presidential candidate in 1996 and 2000 and serves on numerous academic and philanthropic boards.
Other confirmed speakers for this year’s Leaders in Dubai Business Forum 2007, which will be held at the Dubai International Convention Centre from 18-20 November, include former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson; business strategy gurus Robert S Kaplan and Philip Kotler; plus Google’s Nikesh Arora.
The line-up is expected to attract a record-breaking number of delegates and the organisers are encouraging interested people to register early. Source

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