BBBF Autumn 2014 by Andrew Mead MBE

From The Chair

Khalid Al-Zayani OBE Chairman Welcome to the autumn edition of the BBBF magazine. With a lot of business conducted during the first half of the year hopefully all of our members have had an opportunity to reflect on their achievements over the summer months and with some well-earned rest and relaxation. We are seeing a rebuilding of business confidence throughout Bahrain generally. Financial stability is certainly increasing, and we are seeing our localised, international and global business leaders pushing ahead with ambitious strategies and plans for Bahrain s future, with a particular focus on our friends in the Far East and interesting places such as Russia. November will be our usual busy month. We will be hosting the Chelsea Pensioners to mark Armistice Day. This year is particularly important to us given the

100 year celebrations. The Pensioners will be doing their usual busy round of appointments and visits to schools and clubs in Bahrain. No doubt you will see them out and about. Please give them a very warm BBBF welcome along the way. They will also attend the laying of the wreath to commemorate fallen comrades. We will be joining forces once again with our contacts at the British Business Association (Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia) to hold our infamous Poppy Ball. A wonderful event where all of the proceeds go to our chosen charities the Royal Chelsea Hospital Building Fund, the Earl Haig Poppy Fund and, of course, The Bahrain Mother & Child Welfare Society. I look forward to seeing many of you there on Friday 7 November 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, for what shall no doubt be a wonderful evening of commemoration and remembrance. In December we hope you will be able to join us for our traditional Christmas lunch. We will be joined by HMA Iain Lindsay. Iain will be updating us with his annual review of business activity for 2014 and his musings and thoughts for the business year that lies ahead of us in 2015. Our Special Interest Groups continue to drive forward

Registration number ISSN 1985-9929

and we look forward to an interactive themed Business Bazaar in the first quarter of 2015. I am particularly delighted to announce that the Banking & Finance special interest group has re-emerged. Do see details of their forthcoming event and other SIG events on pages 12 -17. We continue to be very grateful to both HSBC, our corporate sponsor, and Standard Chartered, our Special Interest Group sponsor. Their continued source of financial support and generous encouragement allows us the financial security to increase the frequency and quality of events that our members benefit from and enjoy immensely. I would personally encourage you to attend those events to get the most out of your BBBF membership and to ensure that we receive all of the constructive feedback that we need to enhance our business association links and networking offering generally. I do hope that you enjoy this Forum Edition. The Committee and I look forward to seeing you and your guests at upcoming BBBF events. Kind regards Khalid Al-Zayani

Contents The 2013-2015 Executive Committee........2 Farewell to Austin .............3 Welcome to New Members..................4 Advertiser Index................5 Member Benefits ..............6 Why join the BBBF? .........7 Diary Dates.......................8 From Her Majesty s Ambassador.....................9 Embassy News...............10 SIG Update ...................12 SIG Security ...................14 Why is home insurance important........................18 Financial News ...............20 Travel News....................24 Motoring News ...............28 Construction Sector .......34 Education Sector............36 Feature Article: Delegation ......................40 News from the EP ..........36 Construction Sector .......38 Hotel & Leisure News .....44 Health Matters................50 Bahrain News .................52 Member News................56 Buy your tickets for the BBBF/BBA Poppy Ball .....................57 And Finally......................60

Cover Image: BBBF Members & Guests attending the September lunch at the Crown Plaza Hotel. Pictures by Phil Weymouth. BBBF Tel: +973 1781 3488, Fax: +973 1781 3489, Email: bbbforum@batelco.com.bh Bahrain British Business Forum, P. O. Box 10051, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

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The 2013-15 BBBF Executive Committee

Chairman Khalid Al Zayani OBE

Acting Deputy Chair Paula Boast Tel: 3930 0577

Hon-Secretary Jill Boggiss Mob: 3604 4100

Treasurer Jonathan Trafankowski Mob: 3914 8599

Embassy Representative Debbie Dixon Mob: 3947 4208

Member Julia Atherton-Dandy Mob: 3966 0598

Member Nasser Al Arayedh Tel: 1727 2575

Member Mazen Alumran Tel: 1771 5555

Member Adel Fakhro Tel: 1727 5000

Member Rick Hopper Tel: 3979 1090

Executive Manager Dena Wales Tel: 3969 6191

This edition of the BBBF Forum magazine was compiled by Andrew Mead at Mead Management Services Ltd. email: andrew@sbtd.co.uk UK Mob: 0044 7940 559 925 Bahrain Mobile: 00973 3638 7595 KSA Mob: 00966 506 271 151 If you would like to contribute to a future edition please telephone or send an email to info@sbtd.co.uk A full page advert is charged at BD330. A half page advert at BD200, A quarter page advert at BD110 A small panel at BD55 Assistance with Advert design is available if required Please note: The BBBF nor its agents do not warrant the services of any of the individual or corporate members of the BBBF. The views and opinions expressed by independent contributors must not be regarded as those of the BBBF or its agents. Publication of any article or advertisement does not imply any endorsement of the views, products or services described therein.

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The BBBF Directory The 2015 printed edition of the BBBF Directory is now being prepared. To ensure your information is up-to-date please visit the BBBF Website at www.bbbforum.org, follow the link to the Directory and use the Text or Picture Search facility to find your entry.

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Basma Al Alawi Charles Russell LLP Associate Tel: 1713-3200 Fax: 1713-3201 basma.alalawi@ charlesrussell.co.uk

Tony Calderbank British Council Country Director and Teaching Centre Manager Tel: 1726-6141 Fax: 1725-8689 tony.calderbank@ britishcouncil.org.bh

Wesam Al Shefai Charles Russell LLP Associate Tel: 1713-3200 Fax: 1713-3201 wesam.alshefai@ charlesrussell.co.uk

Unkar Chanian Charles Russell LLP Senior Associate Tel: 1713-3200 Fax: 1713-3201 unkar.chanian@ charlesrussell.co.uk

Peter Bartlett BAPCO Chief Operating Officer Tel: 1775-5000 Fax: 1775-2805 pete_bartlett@bapco.net

Ashley Freeman Charles Russell LLP Head of Islamic Finance Tel: 1713-3200 Fax: 1713-3201 ashley.freeman@ charlesrussell.co.uk

Sarah Bennett-Hughes Trowers & Hamlins Solicitor Tel: 1752-5612 Fax: 1713-1003 sbennett-hughes@trowers.com

Nils Funk Unisono Brand Consultants Client Service Director Tel: 1755-8787 Fax: 1755-0838 nils@unisono.bh

Lila Benyelles Oxford Business Group Country Director Tel: 1715-1582 Fax: 1715-1516 lbenyelles@ oxfordbusinessgroup.com

Iwan Griffith Atkins Global Project Director (Saudi Arabia) Tel: 1713-3200 Fax: 1713-3201 Iwan.griffith@atkinsglobal.com

Amy Bowzaylo InTouch Clinic Clinical Director & CEO Tel: 1769-0100 Fax: 1769-0110 amy.bowzaylo@intouchclinic.com

Claudia Hardt Unisono Brand Consultants PR & Communication Director Tel: 1755-8787 Fax: 1755-0838 claudia@unisono.bh

Welcome to New Members Angela Hinder Gulf Agency Co. (Bahrain) WLL Moving Consultant Tel: 1733-9777 Fax: 1732-0498 angela.hinder@gac.com

Keith Turner Atkins Global Security Advisor Tel: 1751-0400 Fax: 1713-1252 keith.turner@atkinsglobal.com

Habib Jawad BDO Partner Tel: 1753-0077 Fax: 1791-9091 habib@bdo.bh

Phil Underhill The Royal Golf Club Sales Manager Tel: 1775-0777 Mob: 3220-6005 punderhill@theroyalgolfclub.com

Khalid Javaid Charles Russell LLP Associate Tel: 17133200 Fax: 17133201 khalid.jawad@ charlesrussell.co.uk

Our thanks to all the advertisers in this edition of Forum. Without their support, this issue would not have been possible. Please give them yours. 2 Connect ........................................ Inside Back Cover ACE ................................................................. page 21 Al Jazira Supermarket ..................................... page 41 Almoayed Wilelmsen Ltd................................. page 11

Phillip Marais Batelco Manager Security and Safety Tel: 1788-4570 Fax: 1791-4570 ap1@btc.com.bh

Audi .......................................................Centre Spread AXA Insurance ............................. Outside Back Cover BFC ................................................................... page 8 BMMI - Cafe Amsterdam ................................. page 53 Crown Relocations ......................................... page 35 Crowne Plaza Hotel......................................... page 49 Cutis Clinic ...................................................... page 50

Neil McElhinney Atkins Global Managing Consultant, Security Tel: 1751-0400 Fax: 1713-1252 neil.mcelhinney@atkinsglobal.com

Dipomat Radisson Blu..................................... page 45 Etihad .............................................................. page 25 Euromotors Jaguar.......................................... page 29 Euromotors Land Rover .................................. page 33 G4S ................................................................. page 15 Gulf Agency Co ............................................... page 19 HSBC .............................................................. page 23

Georgina Munnik Charles Russell LLP Associate Tel: 1713-3200 Fax: 1713-3201 georgina.munnik@ charlesrussell.co.uk

Mansouri Mansions ......................................... page 48 Nexus ..............................................Inside Front Cover Park Hyatt Hotel .............................................. page 43 Phil Weymouth Photography........................... page 36 Viva ................................................................. page 47 Forum

Benefits for BBBF Members

Benefits for all our members may be obtained on production of their Membership card at the concerned outlet. We would like to hear your feedback concerning these discounts. Please do not hesitate to offer your services to our members by contacting the BBBF office. If any member has any difficulty obtaining a discount, please contact the BBBF office so we can rectify the situation. AXA Insurance 10% discounts to members on personal lines insurances. (excluding medical) Terms & Conditions Apply. Contact: Stephen Wagstaff Tel: 1758 8222 Email: stephen.wagstaff@axa-gulf.com Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company (BKIC) Special schemes have been arranged with BKIC for BBBF members for the following classes of insurance: House & Contents, Domestic Servants & Motor Insurance. Special terms are available on production of your membership card. Bateel BBBF Members can enjoy 10% Discount when presenting their Membership Card, Complimentary collection for refilling, Complimentary delivery. Development Managers readily available for a courtesy meeting at your location. Email: m.shareef@almoayedgeneral.com Contact: Mahboob Shareef Mobile: 3964 4222 Bizladies BBBF members can join Bizladies for a 25% reduction in the fees (BD75 for 9 events instead of BD100). In addition a 10% discount may be obtained against organisational and executive coaching, proof reading, training, assistance with academic writing and psychometric profiling. Contact:- Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy (Managing Director), Mobile:- +973 38442727, Email:- clare@beckett-mcinroy www.bahrain@bizladies.org British Airways Valid until 28 Feb 2015. BA is offering BBBF members a 10% discount on published fares from Bahrain to UK, Europe, and North America in Club World business class, World Traveller Plus premium economy class and World Traveller economy class. The discount rate is applicable to round or one-way trip tickets originating from Bahrain. This discount is not applicable on taxes, fees and surcharges.To book please login at www.ba.com/bbbf. Craig Consultants 10% discount for members on 1-on-1 Executive Coaching, Contact: Kevin Craig Tel: 36199980 Email: kevin@craigconsultants.com DHL 25% discount from the cash tariff for any personal shipments being sent from Bahrain to anywhere in the world available on production of your membership card. DHL Customer Service Tel: 1736 4100 www.dhl.com.bh Expat Angels 10% discount on all packages and services. Contact: info@expatangelsbahrain.com

Tel: 3832-0439

Gulf Computer Services (GCS) IT Health Check. GCS have offered BBBF Members a site survey and assessment of all their computer hardware, software and systems. This usually chargeable service is offered Free of Charge to BBBF Members. To take advantage of this unique offer contact Barrie Jones at barrie.jones@gulfcomputerservices.com Offer valid until Dec 31st 2013. Hasan Mansouri 10% discount to members at Mansouri Mansions Hotel and Country Club. Contact: Karim Mansouri Tel: 1772 8144 Email: karim@karimmansouri.com 6

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Jeeves of Belgravia LondonÂ&#x2019;s Finest Dry Cleaner is offering all BBBF members an exclusive discount of 50% for their first trial of our services. Thereafter, all BBBF members shall get a 25% discount in all their orders. For collections, please call our hotline at 1746 5575 and visit our website: www.jeevesbahrain.com MANDEVCO International 10% discount for the Experiential Team & Leader Programme and all Corporate training, offsites & conferences delivered during May til Septmber 2014. Contact: Graham Nugent Tel: 00973 7711 8188 Email: graham.nugent@ MANDEV.co Marriott Executive Apartment and Residence Inn Bahrain 10% discounts on the best available room rates for BBBF Member companies. 20% discounts when dining in Skyw@lk CafĂŠ upon production of the BBBF membership card. Valid until 31/12/14 Contact Florence Lantuejoul Tel: 1736 3999 email: florence.lantuejoul@marriott.com National Hotel Services (NHSC) 5% on beers, 15% on wines and spirits with the exception of products already on special offer. Contact: Ian Bricklebank Tel: 1781-5929 Email: nhsc1234@batelco.com.bh Nexus Financial Services 10% premium discount to members on personal lines insurances.(e.g. Motor, Medical, Travel and Home Contents etc). Premium Allocation Benefits for International Retirement and University Education Funding Plans. plus Free Monthly Premium Benefits for Life Assurance and Critical Illness Policies. Terms & Conditions Apply. Contact: Emanuel Lantzos Tel: 1753 1766 / 1753 1703 Email: Emanuel.lantzos@nexusadvice.com or info.bahrain@nexusadvice.com Protection Insurance Service offers BBBF members special rates on their personal insurance (motor, home, travel and any other insurance cover). Members will just call to select the cover type, share the credit card number and we will deliver the policy documents to his / her office. Please call 3904-3446 or 3645-4282 Radisson Blu - Muscat BBBF Members pay OMR99 per night for Room and 18 holes T: +968 2448 7777 E: reservations.muscat@radissonblu.com Ritz-Carlton, Doha Stay for minimum 2 nights at the club level of The Ritz-Carlton, Doha and get a Food & Beverages credit of USD 50/day. 15% savings for all treatments at The Ritz-Carlton Spa Contact: Hanny Gunawan, Director PR, Tel: +974 4484 8303, email: hanny.gunawan@ritzcarlton.com Royal Over-Seas League Reduced rates for BBBF members at ROSL clubhouses in London and Edinburgh Email: fvanicek@rosl.org.uk Tel: 0044 20 7408 0214 Fax: 0044 20 7499 6738 Servcorp Business Package Two months at half price on any Servcorp Virtual Office Contact: Heather Longden, Sales Manager Tel: 1750 2710 email: hlongden@servcorp.me Web: www.servcorp.bh

Why Join The BBBF?

BAHRAIN The Pearl of the Gulf has had a long standing relationship with Britain and is still a major trading partner.

Membership directories are distributed to members of visiting Trade Missions and are available through the Embassy and business centres in five star hotels.

BRITISH Trade with Bahrain is now subject to significant competition in this era of globalisation particularly from countries in Europe and from the USA.

Simply click on “Sign Up” on our website www.bbbforum.org complete the application form and click submit. Sounds simple, it is, it must be worth it.

BUSINESS between Bahrain and Britain must be promoted in order for Britain to maintain its dominant position. The BBBF has been formed to help in whatever way it can to do this and through its close cooperation with the British Embassy seeks to promote exchange of trade and good relations between Bahrain and Britain. FORUM Is defined in the Collins English Dictionary as, an assembly or meeting to discuss topics of public concern . The BBBF provides through its monthly meetings a platform for networking amongst its members and the exchange and dissemination of useful business leads and opportunities. In addition, in return for a modest subscription, members receive the benefit of inclusion in an annual directory describing the products and services they have to offer and a listing on the BBBF website again with a description of activities, contact numbers and useful links.

BBBF Membership Application Please complete the membership form and send it to: BBBF Executive Office, Fax: (00973) 1781 3489, or Email: bbbfmemberships@batelco.com.bh. For further information call (00973) 1781 3488, Web site: www.bbbforum.org

Cost of membership (2014) Individual Membership: BD 100 per annum, with an additional BD 40 once-only registration fee. Corporate Membership: BD 400 per annum (up to 5 individuals) plus BD 40 for each applicant up to a maximum of 10, with an additional BD 100 once-only registration fee. Corporate Sponsorships Three levels of sponsorship are available: Platinum: BD 3500 each year for three years Gold: BD 3500 for one year Silver: BD 1750 for one year Sponsor packages include a variety of advertisement opportunities in the Membership Directory, the Forum magazine, the BBBF website and at the regular lunch meetings. Full details are available on request.

Corporate Membership please complete separate form for each applicant

Individual Membership

Company Name

Website address of business (if applicable)

Title and full name (Surname first)

Describe how you / your company contribute to substantial business interests in Bahrain (Maximum 150 words)

Position in business Nationality

Date of Birth

CPR Number Address of business (P.O.Box & Town) Business telephone

Facsimile

Home telephone

Mobile

E-mail address

I agree to abide by the BBBF Constitution & Internal regulations. Applicants Signature

Please note that the granting of individual or corporate membership is subject to BBBF Committee approval.

Date

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Diary Dates Tuesday October 21st AGM Lunch meeting Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel Registration: 12 noon October 24th Islamic New Year Thursday October 30th SIG Security & ICT Venue: tba November 2nd -5th Ashura November 6th to 12th Chelsea Pensioners Visit Friday November 7th BBBF/BBA Poppy Ball Venue: Crowne Plaza Conference Centre Doors Open: 7pm Wednesday November 12th SIG Banking & Finance Venue: tba Thursday December 4th BBBF Christmas Business Networking Lunch Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel Registration: 12 noon Speaker: HMA Iain Lindsay OBE Thursday December 11th SIG Security Venue: tba Registration: 3pm December 16th & 17th National Day Tuesday January 20th 2015 Business Netwrking Lunch Venue: tba Tuesday February 17th 2015 Business Netwrking Lunch Venue: tba Tuesday March 17th 2015 Business Netwrking Lunch Venue: tba Events in the pipeline Please note - dates and timings are subject to change. Visit the BBBF website www.bbbforum.org and check the calendar for updated details on the above and other events/ meetings being held.

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From Her Majesty's Ambassador

It s only the end of September and already summer seems a long time ago, particularly for those of us who returned from holiday in mid July! I came back to Bahrain for the second half of Ramadan, attending several majalis each night. I did so because the majalis are a tremendous opportunity to connect informally with the political and commercial leadership of this country. I wanted to catch up with old friends, hear their views on where the country is going and also underline the UK s support for the reform programme which His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is spearheading under His Majesty s direction. In the main, the majalis are held in homes. An open house from around 9 to 11pm. Ramadan majalis are very much a Bahraini tradition, but the numbers have expanded dramatically in recent years as they have become an exceptional networking opportunity. Although there are Ramadan majalis elsewhere in the Gulf they really come into their own in Bahrain because here there is more freedom to discuss economic, social and political issues. They also differ from elsewhere be cause of the warmth of the welcome afforded to guests. For those of us lucky enough to live in Bahrain that should come

as no surprise. Bahrainis hospitality is legend and is, in my view, one of the reasons why so many Brits choose to come for 2 (years) and stay for 20 , as we used to say in Hong Kong. To the entrepreneurs out there, find a way of bottling the incredibly friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the Bahraini Ramadan majalis and you ll make a fortune. As we get stuck back into business, let me say a few words about what the autumn holds and where UK/Bahrain relations stand. The major local event of the autumn will be the parliamentary elections on 22 and 29 November. As the UK has already made clear publicly, these elections are to be warmly welcomed. Aside from the fact that they represent a further step forward in Bahrain s process of political reform under King Hamad, let us not forget that in this region such elections are still very much the exception. The UK hopes that there will be maximum participation in the election and a good turnout. At this stage, we simply do not know whether all the political societies will take part. But this really is a golden opportunity for Bahrain and Bahrainis to turn over a new leaf. Given what is happening elsewhere in the region I think it would be crazy not to seize that chance. And, as all of you reading this will I am sure agree, the elections offer the prospect of a return to the

political stability necessary for the sustained economic growth which we all want to see. Not that Bahrain has being doing badly, as GDP growth figures testify, but it needs to do better to be able to compete. That said, there are good opportunities, not least from the mega investments planned, whether they be in oil and gas, aluminium smelting, new housing, airport expansion and transport infrastructure. We have identified the last two areas as presenting real opportunities for UK companies. On airport expansion, the Minister for Transportation has just returned from a trip to the new T2 at Heathrow. This followed a visit to the UK earlier this summer to meet the British Aviation Group, the body representing UK exporters in the airport development sector. By the time you read this, National Express will have entered the market to run, with their local partners, Bahrain s new bus transportation network. And Hayes-based Trueform Engineering have won the contract to build state of the art bus shelters fit for the new network. Finally, the great news that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have agreed on a $5bn second causeway, which will carry a railway line linking Bahrain to the planned $86bn GCC rail network, is also potentially great news for UK rail sector companies. The Embassy s UKTI team is working closely with other UKTI teams in the Gulf and UKTI s rail sector experts in the UK to ensure that UK business is well-placed to win a share of

this business. Stop press: latest trade figures show that bilateral business is on the up. Exports of goods to Bahrain are up 17% this year compared with 2013. Bilateral relations across the board are excellent. Maybe no more so at the moment than in defence. Our first ministerial visit of the busy autumn period was Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defence, paying his first official visit to Bahrain to discuss the regional situation and our expanding defence relations with Bahrain. Since his visit last week, the House of Commons has voted to back airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq. So the UK is now part of a growing alliance to tackle the ISIL threat. Mr Fallon happened to be here on the same day that Bahrain took part in their first airstrikes. He made clear that Bahrain and its neighbours welcome participation in airstrikes would be of huge help to the government in persuading the Commons to support airstrikes. He also re-emphasised the UK s continuing commitment to strengthen bilateral defence co-operation. That will be a very important part of my and the Embassy s work over the next few months. Iain Lindsay OBE HM Ambassador Forum

Embassy News

Minister of Transportation visits Heathrow Terminal 2 His Excellency, Kamal bin Ahmed M o h a m e d , Bahrain Minister of Transportation took a delegation from the Ministry of Transportation and Bahrain Airport Company to visit

The Queen officially opened the new £2.5bn Terminal 2 building at Heathrow Airport in west London on June 24th this year. The terminal, known as the Queen s Terminal, replaces the very first passenger building which was opened by the Queen in 1955. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met people who were involved in the construction and staff working there.Heathrow s new terminal was opened to passengers on 4 June, but the building will open in phases over six months. 10 Forum

the recently opened Terminal 2 building at London Heathrow. UK architecture firm Pascall & Watson extended and remodelled the terminal to take into account an increase in the volume of passengers and escorted the delegation on their visit through the terminal. The visit came ahead of redevelopment and expansion plans at Bahrain International Airport and after a UKTI organised inward visit to the UK undertaken by the minister earlier this year.

UKTI High Value Opportunities specialist visits Bahrain UK Trade and Investment welcomed Mike Shears, High Value Opportunities specialist, who focuses on the GCC rail and transportation links, in September. Mike is a rolling stock and train systems expert and project manager, with particular experience in the planning and implementation of new rail lines and extensions. Bahrain has been awarded High Value Opportunity status by the British Government to take into account the massive infrastructure and capacity building projects that will become a focus for the entire GCC in the years to come. Mike met with UK consultants and Bahrain ministry officials who have begun the process of exploring how Bahrain will contribute to the GCC wide project and gave a presentation on what the current plans look like across the wider region to the BBBF Construction Special Interest Group (SIG).

UKTI and Oxford Business Group sign Memorandum of Understanding UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Bahrain has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for research cooperation with OBG in support of its annual report. As part of the MOU, Oxford Business Group will work closely with UKTI s team to research and analyse Bahrain s latest business trends for its publication. Oxford Business Group s Regional Director for the Middle East, Jana Treeck, said she was thrilled to be teaming up with UKTI at a time when trade ties between Bahrain and Britain were stronger than ever. While the Great British Week earlier in the year affirmed the wide-ranging business links enjoyed by Bahrain and the UK across established fields, such as engineering, aerospace and advanced technologies, it also highlighted a raft of new opportunities for investors, particularly in infrastructure, transport development

he key role that Bahrain s competitive tax regime, regulatory framework and skilled workforce will play in attracting investment to the country will be analysed in the 10th anniversary edition of the report produced by the OBG. The Report: Bahrain 2014 will highlight the opportunities in sectors of the Kingdom s economy which are set to drive new growth, including hightech services, manufacturing and infrastructure. The publication will

and regulatory environment, she said. I look forward to exploring these exciting developments with UKTI and relaying them on the global stage in what promises to be, for many reasons, a very special report. Iain Lindsay, the British Ambassador, said he was confident that the collaboration with OBG would raise awareness of the Kingdom s significant business opportunities, while providing

a platform for the publishing firm to promote itself to the international business community. The initiative follows the signing of similar agreements with UK Trade & Investment in both Qatar and Kuwait and demonstrates the value we believe Oxford Business Group provides to commerce through their high quality publications, he said. I am delighted to sign this agreement to work more closely with Oxford Business Group. consider Bahrain s potential as a gateway for investors looking to extend their reach into the huge Gulf market. It will also include a special focus on trade growth between Bahrain and the UK, as the two countries prepare to mark 200 years of diplomatic relations in 2016. A vital guide to the many facets of the country, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments, the tenth-anniversary publication will be available in print or online.

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SIG Update As we ease our way into the autumn indications are that business is good and people are busy. Speaking of which we have been busy rebuilding the Banking & Finance special interest group. You can read more about it below. That SIG will be chaired by Jonathan Trafankowski, CFO Muharraq STP and vice chaired by Nicole Phillips of Al Salam Bank Bahrain. Given our status as a financial hub here in Bahrain it is imperative that our SIGs are an accurate representation of our Bahrain business sectors, so this is one SIG in particular that we have been looking to revive for quite some time. No doubt it will go from strength to strength. Other upcoming SIG events are planned through October and November for construction and legal as

SIG - Construction

Paula Boast SIG Chair well as security so do get those in your diaries when the invitations and reminders come around. We have also been putting our minds to the upcoming Business Bazaar which we will be rolling out in Q1 of 2015. We are aiming to make that a more interactive event than previously with a focus on key business skills. If you would like to input or assist with the Bazaar do let us know. A thank you as always for our continued sponsorship by Standard Chartered.

SIG - Banking & Finance

Nicole Philips Joint SIG Chair With a changing of the guard for the Banking & Finance SIG, Jonathan Trafankowski and Nicole Phillips are hoping to enliven this group with more regular events in the coming months. Planned presentations include An Introduction to Islamic Finance, Banking and Card Fraud (presentation by the Bahrain Association 12 Forum

Jonathan Trafankowski Joint SIG Chair of Banks), Casual Meet and Greet sessions, CBB Update: Rules on Deferred Remuneration, and a proposed joint B&F / Legal SIG on UK Pensions for Expats. Members with an interest in Banking & Finance are also invited (and encouraged) to submit suggestions for future events.

Rick Hopper Joint Construction SIG Chair On Monday 8th September the Construction SIG was fortunate to have a presentation about the Middle East Rail sector from Mike Shears the UKTI Sector Specialist. The event held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel was well received and well attended as the photos below show. A copy of his presentation is available on the BBBF Website.

SIG - ICT

There was no SIG event this summer as this period is traditionally very quiet in Bahrain and many people were away on vacation avoiding the heat. Everybody is back now and there will be an event in the next two months to complete the ICT SIG activity for 2014. It is anticipated that the meeting will focus on the subject of Wi-Fi which is becoming more and

more a must have in all establishments and as such, there is growing interest in the ICT world for it to be better and better.

As such, it has become a fiercely competitive market with many suppliers, e.g., Aruba Networks, TP Link, Linksys, Ubiquiti, HP with CISCO and Ruckus leading the way. Local ICT company Condor Technology has been implementing Ruckus in recent years and were voted the best System Integrator of the year by Ruckus. The photo is of Ian Plamondon, (right) Condor

David Wales (BSc, MIEE) BBBF ICT SIG Chairman Technology s Chief Operations Officer receiving the award from James Caklerbank, Ruckus Wireless Director of Enterprise Sales.

SIG - Young Professionals I hope you all had a terrific summer break and that business is back into full swing. The BBBF Young Professionals Special Interest Group was launched with tremendous timing just as many of you went away for the summer! Now that people are back we are looking to host our first social event before the end of the year. To reiterate the message

as to what the Young Professionals SIG is looking to achieve: (a) We want to connect young professionals across Bahrain on a social level; and

will be important no matter their profession. A LinkedIn page is planned for the SIG and, in time, an e-bulletin for SIG members to be able to share their ideas and news.

(b) We want to help young professionals develop in their career through networking and regular presentations by leaders in industry and fellow young professionals on skills and discussion topics that

If you are interested in attending events, whether at a social level or at a business level, please do let me know and I will ensure you are added to the distribution

Dino Wilkinson

Steven Brown

Speakers included Dino Wilkinson, Norton Rose Fulbright technology and intellectual property partner, and Steven Brown, managing associate at ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners.

who were able to lend their perspective to proceedings.

Tom Reynolds BBBF YP SIG Chairman list. My email address is treynolds@trowers.com and my mobile telephone number is 39695007. I look forward to hearing from you.

SIG - Legal On Tuesday 10 June 2014, we hosted our first Legal Special Interest Group Meeting at the Radisson Diplomat hotel. The event, titled Managing Cyber Risks , looked at the legal and business implications of cyber attacks and considered some of the local, regional and international legislation in this area. As more and more data is handled electronically, governments and businesses are increasingly concerned about the threat of cyber risks. The Middle East has also seen cyber attacks on major institutions and increasing levels of cyber warfare in Syria and Iran.

The event was well attended and generated some interesting discussion afterwards. In particular, there was a healthy attendance of non-lawyers

We are planning two events between now and the end of the year. The first will be a lunchtime seminar in mid-October on dispute resolution in Bahrain, and in early December we are planning to host a joint event with the Construction Special Interest Group on recent developments in the Kingdom's dredging laws.

Joanne Emerson Taqi BBBF Legal SIG Chair

More details will be sent out to members as soon as they are available.

SIG Sponsor

Forum 13

BBBF SIG Security As we look to the mercury to head South, so that the ritual of BBQ tests & adjustments can be completed and the smell of over cooked, nay burnt to a cinder, sausages fill the air, we need to take stock of what we may have Anthony Peter Palys MBE forgotten whilst we were away escaping the blazing summer heat. Unfortunately not all temperatures are heading south as some are certainly heading north with the regional issues taking the daily headlines. With this in mind we revisit some basic personal security awareness advice that, no matter what the situation, makes for Good Practice combined with some good old fashioned common sense.

SIG Sponsor picture (bottom left) shows Nick, on the left, being presented with the award by Tony Tesar the CEO of Le Beck International and Co Head of the BBBF SIG (Security)

Presentations:

Richard Paniguian UKTI DSO 19th June 2014

We also look at some of the usual topics such as Appreciation Awards, Guest Speaker Presentations, The Guest Article, Cyber both Corporate & Personal and Interest features.

Appreciation Awards:

As mentioned in the summer edition we continue to chase the good folks who have been the backbone to our past partnership with OSAC and their continued support to the security and well being of our individual communities both with their professionalism, contribution and friendship that encompasses all our combined objectives and goals. To each and every one of the recipients our most sincere collective thanks. Bernard Viola: Bernard was instrumental in ensuring a most outstanding Regional OSAC Conference during his tenure as General Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Spa and was a great friend to the BBBF way back in 2009. It is without doubt that Bernard and his whole Team went the extra mile in establishing the professional interaction, at all levels, that was needed to raise the bar for such a prestigious event. The picture shows Bernard, left, being presented with the award by Edwin A.G. Guerzon the Ex-Director of Loss Prevention at the Ritz-Carlton & Spa Bahrain and who now works alongside Bernard at the Al Bustan Palace, Oman. Nick Bishop: Nick was at the forefront of keeping the community informed on events during those testing times of 2011, here in Bahrain, and still goes out of his way to this very day with his continued support to the BBBF and the Special Interest Group (Security). The 14 Forum

A packed room of members and their guests were fortunate to have the pleasure in hearing Richard Paniguian, the Head of UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (DSO), give a candid and enjoyable presentation on the UKTI Support to the UK Security Industry. Richard was appointed Head, UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation in August 2008. In 2007 he was appointed a CBE for services to business. The Head, UKTI DSO ensures that UKTI DSO s teams give outstanding support to UK defence and security companies who want to export. He also helps defence and security businesses. Whilst in Bahrain Richard met with His Excellency the Minister of Interior Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The Minister welcomed his guest and discussed security cooperation and coordination, including fighting terrorism within the security Memorandum of Understanding between the Kingdom of Bahrain & the United Kingdom.

Guest Article:

Alan Smith - Security Consultant - Gulf Security Consultants

Current fraud targeting business in the Middle East Companies in the Middle East are currently being targeted by fraudsters. A recent case involves a number of fraudsters who take on the identity of company employees from an overseas branch of an international company. In this case they assumed the identities of personnel from the UK. Company websites and profiles on LinkedIn are good open sources of information. Some have even set up LinkedIn profiles themselves to add credibility. The methodology involves setting up a domain name that is almost identical to that of the target company along with email addresses and even UK telephone numbers. The fraud starts when a call is made to a Middle East office with a story on the lines of the UK travel facility is down. They then request assistance in the form of booking and paying for airline tickets on their behalf. Once the request is accepted following email confirmations and false approvals the scam is underway. The fraudsters already have a standby list of clients with travel requests. The fraudsters offer the tickets for sale at around 25% of the face value and often manage to receive in excess of $100,000 in tickets before the target company realises what is happening. Gulf Security Consultants discovered this fraud as a result of an investigation for an international corporation with offices in the UK, KSA and Dubai in July this year. The methods used by

the fraudsters to cover their tracks are relatively sophisticated. Domains are set up with proxy companies and the use of virtual networks together with phone numbers that show up as a UK origin that are in fact VOIP numbers that can be hired easily online through services such as Skype. Gulf Security Consultants advise companies to alert staff to look closely at email headers. An example of a false domain is john@glassco-uk.com the real domain is actually john@glassco_uk.com. It is not easy to spot the difference in an email; however the wording and type of request may be unusual, especially if the email asks for personal or financial details. Companies and individuals alike might want to review their online presence in the light of this and other frauds. During this investigation some of the employees had their identities used and copied. Offenders set up false profiles under the company name and use profiles of genuine employees to assume their identity. If you post information online such as your career history and school dates the identity thieves can have a field day. Remember, this fraud was uncovered during an investigation and is believed to have been running in other companies for some time. Fraud is big business so it will continue. You have been warned. Alan Smith can be contacted at alan.smith@gulfsecurityconsultants.com

Forum 15

Cyber Awareness: ‘Bash’ or “Shellshock”computer bug could hit millions The US government and technology experts have warned of a vulnerability in some computer-operating systems, including Apple s Mac OS, which could allow widespread and serious attacks by hackers. The flaw affects Unix-based operating systems powered by Linux and Apple s Mac OS, said the warning from the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT), part of the Department of Homeland Security. CERT said that if hackers exploit this they could take control of a PC: Exploitation of this vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected system. The agency said a patch was available for the flaw, which is described by security researchers as Bash or Shellshock. Some said the security hole would be more damaging than the Heartbleed bug which affected millions of computers worldwide earlier this year.

Personal Security Awareness: Preparing an Employee for International Travel When preparing an employee for international travel or an overseas assignment, a number of safety preparations must be undertaken. The employee will likely receive a briefing on the crime situation, the level of political violence, and the presence of any extremists groups in and around the area of travel and how those issues may affect the working environment. However, there are other, less emphasised aspects of security that can be just as important. One of these is an understanding of a country s traffic situation. Travellers might find vehicle transportation in a foreign country a daunting prospect. Obtaining a licence might be difficult or simply not practical for short-term travellers, and driving can be intimidating when you know neither the official nor the unofficial rules of the road. Taxis are generally an option, but they might not always be the best or safest option, especially in areas with major traffic congestion or during major events.

take a look at the Traffic Directorate s statistic s webpage at http://ww.traffic,gov.bh/statistics/) There are a number of contributing factors to help explain these statistics. In the decade from 2002 to 2012, there was a 43% worldwide increase in the number of motorised vehicles produced per year. Rapid motorisation without the accompanying road safety strategies and land use planning can be a recipe for disaster. For example, new multi-lane roads are often built to cut through communities without provision of safe routes and crossings for pedestrians. Speeding and drunk driving are also contributing factors. Laws for both are improving in many countries, but it often takes time for behaviour and enforcement to follow suit. Personal Security Various Organisations, Embassies and Consulates have been monitoring recent media reports in which the organisation calling itself the Islamic State has made threats against the coalition interests . Most recently, this group stated that the US-led airstrikes against IS in Syria, in which GCC countries may have participated, would be answered. At time of going to print there is no specific information about impending IS activity within the coalition countries. However, the good practice of maintaining vigilance and good security awareness is encouraged. Regardless of where you are, it is always advisable to keep your security and situational awareness levels high. The points listed below will go a long way in assisting you: 1. Avoid crowds or large gatherings when traveling in public 2. Know where you are going and have a plan of what to do in the event you encounter demonstrations or violence 3. Identify safe locations in your area and how to get to them quickly 4. Tell co-workers or neighbours where you re going and when you intend to return -

5. Minimise your profile while in public 6. Always carry a mobile phone and make sure you have emergency numbers pre-programmed into your phone

Useful Links:

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) analyzing traffic accidents in 2010, pedestrians accounted for 22 percent of traffic deaths, totalling 270,000 fatalities worldwide. By contrast, 13,200 people globally died that same year from terrorist attacks. (For Bahrain 16 Forum

https://www.gov.uk/government/world/ organisations/british-embassy-manama

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bahrain

https://www.facebook.com/ukinbahrain?fref=ts

http://bahrain.usembassy.gov/

http://bahrain.usembassy.gov/demonstration.html

Interest Feature:

ASIS

Drugs: (A) Warning over drug abuse: http://www.who.int/topics/en http://www.drugabuse.gov

The ASIS 6th Middle East Security Conference & Exhibition will take place on 15-17 February 2015 in Dubai, UAE at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City.

Local media have reported that there are 20,000 to 30,000 drug users in Bahrain according to World Health Organisation estimates. Of these, 95% are infected with Hepatitis C and 5% with Hepatitis B, in addition to 350 HIV-Aids cases - an increase of 16 to 20 cases every year. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Masooma Abdulraheem unveiled the figures at a symposium hosted by National Constitutional Assembly Society on the dangers of drug abuse and repercussions on the national economy. Drug addiction treatment is very expensive for both the family and government, Dr Abdulraheem said. The cost of treating a patient is BD150 per day, one-month hospital stay costs BD4,500, seven months stay costs BD13,500 and treatment for 10 patients costs BD315,000 per year, she said, stressing the need for drug abuse prevention programmes led by Health, Education and Social Development ministries. Drugs: (B) HMAS Toowoomba intercepts boat carrying 5 tonnes of drugs:

ASIS International offers you the powerful combination of the best thought provoking educational sessions, multiple networking opportunities with senior security practitioners and access to the latest trends and services in the security industry. Register Now and benefit from the Early Bird rates! Six reasons why you should be at ASIS Middle East 2015: 1. Industry leaders from important companies and organisations will speak about the latest developments, trends and innovations in security 2. Apply lessons learnt from other industries to your own sector 3. Connect with high-level security professionals from all over the Middle East and beyond 4. Get motivated by new ideas and information 5. Form new partnerships and reconnect with familiar faces in the industry 6. Get social and join discussions on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

More than five tonnes of drugs, worth around $280 million, was intercepted on a boat off the coast of Africa by HMAS Toowoomba at the end of September. The five-day Navy and New Zealand Air Force operation saw a dhow, a traditional sailboat, boarded by the Navy and an extensive search of the ship conducted.The boarding party found tonnes of cannabis resin in hessian bags stowed in a hidden compartment on the ship. HMAS Toowoomba is deployed to the region as part of Operation MANITOU, tasked to the Combined Maritime Forces and the Pakistan-led Combined Task Force 150. Boarding officer Lieutenant Stefan Stuart said the drugs were well hidden and, once found, extremely difficult to access and remove. It is great to make an intercept of this magnitude, the weather was not on our side but our training and our persistence paid off, he said. Knowing that you are putting a crimp in the finances of terrorist organisations is a great feeling and will pay dividends for direct counter terrorism efforts elsewhere. HMAS Toowoomba Commanding Officer Cath Hayes said the significant drug find was the result of close teamwork between Toowoomba and international partners in the Combined Maritime Forces. I am proud of the tenacity and hard work displayed by the Toowoomba team to intercept and board the dhow in challenging weather conditions before executing an extensive search of the vessel to locate the elaborately concealed drugs, she said.

Food for Thought: Question: Now where on earth did I place all the families various important documents such as birth certificates, financials, national insurance, medical etc. ??? Once again the phrase Good Practice comes to mind as one is encouraged to have the following, for example, to hand: An extra set of keys to your house and vehicles, safe deposit box, etc. Copies of your identification papers (licenses, birth certificates, health cards) Copies of all insurance policies and the contact info for your insurance agent Cash and banking information In Case of an Emergency (ICE) http://incaseofemergency.org/ Co-Head SIG (Security) Tony Palys is a Senior Security Adviser at Le Beck International and can be contacted at TonyPalys@LeBeckInternational.com

Forum 17

ADVERTORIAL

our home is one of the most valuable investments and naturally it requires protection like any of our assets. It is not just the home, but its contents and every prized possession inside also needs protection from any kind of damage or loss against fire, catastrophe, theft or disaster. A general perception across a vast majority of households in the Kingdom of Bahrain is that they are under protected when it comes to home contents with inadequate insurance cover. In fact, the awareness is very low (below 5%) on the need for Home Insurance, as many people in Bahrain ignore its importance. Like anywhere else in the world, buildings in the Kingdom are prone to accidents such as fires, electrical complications and theft, and hence it s important to secure your residence and valuables. Moreover, it is vital to understand that the landlord s insurance does not cover you or your home contents! Hence it is essential to safeguard your lives and property and not wait for others to protect you! Having said this, though there has been an increasing trend towards Home Insurance among the Bahrain-based population, the truth remains that home insurance is no longer an option it has become a necessity! So, have you secured your home with insurance? Unfortunately there is a common missunderstanding between tenants that home insurance only covers the house, while others think that home insurance is expensive. One of the major benefits of home insurance is the coverage on the contents 18 Forum

of the house. The contents insurance covers things that aren t part of the fabric of the house, such as the furniture and / or electrical equipment and covers the curtains, carpets, and garden accessories, among others. Not only does the Home Insurance cover your content at home but also provides you with a personal liability protection that protects your home, contents and family against the unexpected. Moreover, any issues surrounding liability on who will bear the costs of damage in the event of a catastrophe are dealt by the insurance company. In other words, once the home insurance is in place, the insured can rest easy even in the event of an untoward incident. This is where AXA Gulf, one of the leading insurance companies in the region, is playing a pivotal role in reinforcing the need for a Home Insurance. Not only does AXA Home Insurance cover your contents in the house but it also provides you with a personal liability protection.

The Home Insurance offered by AXA in Bahrain extends a worldwide personal belongings cover, and the risks cover both the building as well as the contents. Apart from this, there is a third-party liability cover up to BD200,000; and tenant s liability up to BD10,000. The BD 10k is by default and FoC, and could be upgraded upto BD100k In a nutshell, it protects the contents, covers you against the damages you could accidently do to the property you are living in or outside. Stephen Wagstaff, Country Manager, AXA in Bahrain, says: It s bad enough to lose everything in a natural disaster or a theft, but it s even worse when you don t have insurance to cover you. AXA insurance has the solution to make you feel secure. With AXA, you can be at ease. Not only will a good policy save your money in the event that something untoward happens, but an insurance company can also help with other matters like making your home more resistant to natural disasters.

Apart from the coverage, AXA also offers the advantage of an international brand, worldclass customer service, digital access and ease of getting a quote. The entire process of signing up or getting information about Home Insurance has become very easy, as anyone can buy the insurance online with the entire process taking not more than five minutes, summed up Wagstaff. Signing up a home insurance policy is not everything. Prevention is better than cure, and it is absolutely necessary to keep a tab on few safety aspects in your place of stay and work to be well equipped against any disaster. Sign up before it s too late and rest assured. Home insurance costs as low as BHD 20 and the whole process is easy to sign up as customers can choose to purchase it from the website (only few clicks), by phone, or through any of our shops. Log into www.axa-gulf.com to learn more!

Financial News

DLA active across the region DLA Piper Middle East continues to be active in the Bahraini and regional financial markets, something which is exemplified by our involvement in a variety of events. DLA Piper Middle East will be sponsoring The 21st Annual World Islamic Banking Conference taking place on the 4th & 5th of December 2014 in the Kingdom Of Bahrain at the Gulf Hotel. The event will focus on Moving Islamic Finance to a Truly Globalized Capability and will tackle key areas of the Islamic finance sector. DLA Piper will have representatives in attendance at the event and will also be taking part in a roundtable discussion on the Developments and Innovations in Islamic Finance in the UK . The Company has continued to provide seminars to a variety of Bahraini organisations

over the past few months. Recently, we presented at a CAML (Bahrain Compliance and Anti Money Laundering) and PRMIA (Professional Risk Managers International Association) event discussing the legal and practical aspects of dealing with a crisis situation and management of an investigation. The presentation took place at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) and was delivered by Adam Vause, a partner in our litigation, arbitration and investigations team. Elsewhere in the region, we sponsored the Global Islamic Finance Forum in Dubai which took place from 15-16 September. Paul McViety, Head of Islamic Finance took part in a panel discussion and representatives from our Dubai and Bahrain offices were in attendance.

Combating lack of financial experience among the youth of Bahrain To help combat the lack of financial experience among the young people of Bahrain, The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) has recently published The Handbook of Retail Banking. This easy-to-read 40-page, pocket-sized handbook is aimed at secondary school students to help them better understand and to manage responsibly their banking affairs when they graduate. This first edition is published in English; it will be followed by an edition in Arabic soon. The Handbook covers the issues that a non-specialist needs to know on the subject and includes a glossary of technical terms and a detailed listing of retail banks in Bahrain. Research for the Handbook was done by final-year students from the Bahrain Polytechnic

as part of their practical studies. Copies of the handbook are available from BAB at BD 6.500 each and will be distributed free to secondary schools through the sponsorship of national institutions. For further information please contact BAB s Publisher Abdullah Wallace on publisher@banksbahrain.org or +973 1782 3000.

AMEX Survey shows change in Bahrain spending habits Nearly two-thirds (59%) of luxury spenders in the MENA region are now choosing to spend more of their money on enriching experiences rather than goods, according to the new American Express Middle East Spending Survey*. This is markedly different from the results of a similar survey carried out by American Express Middle East in 2012 which showed respondents opted to spend their disposable income on tangible assets such as high-end fashion, accessorizing themselves and the latest cars. The American Express Middle East Spending Survey was conducted by 20 Forum

YouGov across the MENA region. Looking specifically at Bahrain, 77% of respondents say they prioritise spending on luxury experiences, compared to just 23% who prioritise spending on luxury goods. This compares to a regional average of 42% and a GCC average of 40% who prioritise luxury experiences, making Bahrain second only to Jordan in MENA and the leader in GCC. In Bahrain, the vast majority of respondents choose to spend their money on holiday experiences over almost other luxury products or activities. 80% rank holidays their number one luxury spending priority,

almost double the regional average of 43%. When it comes to other experiences, Bahraini s rank spending on hobbies as their second most important spending category and, as befits an island nation, sporting activities such as water sports ranked third. When it comes to buying goods, 17% of Bahrain s residents rank fashion and designerwear as their number one category for buying goods compared to the regional average of 29%. Commenting on the results, Mazin Khoury, CEO, American Express Middle East said: Over recent years, we ve seen a major shift in

the way people spend and make luxury purchases and investments. Increasingly they are focusing on buying experiences, and the memories that go with them. Nowhere is that more true than here in Bahrain. Our survey shows Bahrainis have a single-minded emphasis on holidays, cutting their expenditure elsewhere so they can enjoy time away from their day-to-day lives. The American Express Spending Survey contains good news for hoteliers, airlines and even retailers with spending on luxury experiences and goods set to grow in the next 12 months.

Financial News

Critical Illness Insurance protects individuals from financial repercussions of costly diseases One in four people working in the GCC will have a serious disease by the time they plan to retire, says Emanuel Lantzos, General Manager of Nexus Financial Service, one of the largest financial advisory firms in the region. This high risk is due to a number of factors related to lifestyle in the GCC, be it overeating, lack of exercise, excessive smoking, unhealthy diets, or work stress and pressure, said Lantzos. All of this creates a hotbed of health risks that can transform into a serious disease or illness. You can observe all this in the numbers. For example, the average age of claimants in the Middle East with cancer, heart disease, stroke, or diabetes is 44, younger than the UK average, for example, which is 49. The distinct difference between a medical insurance policy and a critical illness policy is that the first only pays for medical treatment, while the latter gives individuals a predetermined amount of money, which they can use however the client sees fit. Critical illness insurance pays you a lump sum of money if you have one of the diseases your policy covers, said Lantzos. What you do with that lump sum is up to you, whether it is paying your hospital bills, financing your lifestyle, or going on a holiday. It is important to have medical insurance as such policies protect individuals and their families from the hefty costs associated with treating these serious illnesses. The cost of a single chemotherapy session in Bahrain is about BD 1,500 in a private hospital, said Lantzos, amounting to about BD 26,000 per year. On average, patients may need at least two or three years of chemotherapy, or BD 78,000 worth of treatment. Meanwhile, the cost of a kidney transplant ranges between BD 10,000 22 Forum

and BD 15,000, with the annual cost of dialysis reaching BD 20,000. Imagine how serious these costs could be for a patient and his or her family, said Lantzos. People go to work to earn money, often as sole providers for their families. If you are diagnosed with a critical illness, there is a likelihood you may no longer be able to work, and suddenly your role transforms from an income producing asset to a liability. This can place both a financial and social burden on the patient and their loved ones. If you are the breadwinner of the family and you get sick, who will look after your home and children? So, while medical insurance pays for the cost of treatment; critical illness insurance pays for the cost of living.

1 in 4 people at work in the GCC will have a critical illness before they reach retirement. The cost of a critical illness policy largely depends on the health of an individual purchasing the policy, and most plans come packaged together as part of life insurance. However, on average, a healthy non-smoker would pay about US$200 US$250 a month for a life insurance policy including critical illness cover. Some insurance providers offer critical illness as a stand-alone policy, which costs about US$75 to US$100 per month. This amount would typically provide an individual with US$100,000 of cover. However, time is of the essence when considering when to purchase a critical illness plan in terms of the impact an individual s age and wellbeing can have on eligibility, says Lantzos. It is important that people invest in a plan once they are married and while they are young and healthy, because as you get older, the premium rates increase and many providers may not insure you, said Lantzos.

Emanuel Lantzos is General Manager at Nexus Financial Services in Bahrain. For more information contact him on Emanuel.lantzos@nexusadvice.com

No one wants to be ill, and we lead our lives with that intention. Insurance is there just in case it happens to us. And, unfortunately, due to our lifestyles, it is happening on an increasingly regular basis. It is a small investment considering the serious financial repercussions should anything happen. At Nexus, the number of purchased critical illness plans has doubled over the last five years, with 90 per cent of individuals buying a life insurance policy also opting for critical illness coverage. Overall, about 40 per cent of Nexus sales are life insurance policies. However, both in the GCC and globally more awareness is needed for people to truly understand the importance of a critical illness plan and the significant long-term benefits it offers, says Lantzos. With modern medicine, the chances of surviving a debilitating illness are much higher than dying from one. For example, 80 per cent of individuals who suffer a heart attack survive, and 70 per cent of those who suffer a stroke also survive. So the real question is, what quality of life do you seek? and will you have the money to keep your family going following a critical illness said Ellen. Globally, people are not prioritizing their wellbeing; they are willing to insure their possessions, but not themselves. The more developed the country, the more likely that people in that country will be diagnosed with critical illnesses. In the GCC, we stand among the topleague countries with a high prevalence of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It is our job to educate people about the risks associated with an affluent lifestyle, and with a robust critical illness plan in place, all the patient s energy can be channelled towards getting better and not the costs associated with it.

Travel News

Residents in Bahrain can now hold flights when booking with British Airways Anyone searching for the best airline deals from Bahrain to London, Europe or North America will now be able to hold their British Airways flight for up to 72 hours for as little as GBP5 or approximately BD3* through ba.com. This will give customers the time to make sure they re happy with their flight choices before paying for them. If within 72 hours customers want to pay for their flights, the hold deposit is refunded and the ticket can be bought. Holding reservations per person on short-haul flights from London Heathrow costs just GBP5 (BHD 3)* while those wanting to secure seats on long-haul flights would pay GBP10 or approximately BD6 per person*. Drew Crawley, British Airways chief commercial officer, said: There s nothing more frustrating than seeing a great flight price but not being able to book it straight away, either because you may need to get the time off work or check it s ok with family or friends then

coming back and finding there are no seats left or the price has changed. Now customers can see the price, hold their seats and be sure that s all they ll pay, up to three days later. Feedback from customers means we are confident that this reassurance will prove very popular and give them the time to book the flights they want and give certainty they have a great deal. Only one person s name is needed to hold the flights. The names of everyone travelling can be added within 72 hours of the booking being held. Seats can be held up to 21 days before departure. The new hold option is the result of a joint project between British Airways and Iberia, both owned by IAG. It applies to reservations for all flights operated by

British Airways, including code-sharing flights, Iberia, Iberia Express, and Air Nostrum, including any combinations of flights of British Airways and Iberia, as long as they are on the same ticket. This is latest in a series of initiatives by British Airways to make flying even easier and more convenient. And with new routes starting from Gatwick to Fuerteventura, Grenoble, Friedrichshafen, Cagliari, Rhodes, Crete, Bodrum and Dalaman it s easier than ever to fly when and where customers want with British Airways. The airline offers one daily flight from Bahrain to London Heathrow with convenient connections to onward destinations for those looking to travel further than London.

*The hold fees for the UK and Europe are £5 and 5 respectively for short-haul flights and £10, $10 (for those booked in the US) and 10 for long-haul flights. For all other currencies, the hold fee is converted from the pound sterling figure. Prices from GBP to Bahraini Dinar may fluctuate due to conversion rates. Other conditions may apply depending on the destination.

IATA reports show increase in passenger and cargo volumes The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for August showing a slight pickup in demand over the previous month. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) increased 5.9% compared to August 2013, which was above the 5.4% year-over-year increase recorded in July. August capacity climbed 5.5%. The load factor stood at 83.9% which is a 0.3 percentage point rise over August 2013. August was a good month right across the industry. All regions reported an expansion in demand for air travel. And load factors were high, reflecting the fact that August is peak travel season in the Northern hemisphere. We should, however, keep an eye on potential downside risks. European travel, for example, continues to show robust growth. The 6.1% year-to-date expansion in demand reflects a solid step up from the 3.8% growth recorded 24 Forum

in 2013. But it remains a question how long the robust trend in passenger travel can continue in light of the continent s increasingly worrying economic outlook, said Tony Tyler, IATA s Director General and CEO.

International passenger traffic rose 6.7% in August, with all regions showing growth over the previous year. Capacity also rose 6.7% and load factor was stable at 84.2%. Middle East carriers had the strongest year-on-year traffic growth in August at 11.7% as airlines continue to benefit from the strength of regional economies and solid growth in business-related

premium travel. Capacity rose 10.3% and load factor rose 1.0 percentage points to 83.0%. Where air-freight is considered, Middle Eastern carriers reported a growth of 7.8 % in air cargo during August, a little below the year-to-date average of 9.6%, The Middle East continues to expand strongly on its growing links to developing markets, as well as diversifying into important commodities such as perishables. Capacity was up 6.0% according to the IATA data. Global air freight markets showed continued robust growth in air cargo volumes. Measured by freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), volumes rose 5.1% in August, compared to August 2013. Capacity grew at a slower pace of 3.4% from the previous year. This is the second strong month for cargo volumes in a row, following the 6.1% year-on-year rise recorded in July.

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Flying High Then and Now Since the early 1920s, the aviation industry in the United Kingdom has been constantly evolving, innovating and adapting. More people than ever before now travel to the far reaches of the globe in comfort and at affordable prices. Bahrain s aviation industry is also evolving, with Bahrain International Airport now offering world-class facilities in order to meet a high standard of operational and commercial excellence and to be an attractive hub for passengers and international airlines. There are some obvious similarities between the two industries and it s no wonder that the bonds between British Airways and Bahrain are strong and longstanding, with the company continuing to fly uninterrupted to the country for 82 years.

Above: Concorde G-BOAA Flight crew 12 Jan 1976 Rome, Brindisi, Athens, Alexandria, Tiberias, Habbaniyeh, Basra, Bahrain, Dubai and Jiwani. British Airways also spearheaded supersonic passenger flights with the first Concorde flying from London to Bahrain in early 1976. With the eyes of the world focused on Bahrain, the historymaking flight marked a significant year in both Bahrain and the global aviation history. With today s fast and comfortable aircraft, the travel time from London to Bahrain has been shortened from several days of flying with stops, to a mere six hours and forty minutes direct flight. British Airways now flies to all GCC countries from its London hub, maintaining steady connections between the UK and the Middle East.

The United Kingdom and the Middle East have been at the forefront of many great moments in aviation history. The first Imperial Airways flight a predecessor to British Airways landed in Bahrain in October 1932 when the England-India route was transferred from the Persian to the Arabian side of the Gulf. The new route operated from Basra to Karachi via Kuwait, Bahrain and Sharjah. On 3 October 1937 Imperial Airways began C Class flying boat services from Southampton to Karachi via Marseilles,

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During the pioneering early days at Heathrow, tents were pressed into service during the summer of 1946 to provide basic facilities for passengers using the newly-opened airport, 26 years after Bahrain International Airport first opened for traffic. With over a year since British Airways took delivery of the first batch of UK-operated Airbus A380 Superjumbos , the company is looking forward to continuing to take its GCC passengers on board the luxurious aircraft. British Airways A380 flights now operate between London and Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Johannesburg with new routes to Singapore and Washington scheduled for later in 2014.

Top tips for taking children on international assignments

enjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States wrote, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes", but perhaps we could add another certainty to the list uncertainty. What better way to prepare your child to face the uncertain world than to experience with them the adventure of a new country? Unless you want to hear the plaintive cry that only the acquisition of a four-legged furry friend will help them settle in, there are a few easy (and far less messy!) steps that you can take to support your child(ren) and ease their transition. Crown Relocations can share following top advises: 1. Involve children in decisions and research Chances are the decision to go on an assignment was an "adults only" activity, but now it s family time. Buy a book on the host country, Google the host city and devise miniquizzes for the family to generate interest. Feeling competitive? Split your family into teams. The winning team can choose the activity for the first weekend abroad. 2. Learn the language Children have an amazing capacity to learn a second language and it is a wonderful way to access a new country and culture. It is also a great way to boost confidence if you can function at a basic level as soon as you land in your new home. If your company is supporting language provision within your policy, take them up on it! 3. Focus on what can be experienced, not on what will be missed Missing family and friends will be a certainty for everyone. Children focus on the fabric of their daily lives and leaving all that behind can be overwhelming. Investigating what you can do together in the host country (that you wouldn t be able to do at home) can give them something to look forward to. The goal is to reduce anxiety and give children a platform to express their concerns.

4. Discuss areas of commonality as well as difference Adult intercultural training programs focus on bridging behavioural gaps to succeed on assignment, but for children it s a balance of things that will stay the same as well as things that will be different. An example might be looking at popular culture or whether the children wear school uniforms; anything to make your child(ren) feel as if they can belong. 5. Don’t shy away from addressing the challenges Certainly, some locations are more challenging than others but for the children this is a nuance that is not really on their radar. It s OK to be honest about some of the things that will be challenging. Moving to Brazil? Phone calls might get dropped a lot! Moving to the UK? The house will probably be a lot smaller than you are used to. Moving to China? Sure, there s pollution! Talking honestly about the adventure will help children prepare for the good and the bad. 6. Create a family action plan Everybody should have a list of things that they want to see/do/achieve before they come back home. When culture shock hits and homesickness is at its worst, that s the time to tick off something on the list and reinvigorate the family s commitment to the assignment. If your company supports intercultural training for the adults and then a separate program for your children, ask to spend some time together, if possible, to share what you have learned and create your "family charter." 7. Plan for the return Make sure your child(ren) stays in touch with family and friends back home so that when they return, nobody is starting their life from scratch again. Oh, and 8. … HAVE FUN! Forum 27

Motoring News Euro Motors - Jaguar Land Rover

Exclusive Promotion with Bahrain Islamic Bank

Euro Motors unveils the breath-taking Jaguar F-Type Coupé Euro Motors, the exclusive dealer and distributor of Jaguar vehicles in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has unveiled Jaguar s most dynamically capable, performance focused, production vehicle, the Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé. This exclusive evening event held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in June was attended by some of Bahrain s most notable VIP guests in addition

to loyal Jaguar customers. The event showcased the 3.0-litre V6 supercharged Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé, giving guests a closer look at Jaguar s breath-taking design.

Zayani Motors sponsors a charity concert for the benefit of less privileged kids

Euromotors Jaguar Land Rover comes closer to its public

The F-TYPE is available exclusively at the Euro Motors showroom in Sitra with prices starting from BD 30,000.

Zayani Motors (ZM), the exclusive dealers of Mitsubishi and Peugeot in the Kingdom of Bahrain, sponsored a charity concert called The Man with the Golden Voice , with the well-known Pakistani singer Amanat Ali who performed on stage in September at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. More than 3,500 fans attended this performance of their favorite singer and the concert s proceeds will be donated to the Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioral and Communicational Difficulties (BSCBCD). In Zayani Motors we have always believed in supporting the society in various ways. We are delighted to support a worthwhile charity like (BSCBCD) for its great role and excessive contributions in the community said Mohammed Zaki, General Manager of Zayani Motors. The BSCBCD board of directors expressed their gladness for this noble initiative from ZM. The mission of the BSCBCD is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals with behavioral & communication difficulties, and their families. Education, advocacy at all levels, active public awareness and the promotion of research form the cornerstones of the society s efforts to carry forth its mission. Established in 1994, ZM has come a long successful way with its continuous progress to fulfill its goals that the management had envisioned and meticulously set 20 years ago. ZM has and will always aim at providing the best quality products and services from the automotive industry to its commercial and non-commercial clients. 28 Forum

Jaguar Land Rover showcased a wide range of its luxury vehicles at the Bahrain City Centre shopping mall during Eid al Fitr season, from the 27th of July to the 31st of July 2014, becoming closer to the public than ever before. In the run up to the festive season of Eid, Jaguar Land Rover has decided to go one step further to be a part of the occasion by exhibiting selected Jaguar and Land Rover models at the Galleria in City Centre Bahrain during the Eid holidays so that the public can have a closer look at the vehicles as well as book for test drives right in the midst of their busy Eid shopping spree.

Motoring News

Jaguar & Land Rover continue international success and win acclaimed awards Euro Motors, the exclusive dealer and distributor for luxury automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is proud to announce the extraordinarily strong showing for both the marques, Jaguar and Land Rover, in the internationally acclaimed J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study and highly respected U.S. News Best Car Awards. Jaguar was ranked second and Land Rover was ranked fourth in The J.D. Power APEAL Study, which examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations, now in its 19th year, serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle appeal. Owners evaluated their vehicles across 77 attributes, which combine into an overall APEAL score that is measured on a 1,000-point scale. With respect to the 2014 U.S. News Best Car Awards, The 2014 Range Rover Sport was ranked 1st in 3 categories, namely; the Luxury Midsize SUVs Range, the Luxury SUVs with 3 Rows and also in Off-Road SUVs whilst the 2014 Jaguar XF was ranked 6th in the Luxury Large Cars Awards. The U.S. News Best Car Awards is based on an analysis of published reviews and test drives of those cars and SUVs that are shortlisted to be in the running for the Award, on the consensus opinion of America s trusted automotive experts as well as reliability and safety data. The rankings span 30 classes of new cars and SUVs and the prominent award is known for how influential its rankings are. Speaking about the plethora of awards, Zayed Alzayani, Managing Director of Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover said: We, at Euro Motors, are immensely pleased to see the recognition that both Jaguar and Land Rover have deservedly received this year. With both the J.D. Power Study and the U.S. News Best

Car Awards being internationally acclaimed and highly reputed awards, it was always important to come out looking good; and with the numerous awards that were won in admirable and significant positions, Jaguar and Land Rover have done just that, and more. With the receipt of such prestigious acclaim, it goes to show the exemplary work being put in year after year by Jaguar and Land Rover to redesign the models with a new approach each time so as to produce vehicles that embody the best. By raking up these and many more distinguished awards time and again, Jaguar Land Rover elaborates on the commitment to building a new generation of Jaguar and Land Rover enthusiasts. As for the existing loyal Jaguar and Land Rover lovers all over the world who wait in anticipation for the release of the latest models, Jaguar and Land Rover go out of their way to produce masterpieces that do not disappoint but rather, raise the enthusiasts expectations that much more higher. Euro Motors is proud to be associated with such distinguished vehicles and look forward to playing our part in beautifying Bahrain by having these award-winning cars on our roads. , Mr. Alzayani added. Taking their tally of international awards to an innumerable amount, Jaguar and Land Rover are recognized as premium brand names in the automotive industry. Continuing its highly impressive run of success at this year s awards, Jaguar Land Rover keeps producing the perfect cars, in terms of aesthetic design, high powered performance and divine comfort as well as venturing into the unknown with its innovation of pioneering technology and ground breaking services.

New McLaren 650S unveiled in Bahrain McLaren Automotive retailer in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Al Ghassan Motors, has unveiled the latest model to join the McLaren range, the 650S. The 650S is already receiving demand beyond that which Al Ghassan Motors can supply, with supercar owners and enthusiasts in the Kingdom placing orders since the car was first shown to the Public at the Geneva Motorshow in March 2014. Available in Coupé and Spider bodystyles from launch, the McLaren 650S joins the range as an additional model to the sold-out McLaren P1 , and learns 50 years of competing in the highest levels of motorsport as well as the supercars for the road the company has launched in recent years. 32 Forum

The 650S is the fastest, most engaging, best equipped and most beautiful seriesproduction supercar yet from McLaren Automotive and is hand-built alongside the company s other supercars at the McLaren Production Centre in the United Kingdom.

In Coupé form, the 650S accelerates to 100km/h (62mph) from rest in just 3.0 seconds, and can reach 200km/h (124mph) in just 8.4 seconds. The standing quarter mile (400m) takes 10.5 seconds, and top speed is 333 km/h (207 mph).

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Construction Sector

NASS kicks off construction of Dragon City project

nder the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Diyar Al Muharraq, one of the leading urban developers in the Kingdom of Bahrain, held a Groundbreaking Ceremony to mark the start of construction of Phase 1 of Dragon City, a Chinese-themed retail development in the Diyar Al Muharraq masterplanned project, on Thursday 26th of June 2014 at the Diyar Al Muharraq construction site. The ceremony was attended by several ministers, the Ambassador of the People s Republic of China in Bahrain, members of Muharraq Municipality Council and government officials. Diyar Al Muharraq appointed Nass Contracting in May 2014 to undertake construction of Phase 1 of Dragon City, which is scheduled for completion by mid 2015. The project will be developed by Dragon City BSC, a subsidiary of Diyar Al Muharraq WLL, and operation of Phase 1 will be undertaken by Middle East and Trade Promotion Center (Chinamex). Dragon City is the first of its kind development in Bahrain which will offer unique wholesale and retail opportunities to local consumers, trade customers and tourists in a 115 thousand square metre development set in the southwest corner of Diyar Al Muharraq city. The project design is infused with Chinese 34 Forum

architectural and cultural aspects, in a layout which incorporates 700 individual retail store spaces and a five thousand square metre area designated for warehouses. The project also includes a six thousand square metre dining street and car parking for 1,500 customer vehicles. On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain, His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, expressed his delight that Bahrain is embracing one of the most famous Chinese projects, and he reaffirmed the Kingdom s strategy highlighting the importance of attracting foreign investments through distinguished projects that serve the national economy and allow for the provision of employment opportunities, in addition to meeting consumer demands. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said: The Dragon City Project further

strengthens Bahrain Chinese relations, which prospered following the recent fruitful visit made by His Majesty the King of Bahrain to Beijing, during which His Majesty met with the Chinese President. The visit concluded with both parties reiterating the importance of supporting and enhancing the development of economic and investment cooperation between the two friendly countries . On this occasion, the Chairman of Diyar Al Muharraq, Mr. Abdulhakeem Al Khayyat said: The groundbreaking ceremony for Dragon City heralds the start of a series of achievements for Diyar Al Muharraq. We are building a niche for Diyar Al Muharraq as a vital player in Bahrain s economic development, and through this ceremony, we are taking confident steps towards fulfilling our goals, and we affirm our important role in developing the Kingdom into a world-

class commercial and trade destination. Chief Executive Officer of Diyar Al Muharraq, Dr. Maher Al Shaer said: Dragon City will introduce unique opportunities and a new wave of products that will keep up with new demands by consumers. It is envisioned to become the preferred source of a wide array of Chinese products such as home appliances, building materials, furniture, toys, garments, textiles, footwear and general merchandise. We aim to make Dragon City as the main destination that will singularly address consumer demands. And this ceremony today heralds the beginning of our journey as a strategic developer with an innovative stream of a futuristic vision in the Kingdom. The Dragon City concept was launched in May 2012 as the result of an agreement between Diyar Al Muharraq and Chinamex.

Bahrain to have newer, wider roads Bahrain s Ministry of Works has announced plans to develop new and wider roads, that will be able to deal with the increase in traffic congestion across the Kingdom, under a new 2021 strategic plan. There are plans to improve Muharraq Avenue, starting from Dry Dock Road through Samaheej to Al Dair to turn into a multiple-lane road, sad the ministry in its statement. A second part of the project will go from Al Dair to Busaiteen and over the bridge to Manama. We will also improve Road 47 and 44 in Arad, as well as widen Road 46 and add another exit to the industrial area, it stated. We will also finish working

Work on East Hidd homes project begins

on the service road on Road 44, the statement added. This year, the ministry said, it has paved over 52km of dirt roads. On the current projects, the ministry said work on a road linking Hamad Town to Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway was progressing well. The 1.5-km flyover will connect to the highway, it added.

Mr. Sameer Nass, Chairman of Nass Contracting during the Contract Signing held on 18th May 2014.

The ministry said the under the 2021 strategic plan, the key focus was on decreasing traffic congestion on Shaikh Hamad Avenue and interior roads in Hamad Town and let residents reach their destination more easily.

A multi-million agreement has been signed to construct the first phase of the East Hidd housing project, which includes 483 units.

There are also plans to install street lamps and safety barriers and repave the roads around the project, it added.

The BD18 million project is financed by the Kuwaiti government under the GCC Development Programme as part of a project to construct 4,000 housing units in addition to infrastructure services, Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer said.

The Contract was signed between the Housing Ministry and a consortium including Kuwaiti Khalid Ali Al Kharafi and Brothers Company and Bahraini Nass Contracting who undertook the project, scheduled to be completed within 18 months.

Forum 35

Education Sector

GCC education sector is undergoing an exciting phase of growth laid the foundation of a noteworthy education system in the country. Accordingly, the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 has emphasized to undertake radical reforms in one of the oldest education systems, and be one of the leading educational hubs across the Asian continent.

The GCC education sector is gaining high momentum and dedicated attentions from the governments across the region. It has been identified in several GCC countries, such as Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait economic visions, as the cornerstone for both the economy and human development. Thus, with increased focus to elevate the education quality of GCC nationals and raise their key competencies skills to match the job market needs, the sector is accounting for healthy share of the national budgets across the GCC. According to Alpen Capital education industry report, estimated government spending on education in Bahrain, has accounted for 8.5% as a percentage of total government expenditure in 2014. Bahrain has been considered the education lighthouse for the rest of the GCC countries due to its strategic location at the heart of GCC. As per the report Bahrain is home to the oldest education system across the GCC, with enhanced quality and reach over time. Having set up the first elementary boys school in 1919, the Bahraini government

36 Forum

The Bahraini education industry thus presents investment opportunities for private, local and international players looking to provide quality education and services in this industry. Recently, private players have shown immense desire to venture into the Bahraini education market and a lot of internationally renowned university bodies and school chains have started negotiations for mushrooming in the GCC region with international branches to their organisations, so that they would be able to utilize the favorable demographics, rising income levels, private sector qualitative participation and government reforms across the region. Therefore, a lot of international operators and consultants have begun to establish their footprint and build their networks across the region, with the intention of helping out those big institutions to launch their branches on a solid based market researches and feasibility studies. Those consultants have been able to assist several investors, either nationals or non-nationals, to ease their establishing process through providing them with the needful documents and

regulations, planning their models of operations to suit and accommodate the market needs, doing the required market analysis and gap bridging analysis to enable investors from catering the demanded services. D3 Consultants, for example, is one of those prominent international operators and consultants, which has managed to support several investors across Bahrain, Qatar and UAE to set up successful models of operations and assisted them to find the right routeto-market.

B B B F Member Mr. Mohannad Al Anni, D 3 Consultants managing director, (pictured) said The education sector today is one of the key investing sectors in the GCC region. The sector accounts for approximately 24% of total government expenditures . He also added The GCC is witnessing a trending demand for private education, which can set the education quality in the region at par with the international standards.

First class business and enterprise education at the British School Bahrain

The British School aims to enhance learning by developing economic and business understanding of all our students and enrich and extend the curriculum through the provision of enterprise activities. We are providing opportunities for students to follow a wide range of work related learning pathways. The School also provides our young people with the skills needed to progress successfully into higher education. We are hoping to work in partnership with the wider community, including business and industry, to enhance opportunities for lifelong learning in the context of business and enterprise. The school is providing students a core Business and Enterprise curriculum that suits the needs of all our students. We were the first school in Bahrain to be become a BTEC Approved Centre and also the first to become an ASDAN Education partner. We are also registered with the Institute of Financial Studies, London to offer courses for our students in finance, We offer Accounting and Economics and successfully run Enterprise clubs throughout the school. We believe that Enterprise education is the key to a successful future for all our students.

Our approach is to: Enhance learning by developing economic and business understanding. Enrich and extend the curriculum through the provision of enterprise activities. Provide opportunities for students to follow a wide range of work related learning pathways. Provide young people with the skills needed to progress successfully into employment and higher education according to their individual abilities, aptitudes and ambitions. Students have the opportunity to gain qualifications in Leadership, Enterprise and Team building skills through the ASDAN Short courses. Work in partnership with the wider community, including business and industry, to enhance opportunities for lifelong learning in the context of business and enterprise. Students have the opportunity to join the annual Trade Quest competition held at the Bahrain Bourse. Provide a core Business and Enterprise curriculum that suits the needs of all our students future lives by offering IGCSE Business Studies, BTEC Diploma in Business Studies, A Level Economics, Accounting and Business Studies. Enterprise skills are essential to success in all areas of life helping young people to prepare for many aspects of their future lives. Students in Year 11 and 12 have the opportunity to setup and run a company through the INJAZ/YE Company Programme. The British School has also launched the first Entrepreneurship incubator and launched its first innovative business called Paddy s Bites with the support of six Year 10 students. We welcome any partnership enquiries; we look forward to working with the business community in ensuring our students are fully equipped for the world of work and would love to speak with companies who can offer internships to our A Level students and also offer work experience and visiting speakers. Please contact, Mr Khalil Ahmed, Head of Secondary school on seniorsheadteacher@thebsbh.com, or call 17610820.

Full Junior programme underway at the BSB The Juniors are well into the swing of term, benefiting from their team building days and a visit from Mad Science. Everyone is busily involved in their programmes of study and work. The autumn looks to be a busy one with trips to Bahrain Fort, Al Jasra and the Grand Mosque. Our Year 5 and 6 children have swimming galas, the spelling bee for all children, our Outward Bound activity trip to the UAE and numerous sports fixtures. The Head Student Team for the first term has been appointed and the Student Parliament is all set for its first meeting this week. We shall certainly be

hearing a loud and clear Student Voice to help us steer BSB Juniors in the most educationally valuable direction.

As always at BSB, there is a strong corporate spirit throughout as we move our school forward. We have expanded to 7-form entry throughout Key Stage 2, and our new members of staff have brought a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and expertise to complement our strong existing team. Our rich and varied extra-curricular programme is well under way, with healthy uptake and zealous participation. Visit us at BSB to see all of this in action and more, live, vibrant and bubbling. You will want to come again. Forum 37

Education Sector

Crown Prince s International Scholarship Programme professionals and experts on academic and career-related begins candidacy training topics, and personal development. After completing the Director of the Crown Prince s International Scholarship Program (CPISP) Dr. Cynthia Gessling affirmed the importance of training in developing the skills and abilities of talented students, in addition to education, praising the efforts of HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in supporting outstanding Bahraini youth. Dr. Gessling made these remarks during the launch of the CPISP s candidacy training for students vying for one of HRH the Crown Prince s ten annual scholarships for 2015, and which comes as part of the Programme s selection process. The Programme held an introductory session, in cooperation with BIBF at their headquarters in Juffair to brief the students on the details and requirements of the upcoming training courses beginning this summer and the first semester of the academic school year. CPISP Director Dr. Cynthia Gessling welcomed the students and congratulated them on making it to the training phase of the selection process. Dr. Gessling pointed to the importance of attending the training courses, which aim to develop their personal skills in leadership and communication, in addition to their academic skills. Dr. Gessling affirmed that the training will include a number of specialised courses organised in cooperation with BIBF, including a newly introduced Academic Writing Course, a Critical Thinking Course, leadership and communication development training that will include a Level 3 Certificate in Team Leading certified by the UK-based Chartered Management Institute, as well as Personality and Career Path Assessment. The Programme will also organise guest lectures and panel discussions from qualified 38 Forum

training at BIBF, the Programme will then provide students with preparation courses for the IELTS and SAT exams. Dr. Gessling affirmed that the students taking part in the candidacy training include 60 candidates; 40 from Ministry of Education schools, and 20 from private schools. She explained that the final ten scholarship recipients will be selected next year based on their Grade Point Averages, results of the IELTS and SAT exams administered by the Programme, and the results of the Critical Thinking course and leadership training. Dr. Gessling thanked BIBF for its support and continued cooperation with the Programme, praising the quality of training offered by the Institute, and wished the students a successful and productive experience. BIBF Director Ms. Solveig Nicklos expressed BIBF s keenness to work with the CPISP and contribute to developing the abilities of outstanding Bahraini students. She also praised the vision of HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa aimed at developing Bahraini youth and for supporting training and educational initiatives. BIBF Deputy Director Dr. Ahmed Al-Shaikh, BIBF Consultant Trainer Ms. Amal Al-Awadhi, Academic Writing Course and Critical Thinking Course Leader Mrs. Naeema Al-Aali, Leadership Course Leader Mr. Philip Mukhwana, and SAT & IELTS preparation course instructor Dr. Conrad Randall also addressed the students about the training requirements and benefits, and wished them every success in the future.

British Ambassador meets with new CPISP recipients bound for the UK British Ambassador H.E. Mr. Iain Lindsay received at his residence at the British Embassy the recipients of the Crown Prince s International Scholarship Programme (CPISP) 2014 scholarships. Ambassador Lindsay congratulated the students for receiving the Crown Prince s scholarships, praising the CPISP s efforts to provide outstanding students the opportunity to study at top international universities and gain international cultural exposure. He also praised the

students academic excellence, wishing them a successful educational experience. The latest group of scholarship recipients includes four students who will be studying in the UK. They are Mohamed Dhaif Husain and Batool Mohamed Aljufairi who will be going to boarding schools in the UK to complete their A Levels before applying for university, and Zaid Jehad Alalawi going to University College London and Latifa Khalil Al Khayyat going to the University of Bath.

Forum 39

Delegation

s a coach I often end up coaching my executives and managers around the challenges of delegation. Today s organisations are expected to evolve and move with the latest business and organisational theories. Usually the C suite executive in conjunction with a consultancy will adopt a strategic initiative which is then issued to the senior management for planning and implementation. The problem is that many managers are under extreme pressure to perform on their day role, so when they are asked to take on additional responsibility it is difficult to find extra time and so they have to delegate - No problem! But when you delegate the performance measurement remains at the delegation level and therefore there is an inclination to over scrutinize the delegate and this results in the unpleasant situation of micro-management.

Nobody is going to delegate a lot of power to a secretary that they can t control Michael Bloomberg I have witnessed a number of delegation cascade failures with all the attendant micro management and disruption associated with each layer, followed by the usual recriminations. Originally, I started the next paragraph saying If you have to , but I have changed it to When you have to delegate responsibility, then delegate to a team rather than to an individual person. Delegation to a team increases the possibility of the group completing the task whilst decreasing the potential for a Single Point Of Failure (SPOF). I first came 40 Forum

Feature Article by Mike Jackson across SPOF s at Blandford doing radio relay theory it just rolls off the tongue. Whilst I appreciate that the current business phase is very much focussed on cost management, businesses should still develop robust processes and procedures which have built-in redundancy, so should somebody leave or be unable to do their job for a period of time, the whole business doesn t come to a grinding halt. A memorable example of this was in a large government office where a senior procurement clerk was confined to bed early during her pregnancy and the resulting backlog of paperwork, only she was authorised to approve, almost created a political incident.

Many IT systems require that certain roles are created to administer the system and to authorise various business elements and many companies think it perfectly acceptable to assign only one person too this function (see the SPOF - now there s an accident just waiting to happen!) Delegating to a team also involves the other team members and makes people feel involved as part of the company - ask people to help support the delegation initiative and you can also use people s willingness and subsequent performance as part of the continuous improvement programme and also as part

of the appraisal scheme. The secret is to think evolution NOT revolution. Give people changes in small easily assimilated chunks - not a complete change of process and management in a week! Communicate clearly what the overall strategic vision is and explain your vision and objectives demonstrating how these link back to the overall corporate vision. Ask for ideas and volunteers to assist in the management of any legacy systems and make a point of ensuring that they are collected and fully trained in the new system once it is implemented - you should really not aim to leave anyone behind, unless providence offers you natural redundancies or the individuals elect to take an early bath. You can always thin out the teams at a later date once the system is installed and functioning correctly. Allow yourself enough time to review delegated work that is delivered back to you and set a high standard from the start. Don t despair if the first few attempts need correction coach the delegates towards your expectations and praise the good habits rather than beat em up on the not so good stuff. Delegation is an art choose carefully the task to delegate, choose carefully the team you will delegate to and work with them to understand what you want, how, when and why. Once you are happy with the output performance then you can achieve much more delegating other task freeing you up to focus on the strategic changes or maybe even moving up the ladder to your next role.

Good luck and remember the words of Steven Covey People and organisations don t grow much without delegation and completed staff work because they are confined to the capacities of the boss and reflect both personal strengths and weaknesses. Key points to remember Think evolution not revolution, slowly does it Avoid creating SPOF’s You can’t do it all on your own Communicate what you are setting out to achieve Mike is a product of the English public school system and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. A seasoned project manager he has successfully delivered a number of significant enterprise wide implementations / business transformations across the globe during the past twenty years. He has spent the last eight years in the Middle East where he has developed strong Executive and Group coaching elements in his successful PM consultancy.

News from the Eastern Province The British Business Association (BBA) - Eastern Province P.O.Box 1868, AlKhobar 31952 Tel: 03 882 5288 ext 1651 Fax: 03 882 5384 Email: secretary@bbaep.org Website: www.bbaep.com

Geoff Fennah MBE Chairman, EPBBA I sit writing these notes in the aftermath of the Scottish Referendum and watching the final results coming in. As an impartial, but nevertheless interested, bystander I have to say it was a rather curious event. I say this not to begrudge the Scots their right to decide their future but because it was inconceivable to me that anyone could make a rationale decision with so many unanswered questions. Anyway, my personal view for what it is worth, is that the outcome was the best for the UK and we are better together although I suspect that a can of worms may have been opened regarding the broader political landscape across the UK as there now seems to be an appetite for more change.

In early September we said our goodbyes to Bill and Carole Kelly from the British Trade Office as they came to the end of their tenure and headed off back to UK. They will be missed at our events and we all wish them well in their future ventures. This also provided us with the opportunity to welcome Danial Shaikh who will replace Bill. Danial brings with him Oil and Gas experience from Rio and we would like to give him and his family a warm welcome to the Eastern Province.

Saudi Finance issues

likely be limited to between 10% and 30% of Saudi equities; - only foreign investors with major asset bases (some reports suggest in excess of $1bn) would be eligible to purchase Saudi shares; - foreigners would be prohibited from owning shares in businesses based in Makkah and Madinah (consistent with existing foreign ownership rules); and - the rules would probably come into effect in the first half of 2015.

The Saudi Council of Ministers has announced that it will lift its ban on non-GCC ownership of companies listed on the Saudi stock exchange. Regulations to enable the change are now being worked out, and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has begun a 90 day consultation period. To date, unconfirmed reports have suggested that: - foreign ownership would 42 Forum

In my previous news, I noted that Middle East Association (MEA) may have received a last minute reprieve and I am pleased to report that has come to pass. BBA had the opportunity to meet with

Peter Meyer and David Lloyd recently in Al-Khobar and they outlined the forward plans for MEA. It was good to note that the plans include the continuation of the Opportunity Arabia series of conferences with OA11 being held in Edinburgh on 2 October 2014. Welcome back to the MEA! BBA also had an opportunity to meet with Chris InnesHopkins the new Executive Director of the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) during his recent visit to Eastern Province. Chris was, until recently, the Commercial Counsellor at the British Embassy, Riyadh so brings with him strong business knowledge of Saudi Arabia as well as an extensive portfolio of contacts. Jeff Stewart represented BBA at the meeting and was given a detailed briefing of the SBJBC objectives and services that they offer. Their primary objective is to As things stand, non-GCC individuals and entities are only able to purchase Saudi equities indirectly (through swaps or exchange transaction funds). The cost and inconvenience of these means that foreigners probably own less than 2% of current market value. Most estimates suggest that permitting direct foreign trading would inject $40bn-$50bn into the market rapidly. This would be a major boost to what is already the Arab world s

establish a strong working relationship between senior levels of both Kingdoms with the aim of improving business to business cooperation and we look forward to assisting in any way that we can. A more detailed summary of the meeting can be found on the BBA website: www.bbaep.org. The annual Poppy Ball is now only weeks away and should be an extra special event as this year commemorates that 100 years have passed since the onset of World War 1. We are hoping for a good turnout from Eastern Province to what should be another excellent evening. I look forward to seeing everyone on 7 November at the Poppy Ball. Should you have a need to contact us then send an e-mail to Rachael Routledge who can be contacted on the same e-mail: secretary@bbaep.org

largest stock market, and which according to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (the Kingdom s central bank) had a total market capitalisation of $467bn at the end of 2013. The TASI (Tadawul All Share Index) jumped 2.8% on news of the Council of Ministers decision, with most of the increases driven by major government-backed companies (eg. SABIC, who s shares climbed 6.9%).

Hotel & Leisure News A Grand Return

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa one of the leading Five Star Hotels in The Kingdom of Bahrain owned by the National Hotels Company (B.S.C) announced today the re-opening of their newly renovated Conference & Meeting facilities after a multimillion renovation. All venues offer intelligently planned, tailored solutions with flawless execution for every event on Bahrain s busy calendar. C.E.O. of National Hotels Company Abdulrahman Morshed stated that the owning Company of the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa is pleased with the successful investments completed in the last few years. We are proud of the BD 2.2 million completion facilities refurbishment that will become one of the best-recognised brands in the market . After a full renovation of the Hotel rooms in 2003 and 2004 the company embarked on a Bahrain trend setting project of constructing the Diplomat Residence in 2006. This was followed by the refurbishment of the hotel exterior and façade in 2008. National Hotel Company, a Bahrain stock exchange listed firm, continued developing and

contributing to the success of the Tourism and Commercial sectors on the island. In 2009 construction of BD 27 million 28 floor Diplomat office tower was completed in 2012. Simultaneously, renovation of the Al Fanar skylight lounge started in 2011 when it was converted to Bahrain s only rooftop ballroom on the14th floor. The room features fabulous views of the city s skyline. The next phase of development will be a renovation programme for the hotels 246 bedrooms that is scheduled to commence in 2015. We are on the final stage of finalising the bedrooms renovation project that will take a place in the future. We are pleased with the extensive improvements and updates made to the facilities said Panos Panagis, General Manager at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa. The modern design the facilities have been upgraded to, allow an effortless flow of events both large and small. With capacities to host conferences and events for up to 1,300 delegates, the venue offers possibilities to for different room configurations tailored to each client s requirement. The hotel already successfully hosted our very first major event for the Gulf Cooperation Council.

All aspects of the function space, from boardrooms to ballrooms, have received a complete redesign and can easily adapt to corporate or social functions. The M&E facilities located on the Hotel s ground floor offers easy access and a welcoming guest arrival. The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa provide the latest in technology and catering as well as Experience Meetings, a core event component unique to Radisson Blu Hotels worldwide, and to Bahrain. The Pillars of the Experience meeting programme include Brain Food, a culinary service offering menus developed to stimulate the mind, and Brain box, a special breakout room that provides on hands activities in an environment that encourages creative development and concentration. All Experience meeting delegates are provided with complimentary internet WIFI access. The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel offers 3,171 square metres of meeting and event space, including the Grand Ambassador Ballroom. Moreover, the inspiring facilities host an elegant and exclusive Majilis. There are six additional meeting rooms, a fully equipped Business Centre and a VIP Boardroom. All meeting and conference spaces offer a luxurious contemporary design and state of the art Audio Visual technology.

Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain announces the opening of Rimal Spa Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain announces opening of its newest addition, Rimal Spa, strengthening its unmatched hospitality. Rimal Spa is a European style spa with a modern design. The high profile spa offers result driven treatments to its clientele and will appeal to both corporate and leisure travellers as well as Bahrain residents and GCC neighbours. Serving as a luxurious sanctuary for guests, Rimal Spa blends renowned Swiss hospitality with a warm traditional Arabic touch. Offering a lavish but relaxing feel, Rimal Spa encloses 12 treatment rooms, in cooperating single treatment suites, one double female suite and two traditional Turkish hammam suites with their own 44 Forum

steam rooms and heated wet tables. All treatment rooms are designed to the highest standards and have their private showers. To ensure privacy, Rimal Spa offers segregated male and female wings both offering relaxation waiting areas in which organic herbal tea infusions and fruit water are served. Commenting on the latest addition to the 5 star property, Owner Representative Salman Al Mahmeed said Rimal Spa, with its unparalleled facility and treatments, will set a new standard for luxury spas in Bahrain. We are certain that this kind of exemplary service and European quality standards will tremendously please the hotel s guests and residents of Bahrain. To create a fulfilling journey, Rimal Spa offers exclusively designed, result driven, holistic non-invasive, signature

treatments using London s leading Harley Street Skin Care products and CACI Non-surgical face and body lift machines. Sharing his enthusiasm for the Rimal Spa opening, General Manager Daniel Kaan said We are extremely excited to open our brand new, world class spa. It is a great addition to our already extensive services and it is a reflection of luxury at the highest level. It has been a long term wish of our owners and Mövenpick to add this facility to our hotel. Our most loyal guests have been anticipating this opening ever since the plans have been revealed and we are sure it will be immensely enjoyed.

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EVENTS

EXHIBITIONS WEDDINGS DDINGS CONFERENCES

EXHIBITIONS

For more information please call T: +973 17531 666 F: +973 17531 633 http://www.radissonblu.com/diplomathotel-bahrain

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EVENTS

BLU

RADISSON THE DIPLOMAT

WEDDINGS CONFERENCES

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Hotel & Leisure News

Alosra sponsors the 17th American Mission Hospital charity golf tournament Alosra supermarket is once again sponsoring the American Mission Hospital s annual fundraiser, the 17th AMH Island Classic Charity Golf Tournament, which will be held under the kind patronage of His Majesty the King, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. The tournament, which will be taking place from November 20 to 22, will be held on His Majesty the King s private golf course. Alosra will be providing inkind sponsorship, by helping facilitate the three-day day tournament, providing refreshments for golfers and will also be donating door prizes for the Sponsors luncheon, which will be held on November 25, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa. Jaffar Al Asfoor, BMMI Vice President of Food Retailing & Production, emphasised the importance Alosra places

Above: Bahnaz Abbas, Senior Manager of Fundraising, Community and Marketing AMH, Jaffar Al Asfoor, Vice President of Food Retailing & Production, BMMI; Julia Tovey, Chief Operating Officer, AMH; Pavlos Manousos Babiolakis, Marketing & Product Development Manager, Alosra supermarket

on supporting charitable community events. We are committed to the health of our employees and the health of the community, he said. As always, we are very glad to support the American Mission Hospital s charity golf tournament, as it raises funds to purchase equipment for the hospital. This in turn boosts AMH s ability to diagnose and treat

patients, keeping Bahrain s community healthier and providing them with better care and services, said Mr. Al Asfoor AMH Senior Manager of Fundraising, Community and Marketing and Island Classic Organizer Bahnaz Abbas expressed her gratitude for the long-standing partnership between AMH

and Alosra: Alosra has been a long-time supporter of our hospital and the Island Classic programme, she said. We are extremely pleased that they have decided to support us again this year. It is through in-kind sponsorships that we are able to provide our golfers with an enjoyable golfing experience, added Ms. Abbas

Starwood Hotels & Resorts welcomes new GM Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Mr. Klaus Niefer as the Complex General Manager for the group s two new hotels, The Westin Bahrain City Centre and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre, in the heart of Manama. Niefer, a German national, joins the team from The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, where he was the General Manager from 2010 and managed the pre-opening and launch of the golf resort. Prior to this, Niefer was Deputy General Manager at Le Méridien Abu Dhabi. With a celebrated career in the hospitality industry spanning 30 years and three continents, Niefer has worked in several five-star properties in Germany, Australia, the Philippines and China.

introducing Westin s winning approach to well-being and Le Méridien s contemporary lifestyle approach through the arts, culture and cuisine, to the local community and international travellers to Manama. says Mr. Niefer.

Having lived in the Middle East for a few years I m happy to move to Bahrain. The Kingdom is known as a welcoming and friendly place and I m eagerly waiting to meet the locals and expatriates alike and discover everything that the island has to offer. It gives me great pleasure to be appointed as the Complex General Manager and I very much look forward to

Starwood Hotels & Resorts opened The Westin Bahrain City Centre and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre on July 1, 2014. Directly connected to the City Centre Bahrain, the two hotels marked the launch of Westin and Le Méridien brands in the country, and added 460 rooms to the group s portfolio in Bahrain, including Bahrain s first Heavenly Spa by Westin.

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Hotel & Leisure News

The management of the Royal Golf Club has announced that the ninth annual Think Pink Bahrain Charity Golf Day will take place at the Club on Thursday 16th October. In a change to previous years, both the ladies and gents tournaments will take place on the same day. With the help of the local community we look forward to raising plenty of money once again this year for this great cause, commented Bernie Morgan, the Royal Golf Club s Director of Golf. The money raised will be used to help train medical staff to treat women in Bahrain who are affected by breast cancer as well as to continue the battle to raise awareness of the importance of regular breast checks. I m looking forward to seeing all the competitors decked out in as much pink as possible!

Think Pink

Experienced lady golfers are invited to compete in an 18hole Texas Scramble competition on the Montgomerie championship course, teeing off with an 8:30am shotgun start. Ladies with higher handicaps have the option to play a 9-hole scramble at 10:30am on the club s Wee Monty par 3 course. The men s 9-hole tournament will be played under floodlights on the back 9 holes of the Montgomerie championship course, teeing off at 6.30pm and also being played in the Texas Scramble format. The two ladies tournaments will be rounded off with a lunch and prize-giving ceremony in the Club s stunning Majlis function room. We have a number of excellent sponsorship opportunities available for these very prestigious events, explained Julie Sprakel, the founder of Think Pink Bahrain. Companies can display their company-branded banner on a golf hole from just BD250 on the championship course or BD100 on the Wee Monty course. This will also entitle them to have their logo on all event signage as well as receiving recognition at the prize-giving ceremony. We are also looking for companies or individuals willing to sponsor prizes for the main prize winners and for the winners of the various side contests and fun events. For further information about sponsorship opportunities in the tenth Think Pink Bahrain Charity Golf Day or to sign up for one of the tournaments, please contact Sohail Singh on mobile +973 38062180 or email info@thinkpinkbahrain.com.

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Health matters Craniosacral Biodynamics Workshop

Health House will be hosting Zia Nath, the founder of Quanta Health Care Solutions from 10-16 Nov 2014. Zia, an Institute of Craniosacral Balancing Adviser with more than 17 years experience, will see a few selected cases and conduct a 4 day workshop on Craniosacral Biodynamics Principles of Health under the patronage of International Institute of Craniosacral Balancing (ICSB) For more details and appointments please contact BBBF Member Jamilla Al Qaseer at Health House

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International Hospital of Bahrain expands its loyalty programme Due to popular demand the International Hospital of Bahrain (IHB) recently expanded its Loyalty Programme to include a Baby Programme and a Senior Citizens Programme. The new Loyalty Programme, with its special rates, has

been very well received since it was reintroduced earlier this year. The Baby Club is open to all babies under 2 years of age and includes a free Well-Baby Clinic held twice weekly. Parents can discuss any health related concern

about the baby with a paediatrician. This free clinic is held twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays. No appointment is necessary. The IHB Senior Citizens Club is open to anyone over the age of 65 years, covering all clinics and services, at extra special rates. The IHB is accredited by ACHS International, and is a BUPA International Quality Assured hospital.

Above: Winners of the recent free American Heart Association Heartsaver course held at the International Hospital of Bahrain.

Experiences of Bahraini Women with Breast cancer

In April Dr Ghufran Ahmed Jassim, Lecturer at Family and Community Medicine Department, RCSI Bahrain presented research around the quality of life of Bahraini women with breast cancer . BIZNET prides itself in business and education knowledge sharing and the message from this presentation was the need for more awareness of the cultural nuances, experiences and decision-making tactics of female Bahraini breast cancer survivors. BIZNET is a network and business platform for leaders, managers, owners and entrepreneurs. BIZNET hosts nine networking events per annum, as well as additional workshops which encourage knowledge share as well as authentic, reciprocal and strategic networking. Events include business items as well as presentations. Networking is facilitated through a variety of interactive on-line and traditional methods to ensure members get the most out of their BIZNET. BIZNET facilitate monthly female only events and regular mixed events with local and international professionals BIZNET s objective is to enable professional and organisational potential through authentic,

strategic and reciprocal networking ... explained BIZNET Founder, Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy. RCSI received a license to establish a medical university in Bahrain in October 2003. As a result, RCSI Bahrain opened in October 2004 with its first intake of medical students. This was followed in 2006 by a first intake of nursing students and by the establishment of a School of Postgraduate Studies. In addition to the medical programme, the School of Medicine has a medical commencement programme (MCP). The School of Nursing has an undergraduate and bridging BSc programmes and the School of Postgraduate Studies has an MSc in Nursing and Healthcare Ethics & Law. The campus is a state of the art establishment which was completed in October 2008. The University provides a vibrant blend of multicultural aspects, both seen academically and in student life, through clubs and societies. With different nationalities presented in the student body, a global outlook to education is one of many positives. The majority of academic staff of the three schools are from Ireland and all our staff meet the high quality criteria of various accrediting bodies. RCSI Bahrain has received external quality assurance, both through its umbilical links with RCSI Dublin and also by the Bahrain Quality Assurance Authority for Education and Training (QAAET).

First comprehensive integrated rehabilitation clinic opens in Bahrain INTOUCH Clinic recently began offering its integrated chiropractic, physical therapy, Craniosacral therapy, hypnotherapy, exercise rehabilitation and massage therapy services to patients at its new and expansive medical offices located in Janabiyah. Founder and Clinical Director, Dr. Amy Bowzaylo, along with a team of licensed physiotherapists, massage therapists and rehabilitation specialists is offering Bahrain its first truly comprehensive pain management and recovery centre dedicated to helping patients overcome debilitating injuries, chronic pain, and a myriad of other conditions which effect daily living. Dr. Bowzaylo, a Canadian native, who has worked in hospitals around the world, most recently acted as Director of Physical

Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Triple accredited (JCI, ACI, ACHSI) Saad Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia for 7 years before deciding to venture forward with her own practice in Bahrain. It has been a professional labour of love to start INTOUCH Clinic, says Dr. Bowzaylo, We are excited to be offering a multidisciplinary practice tailored to individual needs, beginning from the critical stage on through to wellness care which helps maintain patients long-term health goals. The INTOUCH team has already been very active in events throughout Bahrain ranging from assessing and treating athletes on the Bahrain Rugby and Football Club squads to coordinating with medical staff for the upcoming Olympic Distance Triathlon and Challenge Bahrain Triathlon in December. Forum 51

Bahrain News

A Little Pocket of Amsterdam in Bahrain Holland arrives in Bahrain in style at Café Amsterdam, a new casual dining experience that successfully pairs the best of modern European cuisine with a relaxed, lounge-y atmosphere. In addition to introducing a blend of Anglo-Dutch/moder n European cuisine to the island, Café Amsterdam, located in Block 338 opposite the Gulf Hotel, is unique to Bahrain as a destination restaurant , mixing bistro, café and lounge. Open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, Café Amsterdam is split into four distinct sections, where you can spend hours socialising, watching sports or simply hanging out. The restaurant s brightly coloured main dining area is styled with iconic Amsterdam imagery, including brick decorated walls lined with tulips and bicycles. Here you can enjoy both modern European innovations, such as contemporary main course salads, and more traditional comfort foods , such as Fish & Chips, Patatje Special (hand-cut Dutch fries) or a Classic Dutch Burger. The experienced chefs, using the highest quality ingredients, prepare every item in-house, right down to the freshly baked burger buns. This attention to detail turns these everyday favourites into something extraordinary. You can also eat at the adjacent conservatory or, soon, in the outdoor garden, where tea and snacks will be served. The lounge is another great place to meet up with friends over drinks, while the upstairs sports lounge screens major sports events all day.

Though new in the Middle East, Dutch cuisine has a rich and storied past, dating back to the 17th century when the Dutch East India Company ruled Europe s spice trade. New flavours introduced during this period greatly influenced European cuisine, not least by introducing many Asian ingredients. Café Amsterdam s menu reflects the continuing evolution of modern European food, including more recent fusions of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. Café Amsterdam caters to a cosmopolitan clientele. It s a place where friends can gather, where couples and families can enjoy a welcoming atmosphere, where fans can watch their favourite sports, where afternoon tea can be enjoyed, and where people can simply relax and chat, said Restaurant Manager, Trudy Karrendbeld, a Dutch national with 12 years of international hospitality experience, specialising in European cuisine. Previously working in China and India, Ms. Karrenbeld jumped at the chance to work at a venue were she could make use of her Dutch roots. I am so proud to have been involved in the creation of our menu, which saw a lot of hard work from our experienced chefs and many food tastings. It s so exciting to indulge in our diverse menu at Café Amsterdam! I personally have a sweet tooth, so I would have something like our White Chocolate Soup from the dessert menu. I would have balanced that out before by having something lighter first, such as one of our main course salads, such as our Trio of Salmon salad, made from smoked and poached salmon and salmon mousse, or our Warm Spinach and Gouda Cheese salad. she added.

ACK Solutions opens Dubai office ACK Solutions opened a new branch office in Dubai over the summer. The office was opened to better serve UAE clients and clients that have operations in both Bahrain and the UAE. Managing Director of ACK Solutions, Ahmed Al Akber said, After helping UAE companies to grow their businesses for some time, we are excited to now have a greater physical presence in the UAE. Companies with operations in both Bahrain and the UAE will be happy to know we now have offices in both markets. Bahrain will continue to be our home market, and we are eager to be applying strategies in the UAE that we have developed with our Bahrain-based clients .

Above: Ahmed Al Akber presents at a marketing and sales workshop at the Dubai Internet City Excellence Series in August.

ACK Solutions is a consulting firm that helps companies to dramatically improve their marketing and sales results by

offering more effective ways of attracting customers and significantly better products and services.

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Garden | Restaurant | Sports Lounge Welcome to CafĂŠ Amsterdam, a destination unto itself. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new journey waiting to be experienced.

Opp Gulf Hotel, Adliya | Tel: 17007404, 32000177

Bahrain News

Mike Orlov Joins SteppingStone Global

On April 23, Alosra officially took over the old Waitrose site and opened the doors to its sixth branch, in Nakheel Centre, Saar, opposite St. Christopher s Infant and Junior School.

SteppingStone Global (SSG) has appointed Mike Orlov as a Partner.

Alosra opens in Nakheel Centre

The opening reinforced Alosra s determination to expand and become more recognised as the preferred grocery-shopping destination in the country and beyond. The new store is looking sleeker and slicker than ever, with shelves fully stacked with customers favourite premium products. Customers have been awaiting the store opening and could not have been more thrilled with the results. Members of staff have received numerous comments regarding how great the store looks. Many were particularly surprised by

how spacious the store layout is now, compared to the previous Waitrose space. This is just another example of Alosra keeping good on its promise to deliver excellence. Alosra opened its Juffair branch earlier this year in February, and the recent openings will definitely bring more success to this fresh and friendly supermarket.

Zayani Group of companies invests in people

Jean Nicolai, Founder and President of SSG, said; We are delighted to have Mike join the company given his experience and skills and the alignment of Mike s values with those of SSG . He added, With over 70 written recommendations and many hundreds of endorsements on his LinkedIn site, Mike not only has an enviable career, but has been recognised as an exceptional operator by the people who have worked with him. Mike Orlov said, With SSG committed to consulting, coaching and training where the individual is at the core of the work, it operates on a valuesystem which ensures success for any company using its services; I am looking forward to being part of the company s continued success. He added, SSG is more than a classic consulting firm, more than a coaching service and so much more than a training company .

Bahrain to host 2nd Gulf Conference

Some of the participants from Zayani Investments WLL and Zayani group companies on one of the SteppingStone Global skills-improvement days In September, Zayani Investment WLL management invested in coaching and training for participants from many of the different companies in the group, conducted on behalf of the Zayani group by SteppingStone Global. Jean Nicolai, SteppingStone Global (SSG) Founder and President, said, The people from the Zayani group of companies were heavily involved in skills improvement. Through intensive workshops held over a number of days in September, we have noted significant 54 Forum

steps taken by the participants and seen a commitment to making positive changes in their work practices . Sonali Bharat, Group Training & Career Development Officer at Zayani Investments WLL, added: We are delighted with the quality of SteppingStone Global s efforts. The team really appreciated the expertise and engagement over the days of skills-improvement coaching. We look forward to more future activity with SteppingStone Global.

Chair of the Businesswomen s Committee at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Afnan Rashid AlZayani, has highlighted the importance of the 2nd Gulf Businesswomen Forum to be held under the patronage of the Wife of HM the King, President of Supreme Council for Women (SCW), HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. The Forum will be organised by the Federation of Gulf Cooperation Council Chambers (FGCCC) in cooperation with BCCI on 15-16 October 2014 under the slogan Bridges of Cooperation. The event aims to attract entrepreneurs and representatives of small and medium enterprises. An associate exhibition on Gulf products will be held on the sidelines of the Forum.

New move consultant joins GAC Bahrain-UK joint venture to run International Moving in Bahrain new bus service A joint venture between National Express (UK) and Ahmed Mansour Al Aali (AMA) will be the new public bus operator. This follows the signing of a concession agreement between the operator and the Transportation Ministry.

GAC International Moving has appointed Angela Hinder to further strengthen its team serving the business and expatriate community in Bahrain. She brings to her new role as Move Consultant more than a decade s experience in international removals in the UK, Eastern Europe, the UAE and Bahrain as well as her personal experience of relocating 15 times, giving her valuable insight into what customers need. Angela specialises in working within Business-to-Business sector and with the general public - to plan, coordinate and execute household, office and warehouse moves smoothly and efficiently. Her responsibilities for GAC International Moving include overseeing arrangements for packing, clearance, transportation by road, sea and air, as well as driving the company s sales. She says: GAC is well known for its shipping and air freight services and has been steadily winning a bigger market share in the relocation industry in Bahrain due to dedicate and experienced staff. We hope to also gain ground in the household goods sector. GAC Bahrain recently gained FAIMplus certification for its international moving operations, after completing what is considered the most strenuous quality assessment in the industry. FAIM is an industry-leading standard for the logistics business, developed by FIDI Global Alliance. By assessing the international moving activities of logistics companies, the FIDI-FAIM accreditation provides a globally recognised common standard for service delivery. The 3.0 version of FAIMplus is the strictest yet - treating quality as a living platform that requires constant self-assessment. Verifiers Ernst & Young awarded the certification after a series of evaluations that were part of a three-year audit cycle that covered the fulfilment of prerequisites, a pre-audit assessment and an onsite audit. Mikael Leijonberg, GAC Bahrain s Managing Director, says: FAIMplus accreditation underlines our commitment to quality and efficiency across all our areas of service.

Transportation Minister and Economic Development Board acting chief executive Kamal Ahmed, British Ambassador Iain Lindsay and senior officials from the Ministry, National Express and AMA attended the signing ceremony. Mr Ahmed said National Express was awarded the tender as a result of its prominent position as a bus operator in the UK, with worldwide experience in bus operations. As the regulatory body responsible for developing and regulating the land transport industry in Bahrain, the ministry seeks to have in place a comprehensive bus network system that will provide residents and citizens alike with the level of service and coverage they require. By putting in place a network that expands to cover as many areas as possible in the Kingdom, we hope to enable a better quality of transport. he said. Under-Secretary for Land Transportation and Post Mariam Ahmed Juman said the role of National Express and AMA will be to provide the buses and related equipment, and operate the entire network, including upgrading related facilities. In addition she said that the

bus fleet in operation will increase from the existing 35 buses to 140 once the full network is operational. Network coverage will increase to around 77%. It is expected that the new bus operations will start in February next year for a period of 10 years from the commencement date. The ministry will be the owner of the buses, while National Express will operate them. As part of the agreement, buses will be operated in accordance with pre-agreed specifications, including facilities for special needs passengers, surveillance cameras and technology services for added convenience to passengers. A plan for a ticketing system is also in place, with paper tickets to be used at the start and then an automated system will be gradually introduced. The buses will come in different sizes to fit different routes and requirements, including small buses manufactured by UK company Optare. The buses will be assigned to 26 different main routes covering all the major areas in Bahrain. Once implemented, it is expected that the new network will increase passenger numbers to around 40,500 on a daily basis. National Express operates Britain s largest scheduled coach service, the largest urban bus network outside of London and the UK s best performing rail franchise. Forum 55

Members News

FedEx Express Wins Best Helpdesk at Middle East Call Centre Awards 2014 FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world s largest express transportation company, won the Best Helpdesk (medium-sized) category at the INSIGHTS Middle East Call Centre Awards 2014. At FedEx, we place our customers at the core of all we do and our team members are vital to that process, said Nathalie Amiel-Ferrault, vice president, EMEA Customer Service and MEIA Marketing & Communications. We foster an environment of continuous improvement and innovation through all of our customer touch points. Being recognised by the INSIGHTS Middle East Call Centre Awards is a testament to the dedication and passion our people have towards making every customer experience outstanding.

months. To ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, FedEx delivers the best possible service across all customer interactions including package pickup and delivery, sales, customs clearance operations, the call center and its specialized helpdesks. Across the UAE and Bahrain, FedEx operates a specialized Aircraft on Ground (AOG) helpdesk targeted towards aviation customers.

During the 2014 awards ceremony, FedEx was honored for its consistent industry-leading customer service over the past 12

The AOG helpdesk maintains an exclusive customer service team that provides support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for

urgent and critical shipments carrying components to manufacture or repair an aircraft back into service. The team follows up on customer requests to coordinate and expedite time sensitive delivery processes globally. The AOG helpdesk also allocates agents to monitor the dedicated email account throughout weekends and public holidays to ensure a customer response time of less than two hours. This dedicated service enhances the value of the customized FedEx Aerospace Solutions , and complements the company s wide portfolio of industry-specific shipping

New courses available at Studio RCT

new training methods combining different fitness regimes.

quite warm and many of us will put off that first exercise session as a result.

We want to ensure that clients are not faced with the same boring routines, in which their interests eventually wane. Everyone is back from holiday and the social season has started again. Getting together over dinners, lunches and parties recounting the summer holidays, combined with a number of public holidays coming our way and settling the kids into school or after school activities all of this does very little for our waistline! It s also still

We all know however that it s far more difficult to take weight off than it is to put it on. We need to motivate ourselves to take some action.

Our STUDIO remained open in the summer and during Ramadan thanks to our new trainees Areije and Noora who kept it going whilst Roberta trained further in Milan to introduce 56 Forum

TOTALBARRE, CORE and ZENGA are the new brand names and these classes are available from September. Our educational teacher training programs will continue in the fall to produce new trainers on the island specialising in various movement disciplines.

innovations. Organised by INSIGHTS, the Middle East Call Centre Awards is now in its ninth year and has become a benchmark in the region for customer service success. The comprehensive award submission considers customer data analysis, process reassessment and employee teamwork across 10 categories. In 2013, FedEx was awarded the best call center and best career and skills path , as a result of the world-class business standards implemented by the company across all of its services.

The 2015 BBBF Directory is being prepared now. To ensure your contact details are correctly included in the next edition please visit the BBBF website and check the information is up-to-date

Trowers & Hamlins expands its International real estate team The BBBF, in conjunction with the BBA, presents its Sarah

Trowers & Hamlins is pleased to announce the promotion of real estate specialists Peter Greatrex and Sallie Bowtell to partner and the recruitment of Sarah BennettHughes and Joe Neilson into its International Real Estate team. Peter and Sarah will be based in Bahrain, while Sallie and Joe will be based in Dubai. Trowers & Hamlins now has seven real estate specialists living and working full-time in the region. With a strong portfolio of real estate work across the Middle East, this expansion bolsters the firm s offering to clients and further highlights its commitment to the sector having advised on some of the largest and most complex developments across the region. Peter has played a key role in the continuing expansion of our real estate business across the region since moving to Bahrain in January 2008, particularly on the development side and in the context of affordable housing. He is also integral to our public sector practice, advising on pathfinder PPP projects for both public and private sector clients. Sallie s promotion follows her successful move to Dubai in April 2013 to head up and develop our real estate offering in the United Arab Emirates. Before her move, Sallie worked for six years in our Bahrain office. Since her

Peter

arrival in Dubai the firm has secured notable instructions from businesses investing into and out of the UAE, including from the master developer of Saadiyat Island and investors in Business Bay. Sarah has joined our Bahrain office from a leading law firm in the UK. Before qualifying as a lawyer, Sarah worked as a geoenvironmental engineer for RSK Group and brings with her a wealth of practical environmental and engineering experience. Sarah has previously lived in Saudi Arabia. Joe Neilsen has joined our Dubai office from Edinburgh in Scotland, having previously worked for a spell in Dubai. Abdul-Haq Mohammed, Head of the International Real Estate Team, says Peter and Sallie s deserved promotions demonstrate this firm s leading position in the regional real estate sector. Over the last six or seven years both of them have shown their commitment to the region and our clients, constantly delivering exceptional legal skill and outstanding client care. The recruitment of two talented lawyers in Sarah and Joe further highlights our commitment to real estate in the Middle East and reflects an increasing demand for specialist advice on ever more complex projects and transactions.

Poppy Ball First World War Centenary

All proceeds donated to charity Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bahrain Friday 7 November 2014 Members and non-members BD30pp Join us and VIP guests-of-honour, the Chelsea Pensioners, to commemorate this important moment in history. Timings 7-8pm – Welcome Reception & War Remembrance Songs 8pm – Seated for Dinner (buffet) Entertainment 9.30pm till Late – Dance the Night Away Dress Code Ladies – Evening/Cocktail Dresses. Gents – Black Tie or National Dress Main Sponsors: British Airways, EuroMotors, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Gulf Brands International. Charities: The Chelsea Pensioners & Poppy Scotland Appeal The Mother and Child Welfare – Bahrain Tickets can be purchased from British Club Reception (1772-8245) Sun Sat 9am 9pm (cash or cheque made payable to Bahrain British Business Forum) The Bookcase in Budaiya (1769-0566) Sun Thurs 9am 8pm & Friday 10am 2pm (cash) For more details or to reserve a table contact the BBBF office Email: bbbfevents@batelco.com.bh or Telephone: 1781-3488 Forum 57

Members News

Bahrain s Creativity In The Spotlight as Unisono Wins Five International Branding Accolades At The 2014 Transform MENA Awards Following up on five REBRAND 100 Global Awards and the Transform Global Award, Unisono has once more proven its excellence in branding by winning a further five top accolades at the prestigious 2014 Transform MENA Awards. Unisono s strategic and creative brand development work won a Gold, two Silvers and a Bronze trophy, making the consultancy one of the most highly awarded at the show and in the region. Gold was received for Best use of a visual property for the rebrand of Seef Mall (Bahrain), with Silver and Bronze accolades awarded for Best visual

identity for Amlak (Bahrain) and Dilmunia (Bahrain) in the property sector, while Arab Link (UAE) won Silver in the financial sector. In addition, the rebranding of Qatar s Al Wa ab City development was highly commended.

Liam Farrell, Unisono s founding partner and Director of Branding, says: These five international branding awards not only celebrate the successful partnership we have with our clients, they also put Bahrain s creative

BIZNET presentation about Revenue Assurance The milestones to secure margins by Ms. Delphine Boireau, a Senior Finance partner from Orange Group was a presentation held at The Capital Club in September.

Delphin, a seasoned professional heavily involved in telecoms, shared her experiences and provided case studies around her 15 years in the highly competitive telecoms sector and 58 Forum

addressed fraud prevention strategies whilst transferring her experiences in Europe to those of the local markets. Over 25 p ro f e s s i o n a l s attended this event to launch the Autumn BIZNET season. This networking event was open to BIZNET members, partners and

Capital Club Members. Delphine commented that The Revenue Assurance activity is part of your control environment ensuring that all revenues expected from products & services sold to customers or third parties are correctively invoiced, properly accounted, and really recovered. This activity

industry firmly in the spotlight. Without our excellent team of creative professionals and their unique desire to deliver only the very best creative work, such outstanding global recognition would not be possible.

mainly implemented by Telecommunication companies the last 10 years enabled a recovering of growth estimated between 1% to 10% of the revenue. All industries can benefit from it. It is a permanent end to end control of operations which underlines losses through the processes and manage projects to fix issues and mitigate risks. Act promptly and without delay your profitability will be addressed.

Chemring Technology Solutions Chief Technology Officer Appointed Visiting Professor at University of Southampton Pete Lockhart, Chief Technology Officer of Chemring Technology Solutions, has been appointed Visiting Professor in Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at the University of Southampton. Pete is a distinguished engineer and technology leader, with over 30 years experience in leadingedge contract R&D. He has delivered innovative solutions for a diverse range of customers, from television production companies to government security agencies. His career has covered sensor, communication and internet research, and spanned both the civil and defence markets,

developing bespoke sensors to full turnkey systems for broadcast, transportation, defence and national security applications. He has filed numerous patent applications. As Chief Technology Officer of Chemring Technology Solutions, Pete is currently responsible for driving the company s innovation programme, with a focus on developing its cyber security and information-processing technology by combining sensing expertise with machine learning to create novel sense-making and decision-support systems. Chemring Technology Solutions currently employs over 360 engineers and

works across the whole of the systems engineering lifecycle. Pete has had close links with ECS over the last 10 years, working with staff and students, and serving as a member of the ECS Industrial Advisory Board. ECS places a high value on its links with industry and opportunities for joint research, said Professor Neil White, Head of Electronics and Computer Science, and we are therefore delighted to be able to appoint Pete Lockhart as a Visiting Professor. Pete is a highly respected figure in UK industry and

our staff and students will benefit from his passion for technology, his knowledge and experience of systems engineering, and his enthusiasm for emerging technologies.

The Bahraini Embassy in London receives CPISP scholars and officials The Bahraini Embassy in London hosted a reception for officials from the Crown Prince s International Scholarship Programme (CPISP) during their trip to the UK to strengthen ties of cooperation with educational and cultural institutions, which included boarding schools and universities, and to meet with the CPISP scholars in the UK. The Bahraini Ambassador to London HE Ms. Alice Samaan received CPISP Director Dr. Cynthia Gessling and a number of CPISP scholars studying or working in the UK, praising the efforts of HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to develop Bahraini youth and set up educational and training programs to enhance their talents and capabilities. She also praised the Programme s objectives to provide the best educational opportunities to outstanding students to study at top international universities. Dr. Gessling and CPISP UK Higher Education Advisor Mrs. Ava Garbutt gave a presentation at the reception on the Programme s latest developments, and some of the Program s scholars spoke about their personal experiences and achievements as result of receiving the Crown Prince s scholarship.

The reception was also attended by senior members of the Bahrain Society, a friendship society formed in the 60 s and formally established in 1972, which aims to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation between the people of Bahrain and the UK. The CPISP Director thanked the Bahraini Ambassador for her warm reception and continued cooperation with the Program. Present at the reception was the Bahraini Cultural Counsellor Mr. Subah Alzayani and Chairman of the Bahrain Society, Brigadier Peter Sincock. Forum 59

Print is dead I’m beginning to lose count of the number of times I hear these three words, usually from someone trying to sell me some kind of online service which I don’t need or want. Sadly others are being dragged along in the mistaken belief that the only way forward with communication is for everything to be digital. BUT... just where is this insistance on everything digital taking us? Have you ever clicked on a “Sign In with Facebook” button to access a website or app? What about a Google+ or Yahoo button? Did you know that behind those buttons, web giants are waging a battle over your online identity. BEWARE - Silicon Valley companies want to be a gateway between users and businesses. They’re hoping consumers will adopt these “social login” services rather than try to remember passwords for multiple websites. The benefits for businesses are appealing. Internet companies promise the social-login buttons will allow businesses to obtain more data on their customers’ habits so they can deliver more personalised services. BUT... should you be concerned with the amount of information being collected about you? The number of Identity fraud cases is again on the rise with the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service claiming that personal data theft is behind 65% 60 Forum

of all fraud cases. Some surveys indicate that as many as six million Britons have been victims, although the government estimates that the crime affects closer to 120,000 people each year. Either way it’s one of the fastestgrowing crimes of the 21st century. The question is: Do you really want information about you to be tracked, recorded and sold in this manner? Do you even know if the data that is ‘out there’ already is being used by someone else? Having posed the question, I offer no solution other than to suggest you take a little more care with your online profile than perhaps you do at the moment. BUT... This article was not supposed to be about Internet Security. I actually want you to consider the title phrase from another angle. This week I read about the car that had been printed in 44 hours – YES that’s right, I said a Car! At a show in Chicago a company called Local

Motors printed a plastic car, called the Strati, in front of thousands of attendees. Local Motors took the chassis, seats, door panels, and thousands of other components, and 3D printed all those parts into just one piece. The first phase of the process took just 44 hours. Whilst you may not be able to pop around to your local dealer just yet it shows that there’s a new importance to to print that needs to be recognised. Last month surgeons at a New York hospital printed a 3D copy of a childs heart. Surgery was going to be complicated and dangerous in view of the unusual nature of the patient’s illness but the 3D model enabled doctors to study the organ and develop a detailed surgery strategy before they began operating.

And Finally stations designed to help create replica hips for surgeons to practice hip replacement surgeries.

In September, Richard Arm at Nottingham Trent University created a prosthetic human heart which is “as close as you can get” to the real thing using a new 3D printing technique. “The model, made of silicone, will be of real benefit to trainee surgeons” said a University spokesperson.

While the US is certainly pioneering this high-tech biomedical research, the NHS is also exploring the use of 3D printing in modern medicine. 3D printing company Replica 3DM has provided 12 NHS Trust hospitals with manufacturing And lest you think that this is light-years away from the High Street, 5 year old Hayley in Scotland is this week thought to be the first child in the UK to have a prostheic hand actually printed for her. So is print dead? No I don’t think so... Print is very much alive!