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c ove r story
39 healthcare on a high Qatar has the highest per capita healthcare spending in the region, making it one of the fastest-growing health services market in the GCC, according to WHO figures. But where is the money being spent? Are the healthcare services here analogous with those in the rest of the world? Are the resources adequate to cope with the population boom predicted to hit the country in the next few years? Qatar Today finds out.
36 Hearing it for entrepreneurs
Women run 46% of the world’s private businesses, but their enterprises don’t always scale up to make the big time. They need mentors, capital and networks, Maria Pinelli, Ernst &Young’s Global Vice-Chair for Strategic Growth Markets tells Sindhu Nair.
36
32
32 Gulf water security challenges
The UN forecasts that by 2025, 30 countries will be facing water scarcity, up from 20 in 1990. Eighteen of them are in the Middle East and North Africa. Ezdhar Ibrahim spoke to some experts from the region about this pressing issue.
64 Don’t Let the Sun Go Down
Qatar Solar Technologies is attempting to become one of Qatar’s leading exporters through the production of polysilicon. Rory Coen caught up with its Chairman and CEO Dr Khalid Al-Hajri to find out more.
published by oryx advertising co wll, All rights reserved. qatar today is published monthly by oac, po box no. 3272, doha, qatar. subscription rate qr 180 per year. address all subscription correspondence to qatar today, oryx advertising co wll, po box 3272, al hilal area, doha, state of qatar. for single copies call us on + 974 44672139 or mail to qtoday@omsqatar.com. material in this publication must not be stored or reproduced in any form without permission. request for permission should be directed to qtoday@omsqatar.com. reprint requests should be directed to the info@msqatar.com. qatar today is a registered trademark of oryx advertising co wll
juLY 2012 volume 38 issue 7 www.omsqatar.com
contents
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56 The Oscars of Enterprise
The World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards highlight the best of entrepreneurial activities from around the world. This year they had a new entrant from Qatar, demonstrating the country’s determination to broaden and nurture SME creation. Qatar Today rubbed shoulders with some of the best in business at the awards gala in Monte Carlo, and tried to distil their enigmatic acumen.
99 Purple Pride Creating Equal Opportunities
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94
Wouldn’t it be great if all kids were given an equal opportunity to reach their potential? President of Northwestern University, Morton Schapiro told Rory Coen that all kids should be assessed against the context of their background.
94 The Black Pearl of Doha
W-Hotel Doha picked up a number of impressive accolades recently, including the WTA Best Business Hotel in the Region. General Manager, Safak Guvenc explains the secrets to their success.
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72 IBM makes its move into Qatar
IBM recently opened a new branch office in Doha and it has set forth some vigorous plans to really grow here. Rory Coen caught up with IBM General Manager for Middle East and Pakistan, Arm Refaat to discuss these plans.
62 Reaching out to the crowd
“Crowdfunding” allows an entrepreneur to reach out to a ‘crowd’ of people for a financial pledge in return for a small stake or some incentive. This is unlike an Angel Investment concept where a single person may have a large stake in a startup. How is “crowdfunding” empowering entrepreneurship in 2012?
regulars News Bites.................................................13 O & G O v e r v i e w. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 Bank Notes................................................18 realty check.............................................22 W o r l d V i e w. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 AUTO N e w s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 Market Watch.............................................86 D o h a D i a r y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1
Volume 38
issue 7
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Chief Executive Executive Vice President Vice President
j u LY 2 0 1 2
Yousuf Jassem Al Darwish Sandeep Sehgal Alpana Roy Ravi Raman
Editor Sindhu Nair Editorial Coordinator cassey oliveira CORRESPONDENTS RORY COEN EZDHAR IBRAHIM FASHION &LIFESTYLE CORRESPONDENT ORNA Ballout Art Director Venkat Reddy Assistant Art Director Hanan Abu Saiam Senior Graphic Designer Ayush Indrajith Graphic Designer maheshwar reddy Photographer R obert F Altamirano
Manager –Marketing Zulfikar Jiffry ASSISTANT MANAGERS-MARKETING Chaturka Karandana THOMAS JOSE Media Consultant HASSAN REKKAB MARKETING RESEARCH AND SUPPORT EXECUTIVE EMILY LANDRY Accountant Pratap Chandran Sr. Distribution Executive Bikram Shrestha Distribution Support Arjun Timilsina Bhimal Rai
Published by Oryx Advertising Co WLL, P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584 Fax: (+974) 44550982 Email: qtoday@omsqatar.com website: www.omsqatar.com Printed at: Gulf Publishing and Printing Co WLL Copyright © 2012 Oryx Advertising Co WLL
Qatar Today invites readers’ feedback Share your views on the magazine or any issue connected to Qatar. One lucky reader will win an exquisite Mont Blanc writing instrument.
published by oryx advertising co wll, All rights reserved. qatar today is published monthly by oac, po box no. 3272, doha, qatar. subscription rate for qr. 180 per year. address for all subscription correspondence to qatar today, oryx advertising co wll, po box 3272, al hilal area, doha, state of qatar. for single copies call us on + 974 44672139 or mail to qtoday@omsqatar.com. material in this publication must not be stored or reproduced in any form without permission. request for permission should be directed to qtoday@omsqatar.com. reprint requests should be directed to the info@Omsqatar.com. qatar today is registered trademark of oryx advertising co wll reprint requests should be directed to the info@Omsqatar.com. qatar today is registered trademark of oryx advertising co wll reprint requests should be directed to the info@Omsqatar.com.
Write to: The Editor, Qatar Today, PO Box 3272, Doha. Fax: (+974) 44550982, email: qtoday@omsqatar.com Qatar Today reserves the right to edit and publish the correspondence. Views and opinions expressed in the published letters may not necessarily be the publication’s views and opinions.
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from the desk
A
year and a half after the initial euphoria of the Arab Spring, a beacon of hope has been lit in Egypt. For the first time in the history of Egypt a reasonably free presidential election has been held, producing a head of state legitimised by the people’s will. It is also the first time in the Arab world that an Islamist president has come to power by democratic means. Though it is not yet sure how much power President Mohammed Mursi will be vested with, there is certainly reason to pin hopes on a democratically-run Egypt.
This is the first light visible in a region steeped in uncertainty, with Syria in peril and close to a full-fledged civil war; Yemen haunted by the spectre of Al Qaeda; Sudan still reluctant to rise from its internal wars; and now Saudi Arabia plagued by a lingering succession crisis. As neighbouring Islamic countries struggled with political uncertainties, June brought its own perils for Qatar. The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report condemning abuses against the large migrant labourer community in Qatar, and called for an overhaul of labour practices ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Previous World Cups have provided an opportunity to advance workers’ rights in host countries: workers in South Africa, host of the 2010 World Cup, and Brazil, host of the 2014 World Cup, secured wage rises and improved health and safety conditions. Qatar Today hopes that pressure on the country to follow suit will intensify and bring results soon. Like the steps the Ministry of the Interior has taken since the Villaggio fire to make safety precautions within all buildings in the country mandatory. But while the process has been initiated, with malls closing to secure compliance with the requirements and communities demanding safety procedures to be made a way of life, the country still has a long way to go. The health sector, though, has already begun the process of scaling up. With the Public Health Care Corporation (PHCC) established to ease the load on health care centres in the face of a rising population, the sector is set to see marked improvements in the levels of quality care. The health insurance scheme for the whole population is another step towards making health care accessible to all, as we explore in detail in our cover story inside. Water is a scarce resource in the region. We discuss this scary resource deficit with experts from the GCC. We all love entrepreneurs, and Qatar Today had the privilege of being the only media organisation from the country to follow Qatar’s representative (winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Qatar), Ashraf Abu Issa, to the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards this year in Monte Carlo. Don’t miss the detailed interviews with entrepreneurs from across the globe! So while the majority of the population head to cooler climates, the July issue of Qatar Today will keep those who stay back in the country busy, and entertained. Happy Holidays.
Sindhu Nair
letters feedback qtoday@omsqatar.com
Career change a life turning point It can be a frightening experience to change jobs in mid-career, especially if you are giving up a secure and well-paid job for a less secure one where a regular salary might not be forth-coming. However, it can be a real positive turning point in your life, as making this switch will be to something you are determined and passionate about, else you wouldn’t be doing it. Having recently made an unexpected career change myself, I can certainly relate to the article in Qatar Today June and would have no hesitation in advising a friend or colleague to do the same, should circumstances allow it. Josephine Cleary
Top Stories
Another comprehensive look at the Qatari economy through the eyes of the leading companies on the Qatar Exchange last month. I felt some of them spoke freely and openly about the challenges they are facing as the country prospers – and the improvements that can be made to make business easier. We’d like to read a bit more of this kind of thing. Nick Marrinan
Olympic Pioneers
I’d like to wish all of our athletes the best of luck in the upcoming Olympic Games but especially to our female athletes, Noor Hussain Al-Malki and Nada Arkaji. It’s a thrill to see our nation’s ladies competing on the world stage like this after so many years. I really hope this is a fresh start for women’s sports here and I encourage them to do their best.
qt poll – july
Dana Al-Busaim
Poll result is based on messages received till 20th of every month
Better communication channels
Q
There was an interesting point made in Qatar Today June’s cover-story. The Qatar Exchange is trying to encourage expatriates to invest in Qatari Companies by using their exchange, but the dissemination of key information about the relevant companies to the public is not something we are used to here in Qatar. It’s very difficult to make an investment in a company when you do not feel you are being told everything in a timely manner. How can we sell and buy shares at key times with lazy information? Mike Carroll
Time to wake up
All of us in Doha have been shaken and shocked by the happenings in our ‘sleepy’ little country. So shaken that we have finally got out of our self imposed stupor and started looking around at some ground realities. And what we have seen isn’t that reassuring, the small successive fire incidents have helped in further instigating the fact that safety as a principle is taken quite lightly in this country. It is time we wake up from our reverie. Doha is no longer the safe haven... Reheam Anwar
do you think the healthcare services are upto the mark?
SMS answers to +974 33072524 A lucky winner will win a NOKIa C5-03
will you invest in some company on the qatar exchange in 2012?
26% 74% Yes
no
The winning number of the last QT poll is 3671649
14 Qatar Today
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Qatar Today invites readers’ feedback Share your views on the magazine or any issue connected to Qatar. One lucky reader will win an exquisite MontBlanc writing instrument.
Check out all articles of Qatar Today on www.issuu.com/oryxmags/qatartoday
Write to: The Editor, Qatar Today, PO Box 3272, Doha. Fax: (+974) 44550982, email: qtoday@omsqatar.com
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Qatar Today reserves the right to edit and publish the correspondence. Views and opinions expressed in the published letters may not necessarily be the publication’s views and opinions.
GCC WATER WOES 32
NEWS BITES
Qatar to host COP 18/CMP 8 at the QNCC
h
amad bin Khalifa Al-Naser, Chairman and CEO of Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI), has signed an agreement with HE Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki, General Coordinator of COP 18/CMP 8, to assist with key event management services for the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 18/CMP 8 (the 18th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC, plus the 8th session of the Conference of the
highlight QSTP to host the IASP in 2014 Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) won the bid to host the 31st International Association of Science Parks (IASP) World Conference in 2014. This announcement was made officially after the General Assembly vote on 19 June 2012 during the IASP 29th World Conference held in Tallinn, Estonia. QSTP won overwhelming majority of the votes, as 70% of the IASP member votes were in support of its candidature.
Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol). The signing was witnessed by HE Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, incoming COP 18/ CMP 8 President and Chairman of Qatar Administrative Control and Transparency Authority; Engineer Saad bin Ibrahim Al Muhannadi, Vice President of Capital Projects and Facilities Management for Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF); and Christiana Figueres, the Executive
Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The conference, beginning on 26 November will attract over 15,000 delegates from 195 nations. Participants will discuss alterations to present global climate change treaties and agreements during 12 days of intense negotiations. It will be the largest such gathering ever witnessed in Qatar, and QMDI’s role in its organisation is a reflection of its world-class capabilities.
Being Disabled means ‘Definitely Able’
S
tar players of the South African Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball team (WBSA) visited three Doha schools to kick start the ‘Definitely Able’ campaign launched last month. A collaboration between Sasol, the Qatar Olympic Committee and Qatar Paralympic Committee, the campaign aims to create awareness and visibility of
Qatar Paralympics programmes and Sasol’s commitment to encourage participation of the disabled in sport. Accompanied by the general supervisor of Al Noor institute Dr Saif Al Hajri, the day began with a visit to Al Noor Institute for the Blind where Dr Hayat Khalil Nazer, Managing Director welcomes the WBSA players and officials and emphasised the importance of the participation of disabled people in sports for a positive impact.
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news bites
Qatar remains frontier market UDC partners with Gallup to understand resident’s needs
u
nited Development Company (UDC), master developer of The Pearl-Qatar (TPQ) has again partnered with Gallup to conduct a second survey for residents and employees aimed at enabling the company to continue its five star services to tenants and visitors. The second survey comes after the implementation of the results of the inaugural survey carried out by Gallup in late 2011. “The first survey for residents at The Pearl-Qatar saw several immediate changes, including enhancing communications channels, refocusing maintenance services to ensure a timely and efficient “right first time” response and improving the call centre facilities,” said Ebrahim Al-Sulaiti, CEO, UDC.
Vodafone shows positive results Customer Growth:
11% over last year to 837,233 customers (Till March 31) Average revenue per user (ARPU) was flat at
QR 112 for the year
Mobile customer market share increased to
28.5%
31% increase in revenue year on year to QR 1.2 billion. 15 ppts on last QR 144 million
EBITDA margin improved year ending at
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e
quity index provider MSCI maintained Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as frontier markets, again delaying much-anticipated upgrades. In its announcement of its annual reclassification review, MSCI said further consideration of whether Qatar and the UAE ought to be shifted to emerging market status from their current frontier market status would again be extended another year. It noted, as it has previously, that it needed more time to assess recent changes to the two markets. For Qatar, MSCI said the “very low foreign ownership limit levels imposed on Qatari companies is expected to be the only remaining impediment to the reclassification of the MSCI Qatar Index to emerging markets”.
While the UAE met all the requirements for promotion, MSCI said there were specific market “accessibility issues” related to custody, clearing and settlement due to a delay in changing the current requirement that international investors still needed to operate with a dual account structure. MSCI had previously denied both Qatar and the UAE promotions in 2009, 2010 and 2011. South Korea and Taiwan will retain their developing market status because they still lack accessibility, MSCI said. The two countries also remain under review for possible reclassification to developed status a year from now. The indexing firm, which would allow for 12 month to implement any changes, will hold its next country classification review in June 2013.
HRW: Give deadline to remove sponsorship rules
a
leading global human rights watchdog has urged Qatar to specify a timeframe by which it hopes to remove the sponsorship and exit permit rules for expatriate workers. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it met with senior government officials and urged them to specify a deadline to do away with the sponsorship system. “The Qatari government is very open. They have expressed their wishes to work with Human Right Watch but they have not made any commitments and said they need more time,” said Sarah Whitson, HRW Middle East Director. HRW released a 146-page report on Qatar titled ‘Building a Better World Cup: Protecting Migrant Workers in Qatar Ahead of FIFA 2022’. Present with Whitson were Priyanka Motaparthy, a representative of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) division of HRW, and Nicholas McGeehan, director of Mafiwasta, an organization for workers’ rights in the UAE. Answering questions, Whitson said
Qatar and FIFA have no option other than improving labour rights situation in Qatar to global standards. The report is based on interviews with several migrant construction workers, as well as meetings and correspondence with government officials, employers, contracting companies, manpower agencies, diplomats from labour-exporting countries and worker rights’ activists, HRW said. According to the report, the problems migrant workers face include ‘exorbitant recruitment fees, which can take years to pay off, employers’ routine confiscation of worker passports and the restrictive sponsorship system that gives employers undue control over their workers’. “Workers reported a range of problems, including unpaid wages, illegal salary deductions, crowded and unsanitary labor camps, and unsafe working conditions,” the report said. The report said that Qatar has one of the most restrictive sponsorship laws in the region, as workers cannot change jobs without their employer’s permission, regardless of whether they have worked two years or twenty.
news bites
MoI: Safety Audit for all buildings
p
lans are afoot to run checks on all buildings in the country, whether public or private, residential or commercial, to see their compliance with safety requirements as part of a nation-wide drive to ensure safety of life and property. To help achieve the above end, Qatar is amending the legislation that regulates the safety of buildings (Law Number 13 of 1997) and breach of its violations is being made a criminal offense. In the existing law, violations of its provisions are not cognisable offenses. They have been made cognisable offenses because they pose threats to people’s lives as well as to property. A draft of the amended legislation has been forwarded to the State Cabinet and its approval is awaited, according to a senior Civil Defense official, Colonel Ibrahim Al-Muftah. Once the amended law is in force, all buildings in the country, whether new or old, residential or commercial, public or
private, will be required to have emergency fire exits, spacious passageways to these exits, emergency staircase and the walls must be fire-proof. Storage areas in buildings must be safe. The fines that have been recommended in the amendments for breach of the provisions of the new law have been specified at between QR5,000 and a staggering QR200,000. Buildings that do not comply with the new rules and do not rectify their situation even after warnings will be referred to court or they could even be seized. Licenses of old buildings will not be renewed unless they amend their engineering designs to comply with safety requirements. Al Muftah said that the Civil Defense teams have been conducting raids on shopping complexes to check their compliance with safety norms. The teams have discovered to their horror that even some prestigious shopping complexes do not show full compliance with safety rules.
“We have found severe violations in these places and there are some violations of safety rules that pose a severe threat to visitors. In such cases we have given only 24 hours’ time to these facilities to rectify their situation,” said Al Muftah. As a result of such audits, City Center, one of the biggest shopping malls in the country, has been closed from June 15 until the magazine went to press to update its safety features, and many other smaller malls were closed to evaluate their requirements. Meanwhile Hyatt Plaza has announced employing a safety firm to conduct a safety audit in its premises and will take actions according to its recommendations. Schools are also employing their own safety drills and announcements while a group of local people have joined together to bring experts to train laymen on fire safety and emergency. Community Initiative for Safety-Qatar (CIS-Q) was founded to rach out to the community and is tasked with creating awareness among the community for a safer living environment.
Qatar Airways: Official sponsor of Qatar Olympic Team
D
uring a signing ceremony between Qatar Olympic Committee, Secretary General, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Qatar Airways, CEO, Akbar Al-Baker, the national airline was named as the official sponsor of the Qatar Olympic team. Twelve Qatari athletes are set to compete in four key disciplines – shooting, swimming, table tennis and athletics – during the London Games held from July 27 to August 12. This marks the biggest ever number of local athletes to participate in the world’s biggest sporting event. “I would like to express my thanks to Qatar Airways, like other leading national companies, in supporting the sports sector in our country in a big way”, said Sheikh Saoud. “This sponsorship will further demonstrate that one of the biggest companies in Qatar is committed to backing our athletes to achieve great success next month.” Meanwhile, Al-Baker said that supporting the Qatar Olympic Team was in line
Qatar Olympic Committee, Secretary General, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani (right) and Qatar Airways, CEO, Akbar Al-Baker (centre) at the signing ceremony
with the airline’s overall strategy to back key sporting events, especially those focusing on local talent. “The nation should take pride backing our sporting stars and cheer
them on. Qatar Airways is delighted to lend our support to Team Qatar promising to give them a flying send off to the world’s largest sporting event.”
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hearing it for the entrepreneurs
36
O & G overview
Qatar focus at the World Gas conference Opec highlights capacity expansions
A
representative delegation from the RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) and Qatargas attended the 25th edition of the World Gas Conference (WGC). The triennial event, also known as the ‘Olympics of the Gas Industry’ brought together over 5,000 industry professionals as well as 10,000 trade visitors in Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia. RasGas Managing Director, Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi delivered the keynote address at the event. Through his presentation titled, “The Next Phase for Global LNG”, the RasGas MD provided insights into LNG supply and demand region by region. The
conference was attended by top executives from key departments of RasGas. Qatargas presented several key papers and participated in key panel discussions and poster sessions. Alaa Abu Jbara, Qatargas Chief Operating Officer, Commercial & Shipping participated in the Strategic Panel discussion titled “The Future of LNG”. The discussions focused mainly on the unprecedented growth of the LNG industry in the last five years and the challenges posed due to the depressed demand in the traditional markets and a surge in supply from unconventional sources. The potential impact of the rising capital cost on new facilities was also discussed.
H
E the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al-Sada has said the energy industry needs to invest in new capacities and field developments keeping in mind the production cost. “Tomorrow’s production levels will be determined by the investment decisions we make today. While considering investment in energy capacities, it has to be borne in mind that, besides oil, the development of natural gas and LNG capacities will become necessary to balance the world energy equation,” said Al-Sada in his keynote address at the 5th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna. Among the topics discussed during this session were the uncertainties in demand and their impacts on upstream investment decisions.
QAFAC goes ahead with new Co2 recovery plant
q
AFAC is setting up a new Carbon Di-Oxide (CO2) Recovery plant which when completed will be the largest of its type in the region. QNB is partnering with QAFAC and this signing ceremony took place on June 11 at the Al Sharq Hotel in Doha.
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QAFAC signed a Corporate Loan Agreement with QNB for $80 million to fund the establishment of the CO2 recovery plant, situated within Mesaieed Industrial City premise. This project will take approximately two years to complete construction and is expected to begin operation in 2014.
HOW DIVERSIFIED ARE YOU?
20
bank notes
UAE has a third of total bank Assets in GCC
T
he UAE remained in control of the largest Arab banking sector at the end of 2011, accounting for nearly a third of the combined bank assets in the Gulf countries, according to a regional bank study. After dominating regional banks, Dubai-based Emirates NBD (ENBD) retreated to the third place in terms of assets, which stood at around $77.5 billion (QR282 billion) at the end of 2011, said the study by Qatar National Bank (QNB). QNB moved to the first rank with assets of about $82.9 billion (QR302 billion), followed by National Commercial Bank (NCB) of Saudi Arabia, with nearly $80.3 billion (QR292 billion). The governmentcontrolled National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) emerged as the fourth largest Gulf bank, with its assets standing at $69.6 billion (QR253 billion). UAE retained its position as having the largest banking sector, controlling nearly 31% of the combined assets of the more than 150 banks in the sixnation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “The UAE banking sector accounts for 31% of the GCC total and assets are over 122% of GDP, the second highest ratio after
Bank applauded by Euromoney Qatar National Bank (QNB) received the Best Bank in Qatar award by Euromoney. This is the 9th time that QNB has been selected for this industry recognised award, highlighting the bank’s consistent leading position and strong performances across all economic sectors.
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Bahrain,” QNB said. “The sector has a low concentration as the three largest banks (ENBD, NBAD and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank) account for 43% of total assets.” The report showed Saudi Arabia had the second largest bank asset base at the end of 2011, accounting for 28% of the GCC’s total bank assets. It put the ratio at 13% for Bahrain and Qatar, around 11% for Kuwait and four percent for Oman. It showed total assets of GCC banks grew by 7.5% in 20072011, far exceeding growth during 20032007 due to the huge loan growth brought about by rapid economic expansion and large capital investments. During 2011, the sector’s assets grew by nearly 6.1% to a record high of about $1.46 trillion (QR5.3 trillion), nearly 106% of GDP. “The ratio, which provides a measure of the importance of the banking sector to the overall economy, is relatively low for most GCC countries compared with some major advanced economies,” QNB said. “Bahrain is an exception, which has skewed the overall GCC ratio. It has one of the highest ratios of banking assets to GDP, due to a large presence of wholesale banks which account for 66% of total banking sector assets.”
Net profits
QNB
2.06 billion
$
Saudi Al Rajhi Bank
$ 1.97 billion. NCB
$ 1.15 billion National Bank of Kuwait $1.09 billion NBAD
$1.09 billion First Gulf Bank. $1.09 billion
IBB struggles in UK market
Q
atar International Islamic Bank (QIIB), parent company of Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB), is considering the sale of the UK’s only sharia-compliant retail lender as it struggles to gain scale in the UK market. IBB confirmed it had received an approach by QIIB, which currently owns a controlling 88.41% stake, to take over the remaining shares with a view to a possible sale as it considers the strategic future of the UK bank. Masraf Al Rayan, the biggest Islamic bank in Qatar, said that it had begun negotiations to acquire a 70% stake in IBB, with the remaining 30% stake to be bought by the Qatar government. “QIIB has also indicated that it has begun initial, non-binding discussions with
certain potential third party purchasers, which include Masraf; there has been no approach by Masraf to IBB,” IBB said in a statement. Founded in 2004, IBB was the first standalone Islamic retail bank in the UK with a high street presence, with five branches and around 50,000 customers, offering financial services that adhere to Islamic principles such as a ban on interest. IBB’s founding shareholder QIIB took full control of the bank in 2011, in a deal valued at the time at around 25 million pounds ($38.65 million), as part of a plan to develop an international banking business compliant with sharia laws. But the sharia lender has struggled to turn a profit since inception, reporting a full-year loss of 8.9 million pounds in 2011.
bank not es
Ten years from retirement How do you prepare?
Ensuring that you have enough money available to enjoy a comfortable retirement is one of the most important considerations that people face in their lives.
Today,
this matter is particularly important given made in higher-risk, higher-returning assets. This process of ‘front the demise of the defined benefit pension loading’ aims to build up reserves quickly and allow plenty of time and the extreme volatility that we have to reallocate investments if there is a downturn in investment markets. Typically, immature pensions have a higher proportion of eqseen in financial markets. For previous generations, company pen- uities, which, in theory at least, should offer the best performance. As an employee’s career progresses, the profile tends to change sions, traditionally based on a proportion of one’s final salary were much more secure and reliable. These defined benefit – or ‘final to ‘safer’ assets which should protect the value of the portfolio. As a salary’ – pensions offered participants a guaranteed pension and result, the weighting shifts to bonds, which, though realising smaller returns offers potentially lower levels of the sponsoring employer had to invest and risk. This ‘lifestyle’ approach to investing – operate these plans wisely, and carried the investing in safer assets as one nears retirerisk of having shortages and future obligament – is a principle that we can all follow, tions to employees. regardless of our pension scheme structure Twenty years ago, pension deficits were and participation. As an individual nears seldom the case; many pension funds held retirement age, allocating an increasingly huge surpluses and the key issue was not larger proportion of savings in bonds and how a company would fund its liabilities cash may assist in preserving accumulated but who owned the vast sums tied up in In the early stages wealth. This is often safer and generally these surpluses. Existing defined benefit of saving for retirement, much less volatile, providing greater cerschemes now, unlike those days, often have investments can be tainty of retirement income. considerable deficits; for example, it was Given today’s volatile financial environreported by Reuters in April 2012 that just made in higher-risk, ment, with a number of equity markets eieight companies from the US aerospace and higher-returning assets. ther falling or exhibiting significant swings, defence sector had a $35 billion gap in their investing in bonds offers a ‘safer haven’ pension funding at the end of 2011. for investors who are approaching the end These types of issues have led employof their working lives. This is also true for ers to, by and large, shift to a relatively new those who are, say, 10 years away from type of pension – the defined contribution retiring and whose portfolios should be or ‘money purchase’ scheme, in which employees, on retirement, receive only the value generated from mon- skewed to some degree in favour of fixed income securities. However, a decade is still long enough for investors to take a little more ey that they have contributed to their allotted ‘pot’. The size of this pot depends on the success of the investments risk, if they think that is suitable for them, by investing in equities. that they have made and there is no safety net should investment Indeed, over a 10-year period, investors should be able to ride out returns be lower than expectations. Put simply, the employer has the short-term swings and changes in the investment cycle. Nonetheless, at HSBC, we believe that the most prudent aptransferred their pension investment risk to employees. As a result, how defined contribution pensions are managed has become proach is to spread one’s investments, with perhaps an allocation extremely important, and the mix of assets in these pension portfo- to equities but a suitable exposure to bonds. The latter can be increased gradually as retirement nears. Such an approach should lios essentially defines an employee’s retirement income. In the early stages of saving for retirement, investments can be help to ensure satisfactory returns without risking all
feedback qtoday@omsqatar.com
By Kris Werner Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC
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ban k n ot es
How diversified are you? Diversification is the name of the game when it comes to achieving a profitable portfolio. But many investors don’t know how to spread their wealth across assets that best match their risk profile and investment horizons.
While
type of investment you put your we seem to be money into. Age, employment situliving in an era top diversification tips ation and personal circumstances where volatilwill all have a bearing on how much ity is a perma1 What level of risk are you comfortable risk you are willing to take when innent backdrop with - cautious, balanced, adventurous? vesting your assets. to all our investment activities, we can 2 Factor in age and personal circumstances 3 What financial goals do you need to Living and working in Qatar, you still expect to see the familiar pattern of achieve? will have a comfortable lifestyle and bull and bear markets. So while the idea 4 Are you looking for capital growth, intax free income so your level of risk of placing the bulk of your assets in a come or a mix of both? may, for example, be higher than sector that’s experiencing a bull market 5 Diversify across countries, markets, secsomeone living in Europe where – think of the rise in oil and gold in retors as well as investment vehicles. 6 Don’t overlook the effect of currency job security is low and there is less cent times – seems a good one, when the risk on your asset allocation choices disposable income to invest. By the bull eventually runs out of steam having 7 Take into account markets and sectors same token, a debt-free 30 someall your eggs in one basket may not seem that have little or no correlation in thing couple with no family living such a sensible idea after all. order to maximise diversification but be and working in Qatar may have a Asset allocation and diversification mindful of other risk such as liquidity. 8 Avoid trying to ‘time’ the markets and higher risk appetite than a 40 somego hand in hand. The idea is that you concentrate on ‘time in’ the markets. A five thing couple with a mortgage and a spread your assets across a range of inyear investment horizon should be the growing family in the same region. vestment sectors such as commodities, minimum. One way of determining your aptechnology or retail, as well as in mar9 Consider building a solid diversified portpetite for risk is to ask yourself how kets that are non-correlated. For exfolio via regular payments. This approach much you are willing to lose. For ample, whilst western economies limp takes advantages of monthly price fluctuations of assets. most people capital preservation their way through a cycle of grim recesis enough, while others will want sion, some South East Asian markets or need to see their investments are still enjoying a decade of growth. grow by a certain amount in order The thinking behind this is that if you have assets in a sector or market that is not doing so well, it will to fulfill their financial goals and are willing to take on more risk be balanced by investments in sectors and markets that are doing to achieve it. Age is another factor. So taking our 30 something couple as an better. Achieving diversification is not as easy as it sounds. Hand in example, a higher asset allocation to less developed and emerging hand with asset allocation comes the issue of risk in terms of the market equities may be acceptable, whereas our 40 something
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couple with a family and mortgage may sleep easier by avoiding the roller coaster of emerging market volatility and opting for a higher allocation to bonds and equities in developed markets. A further factor will be whether you are looking for capital growth or income. Again, age and the term of the investment will be big determining factors here. Younger investors have the luxury of time to wait for capital to grow – remember equities are long term investments – whereas older investors may have more need for income producing investments such as bonds. Once you have determined your risk profile, you can then match it with an appropriate investment strategy. This involves spreading the money invested across a wide range of asset classes such as cash, property, government and corporate bonds, European and American shares, emerging markets shares as well as commodities such as oil and gas, minerals and metals. Any portfolio must be diversified across a wide range of asset classes and geographical locations as, over time, money not only feedback qtoday@omsqatar.com
moves between countries, but also into different asset classes depending on economic conditions. It is therefore important to have a good spread so your portfolio captures these moves rather than trying to ‘chase’ profits. Remember it’s not timing of the markets that’s important; it is time in the markets. A lump sum investment should be held for a minimum of five years in order to have a decent chance of beating cash rates. Another popular way of building up a portfolio is to do so on a monthly basis whereby you pay a set amount each month into a solid diversified portfolio. This approach takes advantages of monthly price fluctuations of assets. Finally, investments such as property and precious metals require their own risk assessment. To appreciate whether such assets might strengthen or undermine your portfolio requires specialist knowledge to ensure that such alternative asset classes will deliver a return and that such an investment is right for the asset mix your portfolio already holds
BY David Russell Senior Executive Officer, Guardian Wealth Management David Russell joined Guardian Wealth Management in Geneva, helping from inception to establish an office which is now regarded as one of the leading providers of independent financial advice to the employees of many international organisations. With the expansion of the company into the Middle East, David was elected to take over the reins as the Senior Executive Officer for Qatar. He brings a wealth of experience to the Qatar office as well as a sound legal background, which stands him in very good stead in ensuring the team brings the best in financial advice to theIR many expatriate clients.
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A new alliance for jobs 28
realty check
Doha Tower design applauded
D
ramatic towers in Canada, Qatar, Australia and Italy have been named the best tall buildings in the world for 2012 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, an international not-for-profit association. The four regional winners include the Absolute Towers in Mississauga, Canada (Americas); 1 Bligh Street, Sydney (Asia and Australia); Palazzo Lombardia, Milan (Europe); and Doha Tower, Doha (Middle East and Africa). Doha Tower’s distinctive cylindrical form is elegant and efficient, creating a distinctive new landmark for the fast-growing Qatari capital. The facade is constructed of multi-layered patterns invoking ancient Islamic screens designed to shade buildings from the sun. Similar in concept to the Tower’s architecture, Jean Nouvel’s Torre Agbar office building in Barcelona, the Doha Tower is the first tall building to use reinforced concrete dia-grid columns in a cross shape. There is no central core, maximising the space available for tenants.
HE Robert Rostek, Poland’s ambassador to Qatar along with a party of senior government and business officials visited Msheireb Enrichment Centre where they were taken on a guided tour by Ali Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Manager Planning & Commercial, of Msheireb Properties.
Qatar’s rating system plans to go regional
T
he sustainability rating system for green buildings which was launched by The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD), a government body sponsored by Qatari Diar, will now be a “standard for excellence on sustainability in the Mena region”. “GSAS, formerly known as Qatar Sustainability Assessment System (QSAS), is the most comprehensive sustainability rating system in the world,” said Dr Yousef Mohamed Al Horr, Founder and Chairman of GORD. The change in the name is meant to support the all-inclusive offering of the system in assessing all types of developments,
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starting from macro level – such as master plans of cities – to micro level – such as single buildings. GSAS is unique in catering for specific typologies such as core and shell, schools, residential (single and group), mosques, hotels, light industries, neighbourhoods, construction, operations, healthcare,
railways and others. “The launch of the GSAS is a huge step forward in our mission to promote sustainable applications and practices within the framework of a globalised society,” Al-Horr explained. GSAS, developed after studies of 40 green building codes from around the world, embarks on creating a new standard for sustainable benchmarking in green building developments. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Sudan are showing great interest to study the adoption of GSAS as the unified code for the region. “Our goal now is to enable other countries and global institutions to benefit from the GSAS as a reliable performance-based and quantifiable sustainability rating system,” he said.
A regional centre for business
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arab snippets
A
ccording to Ernst & Young’s 2012 Rapid Growth Markets (RGM) Forecast, Africa and the Middle East are well placed to succeed China as key manufacturing hubs for low cost goods. The report also predicts that exports from Africa and the Middle East are poised to grow by more than 12% over the next decade. Bassam Hage, MENA Markets Leader, Ernst & Young, says: “While China is still very competitive, rising wages are opening up opportunities for Africa and the Middle East. With a fast-growing labour force, they have the potential to become the next world assembler, possibly replacing China, as China specialises in higher-value added
goods. But for this to happen there will need to be an investment in infrastructure and the continued fostering of entrepreneurship. RGMs need to look at China and learn from its fostering of small and medium-sized companies which have identified and captured gaps in the market and driven the growth of China’s export market.” Of the 25 Rapid Growth Markets, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region countries include Qatar, the UAE, KSA and Egypt. Qatar will continue to be the fastest growing MENA RGM at 7% in 2012, largely due to expectations of robust government spending and exports focused on Asia, while Egypt will be the slowest growing at 1.2% in 2012 and 3.5% in 2013 with downside risks.
ousted out
Yemeni soldiers pose on top of a tank after the army seized the Al-Qaeda strongholds of Jaar and the provincial capital Zinjibar on June 12, more than a year after the jihadists captured most of the Abyan province. AlQaeda militants had overrun most of the southern province early last year, taking advantage of the weakening of the central government by Arab Spring-inspired protests in the major cities
morocco KSA
AFP PHOTO
Saudi Prince remembered for fight against terrorism
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah announced the demise of his brother and right hand Crown Prince Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior at the age of 78 on June 16, 2012. Prince Naif, who was the Kingdom’s interior minister since 1975, was appointed crown prince and deputy premier on October 27, 2011. As the minister of interior, the prince was noted for his commendable fight against terrorism, which resulted in stamping out the extremist menace from Saudi Arabia for good. prince salman bin abdul aziz al-saud has been appointed the new crown prince.
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Youth loan for entrepreneurs
S
ilatech and Fondation Banq ue Populaire for MicroCredit (FBPMC) announced in Casablanca a strategic partnership to create and launch Bodour (seed), a special youth loan that will open up access to financing for tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs in Morocco. Scheduled to launch in June, Bodour is the first dedicated youth loan product of its kind in Morocco, and the largest product deployment of this type in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Bodour will be backed by specially-trained loan officers prepared to serve young clients, who will also provide the basics of financial literacy. The Bodour youth loan product is backed by a special Youth Loan Fund, for which up to 85 million Moroccan Dirhams ($10 million) of loan capital is being provided by FBPMC. Silatech is providing financial and technical assistance with product design, staff training and marketing.
AFP PHOTO
Growth Markets in MENA
yemen
world view
AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI
The Diamond Edition UNITED KINGDOM, LONDON: The Red Arrows fly in formation over Buckingham Palace and huge crowds on the Mall to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in London on June 5, 2012. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II wraps up four days of diamond jubilee celebrations with a thanksgiving service and ceremonial carriage procession in London, a formal contrast to the spectacular pop tribute staged outside Buckingham Palace the day before.
Celebration time EGYPT, Cairo : Egyptians celebrate the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, Mohamed Morsi, in Egypt’s presidential elections in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on June 24, 2012. Tens of thousands packed into Tahrir Square in the largest celebration the protest hub has witnessed since Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, to celebrate their new president-elect, Morsi.
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AFP PHOTO / POOL / PETER MACDIARMID
world view Late but not the least NORWAY, OSLO: Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi looks on before delivering her Nobel speech during the Nobel ceremony at Oslo’s City Hall on June 16, 2012. Suu Kyi said that winning the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest “opened up a door in my heart,” encouraging her to continue her struggle. Giving her Nobel lecture in Oslo 21 years on, she said the award committee “were recognising that the oppressed and the isolated in Burma were also a part of the world, they were recognising the oneness of humanity”.
Another leap for mankind
AFP PHOTO / POOL / DANIEL SANNUM LAUTEN
CHINA, JIUQUAN: China’s first female astronaut Liu Yang waves to the crowd prior to boarding the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft -- China’s fourth manned space mission -- which blasted off from the Jiuquan space base, northwest China’s Gansu province in the remote Gobi desert on June 16, 2012. China launched its most ambitious space mission to date, sending its first female astronaut to the final frontier and bidding to achieve the country’s first manual space docking.
AFP Photo/ Andreas Solaro
CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO
The Greek crisis GREECE, ATHENS: Supporters of New Democracy party leader, Antonis Samaras (C), listen as he delivers a speech in front of the Greek parliament in central Athens on June 15, 2012. Greece had a momentous electoral battle to decide whether it stays in the eurozone, party leaders are scrambling to reassure angry voters they can bank on the single currency.
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v i e w p oi n t
Need of the Hour:
A new alliance for jobs Despite rising investment in education, the MENA youth unemployment rate in 2011 topped 27%, more than double the global rate of 13%.
Every
Each stakeholder has to change its approach for the alliance to country values education as the path to individual self-improvement and na- work and should collaborate with the other to play to their respectional prosperity. Governments are re- tive strengths. forming their education systems. Many governments want to make learning rel- Business to the rescue evant to the job market. Yet despite these efforts, many countries, Waiting for the impact of long-term education reform is not an opincluding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), are finding tion. The answer lies within the private sector where business has that results are elusive. Despite rising investment in education, the the capabilities, and hence the duty, to engage in short- to mediumterm initiatives that are necessary today to MENA youth unemployment rate in 2011 overcome the youth unemployment crisis. topped 27%, more than double the global Indeed, business has much of the knowlrate of 13%. edge and capabilities that government and Instead of educating for employment, academia lack. Businesses knows what the MENA region is grooming a young the education system should skills young people require to work. Busipopulation without any job-relevant coordinate with business to nesses can contribute to improving the skills. Few understand the gap between translate workforce needs planning, governance, and service delivery education and employment better than capabilities of the education sector. the youth themselves. A Booz & Company into courses and scholarship Enterprises should introduce internsurvey of young nationals in the GCC in opportunities. This collaboraships and apprenticeships into schools. Our late 2010 found that only 22% strongly betion can especially strengthen survey found that 59% of respondents had lieved the education system provided sufnot done a summer placement – whether ficient preparation for career success. It is technical and vocational a job, internship, or training programme – no surprise that the young, particularly the training programmes so that while at school or university. Yet this is preunemployed, are so vocal. they produce graduates ready cisely the exposure to the workplace and This urgent problem demands immediwork ethic that students in more mature ate initiatives, and not just from governfor jobs. economies take for granted. ments. Education reform is important, One instance of the new approach is the but it will not solve the employment crisis cooperation between the Tamer Group anytime soon. Education changes can take many years to have an effect. The MENA region demonstrates this. (a consumer, pharmaceutical, and healthcare company) and the Recent education investments have yielded some important gains. Saudi government. Tamer could not find qualified Saudi nationals The education gap between boys and girls has narrowed. Illiteracy for its logistics and operations. The firm decided to team up with rates have fallen. Unfortunately, more education has not created the Ministry of Labour’s Human Resources Development Fund (HDF) to create a training institute. A three-month programme more employment. Today’s crisis requires an imaginative approach, an alliance now teaches logistics and operations, along with “soft” skills such for jobs among business, government, and the education system. as English language. The HDF pays about three-quarters of the These three stakeholders have separate and mutually support- cost. Tamer covers the remainder and supplies the training faciling needs. Business wants workers with the correct skills so that ity. The company generally offers jobs to the top 20% of trainees. it can compete in the global economy. Government wants to shift The next 30% receive certificates they can use when approachthe economic base towards knowledge and innovation. The educa- ing other firms (the remainder either fail or drop out). In this way, tion system is the only partner that can produce a critical mass of Tamer finds skilled workers and reduces its recruitment costs. The company also enriches its national economic environment by skilled workers over the long-term.
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vie w point
giving Saudi nationals job-relevant skills. The government as convenor In the alliance approach, government exercises a different form of leadership. In the past, government used mandates to reach employment goals. Some of these requirements had an important impact, but they did not solve the employment problem. A better strategy is for the government to lead by convening stakeholders. Government can be the catalyst, promoting and funding others’ skills initiatives. Certainly, government must pursue the correct social and economic policies. At the same time, it can create the mechanisms and linkages that foster job-appropriate education. A good example comes from Jordan, where the government, working with the World Economic Forum, assembled the global private sector, the education system, and not-for-profits in the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI). The private sector partners include Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco Systems. The JEI has started 100 “Discovery Schools” equipped with information and communications technology (ICT). Pupils at these schools achieve higher test scores than their peers in other schools, making them more employable. The JEI also contributes to the local ICT sector development. Towards more relevant education Education also needs to change tack. Quantity of education has often come before quality. The region’s education system does not
sufficiently cultivate students’ critical faculties and problem-solving abilities. Students are also not adequately developing the “soft” skills demanded by employers, such as communication skills. Instead, the education system should coordinate with business to translate workforce needs into courses and scholarship opportunities. This collaboration can especially strengthen technical and vocational training programmes so that they produce graduates ready for jobs. In Morocco, the Mohammadia School of Engineers works with the semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics NV. The two have a “center for excellence” in Rabat, a research facility that gives Mohammadia students work experience. The company counsels post-graduates on their research. STMicroelectronics also points them to opportunities inside the company and with other private enterprises. Of course, some education changes have to be long-term. In Qatar, the Supreme Education Council is overseeing a complete redesign of the primary education system. The reform also includes variety in curricula, parental choice, and accountability for results. The goal is an education connected to economic needs. By collaborating in this novel manner, stakeholders can help the region’s youth reach its full potential. Listening to the concerns of youth, the ultimate beneficiaries of these initiatives, is vital. The MENA region’s young population is arguably its greatest natural resource. If business, government, and education can combine in an alliance for jobs, they can open this well of talent
Visit
www.booz.com and www.booz.com/me
By Leila Hoteit, Principal, Jussi Hittunen, Senior Associate and Hatem Samman, Director of Ideation Center at Booz & Company
About Booz & Company: Booz & Company is a leading global management consulting firm, helping the world’s top businesses, government ministries and organisations. Our founder, Edwin Booz, defined the profession when he established the first management consulting firm in 1914. Today, with more than 3,300 people in 60 offices around the world, we bring foresight and knowledge, deep functional expertise, and a practical approach to building capabilities and delivering real impact. We work closely with our clients to create and deliver essential advantage.
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v i e w p oi n t
A regional centre for business As Qatar continues to invest in the diversification of its economy, one aspect that is receiving increased attention is the growing business tourism segment.
While
the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has recently announced plans to expand the broader tourism sector by 20% up to 2017, it is specifically looking to expand the contribution made by meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Business tourism is an extremely competitive industry, with the UAE in particular offering business-focussed tourism facilities and in many areas leading the field, yet Qatar’s strong economic growth is making it an increasingly attractive location for conference organisers and exhibitors. In May, QTA released its report on the performance of the tourism sector during the first quarter of 2012, which showed that the average number of GCC visitors to Doha increased by 22%. In the same month, Qatar was also named the Middle East’s Leading Business Destination at the World Travel Awards (WTA) in Dubai. This award is in large part a reflection of the huge investments now being made in business tourism. In December 2011, the state opened the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), a QR4.368 million ($1.2 million) complex of exhibition halls and conference venues amounting to more than 90,000 sq metres of space for events and large-scale conferences. The QNCC features a 2500-seat auditorium, a 500-seat theatre and a multi-purpose hall for conferences, and is one of the biggest in the region. Moreover, there has been a sharp increase in the number of hotels, particularly those in the four- and five-star bracket. Last year, eight new hotels were opened, taking the total number of rooms to 11,300 – an 18% rise on numbers for 2010. Indeed, hotels are predicted to be the big winners of the successful World Cup 2022 bid. A major priority is to increase the supply of rooms and to diversify the type of accommodation options available in the country. The growth in the business segment
has meant many of these new hotels will also include conference and exhibition facilities as well as the usual amenities. Doha alone now has more than 100 hotel projects under development, and more are set to be announced over the short to medium term. May also saw the QTA undertake a promotional road show covering six cities across the Gulf with the aim of boosting awareness of Qatar’s tourism offerings. The roadshow met with business and incentive travel professionals, and specifically targeted professionals in the MICE (meetings, incentive, convention, exhibitions) industry. Events like this appear to be having a positive impact. Over the last year, the number of visitors to Qatar from the GCC has risen markedly; according to the QTA, travellers from Saudi Arabia represented the majority of these tourists, with over 161,000 tourists arriving during the first quarter, representing a 25.3% increase on figures for 2011. Abdullah Mallala Al Bader, the Director of Tourism at the QTA, estimated that at least 72% of the total 845,000 GCC visitors that came to Qatar were travelling for business purposes. In another example of the state’s outward-looking approach, Qatar Airways has recently become a member of the International Congress and Convention Association, an industry body promoting the business tourism sector worldwide. Membership of this group - which has over 900 members, including specialists in the MICE industry - will benefit the airline in promoting its business in Qatar and as a global carrier flying business tourists to destinations around the world. This will mean that MICE operators will have a wider choice of destinations to choose from as the airline introduces new routes and improves flexibility. It is this holistic approach to developing the segment – strengthening business tourism at home while promoting it abroad – that should go a long way in helping Qatar carve out its own place in the competitive field of corporate tourism
feedback qtoday@omsqatar.com
By Oliver Cornock The author is the Regional Editor of Oxford Business Group
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listening post
The time bomb is ticking
Gulf water security challenges The United Nations forecasts that by 2025, 30 countries will be facing water scarcity, up from 20 in 1990. Eighteen of them are in the Middle East and North Africa, with Egypt, Libya, Israel and Somalia having joined the list since 1990.
Booz
and Company estimates water consumption in Saudi Arabia at approximately 950 cm per person a year, compared with a world average of 500 cm per person. Agriculture is the biggest consumer of water in the Kingdom, hogging 85-90% of supplies, 8085% of which are obtained from groundwater. Saudi Arabia’s average annual rainfall is 100mm, so groundwater is a lifeline for the
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By e z dhar ib ra h i m country. Booz and Co estimate some of the Gulf region’s groundwater reserves have become so salty that the water is undrinkable and that Saudi Arabia will spend nearly QR300 billion over the next 20 years on water projects, raising production capacity to 5.7 million cm a day by 2014. At present, nearly 50% of desalinated water comes from plants that have reached the end of their lifespan. Meanwhile, in Qatar, an estimated QR70 billion will be spent over the same period for power generation, water production and expansion of the electricity and water networks. Investment in
listening post
HE Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari President, Kahramaa
MOHAMED BIN AHMED al-obaidly chairman, qatar chamber’s (qc) agriculture and environment committee
projects to upgrade power networks over the next 10 years will be around QR30 billion, according to the Minister of Energy and Industry, HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, who adds that around QR22 billion of investment is needed in projects to upgrade water networks over the next 10 years. All this in addition to ongoing projects to meet the current and future demand for electricity and water. The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has implemented more than 20 water and electricity projects and is currently offering a number of opportunities in electricity and water infrastructure projects in Qatar during the period 2011-2021. Kahramaa, President, HE Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari, says the corporation’s plans for upgrading and expanding the water network over the period 2012-2016 will cost about QR31 billion, and that Kahramaa has already spent around QR11 billion on water projects over the past five years. He says the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States are experiencing a period of accel-
Awareness-raising programmes Kahramaa, in cooperation with the Supreme Education Council, is trying to ensure that school curricula include topics related to wise electricity and water use, with the aim of making pupils aware of the importance of conservation from an early age, thus directly helping to achieve the mission of Kahramaa’s awareness campaign. He calls for research on the situation in the GCC states and on the connections between water, energy and food, so as to achieve convergence and a balance between them.
erated growth, posing new challenges that will have to be tackled scientifically with cutting-edge expertise expanding the horizons of knowledge. GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif AlZayani emphasises that the Gulf States need a Gulf-wide medium- and long-term strategy for dealing with the challenges around water security, based on wide-ranging, action-oriented research leading to recom-
mendations that are put into practice. It doesn’t help that water consumption per person in the Gulf is over 350 litres a day, one of the highest rates in the world. The GCC population is also expected to reach 50 million within a few years, so the governments are under huge pressure to respond and to tackle the issue. Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman AlHusain, the Saudi Minister for Water and Electricity, compares individual water consumption in the Gulf States with that in Western countries that have vast amounts of renewable water resources. In the Gulf, he says, consumption is very high. Demand for water in the GCC states rose from 6 billion cm in 1980 to 27 billion in 2000. He says European Union countries have succeeded in reducing individual usage to less than 130 litres per day per person and Munich, Germany has managed to cut that rate to below 90 litres a day per person. The main reason for high consumption, he says, has to do with the low tariff for water usage in the Gulf States. The average Gulf house-
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listening post
hold consumes many times more than its European counterpart because European countries have realised that water is a precious commodity. Wastage through network leakages The minister says that officials here share the responsibility for such high rates along with the consumers, as they have become slack in maintaining water networks. This has led to leakage rates of over 30% whereas in Europe water revenues usually cover costs and leakage rates can be as low as around 5%. Eng. Ahmed Al Nasr, Director of Technical Affairs at Kahramaa, says Phase 4 of Qatar’s water network replacement project is at an advanced stage, with all the old networks replaced with new pressure-resistant pipes. He says the rate of loss to leakages in Qatar has fallen substantially over the past seven years to 10%. Kahramaa has awarded an engineering consultancy contract for a project to create giant reservoirs in Qatar, at a cost of nearly QR100 million, to be built in five different areas of the country to form a complete network covering Doha. The project will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will be completed in three years, i.e. by 2016, with implementation of the second phase beginning immediately after that and the whole project being finished by 2020. Agriculture is the culprit Saudi Minister Al-Husain, meanwhile, points out that agriculture takes the lion’s share of water consumption. The GCC States use more than 80% of their water resources on agriculture, while their irrigation methods are only 40% efficient. At the same time, there has been a sharp and increasingly rapid fall in water levels in deeplying aquifers, and fresh springs have disappeared from most of the Gulf States. The minister notes that while it takes 50 litres of water to produce a single date fruit, it takes 25,000 litres to produce one kilogram of meat. Ahmed Nasser Al Kaabi, Managing
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Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Husain the Saudi Minister for Water and Electricity
Ahmed Nasser Al-Kaabi Managing Director, Qatar Company for Meat and Livestock Trading
Water Consumption In Numbers Saudi Arabia approx
950 cubic mt per person per year
World average
500 cubic mt per person per year
Dr Abdullatif Al-Zayani GCC Secretary-General
Director of Qatar Company for Meat and Livestock Trading disagrees saying agriculture and poultry- and livestock-rearing in Qatar is making a big contribution to the Qatar National Food Security Programme. Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Obaidly, Chair of QC’s Agriculture and Environment Group agrees, saying that strategic decisions have to be viewed from a broader perspective and not just in terms of the cost of water. Al-Obaidly thinks we should talk about water security rather than food security in arid regions, and about demand management and water conservation strategies for agriculture in arid regions, as well as
modern techniques of saline agriculture, hydroponics, water-saving irrigation methods, protected agriculture (under plastic), and using the principle of virtual water accounting in agriculture policies and water resource management. Integrated wastewater management strategies, looking at current trends and recent developments in wastewater treatment techniques in arid regions, modern methods of treatment and energy recovery, the economics of treatment and funding alternatives, and the techniques, experience and parameters of reusing treated sewage water in agricultural, municipal and industrial sectors are all topics that need to be studied
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Hearing it for women entrepreneurs Women run 46% of the world’s private businesses, but their enterprises don’t always scale up to make the big time. They need mentors, capital and networks, Maria Pinelli, Ernst &Young’s Global Vice-Chair for Strategic Growth Markets tells Sindhu Nair .
$714 billion Overall investment in SMEs across the G20
6% of the total ($11,507 billion) for all forms of investment
$400 billion
$116 billion
China SME investment
US SME investment
“H ugely!” – that’s how important the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (WEOY) are for Maria Pinelli, Ernst & Young’s Global Vice-Chair for Strategic Growth Markets. “WEOY is one of our most important events. In terms of scale, it is one of the most global events we host, celebrating 59 entrepreneurs from 51 countries. They represent
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over $59 billion in revenue and 300,000 jobs, and they grew by 17% last year,” says Pinelli, the figures all at her fingertips. “We all love entrepreneurs for the gifts they give us. What would our world be like without their fantastic products and services? Each time their inspiration becomes a reality they raise standards of living by creating good jobs. We need more entrepreneurs, as we are all about promoting more jobs, a stronger economy and a better standard of living.” And at each year’s WEOY, the lessons these passionate entrepreneurs pass on are about optimism and confidence. “Our entrepreneurs are amazing,” says Pinelli. “Even as the economy struggles, entrepreneurs are hiring, because they are expanding. They thrive on chaos and uncertainty; they are not afraid of failure, and they
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“We have discovered that 40% of the world’s private businesses are run by women, but they just don’t scale in figures to be in our programme.”
take risks. We have so much to learn from them.” Women fail to scale up While the effect entrepreneurs have on the global economy is indisputable, the number of women entrepreneurs in this year’s line-up of country winners seems to have diminished. 2012 had just one woman winner. Does that reflect a lack of support for women globally with startups? “We need more women entrepreneurs, period. We have discovered that 40% of the world’s private businesses are run by women, but they just don’t scale in figures to be in our programme.” There is hope, however, for women whose entrepreneurial activities are strong but not strong enough in profit terms for WEOY. Ernst & Young also has an annual
competition and leadership development programme called Entrepreneurial Winning Women that identifies women entrepreneurs whose businesses show real potential to scale up – and then helps them to do it. “The idea is to help grow more companies in the pipeline so that eventually they can be recognised on a global scale with the rest of the entrepreneurial community,” explains Pinelli. “And the Middle East is going to be included for this programme,” she assures us. Women need access to mentors, to capital and to networks to be more profitable in their enterprises, and these critical factors have to be looked into, she says. Women entrepreneurs are a powerful force in the American economy. Because of their success in launching new ventures, 46% of the privately-held firms in the US
are now at least half-owned by women. These companies represent almost 16 million jobs. However, despite robust growth in the early stages, these companies are not scaling up to the degree they could. Businesses owned by men are three and a half times as likely to reach $1 million in annual revenues as businesses owned by women. “If you look at an economy where women with any business would thrive as entrepreneurs, we find that if women started with the same amount of capital as men we would have 6 million more jobs in three years,” Pinelli says. Two million more jobs a year – almost a country in itself, she notes. “With Entrepreneurial Winning Women, we see an important opportunity to bridge the missing middle – those second-stage entrepreneurs at a crucial stage of growth
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“The five barriers are access to funding, education, the entrepreneurial culture, regulation and taxation, and coordinated support. But of the two thirds of the 1,000 entrepreneurs we interviewed, the one major barrier all of them mentioned was access to funding.” who often can’t readily find the tools needed to continue to scale – and help them make their way towards market leadership.” A story of grit The last WEOY had three women country winners, so the figures do vary, though there has been a global woman winner only once in the 26 years of the programme. Pinelli reminisces about the WEOY 2011 winner, Olivia Lum from Singapore, the CEO and President of Hyflux Limited. “I am completely biased, but I was so proud of the judges for choosing her. She didn’t have the biggest company, nor the fastest trajectory of growth. But she did have a terrific company and an incredible story. She was our first woman winner. Lum was abandoned as a child and was raised by a woman who took in several children. When she was nine years old, she was the only breadwinner for the family. She learned which food banks supplied food and persisted till she got her and her family’s share. She raised money by doing odd jobs. She put herself through college by doing part-time jobs.” Lum made enough from working for a pharmaceutical company to own a car and a flat, both of which she sold to venture out on her own and start a water treatment and recycling business, which she realised would work well in water-scarce Singapore. “We don’t sit on the judging panel, as we want to be completely unbiased, but one of the judges told me they asked Lum how she handled adversity and her answer was, ‘When you are hungry what else is there?’ – an answer I was greatly touched by, and so were the judges.” A voice that counts How does having such a global event help entrepreneurial activities? “Having 1,000 entrepreneurs every year
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MARIA PINELLI GLOBAL VICE-CHAIR FOR STRATEGIC GROWTH MARKETS, ERNST & Young
worldwide give their perspective is quite unusual, but WEOY allows us to ask them for their views, such as their experiences, what changes need to be made, what barriers exist and what government support needs to be given, what changes need to be made in education to help them. We have taken our entrepreneurs to the White House, to G20 meetings, and to the Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance, and helped them voice their opinions. There is so much more we could do. We are just scratching the surface, but having the entrepreneurs’ voice is vital, as we use it to maximise their participation,” says Pinelli passionately. And right from the horse’s mouth we hear about the main barriers that entrepreneurs face in a developing market.
“The five barriers are access to funding, education, the entrepreneurial culture, regulation and taxation, and coordinated support. But of the two thirds of the 1,000 entrepreneurs we interviewed, the one major barrier all of them mentioned was access to funding,” Pinelli recalls. It turns out that while 50 % of employment is driven by SMEs they receive only 6% of funding. At a time when many developed economies are facing a weak economic outlook, the importance of nurturing entrepreneurial ventures is greater than ever. Highgrowth entrepreneurial companies will play an important role in rebalancing the economy. Their rapid rate of expansion means they have great potential to create jobs at a time when many G20 countries are facing stubbornly high rates of unemployment. And it is not just in developed markets, says Pinelli. “Entrepreneurship is also vital to the future of rapid-growth markets. Although many of these economies have enjoyed high rates of GDP growth for the past decade, their strong performance has often depended on low-cost exports, a commodity price boom and large-scale investment in infrastructure. “In the coming years these markets must rebalance their economies towards greater domestic consumption, import demand and higher-value business activity. The creation of an environment in which entrepreneurship can flourish will be an important step in achieving these objectives.” Which is why Ernst & Young has brought out a report titled Funding the Future: Access to Finance for Entrepreneurs that analyses the opportunities and issues around access to finance for entrepreneurs in the G20 markets and provides recommendations for action that could be taken by entrepreneurs and governments at each of the four stages of entrepreneurial development
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Ten Steps to Professional Fulfillment Meetings, project deadlines, month-end targets, reports – when your to-do list features these and more, it’s little surprise that you don’t have time to think of much else.
Its remarkable how many people fail to achieve success in their careers simply because they’ve never taken the timeout to analyse what success means for them and how to create a plan to get there. The road to success is never accidental. Successful professionals have ‘been there and done that’ because they had a vision, planned well, took stock regularly and of course worked very hard and smart to realise their success. Listed below are some tips by the career experts at Bayt.com, to help you along the road to achieving your career ambitions. set g oal s
be comm it ted
Take a holistic approach to deciding what your priorities and goals are in life before you work on your career goals. Determine what sort of balance and end result you are seeking to achieve in the important areas of your life i.e. finance, career, health, relationships, self development etc. You will undermine your career success if your goals in other areas of your life contradict or conflict with your career goals. Your goals can be “being” goals and “doing” goals and should be accompanied with a timeline and a plan of action for getting there.
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Once you set your goals, be committed to achieving them. Have a vision in front of you and clear milestones along the way. Feelings of unworthiness and lack of confidence may hinder your progress; remind yourself that you deserve success and work on your confidence. We may have heard stories about people who didn’t have qualifications or experience, but they wowed their way into a job by making themselves indispensable. Be that person! Focus on accomplishments rather than just performance.
M e as u r e yo u r P ro g ress Once you embark on your journey towards achieving your goals, it is crucial that you monitor and measure your progress along the way. Are you attaining the milestones you set out to reach within the desired time span? Is your progress proceeding at the right pace and quality? A tip that Bayt.com’s career expert recommends is monetising your individual accomplishments so that you can keep track accurately of your direct impact on the organisation’s bottom-line. The most minor product or process enhancements sometimes have a dramatic impact on a company’s bottom line.
Market your Accomplishments Make sure your individual accomplishments are recognised by the key decision-makers in the organisation and particularly those who influence your career progress. It is quite common for credit to be misallocated and for accomplishments to be undervalued or overlooked so don’t be shy about singing your own praises providing you stick to the facts.
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Maintain an Open Dialogue with Super ior s
B u i ld a Pe r s onal N e t work ‘No man is an island.’ This quote is very true for a working environment. Your success will, to a large extent, depend on your ability to build alliances and garner the support of others including peers, superiors, subordinates, clients and others you interact with on a daily basis to get the job done. Work on building a reputation and network both within your organisation and outside. Expand your circle of influence by attending industry events, volunteering to work on projects in other divisions, etc.
Seek to regularly communicate with your superiors and build a rapport with decision-making executives in your organisation who could have a say in your mobility and advancement. The more they know you and the more comfortable they are with you, the likelier you are to be elevated to their ranks.
Ma inta in a Pr ofessional Image
Sha r pen yo u r Skills With every project and activity you complete, you will have learned something new and sharpened a particular skill-set. Ongoing learning is critical to your personal and professional development. Actively seek out trainings that augment your strengths and keep you at the cutting-edge of whatever you do.
Anyone who aspires to top management knows that personal appearance counts. First impressions count and a wellgroomed demeanor can help you win the confidence of your clients and management alike.
M e n to r o r be a Mentee Find a mentor you respect and value and try to meet up regularly. Your mentor would be your sounding board to bounce ideas off and provide you with the clear insight you need. Seek to mentor someone; this can be a rewarding experience both personally and professionally.
C o mm uni c at e E ff e c t i v e ly Learn to get your message across effectively: key skills including professional writing, active and empathetic listening, public speaking, effective presenting, negotiating and effective crisis communication are all important in determining your career success. It’s never too late to attain new levels of professional success. Good Luck!
bookmark www.issuu.com/oryxmags
About Bayt.com: Bayt.com is the #1 job site in the Middle East, with more than 40,000 employers and over 6,750,000 registered job seekers from across the Middle East, North Africa and the globe, representing all industries, nationalities and career levels. Post a job or find jobs on www.bayt.com today and access the leading resource for job seekers and employers in the region.
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Brandbuilding in emerging markets The essence of branding in developing countries is more personal – a trend that developed countries could adopt.
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rand stretch in emerging markets is a curious phenomenon. Consumers seem more than willing to buy a portfolio of unrelated products and services from the same company. Sample this - would you buy cement and salt from the same company? Would you buy automobiles, jewellery and tea from the same company? Would you recommend the same firm for automobiles, construction services and consumer electronics? The answer is a resounding ‘Yes’ if you are living in the developing world. For that’s how Dangote in Nigeria, Tata in India and Al-Futtaim Group in the UAE have managed to extend their brand in their respective markets and beyond. These are but a few examples of companies in emerging markets that have managed to successfully walk the tightrope of strengthening brand equity and expanding business operations in unrelated areas. The emerging consensus seems to be that brand extension works differently in developing economies vis-a-vis developed ones. The question then becomes – why? Let’s give you an example. Some colleagues and I were working on a branding project for the Abdul Latif Jameel
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Group, one of the largest private companies in Saudi Arabia. One day, while we were at a cafe reflecting on what the brand stood for, Mohammed Jameel, the President and CEO of the group, appeared on television talking about his philanthropic efforts around job creation for the country’s youth. Two young Saudis sitting next to us were listening attentively. Suddenly one of them got up and proclaimed to his friend: “That’s who I work for. Who do you work for?” In some sense, this brief interaction captures the essence of corporate branding in developing countries. Unlike many of their counterparts in developed economies, corporations in developing markets haven’t yet become faceless or impersonal. Economic opportunity in developing markets has resulted in many new brands and corporations coming to the fore. Many of these are helmed by first- or second-generation leadership and are often associated with a well-known founder or family name. This ensures strong involvement, commitment and personal responsibility for the actions of the corporation, thus making the relationship between the corporation and the broader consumer more intimate and personal – tantamount to a promise direct from the owners and management to the consumer. This covenant between manufacturer and consumer is a critical aspect of brand-building in emerging markets. Trust is the single most precious association that a brand needs to build and nurture. Not differentiation or ubiquity or familiarity, but trust. The others are extremely important, but without trust they are unlikely to cut much ice. In an environment replete with possibilities, where the sheer number of brands is growing exponentially, consumers are willing to spend their new-found and hardearned wealth. But they are willing to do so only with companies that they trust. Trust therefore has serious business implications in emerging markets. In essence, while corporations in developed economies tend to distance their management and owners from their external perceptions, perhaps to reduce personal accountability, corporations in the
developing world must retain their personal nature to earn trust and goodwill. Family-owned businesses get professional Being too closely related to an individual or family also comes with its own set of challenges, the most important being continuity in the event of the person’s exit. The buzzword in family-owned businesses in most emerging markets today is professionalism. Many family businesses are looking to become less family-aligned and more corporate due to the ambition of listing on stock exchanges or to send a strong message of professionalism and maturity. As they do so, it is critical that these companies engage astute leaders who have a strong and clear sense of lineage, history and understanding of expectations from the brand. Businesses need to translate an innate understanding of their brand’s centre of gravity into shared knowledge and clear articulation of what it can and cannot do. As a branding consultancy our challenge is to “bottle” the positive culture and personal approach of the business as it evolves, creating a legacy for the family and brand strength that remains trusted and personal even when the family members’ names no longer appear on the bottom of the letterhead. For whenever consumers buy salt and cement from the same company, they have already bought into what the company stands for and what it believes in, and the easiest way to dilute a brand’s equity is to not deliver on what its customer bought. Interestingly, some of the most compelling brands in developed markets have had a strong personality associated with them. Think Richard Branson for Virgin, Phil Knight for Nike and Steve Jobs for Apple. One relates to these brands on a personal level as they have stepped out of the ‘branding by automation’ cookie-cutter framework and, more significantly, because they were led by leaders with a clear sense of what the brand stood for. So perhaps as brands in the developing markets look to learn from counterparts in developed markets there is also an opportunity for the reverse to happen
iain.webster@thebrandunion.com
By Ambrish Chaudhry Ambrish Chaudhry is Director, Brand Strategy at The Brand Union, Middle East. The Brand Union has twenty offices across the world and offers strategic brand consultancy services to the likes of Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Reckitt Benckiser and Vodafone. In the region The Brand Union has offices in Doha and Dubai and has partnered with clients such as Abu Dhabi Ports Company, National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, Al Rajhi Bank, Al Hilal Bank, Sorouh and Abdul Latif Jameel. For enquiries please contact Iain Webster, Executive Director Qatar.
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the oscars of
enterprise
The world Entrepreneur of the Year Awards highlight the best of entrepreneurial activities from around the world. This year they had a new entrant from Qatar, demonstrating the country’s determination to broaden and nurture SME creation. Qatar Today rubbed shoulders with some of the best in business at the awards gala in Monte Carlo, and here tries to distil their enigmatic acumen. by si n d h u n a i r
“T
his time for Africa,” echoed Dr James Mwangi, CEO and Managing Director of Kenya’s Equity Bank Limited, not entirely in tune with the popular chartbuster, as he came up to receive the World Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 (WEOY) award at a ceremony held in Monte Carlo. Dr Mwangi was picked from among 59 finalists from 51 countries vying for the title, each of whom had already been named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) in his or her home country. “This is a global recognition for Africans who are embracing the power of entrepreneurship to change the economic and social state of Africa,” said Dr Mwangi. He was pitted against the some of the most ingenious brains of the world in fields ranging from
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technological inspiration, like the inventor of Better Place the leading electrical vehicle provider from Israel or the brains behind mechatronic drive engineering from Germany, to social innovation, like the creative force behind LinkedIn, to entertainment, like the phenomenal Angry Birds – to name just some of the most prolific entrepreneurial creations. And the reason for choosing him was his story and the scale of his success in the face of the barriers he had to surmount. Equity Bank is the largest bank by customer base in East and Central Africa, and the largest African majority-owned company in the region. The bank has more than seven million accounts, representing over half of all bank accounts in Kenya. It also has operations in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Tanzania. The chair of the judging panel, Troika Dialog, CEO Ruben Vardanian, said: “Not only has Dr Mwangi really transformed people’s lives across Africa by offering
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Dr James Mwangi CEO and Managing Director of Kenya’s Equity Bank Limited is the winner of the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 (WEOY)
pected to expand outside. The countries where they anticipated creating the most jobs were the US, China, the UK Whether at home or abroad, in and India. Asked why they would be recruiting outside good economic times or bad, their national market in 2012, Entrepreneurs create the entrepreneurs are constantly 74% of the entrepreneurs said need looking for new opportunities this was in order to help them In his book The Coming Jobs enter new markets. Only 14% War Jim Clifton, the Chairto expand their businesses and said they were recruiting inman, of Gallup, worries that services. entrepreneurs are ternationally to ‘take advanAmerica and much of the actively looking to recruit tage of lower labour costs’ rest of the world are trying to and only 8% said they wanted boost innovation while entrehighly-qualified and to benefit from ‘better govpreneurs – living, breathing, experienced staff. ernment incentives’ in other job-creating engines – are countries. being neglected. He emphaErnst & Young, Global Vicesises the need of the moment, Chair for Strategic Growth which is not shelter, peace or Markets, Maria Pinelli exfreedom but jobs – a need that entrepreneurs could meet through their enterprise plains: “Whether at home or abroad, in good economic times or bad, entrepreneurs are constantly looking creations. When Ernst & Young asked over 8,000 EOY win- for new opportunities to expand their businesses and ners from 35 countries about job creation they found services. Despite an uncertain global economy, entrethat the respondents (80% of whom have their own preneurs are actively looking to recruit highly-qualicompanies) had expanded their total workforce by an fied and experienced staff.” average of 16% in 2011. In the US alone, where overall job growth has been slow, survey respondents grew The regional spark their headcounts by an impressive 18% in 2011. The This year, the Ernst & Young EOY awards had a new Asia-Pacific region reported a 16% growth rate and entrant. Qatar was represented for the first time in the programme’s 26-year-old history, by Ashraf Abu Europe clocked in at 12%. What is even more exciting is that they anticipated Issa, Chairman of Abu Issa Holding. Abu Issa was creating more jobs in 2012. So while entrepreneurs named winner of the Qatar EOY 2011 Awards, held create the need, they also answer it. And they expect in collaboration with Enterprise Qatar under the pato hire because they anticipate growth. Sixty-eight tronage of Business and Trade Minister HE Sheikh percent expected to expand their workforce in the Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani. He won the award country where they are headquartered, and 44% ex- for establishing Abu Issa Holding, one of Qatar’s key them access to funding that they have never had before; Equity Bank also continues to grow quickly with a strong financial performance.”
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“I am truly honoured to have taken my place in the WEOY Hall of Fame. I hope that to be the first entrepreneur from Qatar to be recognised in this way will serve as an inspiration to others.” Ashraf Abu Issa Chairman, Abu Issa Holding, Qatar
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The power of social networks
Reid Hoffman
“Most important for an entrepreneur is to get a good education and then go ahead with his dreams without fear of failure.” Dr Mohammed Al Barwani MB Holding, Oman
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W
Co-founder and Executive Chairman of LinkedIn Corporation
hile the media and the rest of the world were speculating about a LinkedIn password breach, LinkedIn’s co-founder and Executive Chairman Reid Hoffman was fending off questions on the same issue at the Winner’s Circle in Monte Carlo. He was the country winner from America and another popular figure during the WEOY awards. With a net worth of $1.8 billion, he seemed to be a strong contender for the WEOY 2012. The high of being an entrepreneur, to change the world at scale, was what enticed Hoffman. “I was studying philosophy at Oxford but always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I came to Silicon Valley and went on to be a software entrepreneur to help connect, communicate, collaborate and build things together,” he says. About his phenomenal success with professional network LinkedIn, as well as being part of the founding team of global payments system PayPal, he says: “Generally speaking, successful entrepreneurs have product missions, have views of how technologies could be something that could change the world, and the business follows that. But that is not universally true; there are some who just follow economic opportunities.” While Hoffman sees himself in the first category, he feels that no country can shrug off the need for entrepreneurs. Even countries with high GDP figures need to focus on building an
entrepreneurial climate. “Entrepreneurship is a global good. Entrepreneurs are how we build institutions that help us make progress into the future. With globalisation there is increased competitiveness, there is a question of transformation of industries, and entrepreneurs are how we build new industries that create employment and prosperity for all countries,” he says. And how does Hoffman describe LinkedIn? It is to solve work problems, from getting a job to getting insights into your work-related issues, enabling professionals to deploy networks to magnify both work and career, he says. For entrepreneurs his advice is: “Take intelligent risks to create competitive product differentiation, and assemble a strong team of financiers, team players and mentors around you.” Hoffman is also a partner in a venture capital firm called Greylock Partners, touted as Silicon Valley’s most perceptive moneymen. He participated in the first round of investment in Zynga, Digg, Friendster, Six Apart, shopkick, and Kongregate. He put the first Silicon Valley money into Flickr and Last.fm, and he also bought into Groupon and Airbnb. About his recent investments he says: “We invest in software very broadly – both consumer and enterprise. The last two investments were Wrapp, a social gifting service, and Admoto, a social network for K-12 education.”
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OTHER WINNERS (LEFT): MIKAEL HED, CEO, ROVIO ENTERTAINMENT LTD, creators of ANGRY BIRDS, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MOBILE GAMES IS THE WINNER FROM FINLAND. (ABOVE): RAHUL bhatia, MD, INTERGLOBE ENTERPRISES, WINNER FROM INDIA WHO ESTABLISHED THE LOW-COST CARRIER, INDIGO
he wishes he could change it retail empires, and being a would be to have started his unique exemplar for business enterprise much earlier... in his sector. The EOY winner from the Oman had an entrepreUAE was Farouk Toukan, a neur with a difference. Dr Palestinian-Jordanian who Mohammed Al Barwani left “I believe that as a is the Executive Partner of a comfortable job as a petroregion we could be having CICON Building Materials. leum engineer at Petroleum much more of a role in One of the first suppliers of Development Oman to found building materials to the conhis own enterprise. Initially the world economy, and struction industry, CICON has representing international the start for that would been at the forefront of its field companies and selling his be to raise educational since inception and brought own knowledge as a technical value to the rebar steel marexpert, he later started comlevels.” ket. “Even though the compapeting with them. ny was affected by the finan“My father was a businesscial downturn we managed to man and I had an early inkeep our heads up, even in the terest in business. He was a face of the storm, and now we small-time businessman with are expanding into neighbourjust a small shop, but the valing countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia,” he says. ues that he passed on still remain.” On the virtually nonexistent climate of entrepreneurship in the country at that time, he says: The Jordanian edutainer “People thought I was crazy to leave a secure career The most popular of the country winners and the only to go into business. My relatives thought I was being female entrepreneur among the 51 finalists was Randa S. Ayoubi, CEO of Rubicon Group Holding from Jorirresponsible.” Today, three decades later, he has proved the scep- dan. Charming and earnest, Ayoubi wins the hearts tics wrong and his company, MB Holding Company, of everyone she communicates with. An advocate for is a success story, with operations and subsidiaries educational standards, her vision is to enhance the spread across the globe in the Middle East, Europe, lives of children through technology. Ayoubi started out producing educational content North Africa, Asia-Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, with close to 7,000 employees. “The profits are in a multimedia format. Today Rubicon has grown usually invested back in the company, and we grow from two to 400 employees and diversified into digital games, applications, animation, digital distributypically at 30% a year,” he says. Each day brings with it exciting opportunities, says tion, toys and themed entertainment parks. But her Dr Al Barwani, and each challenge brings new lessons. passion continues to be education. “I believe that as a region we could be having much “The key driver for an entrepreneur is to build a company that is well-managed and makes you person- more of a role in the world economy, and the start for ally feel good about it,” he says. If there is one thing that would be to raise educational levels. Education
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“A great opportunity to be here and meet 50 inspiring winners.” Farouk Toukan CICON Building Materials, UAE
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From Qatar to the WEOY wall of fame
ASHRAF ABU ISSA THE Entrepreneur Of the Year FROM QATAR WITH JAMES TURLEY, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, ERNST & YOUNG
“Believe in yourself and stick to your dreams. Be diligent and ethical in all your dealings, as trust is one virtue that will build your brand.” Randa Ayoubi CEO, Rubicon Group Holding, Jordan
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bu Issa joined his father’s company in his teens and immediately set about expanding the business line to include more upmarket products. In a small, high-income country with few players in the business, he set his sights on the luxury goods segment and has never looked back. One of the first lines he introduced was La Prairie cosmetics from Switzerland, which put the company on the map for luxury skincare products and started to create brand loyalty for it. What Abu Issa does even now to help guide his company to new products is to listen to customers, spend time with them and understand their needs. But the going was not always so smooth, he confesses. “During the first Gulf War we had a particularly rough patch, but we have always used such times to prove ourselves by going the extra mile. Everyone else stopped importing, but we continued. Since Qatar was in the war zone, importing was very expensive due to high insurance costs. But we imported to the UAE and got our goods to Qatar by road at our own risk. So we were the only company that still had the products, immediately upping our credibility and increasing our customer share and reputation. “Calculated risks like this have always helped,” he observes. Abu Issa’s best piece of advice for other entrepreneurs is to have a contingency plan ready for when things don’t work out. Going global is the next step for him, and for that he has a number of concept store strategies ready to roll out: Mosafer (a complete travel solution), Roots (children’s fashion), Momento (a watch store
with plans for regional expansion) and Arabesque (an innovative connoisseur concept offering an exclusive array of authentic Middle Eastern sweets and confectioneries) are just some of his retail concepts. “Arabesque is presently in Dubai Mall, and inside this store we can travel through the Middle East visiting each country’s specialty,” he explains. It’s a concept Abu Issa is excited about and is sure will work globally. And, not content to rest on his laurels, he already has a succession plan in place to make sure the ideals of his enterprise live on. Being a part of the EOY entourage has been a learning curve for Abu Issa, and he feels each country winner is a deserving entrepreneur. Accompanying Abu Issa as part of the Qatar team at WEOY was Firas Qoussous, Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Qatar. He said: “It was a proud moment to see the Qatar flag and Abu Issa on the WEOY platform, and it was such an enlightening moment for all of us to meet the winners from every country. This might be the first time for Qatar, but we have a long way to go and this story will hopefully be an inspiration to all other entrepreneurs in the Middle East to dream big and aim high.” Enterprise Qatar’s Chief Executive Officer, Noora Al-Mannai, who was also at the event, said: “The WEOY Award has given us a great opportunity to cement Qatar’s position on the global industry map, and to showcase our entrepreneurship exemplars and learn from peers. “It is truly an addition to our track record at EQ, showing what we aim to accomplish by supporting the country’s burgeoning entrepreneurial and SME sector.”
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PREVIOUS WEOY WINNERS Johannes Gutmann
2003
founder of Sonnentor, the winner from Austria
takes people from poverty to riches, from ignorance to enlightenment. I believe in the power of education to transform lives,” she says. Twinning the power of education with technology seemed to Ayoubi the perfect way to touch the lives of young people effectively. “Combining education with entertainment that is relevant, fun and high-quality, with a take-away value attached to it,” is how she describes the core values of her company. And guiding her was her vision. “I always believed in my dreams. There was never a question of whether I would build my dreams; there was only a question of time, or when I would do it.” There were many moments when Ayoubi thought of quitting, asking herself why she was doing it all in the face of dire challenges. But then when the next day dawned she would continue with added zeal and pursue her dreams with even more determination. “As more people are going into business, the culture of failure is reducing. And there is an advantage being a woman,” she says, smiling, including me within this ‘elite’ group. “Women in general have fewer ego issues. You only have to prove your might to yourself, not to anyone else.” On the initial barriers she encountered, she says funding was the greatest issue. A close second was creating a foundation for the digital media industry, as at that time Jordan’s ICT sector was not well developed and couldn’t support her ambitious pursuits. On being the only woman in the WEOY this year, she says: “It is a good and sad feeling. Good because you get all the attention,” she laughs, clearly enjoying the attention that comes her way, “and sad because you form 50% of the world’s population yet you still fall behind in making a mark. I also wish there were more success stories to glorify.” Ayoubi is quite the role model in Jordan, and that is a responsibility she loves. “I feel proud when women
come and talk to me and ask for tips, and it feels nice when you can motivate those around you.” The power of social enterprise There was one constant throughout the three days of the WEOY gala in Monte Carlo: Johannes Gutmann, founder of Sonnentor, the winner from Austria in his trademark costume – well-weathered leather pants, a t-shirt with a yellow shining sun, his company’s trademark, red-rimmed glasses, and an unwavering grin. But one shouldn’t be fooled by his comical looks, for Gutmann has an equally successful story to tell. He employs 170 people in Austria and 70 in the Czech Republic, and in its latest financial year his company achieved a turnover of approximately 25 million euros. “I started with these old leather trousers, and here I still am with them. My red boots are traditionally handmade in my hometown. All these remind me of my people and my roots, and they need the exposure too,” he says. The Sonnentor business is based on the concept of supporting small rural structures, which are a longstanding tradition in the Waldviertel district of Austria. With a 50% market share in the specialised organic trade (tea and spices, not including food trading), the company is leading the market. In Germany, the company holds a 25% market share and ranks in the top three. “Our sun symbol is the symbol of the liberated farmers after they got their freedom from the Church in the Middle Ages,” he tells us. Simple but earnest, Gutmann’s talent for inspiring people makes him a leader who is propelling a multimillion-euro company into the future with sensitivity, humanity and joy. His motto: “If you give love you get it back twofold.”
NARAYANA N R MURTHY INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES LTD, INDIA
2010 MICHAEL SPENCER ICAP UNITED KINGDOM
2011 OLIVIA LUM HYFLUX LIMITED SINGAPORE
feedback qtoday@omsqatar.com
jULy 2012
Qatar Today 63
TAG T H IS
Reaching out to
the crowd The crowdfunding concept allows an entrepreneur to reach out to a ‘crowd’ of people for a financial pledge in return for a small stake or some incentive. This is unlike an Angel Investment concept where a single person may have a large stake in a startup. While some investors may be hesitant to invest in a new idea, crowdfunding provides an alternative way to source seed capital from a number of backers. The concept was popularised by Kickstarter.com in the United States.
The
majority of crowdfunding platforms don’t charge for publishing a pitch; however they typically take a commission of around 5% when the financial funding target is reached. If the financial target is not met, no money is exchanged. To lure people to invest in a startup, most startups offer rewards such as exclusive access to first product or a discount on services, depending on how much people invest. The JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act in the US changed the game for crowdfunding. It now makes it legal for crowdfunding sites to give actual equity to investors. Crowdfunding can act as a great marketing tool for a startup. It creates a strong network of support for the startup as it is able to attract potential investors. With the equity model in place, investors are likely to become brand ambassadors of the startup, promoting it among their networks. Some investors may offer help in the field of their expertise, for example by helping with financial or legal issues. Reaching your target gives people a message that the startup has
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a strong product/service offering and has the support of several people. This builds a strong case for the startup to reach out to local press for coverage. Crowdfunding is not suitable for every startup. It works best for startups that are able to narrate a story – a passionate vision, a social mission or a personal ambition. You need to connect with the people who feel inspired to invest in your idea. Your idea should be so innovative that people are compelled to punch in their card details online. Once a startup has reached its online target there will be a short ‘cooling-off’ period. Investors are asked to confirm their pledge and some may withdraw during this stage. The crowdfunding platform then refers the case to their lawyers, who formalise the deal and the money will be transferred to the startup’s bank account. Regional Crowdfunding The startup then needs to deliver what it had promised the investors. I recently came across a few initiatives of crowdfunding in the Middle East region. One of them is Mawwell.com. At present you need to sign up for an invite to join Mawwell.com The invite says: “Project creators will keep 100% ownership of their work and will build a unique relationship with their contributors. Not all projects will be eligible to be part of Mawwell. Indeed,
TAG T H IS
Mawwell will not be a place for soliciting donations to causes, charity projects, or business expenses.” There is another site called Aflamnah. com, claiming to be the first crowd-funding initiative in the region. It is scheduled to launch on 01 July 2012. Aflamnah aims to help independent filmmakers, artists, students and innovators to raise funds for their projects by getting people excited enough to financially support their idea. If a project doesn’t meet its goal then no money is exchanged. Both the websites seem to run like Kickstarter in the US where people can donate money to projects of interest. Some successful projects that have been able to raise funds using crowdfunding are: The Pebble E-Paper Watch – this is an upcoming smart watch from Pebble Technology that can display messages from a smart-phone. On May 18, 2012, The Pebble E-Paper Watch raised more than follow
www.twitter.com @kapilkb
Crowdfunding can act as a great marketing tool for a startup. It creates a strong network of support for the startup as it is able to attract potential investors
$10,000,000 to become the most funded project in Kickstarter’s history. Emphas.is – Photojournalist Joco Pina turned to crowdfunding to document the aftermath of Operation Condor, which led to the death of more than 60,000 political opponents in Latin America. To do so, he turned to Emphas.is, the crowdfunding platform designed specifically for photojournalists. He has managed to raise more than $20,000 in different phases to help him
travel to countries to document his work. Scifundchallenge – Mary Rogalski, a doctoral candidate in chemistry and environmental studies at Yale gave crowdfunding a shot to further research for her thesis on lake pollution. She approached http:// scifundchallenge.org, a crowdfunding website that focuses on raising funds for scientific projects. Rogalski has raised $2,026, just over her initial goal of $2,000. One downside to crowdfunding is that an innovative idea can be copied and developed ahead of the startup by betterfinanced competitors. Some people might submit fake projects online to get funds and dupe investors. Tech-Sync Power System was a project submitted on Kickstarter that was cancelled by the website for failing to provide photos of the prototype and the sudden departure of the project creator. Crowdfunding is a trend that will surge in the near future. We need to watch how startups can leverage public funds to create innovative things or address social causes
By Kapil Bhatia Kapil Bhatia is an E-Business Manager, working in the Financial Services Industry for the past 10 years. His work ranges across Digital Marketing, e-Channels and development of marketing strategies, with a sound Information Technology base. TFour.me is an upcoming technology blog in the Middle East, which will feature talk about Tech Entertainment, Social Networks, Digital Trends and list jobs. The blog would offer insightful analysis about Big Data and Internet industry and would feature Start ups in the Middle East region.
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GREEN SCENE
Don’t let
the sun go down!
A simple example like a morning shower illustrates the impact of the Qatari sun – a cold tap produces very hot water. Temperatures come close to 50 degrees Celcius for much of the year and this extreme brings with it enormous potential. Qatar Solar Technologies is in the business of harnessing the sun’s rays to produce power for all purposes. by rory c oe n
vestment, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. “In line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, QSTec is developing a new industry for Qatar. A number of new jobs and business opportunities within the local economy will be created and we will provide new career paths in the solar energy sector for our youth,” he added.
a country so rich in natural resources, Qatar has plenty of renewable energy potential as well. A 2002 study by Qatar University indicated that the cost of electricity generation from wind here – with all factors taken into consideration – compares favourably with that of fossil fuels. However it’s the potential of the sun which has scientists and engineers smitten with endeavour. Solar technology is still in its infancy in terms of how it can be developed. Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) is a joint venture between Qatar Foundation (70%), SolarWorld AG (29%) and the Qatar Development Bank (1%). SolarWorld AG is a German solar company that has developed proprietary technologies and has a strong research and development background. The collaboration is focused on providing a product which will complement Qatar’s natural energy reserves. Chairman and CEO of QSTec, Dr Khalid K Al-Hajri, spoke to Qatar Today about what his organisation is trying to achieve. “The development of the solar industry in Qatar brings with it tremendous opportunities. The growth in the demand for solar applications and technologies will continue to expand here, through the region and the world whilst preserving our natural resources. This new industry growth will offer a wide range of research, in-
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The science bit Since the industry is still in its infancy stage, there is little doubt that it’s a very technical and complex process. So what exactly is involved in changing heat energy into an industrial raw material? “QSTec will use the Siemens Process to manufacture its polysilicon. This process involves the chlorination of metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) to produce TCS (Trichlorosilane). This is then reacted with hydrogen in high-temperature reactors to produce high quality, solar grade polysilicon.” Basically QSTec will be purifying MG-Si to make polysilicon, which is the key ingredient for producing the world’s most efficient solar technologies such as cells, ingots, wafers and solar modules, which are utilised by a wide variety of applications to capture the energy from the sun. Initially, QSTec will produce 8,000 metric tonnes per year (MTPY) of polysilicon, but it is designed to expand as demand grows. This amount of polysilicon is enough to produce solar energy to power approximately 240,000 homes per year. Built on 1.2 million sq m of land in Ras Laffan Industrial City, the QSTec plant can expand capacity to more than 45,000 MTPY and has been designed to seamlessly incorporate ingots, wafers, cells and module manufacturing facilities. MGSi is derived from silicon – the second most plentiful element on earth after oxygen – and is used extensively in the aluminium
GREEN SCENE
and steel industries so it is a common material. Export potential Can this technology complement Qatar’s natural resources and become an attractive export option for the Qatar economy? “QSTec will become Qatar’s newest energy exporter,” said Al-Hajri. “In phase one, we will sell polysilicon to our global customers, which will then be manufactured into solar energy products and technologies that will provide a sustainable source of energy. “In subsequent phases, we will move along the solar value chain and produce these products in Qatar for use locally and for export across the region and world. QSTec is aiming to become a world leading integrated solar company in much the same
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way that Qatar has become a world leader for LNG exports. The possibilities for solar are many and we have only begun to scratch the surface of what this technology can do,” he added. Would polysilicon, solar panels and solar power be effective in countries which haven’t the same power from the sun as Qatar? Can QSTec export their solar produce to countries like the UK or China? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. This is due to the fact that it is daylight and solar radiation, and not heat, that makes solar energy work most effectively. Of course Qatar is blessed with an abundance of sunshine so modules here and in sunnier parts of Europe will produce more energy than in the UK or China, but solar is still quite effective in these countries and it is an industry which keeps growing. In the GCC, the ener-
gy payback time, which is the time that the module must spend in the sun to produce the same amount of energy that it took to make it, is under 12 months. In the UK, this energy payback time would be around two to four years. In both cases the module will continue to produce power for 25-30 years. The expertise Whilst there have always been extreme temperatures in Qatar, solar technology is certainly a new industry and brings with it a fresh learning curve. Other global companies involved in renewable energy resources have plenty of experience and intellectual capital in store, so this is what QSTec is leveraging, to not only catch up, but to also start innovating itself. With Qatar Foundation backing the project, Qatar’s climate is a very attractive playground for experts of
GREEN SCENE
“Qatar is blessed with an abundance of sunshine so modules here and in sunnier parts of Europe will produce more energy than in the UK or China, but solar is still quite effective in these countries and it is an industry which keeps growing.”
Dr Khalid K Al-Hajri Chairman and CEO of QSTec
Research and development One of QSTec’s main objectives is to develop and export technologies and patents. Qatar has many advantages when it comes to research and development, such as the support from Qatar Foundation and the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). “Right now, our attention is on construction of the polysilicon plant,” said Al-Hajri/ “Once the plant is operational we will look to expand our research capabilities to improve quality and efficiencies. As we expand along the solar value chain to make ingots, wafers, cells and solar modules we will increase our research areas. This is a high technology business and to be a leader you need to be researching new methods, techniques and products.” the industry. Al-Hajri stresses that there are still many Qataris who are pushing the project along. “The global solar industry is enormous and continues to grow exponentially,” said Al-Hajri. “It experienced a huge surge in demand in 2011 with global installations increasing by 50% from 2010. QSTec hires experts from around the world, but a lot of our senior professional staff are from Qatar – specifically from the oil, gas and chemical industries. They have many transferrable skills that are highly suitable to the solar industry.” But what about the future? If this project is part of the 2030 vision, then there must be some form of sustainability involved? How are QSTec inspiring the Qatari youth to get involved in solar technology, to innovate and help take this industry
to its apogee? “In December 2011, QSTec hosted the world’s largest solar-powered boat at the Pearl pier for its longest stopover during its round-the-world voyage,” said Al Hajri. “During that time, thousands of people turned up to see the boat and learn about solar energy. There were also visits from school children as well as from the Qatar Scientific Club and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is just the start for QSTec and in the future you will see a number of exciting awareness projects and applications that really show the benefits and potential uses of solar technologies. As a result of the boat coming to Doha, many students approached us about teaming up on solar school projects and course work. One student even wanted to build a solar bus.”
The future The polysilicon produced by QSTec will enable solar energy companies and organisations around the world to produce products that reduce greenhouse gases, protect the environment and provide clean renewable energy. QSTec are also researching the possibilities for Qatar’s critical issues such as air conditioning and water desalination. “We have also been in discussion with the World Cup 2022 committee,” added Al-Hajri. “We hope to provide the stadia and fan zones with the solar solutions and technologies to power the air conditioning. As part of the bid, a test stadium was built which successfully used solar energy to cool the stadium so this technology already exists, but we see many opportunities to further develop it. This is a relatively new segment of the industry, but Qatar is well placed to become a leader”
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GREEN SCENE
GPS launches Textbook Collection Drive An initiative to promote waste minimisation in schools
TeXtbookS CollectED BY MES INDIAN SCHOOL
M
sheireb Properties in partnership with Qatar’s Supreme Education Council and Qatar Today launched the Textbook Collection Drive as the next phase of the Green Programme for Schools (GPS) on World Environment Day. The project aims to encourage students to share their textbooks while reducing wastage and impact on the environment. As part of the campaign, students will be
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encouraged to donate old school books after each semester. These books will be deposited at special donation centres in the participating schools. They will be cleaned and branded with the GPS sticker and handed over to the next batch for reuse. GPS coordinators from Mission 20 will oversee the collection, segregation and branding of the textbooks, and brand school campuses with creative posters to further encourage the book-giving drive. “The success of the GPS campaign has inspired a new chapter in our ongoing efforts to encourage conservation and care for the environment,” said Jawaher Al-Khuzaei, Communications Manager, Msheireb Properties. “The Textbook Collection Drive encourages the concept of sharing and shows students and parents alike that small lifestyle changes can have a big impact on the environment.”
“The launch of the textbooks campaign is an important step for GPS. Handing down textbooks not only saves trees, but also instils the important habit of sharing. We think parents too will play a great role in the success of this initiative by resisting the urge to buy everything brand new for their children. Even a refurbished textbook serves the same purpose of educating the child, so we hope parents will actually opt for a recycled one,” said Ravi Raman, Vice President, Oryx Advertising. Since launching on World Environment Day last year, GPS has seen the participation of around 25,000 students. GPS is the first schools-based environmental awareness campaign in Qatar that aims to Reach, Inspire and Reward students and schools by meaningfully engaging the youth and inculcating in their minds the importance of building green equity
To know more about the programme,
To know more about GPS,
visit the GPS page at http://www. facebook.com/GPSQatar.
contact 44550983
TEC H PAGE
IBM
opens office in Doha IBM recently opened a new branch office in Doha and Rory Coen caught up with its General Manager for Middle East and Pakistan, Amr Refaat, to discuss its plans in the country.
i
BM first established presence in the Middle East over 60 years ago, and boasts strong ties to the region and a significant history of implementing numerous key projects and working with clients in different sectors. It installed the first computer in the region in Saudi Aramco over 50 years ago and was also the first company to introduce Arabic language support in the 1980s. Tell us about IBM’s presence in Qatar. Today we are working on a number of groundbreaking initiatives and development partnerships across the Middle East
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in cloud computing, nanotechnology, desalination, solar power, e-government and healthcare. We also aim to support and collaborate with educational and governmental institutions throughout the region in working towards a smarter planet. Qatar is a valuable regional player in terms of its economic opportunity and growth prospects. We’ve already been working with a wide base of important customers in Qatar and have recently opened an office in Doha with the aim of deepening those relationships and expanding our services further into the nation. Although we are not currently in a position to disclose numbers, we are definitely looking forward to expanding our headcount in our Qatar offices and building a strong local team that will be capable of carrying out solutions and service to our rapidly-expanding base of customers. What will be the purpose of the branch office in Doha? Will IBM be recruiting many nationals from the universities here? The new office will support IBM’s customers on the ground with a closer physical pointof-presence and provide a local support
function for consultants, R&D teams and other resources IBM may deploy to support projects and customers here. It is our hope that the office will serve to provide an effective interface between IBM and its regional and global resources and the Qatari market, bringing together local knowledge and presence with worldwide capabilities. It is important to IBM not only to recruit wherever possible from local markets, but also to create new opportunities by opening up initiatives that help in training, development and research. For instance, IBM is working on ground-breaking research and development projects in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt that are seeing young nationals from those countries working together with IBM’s own R&D teams to create new intellectual property and innovation that is truly driven by local resources. How important is the region for IBM? Do you see growth opportunities here? We definitely acknowledge the opportunities available in this region in terms of growth and prosperity, and this region is a vital part of our overall growth market strategy. We see the Middle East as a rapidlyexpanding market and are thus committed
TEC H PAGE
to supporting this growth through actively strengthening our ability to provide highvalue solutions to our clients and partners. In fact, our plans for the Middle East are part of a greater initiative to expand IBM into growth markets across the globe. IBM currently has over 240 branch offices in over 60 growth market countries, and we expect to increase revenue share from growth markets from 22% today to around 30% by 2015. To speak more specifically about the region, we are working with numerous customers in a wide range of market sectors ranging from banking to telecommunications, education to healthcare and government to energy development. We’re also working on a number of research and development initiatives across the region, including major investments with universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Additionally, we’ve worked closely with governments in the region on initiatives such as e-government and the Smarter Planet.
We have seen strong demand for consulting and business service offerings from customers in Qatar, and moving forward we expect this demand to continue and deepen. Amr Refaat General Manager for Middle East and Pakistan ibm
What services and solutions are you offering to Qatari businesses currently? IBM is working with a number of customers in Qatar in the banking, finance, aviation, transport and logistics and government spaces, as well as supporting a number of diverse business customers together with its general marketing and sales representative in Qatar. We have seen strong demand for consulting and business service offerings from customers in Qatar, and moving forward we expect this demand to continue and deepen.
such as cars, waterways, roadways and power grids. We’re working with customers and institutions across the world to implement services and solutions which are in line with the Smarter Planet and Smarter Cities vision. In addition to that, we’re continuing with our focus on business analytics, cloud computing and geo-expansion. The four of these initiatives combined are key focuses of our 2015 roadmap. In terms of R&D, IBM has a number of R&D initiatives in the region, including some major investments with universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. One initiative in particular that we are proud of is our collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia’s national research and development organisation, aimed at reducing water and energy costs by creating a water desalination plant powered by solar electricity. We’ve also worked with KACST in developing nanomembrane technology on which the desalination process will hinge.
Where is IBM heading at the moment? What is R&D working on? A major focus of IBM today is the IBM Smarter Planet, which essentially aims at using the large amounts of data available to us and infusing it into the systems and processes of everyday life in an effort to make the world work more efficiently. We want to change the way things work – things that today we wouldn’t recognise as computers,
How is IBM working with the Qatari government to push the QNV 2030? As Qatar continues to experience exponential growth, IBM looks to support the 2030 vision of shifting to a competitive knowledge-based economy through expanding unparalleled expertise in IT services and solutions into Qatar. Our aim is to build relationships in Qatar with the goal of strengthening organisations and helping
Have you any further expansion plans for the country/region? We plan to announce more branch office openings in the region throughout the next quarters. Earlier, we announced the opening of branch offices in Mauritius, Angola, Senegal and Tanzania. These expansions are all in line with our geo-expansion strategy, and we intend to continue our heavy investment in the MENA region.
businesses achieve their objectives. Our Smarter Planet initiative can also support the QNV 2030, as our technology and expertise can help to make government and business operations smarter. This means that citizens can be provided with convenient access to necessary and timely information; the flow of everyday life in cities across the globe can be managed as well as the flow of information between government departments. How important is the IT sector to this vision? Qatar is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is well on its way to fulfilling the economic development goals outlined by the QNV 2030. The ICT sector plays a critical role in diversifying the economy in the sense that it serves to support infrastructure development and social development initiatives. With significant spending on IT predicted to continue throughout the GCC region, we are optimistic about the long-term social and economic benefits of these investments. Qatar in particular has placed strong emphasis on the ICT sector, as it has played a key role in the major projects underway in Qatar. Whether these projects are related to the telecommunications industry, oil and gas, banking, or any other major sector, ICT is always taken into consideration. In a sense, we can say that the ICT sector is at the centre of the development of the nation
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TECHTALK Bringing the newest gadgets and global tech stories to you each month…
Apple Introduces iOS6
L
ast month Apple unveiled the new iOS 6, which will have 200 updates, improvements and new features like Enhanced Siri, Facebook integration, Passbook app and maps. Enhanced Siri will now be able to launch apps, tweet and provide information on sports – it will update you on scores, stats and fun facts. It is integrated with Yelp and OpenTable for restaurant reviews and reservations, and integrated with Rotten Tomatoes for movie times and reviews. Siri will be optimised for use in 15 countries and will have hands-free integration in car systems like BMW and Mercedes. Facebook integration – Users can login through their Facebook accounts and will be granted instant access to it in apps, their web browser and Siri. Events and birthdays can be synced with the calendar. Apple will have its own new map app. They are also creating their own traffic service and they’ll have the turn-by-turn navigation with the iPhone that is vectorbased and voiced over by Siri. Real-time traffic updates and crowd-sourced traffic information will be available to users on maps. Passbook is a new all-in-one app for managing tickets and coupons. It integrates with Starbucks cards and participating travel and commerce vendors. It also features GPS-enabled notifications for when you are near a movie theater. Phone Call Enhancement – there’s a mode function that reminds the user to call back or text back when they can’t take an incoming call. The Do Not Disturb mode allows a device to receive messages without lighting up. Users can now also share and comment on photos at iCloud.
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How do you like your news?
q
atar Today, together with TFour.ME, conducted a poll on a reader’s preference in news assimilation and reading. Gone are the days when people used to run to the newspaper for their early morning news or tune into the radio, for according to our polls, the majority of people in Qatar rely on social media for their daily source of information. When the local newspapers, radio stations and even the broadcast station failed to adequately inform us about the latest happenings from the Villagio fire recently, social media and particularly news sites like Doha News kept vigil and informed citizens about the happenings 24X7, becoming hugely popular with netizens in the process.
Surface Tablet from Microsoft
M u s t B u y: Sm ar t Sc al es
w
m
icrosoft’s much talked about Surface tablet may be Wi-Fi only, according to Bloomberg. The news agency reports that people familiar with the tablet’s specs say the device will go on sale without any mobile-phone network connection, but will come with a short-range Wi-Fi connection. Surface will be running Microsoft’s next-generation Windows operating system and marks the company’s first foray into the ever-expanding tablet market. Though the software giant has unveiled Surface, it has yet to release all of its specifications. The tablet is thought to be a direct competitor to Apple’s iPad, but network accessibility could hinder this goal. The new iPad, which went on sale in March, comes equipped with LTE and has the option of a mobile-phone chip. Users can also buy the iPad’s Wi-Fi-only model if they prefer. Microsoft plans to start selling the Surface later this year and will be working with Apple’s iPhone-maker, Pegatron, to manufacture the tablet.
i-Fi-enabled household gadgetry is becoming more and more common. We have televisions with Internet browsers, refrigerators that offer built-in computers and thermostats you can control remotely. So, how about bathroom scales that beam the results of your latest weighin to the cloud? Fitbit’s Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale tracks weight, body-fat percentage and BMI, and automatically uploads the data, via Wi-Fi, to a Fitbit online profile. The Aria costs QR475, considerably more than a traditional set of scales, but many consider the price tag a worthy investment.
Nuance to come to ME
H
ere’s some good news for tech execs flying to Dubai or Abu Dhabi: Arabic-ready apps from Nuance will be available there soon. Nuance’s Dragon Dictation and Dragon Search apps process dictated text messages, e-mails and web searches and have been available on Apple’s iPhone, iPod and iPad for quite some time. Until recently, however, they haven’t been widely available in the Middle East, but after a successful launch in Saudi Arabia, the free apps are coming to the UAE in standard Arabic. The apps also support another 25 languages. Nuance sees the region as an area for growth, and it no doubt helps the company as it knits together the rest of the world in using speech as the primary mode of interface.
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auto news
purple pride: creating equal opportunities
99
The first four-door BMW Coupe
T
he all-new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe – the first four-door Coupe in the history of the BMW brand has finally arrived in Qatar. The third model in the BMW 6 Series line up was designed to achieve a synergy between the aesthetics and dynamics typical of a BMW Coupe and functional versatility of a four-door sedan. The exterior sets new aesthetic standards with its low height and the flat roofline that smoothly flows into the rear end. The recessed passenger compartment and frameless door windows are indicative of a sporty Coupe. The four-seater Coupe also offers an additional third rear seat which can be used for shorter journeys. A sporty and powerful drive experience is enabled through a choice of two engines: a six-in-line engine in the BMW 640i Gran Coupe and the 4.4-litre V8 engine in the BMW 650i Gran Coupe. Alfardan Automobiles, General Manager, Mohammad Kandeel said, “We have already received a lot of interest for this new BMW model and are confident that its distinctive character – such as
the low Coupe-style roof line – combined with dynamic driving, unmatched features and elegant style, will continue turn heads amongst Qatari customers.”
Ford Expedition: A summer holiday car
T
he demand for Ford Expedition in the GCC has more than doubled in the first half of the year with the onset of the summer holiday season. Sales in the GCC grew 130% while in Qatar, year to date, sales have grown seven fold. Ford Middle East, Director of Sales, Hussein Murad said, “More and more customers with large families that prefer to drive on long holiday trips are choosing the Ford Expedition thanks to its capabilities, comfort features, storage space and great value for money. Expedition is an outstanding do-it-all full-size SUV that is tough, functional and refined, and features many best-in-class features. We are pleased with the confidence that our customers continue to place in this great product.” The 2012 Ford Expedition has sealed its reputation as the ultimate full-size SUV that offers toughness, functionality, comfort and value for money to customers.
Maserati GranCabrio Fendi has arrived
T
he Maserati GranCabrio Fendi is a highly impressive union of two iconic brands from Italy known for their craftsmanship and heritage. Making a Middle East debut at the Dubai International Motor Show, the masterpiece has now arrived in Doha. Designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, the model shimmers in a threelayered body colour named Grigio Fiamma Fendi which is a special dark grey with a glossy golden finish on the surface. Fendi’s precious leather, Cuoio Romano, is elegantly used for the instrument cluster cover, the gear lever and for the profile of the floor mats. The Maserati’s 4.7-litre V8 engine coupled with automatic transmission emits a unique roar indicative of power and pride.
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auto news
Volkswagen’s new Passat: Affordable luxury
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olkswagen Middle East has brought new levels of affordable luxury and innovation to the region with the launch of the brand-new Passat. “A revolution in its category, the new Passat brings luxurious but affordable German-engineered motoring to the Middle East,” says Stefan Mecha, Managing Director, Volkswagen Middle East. “Competitively priced, the introduction to the model range starts at QR90,999, bringing with it high-end innovation and improvements in
space, economy and efficiency. “Volkswagen sedans have proved to be very popular in the region, and we are confident of similar success with the new Passat,” he added. “It’s an important car for us – it’s been perfectly matched to the needs of the Middle Eastern market, and we’re looking forward to offering sedan car drivers something new, fresh and exciting.” Minimal forms and lines with a predominance of horizontal body elements reflect Volkswagen’s unique design DNA and offer the Passat a refreshed exterior styling.
Honda offers auto finance solution
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omasco Honda, exclusive distributors of Honda automobiles and products, has launched a new motor finance package called ‘Honda Advantages’ in Qatar. Based on a purchase model called ‘Personal Contract Purchase’, the new vehicle finance solution is designed to offer a range of individually tailored finance packages for Honda owners. Benefits include lower monthly commitments, shorter loan agreements, guaranteed future trade-in value and the option to upgrade to a new Honda after two or three years as per the customer’s choice. Honda, Sales and Marketing Manager, Greig Roffey believes the launch of the new finance solution is further sign of the Qatar market evolving and offering financing tools previously available in the west. “The new finance solution from Domasco Honda offers customers with a low cost alternative
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to traditional forms of funding. This type of finance is ideal for customers intending to change their vehicles at the end of the contract period and we believe it will become the preferred way of buying a Honda from now on.” Honda Advantages is valid across the Honda range including the Honda City, Jazz, Civic, Accord, CRV, Pilot, Crosstour and Odyssey. For more information, visit: www.hondaadvantages.qa.
Mini strikes again
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he special edition of the three-door Mini, Mini inspired by Goodwood, is now on sale at the Alfardan Automobiles’ showrooms in Qatar. The model was developed in close collaboration with the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars design team that gives it a high quality interior ambience defined by stylistic harmony, masterful workmanship and classic British elegance. The Mini’s interiors boast of the exclusive Rolls-Royce leather colour Cornsilk for the dashboard, centre console, lounge leather seats and roof lining. Some of the striking exterior features are the body finish in the exclusive Rolls-Royce colour diamond black metallic and unique 17-inch light alloy wheels sporting a multi-spoke design. A badge featuring the legend “One of 1000” can be found on the centre console. The l.6-litre 135 kW/184 bhp four-cylinder engine impresses with spontaneous power delivery. Alfardan Automobiles’ General Manager, Mohammad Kandeel said, “Alfardan Automobiles is committed to bringing the best and most exclusive products and vehicles to its customers. The Mini inspired by Goodwood is a perfect example of this and will allow us to bring Mini’s unique personality to a new audience, as it opens up a whole new segment of customers who appreciate Mini but require a high end product.”
braking news
Ferrari California The Prancing Horse updates its stable Qatar Today heads to Maranello, Italy, to experience the new Ferrari California
If
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By orna ba l lou t you’re seeking something sporty offering cutting-edge design and innovation – the characteristics synonymous with Ferrariyet at the same time want something that can be used more frequently for less extreme use – then the Ferrari California is a good option for you. Ferrari has revamped the California that first came on to the scene in 2009, with a lighter and faster model; the main difference being the 30% reduction in body weight down to new design employing new aluminium technologies. The latest California appeals to a whole new audience, as no less than 70% of its owners are first-time Ferrari clients. Yet it still attracts Ferraristis – the name given to Ferrari owners – as it encapsulates Ferrari’s DNA of high performance, attention to detail and on-board comfort. Another addition to the California is
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the option of the Handling Speciale package, aimed at those looking for a sportier driving experience. For this, you may have to sacrifice a slight bit of comfort, and dig deeper into your wallet, however, the package includes technical modifications to running gear and set-up, which result in reduced body roll, quicker responses, and more nimble handling. Putting the car through its paces at Maranello – the heart and soul of Ferrari, where the famous machines are made – is, to say the least, a once in a lifetime experience. The car boasts an elegant design, and commands attention wherever it goes. People can’t seem to take their eyes off this sleek, sporty machine. There are even two seats in the back, spacious enough for small kids – so the excuse of forking out QR820,000 for a standard model has some form of rationalisation, as the little ones
can ride with you. That’s if they can handle the swift speed of 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and if you’re really feeling up to it, its top speed of 310kmh. Fashion-conscious clients are given a whole range of choice with the Ferrari Tailor Made Service. This allows customers to refashion the interior and exterior of the car as much as their heart desires, and their budget can stretch too. From twotone paint work to three layer paints, and from wooden boots to cashmere material – there’s an array of different fashions to choose from. To ensure complete peace of mind, Ferrari has introduced a seven year maintenance programme which includes regular maintenance every 20,000 km or once a year without any mileage limitations; an inspection; original spare parts, filters and lubricants
Ferrari California starting price of
QR820,000 Available from Alfardan Automobiles
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braking news
living up to its
traditions
As the all new 911 Porsche arrives in Doha, Sindhu Nair takes it on a spin and comes back with an oddly familiar experience
ow is the new 911 Porsche different from the earlier one? More speed? That was one of the random questions that I threw at Ahed Dawood, Brand Manager, Porsche Center Doha before I took it to the Doha roads. And it was that one question that made Dawood take off on his favourite topic – brand
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Porsche – for almost two hours...! “Whenever we start with Porsche, we start with the driver,” he said, “and that’s you. And what do you know about the 911?” Feeling cornered, I asked him to do the honours, and educate me about the two brands in question; the Porsche and its famous 911. The 911 comes with a lot of history as it is the only brand that has lasted so long in the history of auto-making. “It was introduced in 1963 as a 1964 model. The first car was called the 901 because it was the 901st product from the engineering factory of Dr Ing. Porsche brought it out but Peugeot objected as it was their copyright to use the zero in between their numbers. So Porsche changed it to something that comes just after zero, one. And hence was
born the legendary 911,” says Dawood with obvious pride. The history and evolution of the 911 Porsche is described quite profusely by a motoring aficionado as having “established itself as an icon of ‘60s cool, before it segued gracefully into being an icon of ‘70s performance, then an icon of sophistication and affluence in the ‘80s, an icon of athleticism and power in the ‘90s and it is now simply an icon of all that’s right with Germany and automobiles.” “Porsche was a small company when it started in 1948. It built its reputation with its first car, Porsche 356 which raced in the 1948 LeMans and won its class victory. From day one, Porsche has been a very good racing car and proof of this has always been on the race tracks. But at that time,
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Ahed Dawood, Brand Manager, Porsche Center Doha
manufacturers didn’t have the luxury of building race cars or road cars – there was no such differentiation – so 911 was seen as more of a race car. “From 1953 to 1998, which was the last year that the Porsche factory competed in the LeMans race track, Porsche won 16 category victories, a feat no other car manufacturer has ever beaten. It has more than 28,000 class victories,” he explains. “Though Porsche pulled back from racing in 1998, it continuously supported motor sports. It will always develop, promote and participate in motor racing but not directly as we do not have factory-run drivers. The 911 is a car which has always kept true to its history in terms of design. So in that sense, when the new 911 is launched, there will not be many rude surprises. The
body language of all 911s will remain the same, the low-hunched profile, the distinct wideness of the body, and the curve that seems to embrace the roads will always be intact.” “This is where Porsche’s brand values – evolution and tradition – come in. How can you continue to evolve a concept while keeping to its identity? That is one answer Porsche has. Generation after generation, Porsche has managed to evolve while keeping its identity true to its evolution. And evolution in Porsche is through technological and scientific advances. “Some cars, particularly the Italian brands, go after exclusive designs which look amazing but the design does not in any way help the driver in everyday use of the car. The 911 meanwhile, was the only sports
car which you could drive your kids to school in every day and race on weekends and beat other V8 machines without much effort.” It still has a small 3.6 litre six-cylinder engine, while the performance is thanks to the aerodynamics of the design. A case of form follows function, an architectural principle of Frank Lloyd Wright that runs well in all walks of life and now in the automotive sector too, thanks to Ferdinand Porsche. “An opening on the side of a 911 is not for any special effects, it has the function of getting in air for cooling. Every design concept has a practical value to it as well.” Cars and social acceptance While some cars have used the “shock” factor to attract attention, Dawood claims that Porsche has never opted for these techniques as it always comes up with a new design that is appreciated for its refined looks. He takes the example of the Cayenne which was the first SUV from Porsche and was initially subjected to a lot of flak from Porsche lovers for shifting away from its sports-car genre. But it proved to be the best thing Porsche ever did. “Before 2003 for Porsche, the best Qatar could do was sell 30 sports cars (911 and Boxster) a year. After the Cayenne was introduced, in 2008, we sold and delivered 150 sports cars. Cayenne introduced Porsche to a wider range of aficionados who had the wrong notion that Porsche only delivered motor sports cars and hence
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Tech Specs
911 Carrera 3.4-litre boxer engine with 350 hp (257 kW); rear-wheel drive, seven speed manual transmission, optional seven-speed Porsche-Doppel -kupplungsgetriebe (PDK); acceleration 0 - 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, with PDK in 4.6 seconds (4.4 seconds with Sport Chrono Package); top speed 289 km/h, with PDK 287 km/h; fuel consumption (NEDC) 9.0 l/100 km, CO2 212 g/km; with PDK 8.2 l/100 km CO2 194 g/km. Cost: QR332.200
911 Carrera S 3.8-litre boxer engine with 400 hp (/294 kW); rear-wheel drive, seven-speed manual transmission, optional seven-speed PorscheDoppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK); acceleration 0 - 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, with PDK in 4.3 seconds (4.1 seconds with Sport Chrono Package); top speed 304 km/h, with PDK 302 km/h; fuel consumption (NEDC) 9.5 l/100 km, CO2 224 g/km; with PDK 8.7 l/100 km CO2 205 g/km. Cost: QR393.500
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kept away from it. “ So Cayenne helped potential customers understand more about the brand. New 911 features Finally coming back to the question of the additional features in the new 911, Dawood says, “The new 911, compared to the earlier generation, has front headlights with a slight redesign and it has better aerodynamics. The 911 is a sports car with the engine behind -- this is to have ideal weight distribution which aids the car in being stable at high speeds while it also saves on energy losses.” All cars have their engine either in a V formation or in line, while Porsche is the only manufacturer that has cars with pistons that move horizontally. One of the most pronounced points of differentiation is the 100 mm longer wheelbase. The body on the other hand is only 56 millimetres longer overall lengthwise, the overhangs being shortened by 32 mm at the front and 12 mm at the rear. The Carrera’s roof line is around seven mm lower than that of its predecessor and around six mm for the Carrera S. The maximum headroom remains virtually unchanged. For Coupés with a sunroof, which for the first time is of the electric slide/tilt type, headroom has even increased by 15 millimetres. With an overall length of just under 4.5 metres and an unchanged maximum width of approximately 1.8 metres, the “911 Carrera remains the
most compact sports car in its class”. Courtesy of enhancements within the engine, the new models are up to 16% more economical and up to 15 hp more powerful. The previous engines and transmissions were an outstanding starting point for these efficiency-raising concepts. Porsche’s first venture into downsizing within a model range was the flat-six engine in the Carrera, reducing the piston stroke by four mm with the total displacement falling from 3.6 to 3.4 litres. After the hour-long disclosure on the machine it is a pleasure to test its power. As I run my hand over the beauty, I can’t help but notice that for a layman like me, the new 911 looks just the same; strong, distinct silhouette and much like its predecessors. Driving it is equally familiar, the intoxicating purr of the powerful horizontal engine is the same and the smooth and low grounded drive is not different from my earlier experience. But the added stability due to increased wheel base gives the mind an additional assurance. As I hit the Doha roads and become the envy of many onlookers, we test the speed of the machine and touch 100 km/h in close to 4 seconds. And all this with no effort or strain except for its sexy purr. Four seconds faster than the earlier generation. Again a factor a layman would not care for. As I zip down the Dukhan road, and revel in the powerful thrust of the engine, I again wonder, what is new in the ‘new’ generation 911?
MARKET WATCH
the black pearl of doha
94
Hilton Doha is officially open
H
ilton Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, made its debut in Qatar with the opening of its first hotel in the country, Hilton Doha. The 309-room Hilton Doha is ideally located on the city’s prestigious Corniche and boasts a number of leading features including a 750-capacity ballroom, a dedicated conference wing and the first Hilton eforea: spa in the Middle East. The hotel also features seven state-of-the-art meeting rooms, six restaurants and bars that include Qatar’s very first Trader Vic’s bar and restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, a kids club, a private beach and a view of the Arabian Gulf from every bedroom. Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa, President, Rudi Jagersbacher said: “We have worked hard to create a world class hotel to best reflect Qatar’s growing ambitions to be a major global player. It’s no secret that Doha is set to become an important sporting and cultural Middle East hub and we’re looking forward to bringing the Hilton brand’s trademark hospitality and service to such an exciting and motivated city community.” Travellers can learn more about Hilton Doha by visiting www.doha.hilton.com.
Seafood delight at Red Lobster
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eafood lovers in Qatar have a new place to dine at. Kuwait Food Company Americana has opened the first Red Lobster restaurant in Qatar. Winner of several culinary awards such as “The Best Seafood in America” and ‘The Menu Masters Award’, Red Lobster is famous for its delicious daily fresh seafood menu that is suited to every taste. The secret lies in its unique wood-fire grill technique that gives the dishes the perfect flavour, great atmosphere and affordable prices. The delicious daily fresh seafood menu is a creation by Chef Michael La Duke, Executive Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Development at Red Lobster who was previously recognised as “Central Florida Chef of the Year” by the Restaurant Forum Magazine.
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M ARKET WATC H
Summer promotions from al khaliji
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l Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) QSC has introduced nine summer promotions for its retail and premium credit card holders that customers can avail of during their vacations abroad. The promotion includes 20% off various restaurants at Marriot Hotels worldwide until the end of June, up to 50% on select restaurants in the UAE, 20% off Banana Republic stores until June 15th, 30% off vacation packages at the Atlantis resort in Dubai from June 10th until Sep-
tember 30th, and an exclusive invitation to the Blue salon rewards programme, VIP access and discounts at chic designer outlets in Europe. Meanwhile, al khaliji’s Premium Banking customers holding Infinite Visa cards get discounts and enhanced packages at the Dubai Armani Hotel, and an exclusive Black Membership at Harrods London. al Khaliji also has its Summer Travel Campaign running from June 1 till July 7 where every credit card overseas transaction will earn you an entry in a raffle for a chance to win a free flight and other prizes.
Nokia 808 PureView: 41 Sailing through victory MP camera
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onsolidated Gulf Co (CGC) has announced the local availability of the awardwinning Nokia 808 PureView, the first smartphone in the world with a 41 megapixel camera. Anil Mahajan, COO, CGC, stated, “We are delighted to launch Nokia 808 PureView in Qatar, which is a testament to Nokia’s commitment to delivering innovative mobile phone products for consumers and to imaging enthusiasts in the region.” The Nokia 808 PureView uses a new technology originating from satellite imaging called Pixel Oversampling and combines Carl Zeiss’ exclusive optics and Nokia’s advanced algorithms that offers the smartphone an unprecedented high-end imaging experience. With superior lowlight performance and the ability to save in compact file sizes for sharing in social networks, email and MMS, the Nokia 808 PureView smartphone captures professional looking images in any condition.
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T
he 17th edition of Les Voiles d’Antibes, the first stage of the Mediterranean Circuit of the international Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, concluded last month at Antibes on the Cote d’Azur. In the Big Boats category, the 1914 Moonbeam IV emerged victorious which will also be taking part in the Panerai Transat Classique 2012 race. The Bermudan vessel
Leonore was the winner in the Vintage category. The 1969 Olin Stephens-designed French vessel Arcadia, took overall victory in the Classic category while the 27-metre Savannah (1997), representing the Sociiti Nautique de Saint-Tropez, won all three Spirit of Tradition races to emerge a winner in the category. Officine Panerai has been a principal sponsor of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge to honour its nautical history.
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Steering the SME drive
Home Centre Room Makeover contest
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H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Faisal Thani Al-Thani, chairman of Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) QSC, delivering the inaugural speech at the 2nd Middle East SME Forum.
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leming Gulf Conferences hosted the second edition of the Middle East SME Forum at the Grand Hyatt Hotel that emphasised the small and medium enterprises (SME) culture in the country. Presentations, discussions and case studies touched on SME ecosystem in the Middle East environment, challenges and opportunities towards business start ups and also best practices and successful
stories in the region’s SME sector. In his inaugural speech, HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Faisal Al-Thani, Chairman at Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) QSC, said “Over the last decade, SME policy, and more recently policies which promote entrepreneurship, have become important priorities for GCC policymakers as a means to support economic growth and diversification, productivity, innovation and employment.”
wenty winners were selected from over 3500 entries for the second season of the ‘Home Centre Room Makeover’ contest this year. The lucky winners in Qatar are expat house-wife Chitra Chaturvedi who won a makeover for her living-cum-dining room, dentist Farah Zaidi whose bedroom received a stylish Home Centre makeover, and also resident of Alkhore, Omar Zareed who won a beautiful makeover for his children’s room. Each room makeover worth QR 10,000 is done in a single day by the Home Centre teams of stylists using the latest range of Home Centre furniture and household accessories. The stylists’ recommendations are based on the tastes and personalities of the winners, their requirements and reasons for the makeover, new trends in the market and optimum utilisation of space.
3M announces expansion plans
i
n line with its growth plans for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, research and development leader, 3M, has announced its expansion plans across Nigeria and Kenya in the African continent. 3M will set up a subsidiary in the two countries while deploying expert front end human resources to manage key market segments and end users in both countries. The Kenya operations of 3M would also include neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. The expansion plans initially focus on leveraging key 3M business unit portfolios including healthcare, consumer and office business along with industrial and transportation, which will target the infrastructure, safety and oil & gas industries in Africa. Commenting on 3M MEA’s expansion across Africa, Area Vice President, Irfan Malik, said, “3M expansion across new geographies in Africa is driven by our underlying strategy to enhance our penetration in emerging markets by increasing customer relevance with the aid of our proven global technology platforms and prioritising focus on key industries that are expected to grow multifold in the coming years.”
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Boggi: Summer Stunner
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oggi’s spring/summer 2012 collection offers a variety of contemporary items for a fresh, renewed wardrobe. ‘Blue Label’ is classical wear ranging from the more formal fabrics such as pinstripes “gessati” to the blended “Prince of Wales” and micro-structured weaves. The colours range from grey and blue to light turquoise with a touch of brown tobacco. The most prominent theme in the collection is the innovative fabric treatment known as “spray dyed” yarn dyeing, which gives off a washed linen-like appearance. Another must-have in this collection is a new line called ‘Traveller’ that consists of outerwear made of plain weaved waterproof canvas fabric, designed for men on the move. The ‘Black Label’ has a more contemporary look that is suitable for both day and night. This label features dry fits, silhouetting the male body, made in stretch fabrics that enhance comfort and flexibility. The ‘Resort collection’ offers four themes: a sailing inspired nautical theme, the chambray/denim theme, a refined cotton/linen line and the urban sportswear line. Boggi is located in the Landmark Mall.
Supporting men’s fashion
B Omega’s newest brand ambassador
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ctress Birinice Marlohe has become OMEGA’s newest brand ambassador and participated in the opening of the brand’s new boutique in
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Venice recently. The half-French half-Cambodian actress portrays Siverine in SKYFALL, the James Bond film to be released in November that marks her English-language acting debut.
icester Village collaborated with renowned British stylist and writer Charlie Porter to celebrate the launch of the British Designers’ Collective Menswear at the Bicester Village-one of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping(r) Villages by Value Retail. The event saw in attendance some of the most coveted names in British fashion industry including Patrick Grant (E.Tautz), James Long, Tim Little, Jane Carr, Graham Barber (Gentleman’s Tonic), Andrew Hall (Andrew Martin), and many more. With the launch of the new fashion week, ‘London Collections: Men’, Bicester Village recognised the growing importance of men’s fashion. The British Designers’ Collective Menswear was launched to support this influential category within the fashion industry.
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Wyndham Grand Regency Doha holds gala night
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yndham Grand Regency Doha Hotel held a glittering corporate award banquet to honour and award the top VIP business partners in the Al Qasr Ballroom. General Manager, Ayman Lotfy, congratulated his team and guests on the hotel’s completion of its first anniversary under the Wyndham Grand collection – one of the biggest hotel chains with 7,200 hotels all around the world.
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the
black pearl of doha
Each of the W hotels scattered around the world are based upon a narrative of weaving the concept of the brand with the culture of its host city. At W Doha, rory coen found out it’s a case of influencing its pulsating passion points with the elegant curves of Qatar’s indigenous black pearl.
The W Doha Hotel and Residences has been stepping it up in recent months. Its General Manager, Safak Guvenc, reeled off the list of regional and global gongs it has received since the New Year turned. “The most prestigious ceremony was the World Travel Awards where we won the Best Business Hotel and the Best Hotel and Residence in the region,” he said. “We also won the Best 5 star Business Hotel at the MENA awards.” In Time Out magazine, the Jean-Georges inspired creations – Market and Spice Market – were voted the Best Restaurant and the Best Business Lunch in the city, while
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Bliss won a MENA gold award for offering the best spa treatment in the region. W’s Got Talent After a delightful “express lunch” at the Spice Market, I sat down with Guvenc to get an understanding of the W brand and what it did in particular to capture these awards in the face of such stiff competition across the region. Keeping a hotel in tip-top shape and promoting attention to every detail can only be a joint effort by all staff, so these awards are team awards in effect. Guvenc had an interesting way of showing his appreciation for his team. “We are continuously training our talent,” he explained in reference to the hotel’s staff. It’s not everywhere you hear this type
of positive rhetoric being aimed at human capital. In fact, all the way through the chat, every member of his team was labeled as such. “We don’t sacrifice on quality in our service,” he continued. “And we really believe that buying the best ingredients – when it comes to food and beverage – is of paramount importance. If we don’t like it, we don’t buy it. Market and Spice Market are Jean George’s restaurants pure and through – we don’t make any changes to the recipes. “When it comes to the hotel, we have the same principles,” he carried on. “The perpetual training and development of our talent is key – we believe new blood is sometimes required to bring us to the next level, but also promoting from within to reward
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Safak Guvenc General Manager, W Doha Hotel and Residences
and motivate our incumbent talent.” Passion Points The W Doha’s definition of luxury is a little different to the classical meaning. The hotel is definitely open to everyone, but it’s aimed more at those who have a passion for a lifestyle hotel, those who want to live their normal life in luxury. It essentially offers an entertainment choice with a luxury product. Guvenc explained the W Doha’s points of passion. “Our passion points are the foundation
of the W brand,” he explained. “Branding is very important. All brands have values behind them which make them strong. Our passion points are music, fashion and design. We leverage these to strengthen our brand. “So, for instance, Crystal Lounge and Waham support the world’s top and upcoming DJs. This is not just in Doha – whichever W Hotel you go to in the world you will find an entertainment centre. We even have our own music director. “The fashion constitutes the wardrobe
that we wear. All of our talent wear black suits, black ties or various other outfits – that’s fashion! We don’t believe in just wearing a uniform so that’s why we call it a wardrobe. We believe that out talent should wear something they are proud of. With Virgina Commonwealth University (VCU) here in Doha, we support their fashion academy and sponsor some of their fashion graduates. “The design of this hotel was taken from the black pearl of the middle east. If you walk through the hotel you will see curves everywhere – because a pearl is curved. Our rooms have sheer curtain, the living room has a curved stairs, and we have a hanging blue lamp which was taken from a local mosque. We’re combining a modern lifestyle luxury with the amazing Arabic culture of Doha. “Those are the three passion points we build the brand on. We are very strong with these and we will continue to focus on them. Our number one priority is of course the guest experience, but all of this is to enhance this experience”
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Doha Festival City A new holistic experience Having made a debut at the recently held Cityscape exhibition in Doha, the Doha Festival City is set to become the most sought after destination in Qatar by 2015. By Casse y O l i v e i ra
Q
atar may have lost the 2020 Olympic Bid to competitors Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul, but it still has another sporting spectacle to its name – the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Being the first country in the Middle East to host a game of such scale, Qatar is rolling up its sleeves to make sure that visiting soccer fans and residents are not disappointed. And the Doha Festival City (DFC) project couldn’t have come at a better time, says CEO Kareem Shamma. DFC is a QR6 billion mixed use retail, entertainment and hospitality destination that follows closely along the lines of the tried and tested Dubai Festival City concept. The humungous area spanning 433,847 sq m is owned and developed by Bawabat Al-Shamal Real Estate Company WLL (BASREC) and is a joint venture between Al-Futtaim Real Estate Services, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) and private Qatari investors. “Doha has quickly established itself as one of the most important economic hubs in the world given its growing energy sector and visionary leadership. With one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world, a fast growing population and a lack of retail outlets, the decision to setup Doha Festival City was an easy one,” says Shamma. Filling the gaps Though the country’s international tourist sector isn’t burgeoning at the moment, Shamma is optimistic that the FIFA 2022
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Kareem Shamma CEO, Doha Festival City
will change statistics. In addition to the fledgling tourism market there’s also the domestic market that has to be addressed by providing more family-oriented entertainment. In DFC, the main concept was to create a holistic project that encompasses retail, hospitality and entertainment components – a concept that is currently lacking in Qatar’s leisure and entertainment industry, says Shamma. “It’s important to sustain traffic into a mall, and frequency will rise only when you give the market something new, something that they haven’t visited frequently,” says Shamma. “The DFC will be the largest retail complex in the country offering over 500 shopping and dining outlets, and automotive
showrooms all interconnected under one roof. Over 200 brands will open their flagship stores here, the most exclusive being the long-awaited IKEA store that will open in the fist quarter of 2013. People are tired of seeing the same brands in every mall. It’s refreshing to see several brands for the first time in Qatar.” In terms of entertainment, the City includes 17,000 sq m of open air attractions and 11,000 within the body of the mall that will cater to a wide range of interests over a wide age group. Also addressing traffic woes, the road networks within the complex have been designed to facilitate easy and convenient access in and out of the project in addition to a world class vehicle management system and over 8,500 car parking spaces. To top it off, the complex is strategically located on the Al Shamal highway that links Doha International Airport with the proposed Bahrain Causeway, and to the future Lusail Expressway. “Since it lies on the junction, it has high visibility and promotes accessibility thus attracting a steady stream of visitors from neighbouring GCC countries as well.” While the project’s groundbreaking ceremony took place in October 2011, the project’s Phase 1 (IKEA) construction is scheduled to complete in Q1 2013 and Phase 2, mall entertainment and leisure, in Q3 2015. Shamma is not worried about the competition. “There’s certainly competition in terms of the number of malls coming up; even in terms of hospitality with the numerous hotels in the city. But if you combine the three aspects of hospitality, retail and entertainment for a holistic experience – I don’t see any competition yet. The DFC is a complete package”
SPORT f i l e
Al-Annabi pass early test
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lthough Qatar received a harsh lesson from World Cup regulars South Korea at the Al Sadd stadium in early June, they will feel spirited from their opening three games. The 4-1 drubbing by the visitors from the Far East was sandwiched between a single goal win in Beirut against lowly Lebanon and another draw against Iran – the third in nine months – in Tehran. The Qatar Football Association took an alarming risk playing three games – two away from home – in such a short space of time but it seems to have played out well for them. They sit in joint-second place in the table having now played two of the top teams. Qatar’s focus will be squarely on that second place spot, to qualify by right, given Iran’s apparent lack of direction at the moment – their draw with Qatar was backed up by a last-ditch winner away to Uzbekistan. Lebanon 0-1 Qatar Qatar opened the final Group Phase of the AFC Qualification for the 2014 World Cup with a trip to Lebanon. In what was a rather cagey affair, with Lebanon having the best of the chances overall, a mistake midway through the second half by Lebanese defender Ramez Dayoub let in big Sebastian Soria to nonchalantly round the keeper and slot home the only goal of the game. Qatar didn’t coast to the final whistle however and instead of winding down the clock with controlled and percentage passing, they went looking for a second. This played into the hands of Lebanon who had more space in which to operate and it eventually told at the death when defender Youssef Mohamad was presented with a guilt-edge chance but somehow squandered it. Qatar came away with three points they scarcely deserved. They rode their luck a couple of times, but as
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Qatar’s Ibrahim Majed Abdullmajed is challenged for the ball in their opening game in Beirut
Group A
South Korea
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always in clutch ties, it’s whoever takes the chances that reaps the spoils. After a pretty stressful and strenuous test, they went home to face South Korea five days later. Qatar 1-4 South Korea Qatar got off to a very encouraging start, when after 22 minutes Al Sadd’s Yousef Ahmad Ali scored the opening goal of the game, as he out-paced Kwak Tae Hwi coming in from the right to squeeze the ball past the luckless keeper. But this seemed to be the kick South Korea needed and they were level four minutes later, before hitting two goals early in the second half to put the game to bed. Iran 0-0 Qatar After this rather frail attempt at keeping out the Koreans, it was no wonder manager Paulo Autuori preferred to park the bus in
Uzbekistan
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front of the Iranian goal four days later in an effort to come away from a packed Azadi Stadium in Tehran with a point. Qatar was on the back of two grueling championship encounters whilst Iran had a nine-day break since their win over Uzbekistan. The Qatari defense understood their individual jobs and roles well and functioned superbly as a unit, hardly giving Iran a clear chance at goal. A shot by the Iranian captain Javed Nekounam was the best chance the hosts had as it slapped the crossbar, with Qatari keeper Qassim Burhan clearly beaten. So after that shot-gun start to their campaign, Qatar now take a break from competitive action until next October and November when they will play Uzbekistan and Lebanon respectively in a pair of must-win home encounters. They will watch their four group rivals battle each other in two games in September.
doha diary
D O H A D I a RY
purple
pride creating equal opportunities
In a perfect world, every child would have the same opportunities to develop their skills and aptitude. The ones who wanted it the most would thrive and realise their potential, becoming experts in their chosen fields, and Those who were left behind would have no excuses.
wo kids are called Assad and Ahmed. Assad was brought up by wealthy parents in an affluent area of town. He was spoiled with private education, personal tutorials and the best resources to learn. He performed moderately well in school, randomly announced that he wanted to become a journalist and was accepted to a private university. Ahmed comes from a lower-class background. His father died when he was young and his requirement to help out domestically pushed him to do some casual work at a local newspaper after school, where the editor allowed him to write brief
sports reports. He developed his inherent flair for the Arabic language which was noticed in his test scores at school. However he didn’t perform well enough overall to qualify for third-level education and this budding talent fell through the cracks in the system. Who would you see as having the brighter potential as a journalist? Morton Schapiro, the president of Northwestern University (NU), was in Qatar recently to honour the first batch of journalism graduates on their campus at Education City. Graduates whom the Dean and CEO of NU-Qatar, Everette E Dennis recently described as a ‘diverse mosaic of cultures and true pioneers who have blazed a successful trail for others to follow’. College Access: Privilege or Opportunity The 36 graduates, who came from 29 different countries, obviously needed a combination of an intellect tailored towards journalism and the means to pay for the four-year liberal arts degree. NU wants to be able to select the best and the brightest in the world, but they must also be able to pay for the privilege or getting such an education. So where’s the opportunity for a boy
like Ahmed? Schapiro, who specialises in the economics of higher education, recently penned a book called ‘College Access: Privilege or Opportunity’, which addresses the problem of unequal educational opportunity in the US through essays and studies detailing the disadvantages of low-income students. Backed by quantitative data and expert analyses, the book highlights the underlying problems while presenting opportunities for positive change. He discusses various models colleges could use to educate low-income students and argued that it is imperative to give these students full access to high-cost colleges as well as low-cost ones in order for the country to remain globally competitive. What is the difference between opportunity and privilege? “It’s a question of how wide you’re going to allocate your higher education opportunities,” said Schapiro. “Some countries have a policy of ‘only the very best and the brightest will go to university’ so the other students are attracted to more technical skills. The US in particular has always felt that wide access is important and actually 70% of high school graduates are enrolled in higher education somewhere
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Qatar Today 10 1
doha diary Photo: Peter Barreras.
D O H A D i a RY
“We recognise that if you come from a low income family, your test-scores are not going to be high and thereís obviously a reason for this. You might have to work outside to supplement family income, or babysit younger siblings.”
within one year. “You have to be willing to put your thumb on the scale,” he continued, regarding policies for proportional education. “You have to be very careful how you evaluate the academic record of an 18-year-old. It must be based on the opportunities that this student had to prove himself or herself in high school. If we had the same standards and test scores, everyone would be well off. When you talk about opportunity or privilege, it would be all privilege. “There are a lot of students from upper income backgrounds who are brilliant and have availed of every opportunity, but there are more students who, if they had the same opportunities, would have even better records. One of the things we are most proud of at Northwestern is the amount of first generation college kids we enroll. They’re not going to look as good as the more ‘affluent students’ unless you evaluate them against the context in which they have to prove themselves – that’s putting the thumb on the scale and we have to adjust for the opportunities that present themselves.” It is the highly endowed private universities, such as Harvard, Yale Stanford and Northwestern, which are able to subsidise education for students from underprivileged societies. Public universities are there for all of course, but they tend to attract students with high test-scores who invariably come from more affluent families. “Institutions like ours have the funds to say, ‘Ahmed, you’re a bright kid with something to offer. Your parents can’t afford our fees, but we’ll take you on regardless’,” said Schapiro. “We recognise that if you come from a low income family, your test-scores are not going to be high and there’s obvi-
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Morton Schapiro President of Northwestern University
ously a reason for this. You might have to work outside to supplement family income, or babysit younger siblings.” Education City Northwestern University has been in existence since 1851, and has defined itself as a ‘centre of excellence’, if you like, in many strains of academia. Schapiro talks of ‘purple pride’ and how its alumni are so proud of their education there that they perennially ‘give back’ in various guises. The institution is over 150 years old, so he likes to underscore that it takes time to create reputable education centres, but the Education City model is a very innovative effort. “I think Education City is working well,” said Schapiro. “It’s not just planting random universities for the sake of having universities – it’s identifying what fields you want represented. HH Sheikha Mozah asked which institution is best at teaching petroleum engineering – Texas A&M. What about media and communication journalism? Well a lot of people would put Northwestern right up there. So part of her vision was not just to bring any old universities here, but the right ones. “On top of that, she didn’t want a watered-down version of what was offered in the States either – she wanted a NU-Q degree to be a Northwestern degree. Is there the same literary tradition here in Qatar? I guess not, but students here have all kinds of talents that our US students might not have and we are trying to breathe those talents. There are always challenges but you
have to realise that culture is important. What you do is work on what’s really great and you try to make up for what’s lacking.” he added. Endowments Endowments constitute a major portion of the funding to universities. Northwestern University, one of the most highly endowed institutions in the US, currently has QR27 billion in store. Endowments allow universities to provide better education and rely less on tuition fees. Why do alumni feel obliged to give back to their universities in such large amounts? “I’ve been in this business for 20 years and I feel there are three sets of reasons for this,” explained Schapiro. “Some people are just loyal – they feel like they owe their alma mater. ‘I graduated Kellogg School of Management and now I run this big company, making a fortune. I never would be in this situation if it weren’t for Kellogg’, they say. “Secondly, these long-standing institutions – such as ours – date back to the 19th century and they stand for excellence and some people like to be associated with that. “The third reason is a shared vision,” he continued. “They see us bringing western style journalism to the Gulf region, inculcating cultural understanding into today’s youth, and they want to support this. For insteance, a scientist at Northwestern is currently looking for a cure for Parkinson’s disease, trying to change the world for the better – they like to help out projects like thise however they can”
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doha diary
RasGas hosts TEACH luncheon
Enhancing the education experience
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a
s part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) hosted a luncheon for 12 American teachers in Qatar who had participated in the fourth annual Teachers Educating Across Cultures in Harmony (TEACH) Fellowship programme. Organised by the Bilateral USArab Chamber of Commerce (BUSACC), TEACH provides primary and secondary school educators from across the US the unique opportunity to visit Middle Eastern countries to learn about culture, tradition, education and society in the region. “Educators in the US will benefit greatly from learning how their counterparts in other parts of the world address these issues. They can bring back what they’ve learned into the classroom and better prepare the next generation for an increasingly complex world,” said Aida Araissi, BUSACC Managing Director based in Houston, Texas.
atar University (QU) and ExxonMobil launched the inaugural Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy – an intensive professional development programme designed to help teachers develop innovative math and science teaching skills. More than 40 primary school teachers from Qatar’s independent school system were selected to participate in the academy. The teachers were selected by QU based on their qualifications, dedication, proficiency in English and overall commitment to enhance the education experience for students. The programme is modelled after the successful Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy that has trained more than 3,200 teachers across US since 2006. “The academy equips teachers with the necessary tools and strategies to create enthusiasm about math and science and help develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators,” said Bart Cahir, President and General Manager, ExxonMobil Qatar. “The Academy is a reflection of Qatar’s dedication to providing a strong knowledge base for all of its residents, especially in math and science – the foundations of innovation,” said Professor Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad, President, QU.
An evening of Islamic Calligraphy
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oha Bank and Blue Mosaic in association with Sotheby’s hosted “Between 2 lines”– an exhibition that showcased the Islamic calligraphy works by the late renowned artist M F Hussain at the Doha Bank Tower. The event was attended by Ambassadors, Diplomats, Charge de affairs representing respective foreign embassies operating in the State of Qatar and customers of Doha Bank. Doha Bank Group, Chief Executive Officer, Dr R Seetharaman said, “Approaching a piece of paper to write calligraphy is like mapping out a bank’s strategy in Chinese economy. Some of the finest works of modern calligraphy are charters and letters patent issued by monarchs and officers of state in various countries. Islamic calligraphy is associated with geometric Islamic art on the walls and is a visible expression of the highest art of all. M F Hussain has been widely regarded as the “Picasso of India” and has influenced a whole generation of artists in the country.”
Dr. R Seetharaman, ceo, doha bank and owais hussain (l), son of MF Hussain, addressing guests at the Islamic calligraphy exhibition
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Qatar Today 103
doha diary
Supporting a healthy lifestyle
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nation-wide campaign ‘Your Health First’ organised by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) in association with the Supreme Council of Health was launched by HE Abdulla bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health. The campaign aims to increase public awareness of critical health issues. Speaking at the launch ceremony held at the St. Regis Doha in partnership with Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum of Qatar and Vodafone Qatar, the minister stressed that the campaign fully supports Qatar’s National Health Strategy (NHS) 2011-2016, which aims to enhance the wellness of the people of Qatar and includes amongst its several goals preventive healthcare. The Your Health First campaign consists of five stages, the first of which ends on December 31, 2012. Each of the other stages will last for a year with a focus on two major health issues as well as public health. As
(l-r) Ahmed Al-Ahmed of Oxy; Bart Cahir of ExxonMobil; HE Abdulla bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health and Secretary General of the SCH; Dr Javaid Sheikh, Dean of WCMCQ; Steve Kelly, of Oxy; Ahmed Al Mawlawi of QP; Abdulaziz Al Talib of Al Khaleej Gas and John Saad of Vodafone Qatar
part of the campaign, five-minute health awareness programmes will be aired on Qatar Television, as well as daily health tips via Qatar Radio. The campaign will also make use of digital media and social networks to
reach a wider audience in Qatar. A bespoke smartphone application for the campaign will also be developed by Vodafone Qatar that will provide users with updated health tips for healthy lifestyles.
Visa cardholders win In search of WISE learners trip to London Games
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fter the success of the 2010 and 2011 Learner’s Voice Programme, the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) have begun their search for the 2012 batch of learners. WISE has invited representatives of institutions, organisations, programmes and networks to nominate outstanding young learners, aged 18-25, to participate in programme. The WISE Learners’ Voice Programme engages young learners and supports their development as advocates in the field of education. The 30 finalists will be invited to participate in the 2012 WISE Summit in Doha to be held on November 13-15, 2012. Since last year, selected WISE learners have had the opportunity to work on the theme of ‘Increasing access to education through innovation’ for which they attended the sixth World Youth Congress in Brazil, the eLearning Africa conference in Benin, and the India Youth Forum, and a host of other important projects to gain practical insights and understanding of the issue.
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British Ambassador to Qatar Michael O’ Neill (left) with prize winners Ettol Kandathila Khalid, Dr Zafer Aziz Esmandar, Nader Saeed Hassan Mahmoud, and Visa KSA, General Manager, Ihab Ayoub
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ISA, a Worldwide Olympic Games Sponsor for more than 25 years, held a reception at the British Embassy to award the winners of a nationwide cardholder promotion “Go World”. Ettol Kandathila Khalid, Kolla Mohammed Kaleem Pasha, Dr Zafer Aziz Esmandar and Nader Saeed Hassan Mahmoud, were announced as the four lucky winners, who will be travelling to London for the Olympic Games courtesy of Visa. Michael O’ Neill, the British Ambassador to Qatar joined guests to congratulate the winners at the reception. Along with travel and accommodation to the Games, the winners will also receive tickets to attend the games and experience one of the world’s greatest sporting events firsthand.
doha diary
Stenden University graduation ceremony The Class of 2011-2012 graduated from the Stenden University Qatar at a glittering ceremony held at the St Regis Doha.
ROTA Launches Ramadan 2012 Project
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each Out To Asia (ROTA) invited volunteers for the third ROTA Volunteer Marketplace that was held at Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar, to learn more about its Ramadan 2012 Project. Through this project, ROTA is organising a number of special activities including distribution of groceries to families in need, two house ‘makeover’ renovations, delivering iftars to a number of community-based institutions and celebrating the Garangaou Night alongside children with special needs. ROTA Director, Essa Al-Mannai said, “The Holy month of Ramadan is a very spe-
cial time of the year. Our exciting initiatives reflect the true Ramadan spirit, providing practical help and support for various underprivileged groups in the community.” For more info on Ramadan activities visit www.reachouttoasia.org
Photography workshop at Katara
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atara Visual Arts Education and Christie’s Education New York, the world’s leading art business, will jointly host the History of Photography – an extensive three day course that will begin on June 30 will provide expert insight into the complex techniques used by the world’s most famous photographers. From vintage to contemporary photography, the workshop will focus on topics such as the invention of photography, art versus science, the decisive moment, new documents, post war photography, new topography, photography as a conceptual practice and contemporary photography.
Students unveil energy efficient vehicles
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tudent teams from Qatar University and Texas A&M University at Qatar unveiled their ultra energy efficient vehicles at the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP). The teams will be heading to the Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia that will be held from July 4-7 at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur.
SEM is one of the most innovative and challenging student competitions held annually in Europe, America and Asia where university student teams from around the world are challenged to design, build and compete with energy efficient vehicles. The most fuel-efficient car ever designed by a Shell Eco-marathon student team was capable of driving 4,896.1 kilometres on a single litre of fuel.
“I have been impressed by the level of detailed preparations and innovative thinking that students have demonstrated in the design and assembly of their vehicles. This competition will equip these future engineers with hands-on engineering skills as well as project management skills as they work on designing and building these vehicles,” said Wael Sawan, Executive Vice President, Qatar Shell.
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the olympic
unknowns
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will take place this month in London, UK from July 27 to August 12. The programme features 26 sports and a total of 39 disciplines. For the first time, women’s boxing is included in the programme, with 40 athletes competing in five different weight classes. There is a special dispensation to allow the various shooting events to go ahead, which would otherwise be illegal under UK gun law. Whilst athletics and swimming steal most of the headlines, here are five sports which you may not be familiar with
Fencing (July 28 - August 5) Number of medal events: 10 – Men’s and women’s Individual EpÈe Foil and Sabre; Men’s Team Foil and Team Sabre; Women’s Team EpÈe and Team Foil. Although sword fighting dates back thousands of years, Fencing as we now understand it really only came of age as a sport in the 19th century. A tense, compelling battle of wits and technique, the sport is one of the few to have featured at every modern Olympic Games. After the Paris 1924 Games, the Italian and Hungarian teams settled a scoring controversy with a real-life duel. Fencing takes place on a piste, 14 metres long and two metres wide. Three types of weapon are used. In bouts using the Foil and the slightly heavier EpÈe, hits are scored by hitting an opponent with the tip of the weapon. In Sabre, hits are more commonly scored with the edge of the weapon. EpÈe allows both fencers to score at the same time, while Foil and Sabre have rules of right of way and timing that mean only one fencer can score a hit at a time. Individual Fencing bouts last for three periods of three minutes each, or until one fencer has scored 15 hits against his/her opponent. In the Team events, teams of three fencers compete against their opponents over a series of nine three-minute bouts, with the aim of accumulating a maximum of 45 hits to win the match. Hits are recorded electronically using wireless technology.
Canoe Slalom (July 29 - August 2) Number of medal events: 4 – men’s Canoe Single (C1), Canoe Double (C2) and Kayak Single (K1) and women’s Kayak Single (K1). Modelled on slalom skiing, the first Canoe Slalom competition was held in Switzerland in 1932. The sport was staged on flat water during its early days, but was later switched to white-water rapids. Since becoming a permanent part of the Olympic programme 20 years ago in Barcelona, the sport has thrilled spectators at the Games with spectacular, non-stop action on the powerful, unforgiving water. Athletes negotiate a 250 metre white water course, flowing at a rate of 13 cubic metres per second, and dropping 5.5m from start to finish. Canoe Slalom competitions consist of timed runs down a white water course with up to 25 gates. Red gates must be negotiated upstream, while green gates must be negotiated downstream. Touching a gate adds a two-second time penalty to the run; missing a gate results in a 50-second penalty. The time taken to run the course in seconds is added to any penalties to give the overall score.
Handball: (July 28 - August 12) Number of medal events: 2 – One men’s and one women’s team competition. Developed in Denmark, Sweden and Germany in the late 19th century, it was originally played outdoors as field handball. It first appeared at the Olympics at the Berlin 1936 Games. Played on the largest court of any indoor ball sport at the Games, handball features two teams of seven players passing and dribbling (bouncing) a small ball with their hands. The aim is to throw the ball into the opposition’s goal, which happens often – it is not uncommon to see 50 goals in a single match. Only the goalkeeper is allowed in the goal area in front of each goal. However, players may jump into this area when attempting a shot at goal but must release the ball before landing. The ball is made of synthetic leather and has a circumference of about 55 cms – a little bit smaller than a volley ball.
Weightlifting (July 28 -August 7) Number of medal events: 15 – Eight men’s and seven women’s weight categories. The aim of Weightlifting is simple: to lift more weight than anyone else. The result is pure sporting theatre of the most dramatic kind, and a real spectator favourite. Athletes compete on a platform, which is 4m x 4m and 10cm high. Competitors in Weightlifting are divided into 15 weight categories, eight for men and seven for women. The strongest competitors may lift more than three times their body weight. Each event features two types of lift. In the Snatch, the bar is lifted from the floor to above the head in one movement. By contrast, the Clean and Jerk is a two-stage action - the bar is first brought up to the shoulders before being jerked over the head. The heaviest individual weight lifted in Olympic competition was achieved by Hossein Rezazadeh of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the Athens 2004 Games, Rezazadeh clean-and-jerked 263.5kg – a weight roughly equivalent to five flyweight boxers.
Trampoline: (August 3 & 4) Number of medal events: 2 – One men’s and one women’s competition. 16 competitors in each. Devised in the 1930s at the University of Iowa, the first modern trampoline was initially used as a training tool for tumblers, astronauts and athletes. However, it grew in popularity to such an extent that in 1964 the first ever Trampoline World Championships were held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Since making its Olympic debut at the Sydney Games in 2000, the sport has consistently featured awe-inspiring displays of acrobatic excellence, with athletes jumping to heights of up to 10 metres. The field of play contains two trampolines next to each other, 2m apart and both just 10m away from the judging panel. Each trampoline is five metres long, three metres wide and one metre high. The bed is woven from strips that are less than 6mm thick, and is attached to the frame with more than 100 steel springs. Gymnasts perform a series of 10 skill routines, with a variety of single, double and triple somersaults with and without twists. Precise technique and perfect body control are vital for success, with judges delivering marks for difficulty, execution and time of flight, minus penalties.
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Source: www.london2012.com