MEED Middle East Economic Digest articles from March 2009

MEED Middle East Economic Digest archives from March 2009

Oil field diving services.(IRAN)
March 6, 2009... Two years' provision of special diving services.

Airport data exchange network.(KUWAIT)
March 6, 2009... Design, supply, installation, operation, training, maintenance, technical support and guarantee of an airport data exchange network.

Drinking water pipelines.(KUWAIT)
March 6, 2009... Construction, completion and maintenance of five 1,600-millimetre-diameter main drinking water pipelines.

Oil terminal tube bundle cleaning.(LIBYA)
March 6, 2009... Cleaning of tube bundles at the Zuetina oil terminal.

Water supply system.(OMAN)
March 6, 2009... Provision of a water supply system at Niabt Jabal Akhdar in the Wilayat Nizwa.

Hydrogeological services.(OMAN)
March 6, 2009... Provision of hydrogeological services for a petroleum company.

Road construction.(QATAR)
March 6, 2009... Construction of roads at various locations within gas operating areas.

Distribution substation equipment maintenance.(QATAR)
March 6, 2009... Carrying out the maintenance of distribution substation equipment on a call-off contract basis.

Labour camp development.(SAUDI ARABIA)
March 6, 2009... Development of labour camps, including earthworks, internal roads, storm drainage, sanitary wastewater and irrigation system, power, telecommunications and landscaping.

Developmental works.(SAUDI ARABIA)
March 6, 2009... Carrying out developmental works including landscaping, irrigation, power and landscaping works.

Desalination plant refurbishment.(UAE)
March 6, 2009... Refurbishment of a desalination plant at E Station, phase 1, in lebel Ali.

Heavy vehicles.(YEMEN)
March 6, 2009... Supply of four-wheel-drive, double-cabin pick-up trucks and four-wheel-drive, long-wheel-base hard-top vehicles as part of a community resource management project.

National Contracting bids low for Minagish substations.(Contract news)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Saudi Arabia's National Contracting Company is the low bidder for the contract to build two substations at the Minagish oil field in western Kuwait with a bid of KD10.8m ($36.8m). The local Al-Ahlea Electric Boards...

Kuwait tenders Doha East work.(Contract news)
March 6, 2009... Kuwait's Electricity & Water Ministry has issued a tender for a water treatment unit.

Lukoil submits gas plan to ministry.(Contract news)
March 6, 2009... Lukoil Saudi Arabia has submmitted an appraisal plan for two discoveries in the Empty Quarter.

Iraq signs $400m drilling rig deal.(Contract news)
March 6, 2009... Iraq Drilling Company has signed a $400m joint venture agreement with the UK's Mesopotamia Petroleum Company for 12 new drilling rigs.

Dutco to build Mirdif City Centre road interchange.(Contract news)
March 6, 2009... Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority has awarded a AED182m ($50m) contract to built an interchange.

Kuwait awards substation deal to Saudi firm.(Contract news)
March 6, 2009... Kuwait's Electricity & Water Ministry has awarded NCC a contract to build transformers.

Events.(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 6, 2009... Middle East Aluminium Capitalise on the region's aluminium boom 24-26 March Shangri-la Hotel, Dubai, UAE www.meed.com/events/aluminium MEED's Aluminium conference will put guests face to face with a line-up of the Middle East...

Sale demands bold action.
March 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Iran's aviation sector is crying out for investment and reorganization Tehran will not reap benefits unless it keeps its privatisation on track The economic climate may not be advantageous, but Iran's move...

Riyadh needs a gas programme.(non-associated gas programme)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... The kingdom needs to build a new non-associated gas programme to ensure it has sufficient supplies to feed its national network When Saudi Arabia signed a series of gas exploration deals with energy majors in 2004, Riyadh set the ambitious...

Sas negotiations show the way.(ENERGY)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... The parties on the Sas deal have shown that there can be room for manoeuvre on more than just price In recent months, the slowdown in project activity across all industries in the Middle East has been palpable. But MEED's annual analysis...

Algiers right to compromise on oil.(international oil companies)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As project costs fall in 2009, a new spirit of compromise may be coming at just the right time Algeria was lauded in the past for the liberal terms it offered to international oil companies (IOCs) and the...

Firms must face up to insolvency.(UAE)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... Tough decisions will have to be made and companies will have to face up to the fact they are bankrupt The number one issue for every company working in Dubai is cash flow. It seems no one is paying anyone anymore. Investors are not...

Tehran to launch Iran Air privatisation: national carrier to be broken up and sold off this year in first stage of plans to overhaul aviation sector.
March 6, 2009... Iran will launch a complete restructuring of the nation's aviation sector this year, beginning with the privatisation of the national airline, Iran Air, and the introduction of foreign management to the country's airports. Tehran will also...

Riyadh in talks with defence firm over manufacturing deal: UK's BAE Systems considers building armoured vehicles in the kingdom.(DEFENCE: SAUDI ARABIA)
March 6, 2009... UK defence group BAE Systems is considering expanding its manufacturing operations in the kingdom to include military vehicles. BAE is talking to Riyadh about developing manufacturing capacity to build armoured vehicles and upgrade tanks in...

Client extends bid deadline for Safi plant.(Office National de l'Electricite)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... Office National de l'Electricite (ONE) has extended its deadline for bids to build a coal-fired power plant at Sail, between Casablanca and Agadir on Morocco's west coast, until 30 June. Bidders were originally due to submit their proposals...

Engineers face ban on distance working: firms seek talks with National Oil Company over plans to allow only those based in Libya to bid for work.(National Oil Corporation )
March 6, 2009... International engineering and construction firms are calling for crisis talks with the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) over its plan to build a skilled workforce within Libya by banning the practice of awarding work to firms based...

Contractors submit bids for Sheikh Khalifa hospital work.(MCM Group)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... Abu Dhabi-based MCM Group is the low bidder for the contract to build the Sheikh Khalifa specialist hospital In the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. The group's price of AED800m ($217m) is about 4 per cent lower than the bid of AED837m submitted...

State funds step in to support Jizan: SIDF and PIF to offer help to contractors struggling to secure finance for the multi-billion-dollar scheme.(Saudi Industrial Development Fund)(Public Investment Fund )
March 6, 2009... Saudi Arabia's two state-owned investment funds are to provide support to prequalified contractors on the Jizan oil refinery on the kingdom's Red Sea coast because of concerns over their ability to secure finance for the project. Sources...

Dodsal bids low for Abu Dhabi compressor unit contract.(ENERGY: UAE)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... Dubai-based contractor Dodsal is the low bidder for the contract to install compressor units at Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Operations' (Adco) Bab oil field, with a price of less than $1bn, contractors tell MEED. The engineering,...

Qatari Diar and Al-Jaber suspend Doha tower schemes.
March 6, 2009... Real estate developers in Qatar are delaying two planned skyscrapers for downtown Doha as the state's real estate project market begins to slow down. Local developer Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company has delayed the 400-metre-plus...

Insolvent developers face legal action: UAE law requires companies that cannot pay bills to apply to courts for protection or file for bankruptcy.
March 6, 2009... Dubai-based developers who fail to pay their bills on time as the real estate market slows could be operating in breach of UAE law. according to one leading international lawyer. UAE law states that companies must apply to the courts for...

ExxonMobil in line for Awali work.(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... The US' ExxonMobil Corporation has emerged as the front runner for a deal to develop deep gas reserves at Awali, Bahrain's largest gas field. The oil major is expected to win the contract after already carrying out technical analysis for...

Kuwait Oil delays first major construction deal of the year: contractors seek clarity over financial and technical aspects of Jurassic contract.(Kuwait Oil Company)
March 6, 2009... Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has delayed bidding on its first major construction contract of 2009, for early production facilities at its Jurassic field in the north, following queries from local contractors over the structure of the deal. ...

Daewoo pulls out of Tripoli West deal: Gecol must find replacement civil works contractor and secure financing for scheme to go ahead.(General Electricity Company of Libya)
March 6, 2009... The fate of the planned $1.3bn Tripoli West project is again being called into question following the breakdown of negotiations between the client, General Electricity Company of Libya (Gecol), and the civil works contractor, South Korea's...

Airport expansion to nearly triple passenger capacity.(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... Bahrain is moving ahead with the expansion of Bahrain International airport in Manama, and now plans to boost its capacity to 27 million passengers a year, from the current 10 million. The eight-year project is expected to cost several...

Clients seek discretion over deals.(MARKETS: SAUDI ARABIA)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... The global credit crunch is encouraging firms and investors in the kingdom to conduct mergers and acquisitions in private, one leading broker tells MEED, sparing sellers the embarrassment of publicly announcing their need to raise cash. ...

Doubts emerge over future of Duqm coal-fired power plant: progress on project stalls as regulator fails to sanction use of coal to fuel plants.
March 6, 2009... The future of Oman's first coal-fired independent water and power (IWPP) project at Duqm on the east coast is in doubt after it emerged that the energy regulator has yet to sanction the use of coal-fired power plants. The advisory work on...

El-Merk oil project back on track: construction contracts to be tendered before the end of March as $4bn megaproject is relaunched.(ENERGY: ALGERIA)
March 6, 2009... The delayed $4bn El-Merk oil processing and export development project in Algeria has been relaunched, with retendered construction contracts expected to be awarded by mid-March. The project, one of the largest in Algeria, was put on hold...

Amman prepares to liberalise fixed-line telecoms sector.
March 6, 2009... Jordan could become the first Arab state to completely liberalise its fixed-line telecoms sector when a team of independent consultants appointed to overhaul the kingdom's market makes its final report in the coming months. The team was...

Riyadh pays price for output cuts: keeping oil production in line with Opec's quotas has left the kingdom with an unexpected gas shortage.
March 6, 2009... After six years of uninterrupted growth in oil and gas production, Saudi Arabia faces the end of the decade in unfamiliar territory. The world's largest crude producer has slashed oil exports by 1.7 million barrels a day (b/d) to just 8 million...

Paul Griffiths: CEO, Dubai Airports: the man overseeing the world's largest airport investment programme discusses the impact of the global downturn.(Interview)(Interview)
March 6, 2009... Dubai's megaprojects have always aroused admiration and scorn in equal measure. But until now, the relentless growth of the emirate's economy has meant cautionary voices could be safely ignored. Prudence became a dirty word in the world's...

Maroc Telecom: the operator's performance at home and abroad has been impressive, but it faces a challenging year.(TELECOMS)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Business sector Fixed and mobile telecoms Main business regions Morocco, West Africa Chairman & chief executive officer Abdeslam Ahizoune Revenues (2008) MD29.5bn ($3.3bn) Net profits (2008) MD9.5bn ...

Tunis exchange beats its peers: while most stock markets in the region have been following a downward trend, the Tunisian bourse has held up well during the downturn.(TUNISIA)
March 6, 2009... Tunisia's stock market, the Bourse de Tunis, has had a better year than its counterparts in the Gulf and the rest of North Africa. Unlike the downward trend evident elsewhere in the region, the Standard & Poor's (S&P) Tunisia index, the ratings...

Oil & gas.(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On paper, the number of pending contract awards on oil and gas projects in the Gulf is healthy. There are 55 such projects worth more than $1bn, each in various stages of planning. But for 2009 to be a busy year...

Compromise keeps projects on track: price renegotiations on major oil and gas projects are maintaining momentum in the Gulf market, but MEED's annual survey of contractors highlights uncertainty over some planned projects.
March 6, 2009... The results of MEED's exclusive survey of oil and gas firms working in the GCC appear to show the sector in full recovery from the slowdown in major contract awards that began in mid 2007. According to research by MEED and data from Gulf...

Tehran's struggle for self-sufficiency: despite its massive hydrocarbon and gas reserves, political isolation, falling oil prices and inflexible contract terms mean the republic faces an uphill struggle to overcome its energy challenges.(IRAN)
March 6, 2009... More than any other country in the Middle East, Iran's oil and gas business is a story of frustrated potential. It has the second-largest proven oil reserves in the world after Saudi Arabia. with 138.4 billion barrels or 11.2 per cent of global...

Cairo reviews free zone tax: the levy on energy companies in Egypt's free zones, combined with the global banking crisis, is stalling progress on the state's ambitious refinery projects.(EGYPT)
March 6, 2009... Egypt's oil and gas sector has come under increasing pressure to boost production over the past few years, as power demand increases in line with its growing population and industrial base. Egypt's population of 81 million is growing at a...

Manama seeks fresh energy supply: Bahrain's decision to end talks with Tehran over importing 1 billion cubic feet a day of gas following a diplomatic fallout highlights its need to secure new sources of energy.(BAHRAIN)
March 6, 2009... Manama halted negotiations with Tehran in mid-February over plans to import up to I billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas from Iran's offshore Fars field. Its decision was a diplomatic response to claims by Ali Akbar Natiq Nuri, an adviser to...

Regional telecoms regulators: the six most influential telecoms regulators in the Middle East.(The MEED List)
March 6, 2009... Ahmad Hiasat POSITION Chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), Jordan BIOGRAPHY Ahmad Hiasat, chairman and CEO of Jordan's TRC, is responsible for deciding when to restart the auction...

Entrepreneurial spirit will drive growth.(financial crises hit Gulf countries)(Editorial)(Brief article)
March 6, 2009... Six years of incredible growth in the Gulf came to a shuddering halt in the final quarter of 2008, when the full impact of the global financial crisis and the subsequent slowdown in the global economy hit the region. The impact on the Gulf...

First Energy Bank: the newly formed institution aims to be the first Islamic investment bank to target the energy sector.(BAHRAIN)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established July 2008 Main business sectors Sharia-compliant investment banking, focusing on the energy sector Main business regions Middle East & North Africa, Southeast Asia Chairman Esam Yousif...

Global Banking Corporation: the fledgling Bahrain-based finance house is seeking to grow its business internationally.(BAHRAIN)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established June 2007 Main business sectors Sharia-compliant investment banking services Main business regions GCC Chairman Saleh al-Ali al-Rashed Incorporated in Bahrain, Global Banking Corporation...

Jadwa Investment: with firm foundations, Jadwa aims to become the region's leading investment bank within five years.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 2006 Main business sectors Sharia-compliant investment banking services Main business regions Saudi Arabia and GCC, Malaysia and Africa CEO and managing director Ahmed al-Khateeb STRUCTURE...

Kuwait Finance House: making a clear choice to maintain levels of liquidity, the sharia-compliant bank is well placed for growth.(KUWAIT)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1977 Main business sectors Retail and corporate banking, treasury, investment and asset management Main business regions Gulf, Malaysia, Turkey, Europe Business value Total assets of KD10.54bn...

National Bank of Abu Dhabi: although it is no longer the largest UAE bank, NBAD could become the first international Arab banking brand.(ABU DHABI)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1968 Main business sectors Banking Main business regions UAE Asset size $44.92bn CEO Michael Tomalin Until the merger of Emirates Banking Group and the National Bank of Dubai to form...

Al-Arrab Contracting Company: director Samer Arafa explains how the company is stepping up its international expansion plans.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1983 Main business sectors Construction and construction-related manufacturing, including furniture, doors and windows Main business regions Saudi Arabia, other Gulf, Africa and Europe Board...

Aldar Properties: the UAE developer remains optimistic about Abu Dhabi's real estate prospects for 2009.(ABU DHABI)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 2005 Main business sector Real estate development Headquarters Abu Dhabi Main business region Abu Dhabi CEO John Bullough Aldar Properties has the largest portfolio of projects in Abu...

Al-Jaber Group: Abu Dhabi's largest contractor is developing divisions to provide basic materials and secure its supply chain.(ABU DHABI)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Founded 1970 Group turnover 2006 $1.2bn Assets $4.3bn Workforce 40,000 The Al-Jaber Group has come a long way since its chairman, Obeid Al-Jaber, decided to form a construction company in 1970. At that...

Barwa: the Qatari developer is rapidly diversifying beyond property into a wide range of sectors.(QATAR)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 2005 Main business sectors Real estate Main business regions Qatar Chairman Ghanim bin Saad al-Saad Barwa was established in December 2005 and listed on the Doha Securities Market (DSM)...

CCC: the family-owned construction business is keen to expand into Africa, Central Asia and the Far East.(LEBANON)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1952 Main business sectors Construction Main business regions Middle East, Africa Group revenue 2008 (estimated): $5.6bn Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) was founded as...

MA Al-Kharah & Sons: the Kuwaiti family firm is now seeking to balance its core business of construction with tourism.(KUWAIT)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1956 Main business sectors Construction, tourism real estate, food and food processing Main business regions Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia Business value Estimated at $4.3bn ...

Acwa Power International: the meteoric rise of Acwa has staggered observers and made it one of Saudi Arabia's leading developers.(Saudi Arabia)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 2002 Main business sectors Power and water Main business regions Saudi Arabia President & CEO Paddy Padmanathan In just a few years, Acwa Power International has been transformed from a...

Haya Water: established to drive the reuse of water in Muscat, the Omani company aims to become profitable by 2014.(OMAN)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 2002 Main business sector Wastewater Main business region Oman Chief executive officer (CEO) Omar Khalfan al-Wahaibi Oman Wastewater Services Company (OWSC) was rebranded Haya Water in...

Metito: Managing director Fady Juez outlines plans to float the company within three years.(LEBANON)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1958 Main business sectors Desalination and water and wastewater treatment Main business regions Middle East and North Africa Managing director Fady Juez Metito was founded in 1958 by...

Qatar electricity & water company: the Qatari firm is keeping power generation one step ahead of the growth in domestic demand.(QATAR)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1990 Main business sectors Power and water Main business regions Qatar General manager Fahad Hamad al-Mohannadi STRUCTURE Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) is a publicly listed...

Saudi Electricity Company: the state utility is introducing a series of changes to improve efficiency and performance.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1999 Main business sectors Power generation, transmission and distribution CEO Ali Saleh al-Barrak Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is the largest utility in the Gulf, both by market...

Sunir: UN sanctions may have limited opportunities for Sunir, but it is involved in several high-profile projects.(IRAN)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1994 Main business sectors Power, water and energy Main business regions Middle East and Central Asia Managing director Reza Ebadzadeh Iran Power & Water Equipment & Services Export...

Taqa: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy across the sector.(ABU DHABI)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 2005 Main business sectors Upstream oil and gas, gas storage, power generation and desalination Main business regions Middle East & North Africa, North America, Europe, West Africa, India ...

Alba: as Aluminium Bahrain considers a sixth production train, its main challenge is securing gas feedstock.(BAHRAIN)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1971 Main business sectors Aluminium smelting and related products Main business regions Bahrain, GCC, Europe. CEO Ahmed Saleh al-Noaimi As operator of one of the largest aluminium...

Abu Dhabi Polymers (Borouge): the UAE petrochemicals giant outlines its ambitious plans to diversify into international markets.(UAE)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1998 Main business sectors Petrochemicals Number of employees 700+ Total production capacity 2007 1.18 million tonnes a year Main business region Middle East and Asia Pacific CEO...

Emal: the joint venture of Abu Dhabi and Dubai is aiming to create the world's largest aluminium smelter.(UAE)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 2006 Main business sector Aluminium production Financing $4.9bn CEO Duncan Hedditch In June 2007, Emirates Aluminium (Emal) began laying the foundations for what is set to become the...

Ezz steel: having dominated the Egyptian market, the firm plans to spread its influence across North Africa.(EGYPT)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1994 Main business sectors Steel production Main business regions Egypt, the rest of North Africa and Europe Chairman Ahmad Ezz STRUCTURE The Ezz family began importing and...

Qatalum: the project to build an aluminium smelter marks the beginning of a new, collaborative approach for Qatar.(QATAR)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established December 2004 as 50:50 joint venture of Qatar Petroleum and Hydro Main business sectors Aluminium Project cost $5.6bn Region Qatar CEO Truls Gantesen With both Bahrain and Dubai...

Qatar Petrochemical Company: the Qatar Petroleum subsidiary is at the heart of the state's bid to diversify its petrochemicals sector.(QATAR)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1974 Main business sectors Petrochemicals Main business regions Worldwide Group sales (2006) QR2.243bn ($616.5m) General Manager Mohammed al-Mulla Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco)...

Sabic: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation is increasingly moving downstream as it aims for global dominance.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1976 Main business sectors Chemicals, polymers, fertilisers and steel Main business regions Gulf, Asia, Europe and North America Market capitalisation $39bn CEO Mohamed al-Mady Saudi...

Yamama Cement Company: as domestic cement demand falls, the Saudi film is pushing for the government to lift the export ban.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1961 Main business sectors Producing and selling cement Main business regions Saudi Arabia Revenues SR1.19bn ($317.8m) Chief executive officer Jehad al-Rasheed STRUCTURE With...

Emirates group: the Dubai carrier is gradually building market share and plans to double its fleet by 2012.(DUBAI)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1985 Main business sectors Aviation Main business regions Worldwide Group revenue (2007/08) AED41.15bn ($11.21bn) Executive vice-chairman Maurice Flanagan Established in 1985 with a...

Etisalat: the Middle East's largest telecoms company is attracting greater scrutiny as it increases in size.(ABU DHABI)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1976 Main business sectors Fixed-line telecoms, mobile telecoms Headquarters Abu Dhabi Chairman Mohammad Hassan Omran Etisalat became the largest telecoms company in the Middle East when...

Qatar Shipping Company: the Doha Securities Market-listed company plans to expand its fleet while the market is in a downturn.(QATAR)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1992 Main business sectors Shipping Main regions Global, headquartered in Qatar Chairman Salem bin Butti al-Naimi Clio Kamal Kothari Despite a downturn in the global shipping industry...

Saudi Telecom: with domestic competition growing, the former monopoly operator has an ambitious expansion strategy.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1998 Main business sector Telecoms Main business countries Kuwait, Saudi Arabia Net profit in 2007 $3.4bn Chief executive officer Sand bin Majid al-Duweish Saudi Telecom generated...

Zain: the launch of the Kuwaiti telecoms operator's Saudi operation is the latest step in its expansion strategy.(KUWAIT)(Company overview)
March 6, 2009... COMPANY SNAPSHOT Date established 1983, as Mobile Telecommunication Company (MTC); rebranded Zain in September 2007 Main business sectors Mobile telecoms Main business regions Middle East and Africa Business value...

Railway track renewal.(EGYPT)
March 13, 2009... Renewal of 200 kilometres of track as part of a railway restructuring project.