The China Sourcing Fair In Dubai Celebrates 5 Years As The Largest Greater China-Products Exhibition In The Middle East

Buyers and importers throughout the Middle East converged on Dubai today for the opening of the China Sourcing Fair, the specialized import-export trade show for volume buyers of consumer products made in China. Organizer Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL) celebrates the Fair’s 5th year in Dubai as the largest China-products exhibition in the Middle East. The event is being held May 31 – June 2, 2011, at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

’’Buyers, importers and traders throughout the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region are increasingly looking to China for quality products at affordable price points,’’ said Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions. ’’With over 30% growth in our attendance last year, and 21% growth in pre-registrations for the event this year, we see first-hand the increasing demand for China-made products. We are very excited to introduce an expanding array of buyers in the region to the wide selection of suppliers at this show, our 5th annual event,’’ added Wong.

Officially opening the events was H.H. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, U.A.E. Minister for Foreign Trade. Also joining the opening ceremony were:

– Mr. Zhan Jingbao, Consul General, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai
– Mr. Xie Qinshen, Commercial Counselor, Economic & Commercial Section, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai
– Mr. Zhang Baojun, Chief Representative, CCPIT & CCOIC Office in the Gulf Area
– Ms. Ma Yonghui, Deputy Representative, CCPIT & CCOIC Office in the Gulf Area
– Mr. Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions

The China Sourcing Fair features manufacturers of consumer electronics, garments and textiles, gifts and premiums, home products, baby and children’s products, and hardware and building materials.

The Fair is exclusively for importers, traders, and other volume buyers who purchase consumer products for resale to markets throughout the MENA region. Last year, 14,020 qualified buyers from 100 countries attended the event.

More details about the China Sourcing Fair in Dubai are available at http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/dubai .

About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 1 million active buyers – including the world’s top 25 retailers – to source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 240 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on over 5.7 million products and more than 262,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly print and 18 digital magazines, over 90 sourcing research reports and 73 specialized trade shows a year across nine cities.

Verified suppliers receive more than 127 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 40 years. Global Sources’ network covers about 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has about 2,700 team members in more than 40 locations, and a community of over 2.8 million registered online users and magazine readers for its Chinese-language media.

Emirates Post Issues Special Stamp To Mark The 17th GCC Stamp Exhibition Abu Dhabi 2011

On the occasion of the hosting of the 17th GCC Stamp Exhibition ‘Abu Dhabi 2011’, Emirates Post has issued a special stamp in the denomination of 150 Fils, along with a first day cover. The new stamps will be available at all post offices from the first day of the show, April 4.

The GCC Stamp exhibition is being organized by Emirates Post in coordination with the Emirates Philatelic Association from 4 to 9 April 2011 at Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi, to showcase rare and valuable stamps and postal history.

The exhibition coincides with the 25th meeting of the Committee of Heads of GCC postal administrations, hosted by the UAE represented by Emirates Post Group in Abu Dhabi on April 4 and 5, 2011, and attended by delegations and representatives of all the postal administrations of the Gulf, in addition to representatives from General Secretariat of the GCC. The meeting will discuss a range of postal topics in the GCC.

Abdullah Alashram, CEO of Emirates Post, said: “The organization of such exhibitions is a testament to the importance of cooperation between the postal administrations of GCC and developing a common strategy for promoting philately (stamp collecting) as an educational and entertaining hobby, especially among the youth and school children.”

The new stamp depicts the logo of exhibition, dominated by a falcon, a symbol of strength, with a strong contrast of the black and white against the strong background colours. Background colors (red and green), along with the falcon’s colours (black and white) form the flag colours of the host country, the United Arab Emirates. The background has been divided in an elegant mosaic style to form the number 17.
 

Ducab Consolidates Its Cables Copper Products Portfolio At Middle East Electricity Exhibition 2011

Dubai Cable Company (Ducab), one of the leading manufacturers of power cables in the Middle East, will be showcasing its entire range of energy cables, connect accessories and copper products at the Middle East Electricity Exhibition 2011 (MEEE). The move comes as the organization looks to highlight its production capabilities while broadening its product range in 2011. Ducab aims to be prominently represented at stand 7E10, Hall 7, at the 36th edition of Middle East Electricity, which takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 8th to 10th February 2011.

Ducab’s MEEE participation is going to serve as a platform to interact with the majority of UAE based loyal customers who have been the strength of Ducab, more so during the challenging times in the recent past. By offering top quality cables & copper products including drawn wires, conductors and rods, Ducab has established itself as a brand of first choice by most users in the market. The company has established a copper rod mill as part of a backwards integration system where internationally sourced copper cathode is converted into highest grade rods and drawn into wires. These rods, which Ducab started manufacturing in 2008, are one of the main constituent of Ducab’s cables, but are also sold separately and exported to many countries outside of the Middle East region.

“There are several exciting developments occurring at Ducab, including the introduction of the HV /EHV range of cables going up to 400,000 volts. There is also a drive to establish regional and international market presence through a network that sees us come into closer proximity with our customers. We are looking forward to meeting our customers and stakeholders in person during the Middle East Electricity exhibition, and take advantage of the significant markets interest our products garnered through 2010 participation,” said Andrew Shaw, Ducab Managing Director.

Ducab is already exploring regional markets, but wants to use events like Middle East Electricity 2011 to expand its manufacturing presence and customer profile to key regional markets. While the UAE remains the cable manufacturer’s core market, countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Asia and parts of Europe look particularly promising in terms of business development. At current point in time, Ducab’s products are sold in over 40 countries worldwide, with approximately 65-70% of Ducab’s total sales made in the UAE.

“We consider MEEE an excellent platform to network with purchasers and decision-makers in the industry, and we are looking forward to a successful week ahead. We aim to highlight new additions to our product range, while simultaneously highlighting Ducab’s commitment to excellent customer service and engineering,” he added.

MEEE has firmly established itself as the meeting place for industry professionals wishing to network with, and source solutions from, local and international companies offering end-to-end solutions for the power generation, lighting, water, nuclear and new & renewable energy industries. The 2010 iteration of the show was attended by over 45,000 industry professionals, purchasers, and decision-makers.

Ashish Chaturvedy, Marketing Manager, Ducab said, "Ducab actively participates at MEEE every year. The show provides a great opportunity for us to interact with existing and potential contractors, developers and consultants from Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asian region whilst allowing us to showcase our complete range of copper products, cables and cable accessories. MEEE 2010 served as an excellent platform to launch the new Ducab Connect product range of cable accessories and renew relationships with supply chain partners alike, and we look forward to a highly successful 2011 event.”

“We want to highlight the fact that Ducab, in addition to adding new volume capabilities with Ducab HV in 2011, is working to expand its offerings with products tailored to market demand, and the specific needs of our client,” he concluded.
 

Dubai Electricity And Water Authority Signs 5 Contracts For New Projects As Part Of WETEX Exhibition, At A Cost Up To One Billion Dirhams

On the second day of The activities of the 13th Water, Energy, & Environment Exhibition 2011 (WETEX), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) celebrated the signing of 5 new contracts for power and water projects in a bid to support its infrastructure and boost the efficiency of grids and networks to meet the growth of demand for its services. This comes in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The contracts were signed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of DEWA representing Dubai Electricity and Water Authority with the representatives of DEWA’s partners and contractors’ which were selected to execute these contracts.

At the beginning of the ceremony, HE Saeed Al Tayer stated, “I would like, on this occasion to welcome DEWA’s partners and contractors who have cooperated with it for years to execute its projects in different sectors. And today, we are here for the signing of more contracts for new projects.”

HE Al Tayer pointed out that DEWA assumes its responsibilities in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in compliance with DEWA’s strategy, which is part of Dubai’s strategy aiming to provide reliable infrastructure capable of meeting all the requirements of electricity and water necessary for the march towards development. These directives are being executed according to a systematic approach to meet the growth of demand for DEWA’s services.

“We are here today to sign 5 contracts for new big electricity and water projects at a total cost up to one billion Dirhams,” HE Al Tayer further added.

The first contract includes the construction of AL Ghafat Reservoirs Phase 1 & 2 with capacity of 120Million Imperial Gallons (MIG) and at a total cost of AED 285,000,000. The contractor of this contract is M/s Pratibha Industries Ltd.

The second contract was signed with M/s APINA, Spain, to set up and construct an inlet air chilling for Gas Turbines at “L” Station , Phase I at Gebel Ali. After completion of this project, DEWA will generate additional power of approximate 108 MW from 3 Gas Turbines from “L” Station at peak summer season and it will improve efficiency of Gas turbines.

 As for the third contract, it includes 132 KV cable laying works at a cost of AED 100,000,000 and at total length of 230 km. The contractor of the project is M/s Emirates Electrical Engineering LLC.

The fourth contract was made with M/s Siemens LLC. It includes the supply, installation, testing, commissioning of five Nos. series reactor stations at generating stations with 400 KV OHL, at a cost up to AED 372,000,000.

The fifth contract was signed too with M/s Siemens A.G, and it relates to the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of SCADA/EMS/DTS system for transmission control centres, at a cost up to AED 97,000,000.

At the end of the ceremony, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of DEWA stressed the importance of executing such projects according to contractual time schedules so that they can be duly put into service. Meanwhile, HE pledged that Dubai Electricity and Water Authority will provide all possible facilities to contractors to ensure that these projects will be properly executed in compliance with environmental standards, on which it places higher priorities.
 

Against The Tides 20113 Art Exhibition Celebrates Women In The UAE At Festival Centre Dubai Festival City

Festival Centre, the award winning retail epicentre of Dubai Festival City, Woman 2 Woman, a specialized event management company along with DOVEwill be celebrating International Woman’s Day by presenting the first of its kind art exhibition, “Against the Tides 2011”.

On the 8th Marchthe exhibition willhost close to 100 seasoned artists and Students of Arts from Mawaheb, Dubai Autism Centre, Dubai British School, Dubai Modern High School, Our Own English High School, Westminster High School &Hariott Watt University to name a few.

“Against the Tides 2011” will be inaugurated by Ms. HetalPawani, artist and owner of JamJar Art Gallery, and will run from Tuesday 8thMarch until Saturday 12thMarch 2011, from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm on weekdays and 10:00 am to 12 pm on the weekend, ground floor next to Toys R Us at Festival Centre.

Gary Burrows, General Manager Shopping Centres Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE), commented on the occasion: “We are delighted to host the ‘Against the Tides 2011 Art Exhibition’ coinciding with the International Women’s Day at Festival Centre. This event emphasizes our commitment to supporting local talents and the community at large. We encourage all art enthusiasts to visit this exhibition.”

“It is an incredible platform for Artists in the UAE to come together and showcase their pool of talent, and the visitors are encouraged to Vote for their top 3 Artists at the show”,said Zareen Khan, the Founding Partnerof Woman 2 Woman organization.

Embracing twelve different art genres, the exhibition will feature a host of paintings, photographs, sculptures, holograms, digital art, comic art, graphic art, spiritual art, fabric art, food art and much more.

Theartexhibition is free entry and will give visitors the opportunity to vote for their top three favourite artists and winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on 12th March.

Festival Centre Dubai Festival City has become a destination for art and cultural events over the years due to the diverse range of guests visiting this landmark waterfront community.
 

Young Entrepreneur Competition Opens With Exhibition Of Contesting Projects

Dubai SME, the entrepreneurship development agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), launched the "Young Entrepreneur Competition 2011 (YEC)” exhibition in Dubai Mall today under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

More than 2,500 young entrepreneurs are showcasing their projects in the exhibition, which is also supported by Du and Dubai Mall.

The exhibition is part of the Young Entrepreneur Competition (YEC), aimed at reinforcing entrepreneurial skills and aptitude among students in high schools, colleges and universities across the UAE. The competition will focus on providing insights into the comprehensive business environment of Dubai in order to encourage students to start their own businesses and drive innovations within a competitive environment.

“This strategic initiative is a strong platform to create a new business culture for young entrepreneurs and help them achieve their goals. The Young Entrepreneur Competition will further boost the SME sector in Dubai, thereby enhancing economic growth in the UAE", His Excellency Abdul Basit Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME.

"The event reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to develop the performance of the SME sector to be major supporter to the economic development in Dubai," Al Janahi added.

Al Janahi commended the remarkable support extended by Du and Dubai Mall to the YEC exhibition during successive years and said it showed a high level of commitment and social responsibility among national organisations to encouraging young leaders.

“The exhibition this year is focusing on skills of the participants in displaying their products professionally and according to modern standards adopted in marketing as well as managing the business, and on how to deal with customers and promote their products,” said Nisreen Safar, General Coordinator of the competition.

"Participants in this year’s exhibition were trained to pursue their projects with confidence and build successful businesses in the future in order to equip them with the necessary tools to cope with the challenges ahead. All projects submitted in the competition were evaluated as per global quality standards," Safar added.

Dubai SME recently conducted an introductory workshop for the participants to strengthen awareness about the exhibition, brief them on the new standards and provide details about the competition. Ten top-ranked projects will be named as winners in the competition.

Over the years, YEC has succeeded in encouraging entrepreneurial spirit among young UAE nationals. The contest also helps to build awareness among participants on the concept of small and medium enterprises and various business environments.

The Young Entrepreneur Competition was originally launched in 2005 with 49 projects and 114 participants participating in the inaugural event. It went up to 73 projects and 215 participants in 2006, 99 projects and 364 participants in 2007, 102 projects and 103 participants in 2008 and 279 projects and 971 participants in 2009. Last year saw an overwhelming participation in the competition with 2000 participants and 700 projects.

For further information, please visit www.yec.ae
 

Inaugural Gulfrail Exhibition Urges Gulf Countries To Push For Inter-GCC Rail Network

GulfRail 2012, the region’s first of its kind exhibition and conference is participating in the 59th World Congress and Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), which is taking place in Dubai from April 10-14.

This was announced by Dubai’s Al Fajer Information & Services, IMAG from Germany and Europoint from the Netherlands. Al Fajer said that the overall objective of GulfRail 2012 is to bring together the establishment of a reliable and regular high speed rail network connecting GCC countries.

GulfRail 2012 is participating in UITP Dubai 2011 to highlight the investment opportunities and intelligent rail systems in the GCC.

Satish Khanna, General Manager, Al Fajer Information and Services said: “GulfRail 2012 will be a key regional industrial event highlighting the latest information and technologies in rail and tunnelling systems, and will serve as a strategic networking platform for industry experts from around the globe.”

Khanna added: “The key driver of the rail industry for GCC is public-private partnerships. GCC is heading towards creating a reliable, effective and frequent high speed rail network connecting GCC countries. Investment opportunities in intelligent transport systems in the GCC are huge. Many companies outside the region regard the upcoming rail sector in the Middle East as the most lucrative opportunity to do business.”

Underscoring the importance of participating at this global event hosted by Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), Khanna added: “GulfRail 2012 is the next big event for the region after UITP Dubai 2011. It is significant to all the countries in the region. Following the Dubai Metro, rail projects in GCC have become a point of focus with multi-billion dollar investments being made by each Gulf state. A countrywide $11 billion (Dh40.4bn) railway network in the UAE with 1,500km of track will be rolled out over the next 7-8 years. Moreover, Abu Dhabi has revealed plans for a new rail network serving the city of Al-Ain in the emirate’s Eastern Region. Dubai Metro has completed its first phase with a whopping investment of US $ 6 billion, and another mass transit network with 75 km will carry 1.8 million passengers per day by 2020.”

Khanna added: “The last five years have seen the announcement of a series of transport projects by various Gulf countries, including railway projects. In order to meet the pressing regional logistics demands, the next 10-15 years will see transport projects worth $ 170 billion. Out of this, 85% will be spent by UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Precisely over $ 106 billion will be spent in Railway sector alone.”

Talking about key rail projects lined up in the region, Johan Haarhuis, Managing Director, Europoint B.V. Conference & Exhibitions said: “Abu Dhabi has joined the fray with 131 km metro rail system which is expected to partially start in 2015. In 2009, GCC transport ministers approved a feasibility study for the US$ 12 billion GCC railway. Further, on a broader perspective, the network would extend from the GCC to Jordan, Syria and Turkey. The next move would be a more extensive system linking up with systems providing access to Europe and Asia via Turkey. There are huge upcoming railway projects in Middle East.”

“The GCC’s rail sector is a rising sector. In a nutshell, the GCC network will include one rail line of 1,970 km connecting all GCC countries and Qatar via a bridge. The second line of 1,984 km will stretch between Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and end in Oman. An effective rail network will fortify the region’s position as a major global energy and trading hub.”

Haarhuis continued: “A metro light rail network is also planned in Doha. On the other side, Bahrain is planning a US$ 8 billion railway project stretching to 184 km and will include light rail trains, monorails and other transportation systems. Moreover, the Sultanate of Oman has announced plans for a national rail network to boost infrastructure.”

GulfRail 2012 will make its debut at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre early next year.
 

Montblanc Writers Exhibition To Honour The 183rd Birthday Of Science-Fiction Writer Jules Verne

Commemorating the 183rd birthday of Jules Verne, the French pioneer of the science fiction genre, Montblanc, the world-renowned creators of bespoke writing instruments and luxury goods are organising a dedicated display of the author’s greatest works, at the Montblanc Writers’ Exhibition, currently underway at the Dubai Mall.

The exclusive display of some of Jules Verne’s outstanding works – including Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea – will be juxtaposed with a specially-designed Limited Edition writing instrument, created in honour of the iconic writer.

The Jules Verne Limited Edition, seeks to convey the spirit of the author’s works, with its bright blue lacquered barrel and platinum-plated mountings surrounded by a design of even-sized waves. Jules Verne’s signature decorates the cap of the writing instrument, and a delicate engraving of an antique diver’s helmet on the rhodium-plated 18- karat gold nib of the fountain pen recalls one of his most famous novels, “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea”.

Designed as a tribute to iconic writers who have made epochal contributions to the world of literature, the Montblanc Writers’ Exhibition features a series of iconic authors, whose writings have made a lasting impact on society. Apart from Jules Verne, other authors being honoured are: Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Franz Kafka, Charles Dickens and Edgar Allan Poe

The Writers’ Exhibition provides insights into the life, work and inspirations of these influential award-winning writers. There are also interactive live events led by local literary figures and academics during which visitors of all ages will have the chance to discuss the novels, enjoy live readings and discover more about each of the authors and their context. In addition, everyone will be able to enjoy browsing selected works, see the specially designed writing instruments inspired by each of the authors and purchase special gift editions.

Montblanc, the world-renowned creators of bespoke writing instruments and luxury goods, is a truly international brand with operations in more than 70 countries. Montblanc sells its products exclusively through its international network of authorized retailers, jewellers and over 360 Montblanc boutiques worldwide.
 

RTA Holds An Awareness Exhibition At Nad Al Hamar School

Roads and Transport Authority – Manal Khaled:

Engineer Maitha bin Udai, CEO of Traffic & Roads Agency, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), stressed the importance of boosting partnerships and making concerted efforts towards delivering community-oriented programs & events aimed at providing security and public safety to all members of the community.

Following the opening of the awareness Exhibition, which was kicked off yesterday marking the start of the Gulf Traffic Week, Maitha said: “Many of RTA’s strategic partners in the public and private sectors are keen on taking part in these community events; which reflect our attention to address the security and safety requirements of all road users.

“The event, which is hosted by Nad Al Hamar Girls School for 3 days (14 – 16 March) and receives visitors from 09.00 am up to 01.00 pm, comprises a stand for the RTA plus 9 others stands for its strategic partners, namely: The, Dubai Police, Civil Defence, UAE Red Crescent, Health Authority, Dubai Centre for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, Baby shop, Johnson & Johnson ,Emirates Transport ,DEWA,and Emirates Driving Institute,” she explained.

Dubai public and private schools will take part in the events by delivering plentiful spots, traffic-oriented plays, and images & models depicting traffic accidents, traffic track organize by Biky will be available to the visitor to experience it. About 100 schools in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman have been invited to visit the Exhibition and take part in the awareness quizzes and recreational spots, besides benefiting from the publications distributed to visitors and the practical demonstrations of road safety procedures. The events will also include presentations from RTA partners in the private sector including workshops about child’s seat in the vehicle and safety requirements for quad bike riders.

“These activities and events held by the RTA at various schools throughout the year via the Traffic Awareness Teams have a substantial contribution to raising the traffic awareness among youngsters; which will help nurture a generation compliant with traffic and driving rules and regulations,” added Maitha.

“From inception, RTA has been keen on pairing and aligning its project works with road safety & security stipulations in translation of its Vision of “Safe and Smooth Transport for All”. Therefore, Traffic & Roads Agency, represented in Traffic Dep’t, focuses in its annual plan on developing awareness plans capable of realizing RTA’s Vision and delivering its Mission across the community segments,” said the CEO of Traffic & Roads Agency in a final remark.
 

Traffic At Art Dubai 2011 Returns With A Bigger Gallery Exhibition Space And 10 Artists On The Show

With Art Dubai taking place next week at Madinat Jumierah, Traffic has secured the fair’s second-largest gallery exhibition space to showcase works from ten artists creating contemporary works across a diversity of media. A mix of Nationalities (Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Palestine-Jordan, the UAE and the US) and Media (Light, Electronics, Tissue Boxes, Rubber Stamps, and CCTV) provide a snapshot of Contemporary art being made in the Middle East.

Traffic’s artists and their works have been hand-selected by gallery founder Rami Farook for their commentary on the emotional, historical, societal and cultural aspects of life in this region.

Exhibiting Artists:
• Bilal Aquil
• Mahmoud Bakhshi
• James Clar
• Ayman Yossri aka Daydban
• Abdulnasser Gharem
• Ahmed Mater
• Shaikha Al Mazrou
• Hesam Rahmanian
• Faisal Samra
• UBIK

All artists will be present and available for interviews for the duration of the fair 16th-19th March, booth A12.