Warana Sugar Gulf Trading Unveils World’s 1st Halal Certified Sugar from India

Dubai, UAE – 9^th February 2012 :  Warana Sugar Gulf Trading LLC, part of Warana Sugar (India), today unveiled the world’s 1st halal certified sugar from India in an exclusive media launch held at the Al Maeshah Ballroom, Grand Hyatt in Dubai.   The company also announced plans to penetrate the GCC market this year, immediately after launching in the UAE.

Kazi Mufti Mohamed Kifayathullah Baqavi, a recognized government body in India, issued a 2 year-halal certificate to Warana Sugar valid from 20th November in 2011 which confirms that Warana sugar  is lawful and permitted for human consumption and fit for Muslim community.  The official document states that the “high tech processing machineries at the company’s manufacturing plant contains no Haram (Islamically forbidden) ingredients and other elements of impurities, harmfulness, alcohol, intoxicate materials, chemical substances and materials whole or part which are or have been derived from terrestrial and marine animals, pork, lard and by products, birds origin, skins, hair, blood, insects, fresh water or any other ingredients produced from genetically modified or engineered organism obtained through biotechnology”.

Chief guest at the launch was Mr Vinay Kore,  Chairman of Warana Group of Industries (India), who flew in to Dubai especially to attend the event.  He was joined by two other top executives Mr V.S. Chavan, Managing Director of Warana Sugar (India) and Mr Sanjay Vaidya,  Director of Warana Sugar (India).

Mr Rajesh Vangani, CEO/Director of Warana Gulf Trading LLC, said, “Warana Gulf Trading is pleased to be part of Warana Sugar (India), second largest Sugar manufacturer in India and known for its long standing history as a key player in India’s thriving sugar industry.   After launching Warana sugar in the UAE, we plan to penetrate Saudi and Oman before Ramadan and the rest of the GCC before the end of the year.”

Warana Gulf Trading LLC is the representative office of  Warana Sugar (India) in the Middle East and will be overseeing the marketing activities of Warana’s products across the region.

In the Middle East, there is currently a shortage in capacity of about 3 Million MT of sugar while the EU’s consumption requirement is forecasted at about 2.0 Million MT in the next 2-3 years.  Industry estimates published in 2009 revealed that the UAE’s sugar consumption is at nearly 140,000 tonnes per year, calculated based on the annual per capita sugar consumption of 34 kilograms per year, which is higher than the world average of 24 kilograms.  The region’s annual sugar consumption is at 12 million tonnes, of which 8.5 million are imported.

USDA May 2011 report cites there is a current surplus in the world’s sugar supply market which is predicted to shift to a shortage of sugar in the next 2-3 years due to strong demand coming from emerging markets.  India, being the second largest sugar producer in the world, next to Brazil, is also a large consumer.  In fact, the large amount of sugar that India produces as a net exporter, when offset by domestic consumption, makes the country a net importer of sugar.

“UAE’s strategic location gives it the advantage to cater to the export markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  We are currently finalizing our partnerships with key retailers in the UAE and as soon as we establish our presence in the region, we will focus on our expansion in CIS countries  and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania,” added Mr Vangani.

Warana sugar products will be available at all leading supermarkets, hypermarkets and retail outlets across the UAE by end of February 2012.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ms. Cynthia Luna-Harb
Mobile: +971 50 228 5363
Email: cynthia@citroncommunications.com

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UAE hotels are veering away from organic menus due to a lack of demand for guilt-free products in the region, food and beverage managers have said.

Organic food, which is produced naturally and under eco-friendly conditions, is too expensive for the majority of restaurant-goers, most of whom prefer lower-cost, conventional products, hotel staff said.

“The demand is not enough, no-one asks for it,” Gregor Schmidt-Kiefer, F&B manager for the Four Points Sheraton hotel in Dubai, told Arabian Business.

“We discussed this with our chefs, but it is very expensive and people aren’t prepared to pay for it in a hotel. It’s more than double [the price], especially for dairy products, so you have to price the dish higher.”

Kiefer said the hotel had experimented with organic tea, but the lack of demand meant even this was financially unviable.

“I wanted to try it with organic tea, but it’s not really popular either, people aren’t looking for it. We price it the same as the other tea, but we pay more than double to purchase it.”

Organic produce has attracted more attention in the UAE in recent years as individuals become more health conscious.

Experts say the demand for more naturally-produced food comes largely from the Western expatriate population, but is also growing among young Emirati females.

The Radisson Blu in Dubai Media City made a move towards organic alternatives last month, when it offered a special organic menu for diners between January 15 and January 31 at its Italian restaurant Certo.

F&B director Adil Souate said guests were largely uninterested in the new choices, with sales remaining low despite the possibility of discounts on dishes.

“It’s something that’s getting a bit more popular in Dubai, but so far the demand is not there,” he said.

“In terms of sales it didn’t produce a lot, we sold about 180 portions in two weeks – about 6 percent of our total.”

Organic dishes were approximately 22 percent more expensive than normal options, he said, hiking the price of lunch or dinner quite significantly.

Hospitality consultants believe most hotels find organic menus less profitable than traditional options.

Whilst organic options are increasing, there is also a tendency to offer simply healthier products.

“Organic produce by definition is more expensive, because it produces lower yield, the shelf life is shorter and in most cases organic food is flown in,” said Daniel During, managing partner at hospitality consultancy Thomas Klein.

“While the general public may be ready to pay a premium for organic food, there is a limit to how much you can charge and therefore many times it is more profitable to use non-organic ingredients.”

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6 February 2012 DUBAI – The UAE on Sunday decided to allow GCC companies to open their branches in the country with the same rights as those enjoyed by national companies in a move aimed at bolstering economic integration among the six-nation group.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, took the decision to accord full parity to GCC companies vis-a-vis their national counterparts in setting up branches in the UAE.

The move is in line with the GCC Summit’s resolution seeking to bolster economic integration within the regional group, and seeks “to consolidate UAE’s status as the foremost member state in complying with the GCC apex body resolutions”, according to Wam.

According to the communique of the 31^st GCC Summit held in Abu Dhabi in 2010, companies owned by citizens of member countries of the group would be allowed to open branches for the same activities across the six-nation bloc. They will enjoy equal treatment everywhere across the GCC.

The cabinet also passed a raft of mandatory specifications (technical standards) for a group of commodities and products as part of the government efforts to protect  consumers, enhance health and environment safety standards and keep abreast of international quality benchmarks of products in the local market.

The cabinet approved 33 new technical standards for various foodstuff, including fruits, vegetables, spices, genetically modified agricultural produce and canned food for children. The technical standards also include additional specifications for shock-resistant vehicles to ensure safety of users.

The cabinet approved the budget of the General Pension and Social Security Authority for 2012 with revenues estimated at about Dh4 billion, payments and expenditures of Dh2.3 billion and a net surplus of Dh1.7 billion.

Estimated revenues show an increase of four per cent over 2011 at Dh106 million while estimated expenses rose 16 per cent at Dh300 million as a result of growing base of pensioners and the projected rise in benefits and compensations. Revenues on investment were forecast to grow more than nine per cent to over Dh70 million. Market value of the investment is also expected to go up.

The cabinet also approved several international conventions the UAE has signed with other countries. The council of minister also passed the budget of the Emirates Investment Authority for fiscal year 2012.

issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com

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By K.T. ABDURRABB | ARAB NEWS

SHARJAH: A Communication Forum, the first of its kind in Sharjah, will seek to benchmark the emirate’s government communication standards against global best practices and examine ways for infusing fresh methodologies into the communication mechanism among government departments in Sharjah.

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UN-Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) can be achieved by eliminating Poverty through Islamic Microfinance:

01-02-2012

(Istanbul) A two day International summit on Islamic Microfinance has started in Istanbul. The basic purpose behind this summit is to promote Islamic Microfinance and to elucidate the strategy to remove obstacles from its way to progress. Microfinance experts from different continents like Africa, Asia, Europe and America etc. are participating in this Int’l summit. While speaking to the opening session of the Summit, Muhammad Zubair Mughal, Chief Executive Officer, AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics said that Pakistan has been acknowledged as a leader of Islamic Microfinance Industry and right now in Pakistan; more than 20 institutions are providing microfinance services. While highlighting the importance of Islamic microfinance, he said that around the world, conventional Microfinance has badly failed and its examples can be clearly seen in India and Latin America. He further added that due to the failure of conventional financial system, many countries in the world are adapting Islamic microfinance system for poverty alleviation through which not only poverty will be eradicated but also a sustained economy shall come into being in these countries.

While addressing to the International Summit, he further added that one reason behind expansion of Poverty is interest base mechanism in Muslim countries, People do not use Financial and Banking system due to interest as it is  strictly prohibited in Islam hence forced to live in poverty whereas through Islamic Microfinance by using the financial products based on Shari’ah principles, we can get the people out from poverty. He further highlighted the need assessment of Islamic microfinance in Muslim Countries by saying that 44% of conventional Microfinance clients live in Muslim Countries and United Nations has added half of the countries of Islamic Development Bank in the list of least developed countries which shows that Islamic Microfinance can be used to eradicate poverty from Muslim-Majority Counties. While identifying the Muslim population and poverty in different regions of the world, he said that 85.5% in East Asia, 34% in South Asia, 58% in West Africa, 58% in Caucasus and 97.3% in MENA are Muslims and collectively, in 2.4 Billion population of these regions, Muslims are of 48.3% which clearly shows the need of Islamic Microfinance for poverty alleviation in these countries. He further added that not only Muslims but Non-Muslims can also get benefits from Islamic Microfinance because Islamic Microfinance is not a religion but a system which is equally useful for Muslims and Non Muslims as well and the clear example of this fact is that Non-Muslims consider it very attractive.

He said that Islamic Microfinance is essential to achieve Millennium Development Goals( MDGs), proposed by United Nations for alleviating poverty and social uplifting. He further added that if development of Islamic Microfinance starts right from today, these goals can easily be achieved till 2015. He said that Islamic Microfinance sector is facing difficulties due to apathy of Donors and to fulfill this deficiency, Sukuk (Islamic Bonds) can be issued. He further said that more financial products can be introduced by enhancing research in the field of Islamic microfinance and there are many opportunities for development in this field. AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics has established a specific Microfinance help desk so that trainings, research and technical consultation could be provided to Microfinance Institutions worldwide.

In this Summit, the role of Pakistan in the development of Islamic Microfinance has very much appreciated and Pakistan is considered to be as global leader of Islamic Microfinance Industry. This conference will continue for 2 days in Istanbul.

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But young artists like those included in “We Need to Talk” still face obstacles and government bureaucracy

By Henry Hemming. Web only
Published online: 30 January 2012

Visitors to the opening of “We Need to Talk”

JEDDAH. Usually it is the job of an art historian to pinpoint when an art movement begins. But last month, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, the overwhelming feeling among visitors to a ground-breaking exhibition of Saudi contemporary art was that they had witnessed the birth of something new. They may well be right.

Organised by Edge of Arabia, an independent arts initiative, “We Need to Talk” (until 18 February) features more than 40 pieces by 22 young Saudi artists, almost half of them women, and includes videos, sculpture and photography from the likes of Abdulnasser Gharem, Ahmed Mater and Manal Al-Dowayan. Most of these artists have shown together over the past three-and-a-half years in London, Venice, Berlin, Istanbul and Dubai, but never before in Saudi Arabia. Could an exhibition like this have been staged in Jeddah ten years ago? “Of course not,” said the show’s curator Mohammed Hafiz, “because we didn’t have the artists, we didn’t have the works of art… there are many elements.”

One of these elements was a degree of indifference or suspicion displayed back then towards contemporary art. Now, members of the Saudi royal family, including the participating artist, Princess Jowhara Al Saud, as well as legions of young art fans packed the opening. A smattering of non-Saudis were also there, including photographer Wolf­gang Tillmans, Jack Persekian, the former director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, Antonia Carver, the director of Art Dubai, and the following day Chris Dercon, the director of Tate Modern, took a spin round the show, later describing the artists involved as “true intellectuals with a great eye for form and immanence”.

“It feels like a movement,” said London dealer James Lindon, visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time. “There’s extraordinary solidarity between the artists and a desire to push things forward in an interesting way. I’m incredibly impressed by the quality of the work.” While some pieces explored shared Islamic heritage, such as Ayman Yossri Daydban’s pieces on the Hajj, most focused on elements of contemporary Saudi society, and did so in a way that was immediate, considered, and at times gently provocative.

In Sarah Abu Abdullah’s video, Anees 9999, the artist, dressed in an abaya (a long cloak women in Saudi Arabia must wear in public), covers a wrecked car with pink paint before stepping gingerly into the passenger seat. “I was about to go back to Saudi,” she says of the piece, “so I started to count the things I wouldn’t be able to do… I wouldn’t be able to choose who I would marry, there are few working opportunities, I can’t drive myself to work, I can’t have my own little apartment. I granted myself a simple wish, by pretending to have my own car.”

Nor did she think she could ever display a video like this in Saudi Arabia. Clearly, the times are changing.

Maha Malluh, whose work is currently on show in the British Museum’s “Hajj” exhibition (until 15 April), refers to the religious tapes that appeared in Saudi Arabia during the late 1970s in her piece Food for Thought 7200. The cassettes are laid out in 1970s bread-baking trays and have been positioned to spell words that resonate from the tapes such as “un-religious”, “shame” and “lies”.

What makes the inclusion of pieces like these unusual is that every piece in the show was inspected by a committee of senior artists at the Ministry of Culture and Information and all but one work was approved. Financial support for the exhibition largely came from the private equity company, Abraaj Capital, and Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, the social responsibility wing of the automobile and customer financing corporation. This allowed the show’s organisers to take more risks, not just in terms of the work but the staging. “We Need to Talk” is held in an unfinished, neon-lit wing of Jeddah’s Al Furisiya Marina & Mall—a highly unusual choice for a Saudi exhibition. “I think it’s just right for the work. It was a risk, but one that we felt was worth taking,” said Stephen Stapleton, the founder of Edge of Arabia and the co-curator of “We Need to Talk”.

Like the mall, the Saudi art movement looks set to receive considerable investment in event sponsorship and patronage in the coming years. As well as supporting the exhibition, Christie’s had eight representatives in Jeddah for the opening. Sotheby’s had four. By the end of the year both auction houses will have members of staff based in Saudi Arabia.

“Collectors [here] have the means and the interest,” said Paul Hewitt, the managing director of growth markets, Christie’s, who compared the emerging market in Saudi Arabia to that of Russia and India, adding that patience was key. For Lina Lazaar, a deputy director and international specialist for contemporary art at Sotheby’s, “every single Saudi that I know from my generation has or is about to start collecting contemporary art”.

Nonetheless this fledgling art movement faces some obstacles. There is no fine art college, no contemporary art museum, no dedicated art publication and no surplus of innovative art spaces in Saudi Arabia, with the notable exception of Jeddah’s Athr Gallery.

Saudi bureaucracy is another problem, a theme addressed in the show by several pieces. The Postman, a photograph by Sami Al-Turki, refers to the growing number of young Saudis who prefer to communicate by email rather than risk the state-run postal service, a situation he sees as analogous to what is happening in many Saudi creative fields as young men and women choose to feature their work and communicate by YouTube, Facebook and Twitter rather than through traditional channels. “We Need to Talk” belongs very much to this new tradition.

The fact that this exhibition happened, the extensive coverage it received in the Saudi media, and the prospect of a museum of contemporary art opening in Jeddah within the decade: all of this suggests an underlying shift. In Saudi Arabia today there is a new enthusiasm for art. It is being driven on by an indigenous movement of contemporary art that made its long-awaited arrival on a balmy night in Jeddah.

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The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Monday announced an innovative new procedure for treating blocked heart arteries, making the UAE the fifth in the world to have this mode of treatment

Dubai The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Monday announced an innovative new procedure for treating blocked heart arteries, making the UAE the fifth in the world to have this mode of treatment.

Three Emirati patients underwent the procedure last week which unclog the blocked arteries with a ‘scaffolding’ that dissolves within the body within three months.

Unlike the metal stents which remain in the body for ever, the new “bioresorable’ scaffolding do not turn the arteries rigid, making it easier for further treatment in the future, surgeons said.

Younger than average

UAE residents suffer from heart problems a decade younger than the world average, surgeons said, citing smoking, eating junk food and lack of exercise, as the contributing factors.

The new procedure called “Absorb” is said to be ground-breaking and is called the “fourth revolution” in the field of cardiology. It will be available only in the government hospitals initially, DHA said.

“We are determined to reduce the social and economic burden of disease in the UAE,” said Khalid Al Shaikh Mubarak, deputy director general of DHA, announcing the procedure.

Number one killer

Heart disease is the number one killer in the country, the DHA official said. A leading surgeon said he sees 10 to 15 heart patients every day. “It is a huge problem,” he said of the rampant heart disease in the country.

Surgeons said since it is a new technology, the cost is presently triple at Dh 20,000 than using a metal stent, which costs Dh 8000.

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SouqExtra! Ewan Center Embraces New Retail Trend

Dubai, UAE – 25 January 2012: SouqExtra!, the national chain of community supercenters, has experienced a 48 percent increase in daily footfall corresponding to the positive reception of its concept by the local retail community and the confident outlook for the UAE retail sector.

SouqExtra! officials announced this encouraging trend during a cake cutting ceremony held with retail partners and community members to mark  the second anniversary of its flagship outlet at Ewan Residences in Dubai Investment Park.

The Anniversary celebration is the first major event on SouqExtra!’s 2012 Activity Calendar. The entertainment needs of children during this event have also been given a special care with bouncing castle, clowns, magic show and a host of other fun filled activities that will continue for 3 days.

Speaking on the occasion, Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Managing Director of SouqExtra! said “These new figures are very astounding, and are driven by the increased consumer confidence in the UAE and the rising demand for modern retailing concepts, such as SouqExtra!”.

This is backed by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) who stated that consumer confidence in Dubai rose during the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the previous quarter.  The confidence index increased from 15 points to 125, boosted by a 22 per cent in survey respondents’ optimism of an economic recovery over the next 12 months.

“Our operational model, that revolves around the needs and unique demographics of the residential communities in which we are based, has proved very successful and has been praised by retail partners and consumers alike,” said Justin Wilshaw, the Chief Executive Officer of SouqExtra!.

Attending to the local community demand at SouqExtra! Ewan Residences, new retail space has been allocated for more services including a coffee shop, a driving institute and a sunglass offer according to  Mr Wilshaw.

Building on the lifestyle supercenter’s community-centric character the first year anniversary celebrations at SouqExtra! Ewan Residences saw a 100% increase in daily footfall.

SouqExtra! is a pioneering lifestyle supercenter model, representing an innovative retail concept shaped by extensive research into outlet positioning as well as the quality and variety of services offered. It offers an innovative program that encourages local entrepreneurs to enter the exciting retail scene, and focuses on providing access to amenities and services that connect consumers’ professional and family life to the larger community, adding something Extra! to life.

- Ends -

About SouqExra!

SouqExtra! is the name of neighbourhood community-focused centers, with integrated primary services such as high-end grocery, kids’ play area, fast food outlets, coffee shops, full-fledged gymnasium, salon, photo shop and community hall, all designed to help the community meet their daily needs. SouqExtra’s tagline “My Favourite Place” sums up the concept’s unique sales proposition. The gyms, for instance, will offer the full range of fitness equipment, complete with a trainer. The community hall will be rented out to residents for hosting parties, birthdays, events, celebrations, family gatherings and other community activities. The Phase 1 of SouqExtra will add retail space of 500,000 sq. ft. in UAE. Each SouqExtra centre will boast a uniform design with a friendly ambience and ample parking spaces, to serve as a one-stop shop for day to day needs of the community.

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