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October 1st, 2008 — Hot Topic, Issue 10 September 2008
DP World’s much publicised Jebel Ali Port is already congested. But there’s hope in the form of a second phase
Jebel Ali hasn’t had the easiest of years, with Dubai’s ongoing growth and the closure of Port Rashid causing berth congestion at DP World’s flagship port. Reports of ships being kept waiting up to 10 days just to find a slot have made it a trying period for shippers and carriers alike.
September 1st, 2008 — Guest Column, Issue 10 September 2008
Cranes, construction and more cranes
Thanks to the continuing boom in its economy, the UAE has now seemingly become one major construction site. And the ripple effect of the construction phenomena has extended to project cargo.
In freight terms, project cargo means the movement of goods that are too big or too wide for a standard container. Traditionally, project cargo dealt with moving heavy equipment for the oil and gas sector. Now, although still considered a niche market, project cargo has grown from strength to strength in this part of the world, mainly because of the increased demand brought about by the diversity of projects.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, LOG.Cafe
Although he’ll never admit it, one can guess from a chat with him that Hussein Hachem is Aramex. The GCC CEO’s first job, after all, was with the company, and it may be his last. “Aramex gave me lots of opportunities from the time I joined,” he explains. “It has turned out to be a good decision. Ten years from now, I think I’ll still be around these offices.”
Hussein Hachem, CEO – GCC, Aramex
Hachem joined Aramex in their Management Trainee programme in 1990, right after he graduated from the American University of Beirut.Beirut was recovering from a civil war and Hachem took the job as way to leave the country. At a time when opportunities were limited, Hachem considers himself lucky to have gotten out.
And, luckily, Hachem’s career grew with the company. “When I joined, I was sent to Jordan for eight months of training,” he says. “After that I went to Kuwait to set up a new office. It was very exciting as we were witnessing the construction and rebuilding of the city after the Gulf war.” The company’s growth in Kuwait was staggering, says Hachem – a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Management
Sea transportation of hazardous goods is a lucrative business. But in order to make profits, necessary safety expenditures need to be in place otherwise profits would be as far away as the horizon
The oil and gas sector has always been a big payer for the Middle East transport (sea/air/road) industry. The number of transport vehicles and ships catering for this sector are increasing on a regular basis. However, for those wishing to indulge in this thriving industry, it is important to remember that the million dollar contracts come with a hefty responsibility to ensure maximum safety standards in the transportation of hazardous cargo.
Hence, it is imperative for those involved in international transportation (including shipping) of such cargo to ensure their procedures meet with international regulations. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) provides a series of guidelines on tanker safety and the prevention of accidental pollution.
September 1st, 2008 — Hot Topic, Issue 10 September 2008
With shorter work hours and regular deadlines, how does anything get done during the Holy Month?
Meeting Ramadan deadlines is challenging for all Middle Eastern companies, given the shorter working hours and allowances for Muslim staff who are fasting and praying. But for logistics companies, the Holy month can present additional challenges, since global trade never stops and the industry, in any given month, ticks to a 24-hour beat.
September 1st, 2008 — Innovation, Issue 10 September 2008
From top-down to bottom-up, Grand Mills for Flour & Feed Company is harvesting the benefits of a new supply chain
Syed Wajihuddin, Supply Chain & Logistics Manager and Senior Sales Manager, Grand Mills for Flour & Feed Co
If flour and water are two of man’s most basic needs, imagine the demand for these products in the booming UAE market. Perhaps this is the reason for Emirates Foodstuff and Mineral Water Company’s (Agthia’s) financial high. In the quarter ending March 31, 2008, for example, the Abu Dhabi-based entity which includes Al Ain Mineral Water and Grand Mills for Flour & Feed, reported an increase in net revenue of 41 per cent and growth in profits of 104 per cent compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Special
What would you do with a billion dollars? The UAE Red Crescent Authority is using it to save the lives of thousands, perhaps millions, of people
Dr. Saleh Moussa Al Taee, Secretary General, UAE Red Crescent Authority
While the UAE may be a small country, its Red Crescent Authority is larger than most other Red Crescents or Red Crosses.
“Our organisation is the second largest and most powerful in Asia,” says Dr. Saleh Moussa Al Taee, Secretary General of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA), referring to the 185 other members of the Federation of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “We are also number four in the world, in terms of the amount of relief and emergency support we supply.”
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Trends
For fleet managers, nothing is more important than keeping vehicles running and productive. Maintaining vehicles, including repair, upkeep and downtime, can have a huge impact on a fleet’s bottom line. A proactive, preventive maintenance programme can help fleet managers keep vehicle repair costs and downtime to a minimum
Many fleets simply take a reactive approach to vehicle maintenance because they do not have access to the right tools. In a widely distributed fleet, that could mean costly repairs, not to mention vehicle downtime. Fleet managers need to be able to monitor and collect data on the “health” of their vehicles to fix problems early and reduce costs.
Scheduled maintenance Even simple maintenance like regular oil changes can help reduce engine wear and make the vehicle run cooler and last longer.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Special
Ever wondered about the charity supply chain? Or even its logistics? Charitable activities heat up during Ramadan, Fahad A Rahman Bin Sultan with the UAE Red Crescent
Ramadan, being a time for introspection, for cleansing one’s soul and for peace, is also a time for giving. It is a month in which piety, asking for forgiveness and charity are advised in abundance. These are things to be done all year, but the month comes with a mission to make people mindful of these qualities.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Special
Iran wants a more active role in international markets. But will its goals of relaxing established trade regulations come to fruition?
Pick up any major newspaper and chances are Iran is headlined, in not so pleasant terms, on the front page. With so much negative press about the Islamic republic’s ‘ambitions’ it is often difficult to decipher
any substantive, unbiased information on the country. Yet as one of the world’s oldest civilisations, most experts agree that Iran remains largely untapped potential. So what gives? Well, self imposed regulatory hurdles and crippling western sanctions aren’t doing its economy any favours, while the looming threat of war assuredly wards off any potential investors.
