Oracle is set to host several hundred of the region's chief information officers (CIOs) in Riyadh, on March 11. Eng. Mohammed Jameel Bin Ahmed Mulla, the Kingdom's Minister of Communications for Information Technology, will make the keynote address focusing on the challenges facing CIOs, namely ROI and the infrastructure demands presented by diversified economies. Moderated by TV presenter Mohammed Al-Saggah, other keynote presentations will be given by Sergio Giacoletto, executive vice president, Oracle EMEA, and analyst group ICD. In addition, Oracle's Saudi Arabia User Group is to be launched enabling Oracle customers from around the Kingdom to discuss Oracle's technology and solutions and how best to leverage their IT investments. “The Middle East's CIO community is facing pressure from both the public and private sector to demonstrate significant return on investment around some of the region's largest technology and business software deployments,” said Giacolette. “While regional enterprises are investing unprecedented amounts into technology to make them more competitive, efficient, and service-focused, the stakes are higher than ever before to ensure that these companies make informed decisions about how to best utilize their corporate information for better decision-making,” he added.Gulf Air buys B787sMANAMA – Following the recent announcement of a major decision to purchase 16 Boeing Dreamliners with an option for another eight, Gulf Air has finalized the deal at a historic ceremony in Washington D.C. on Thursday. The ceremony, celebrating the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Contract for the 787 Dreamliner Aircraft between the Boeing Company and Gulf Air, was held under the auspices of US-Bahrain Business Council, the US Chamber of Commerce and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Gulf Air Chairman of the Board of Directors Mahmood Al-Kooheji and President and Chief Bjorn Naf attended the high-profile event, graced by members of the US Congress, diplomats, senior bureaucrats and VIPs from the US trade and business. “This signing ceremony marks yet another milestone in the historic friendship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America,” said Al- Kooheji after signing the agreement. “The US has become a major trade partner since the signing of FTA between the US and the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2004. In 2006, trade volume between the US and Bahrain rose to $1.5 billion. This reflects the incentives provided by the FTA and the Kingdom's strategic commitment to opening markets and expanding opportunities for Bahraini businesses.” “I am delighted to have played a part in this growing trade relationship with the signing of the agreement to purchase 16 Boeing Dreamliners valued at US$ 6 billion. I personally see a great market expansion from this contract that can only boost further trade volumes,” Al-Kooheji concluded. “The Middle East aviation industry is leading the world with a healthy 18.8 percent growth in passenger traffic during the first 11 months of 2007, well above the global average growth rate of 7.5 percent,” said Naf, adding “it is only expected to grow much stronger in coming years.”Landmark deluxe hotel DUBAI – Landmark Group of Hotels, one of the UAE's leading hotel development and management companies and a subsidiary of Zenath Real Estate, which is a Khalid Abdullah Al-Ghurair Group company, has opened on Saturday its Landmark Suites, a new deluxe serviced hotel apartment, in Nasser Square, Dubai, marking the company's third hotel venture in one of the emirate's most popular tourist and business districts. Landmark Suites has been strategically located to take advantage of Nasser Square's reputation as one of Dubai's major business centres. The new hotel also boosts Landmark Group of Hotels' ongoing expansion in the Middle East, particularly across the UAE. “Landmark Suites is our third project in Nasser Square and eighth overall across the region as we also operate deluxe hotels in Ajman, Bahrain and Kabul. Landmark Suites is equipped with world-class hotel apartment amenities and offers Landmark's distinctive seal of quality, which ensures visitors of the best living conditions and services,” said S.M. Sadique, group director, Landmark Group of Hotels. “Landmark is increasing its hospitality investments in Nasser Square as this location in particular is a very successful major economic hub and tourist destination. This move is part of our strategy to capitalize on high-growth areas across the Middle East and increase our share in the region's hospitality market,” added Sadique. Designed to incorporate over 60 suites of studio and 2-bedroom units, Landmark Suites is a completely dry, family-oriented serviced apartment. Landmark Suites is also ideal for tourists and business executives visiting Dubai as it offers easy access to key areas within the city. Landmark is now developing its fourth project in Nasser Square set to be completed in 2010; a 4-star hotel that reflects Landmark's high prospects of the bustling business and tourist district, which is considered the ‘real downtown' and Dubai's version of the famed ‘Times Square' in New York. Major banks, companies, tourists and shopping centres are located in Nasser Square, which is also a short walk from the creek waterfront, while a Metro Station will also be developed in the area.Samsung tops TV market JEDDAH – Samsung Electronics has ranked at the top for two straight years in the global TV marketplace in 2007, further widening its lead against rivals. According to the latest report by the market research firm DisplaySearch, Samsung Electronics commanded a 13.6 percent share in the global TV market last year in unit sales, followed by LG Electronics with 11.4 percent, Philips with 7.4 percent, Sony with 6.6 percent and TCL with 5.8 percent. In revenue, Samsung again emerged on top with a share of 17.8 percent, followed by Sony with 12.4 percent, LG Electronics with 9.6 percent, Philips with 8.1 percent and Sharp with 7.8 . The gap between the front-runner and second tier players further widened to 2.2 percent points in unit sales and to 5.4 percent points in revenue. In the category of flat panel TVs, Samsung Electronics recorded share of 17.2 percent in unit sales, followed by Sony (10.6 percent), Philips (10.2 percent), LG Electronics (9.7 percent), and Sharp (8.9 percent). In revenue terms, Samsung's share was 19.0 percent, dwarfing rival companies. Following Samsung were Sony (13.9 percent), Sharp (9.5 percent), LG Electronics (9.5 percent), and Philips (9.1 percent). In the LCD TV market, with the fiercest competition, Samsung accounted for 16.9 percent of unit sales, followed by Sony with 12.1 percent, Philips with 10.8 percent, Sharp with 10.1 percent and LG Electronics with 8.6 percent. In revenue, Samsung saw its market share reach 18.7 percent, followed by Sony with 17.1 percent, Sharp with 11.7 percent, Philips with 9.9 percent, and LG Electronics with 8.0 percent. Samsung broke the 10 million unit level in sales of LCD TVs last year for the first time in history. Its 2007 LCD TV sales were estimated at 13.38 million units, creating earnings of $12.6 billion. Samsung became the world's first company to achieve the landmark “10 million (units)-$10 billion (sales)” record in the LCD TV business. Meanwhile, in the PDP TV market, Panasonic came on top with a 33.4 percent unit share, followed by Samsung with 19.2 percent, LG Electronics with 17.7 percent, Hitachi with 8.0 percent, and Philips with 5.9 percent. In revenue, Panasonic led the list with a share of 34.5 percent, followed by Samsung with 20.1 percent, LG Electronics with 16.1 percent, Hitachi with 7.5 percent, and Pioneer with 7.3 percent. With Samsung positioned at No. 3 in 2006 in the PDP TV market, its 2007 performance indicates robust growth. __
