AECOM awarded $17.4m contract for King Abdullah Financial District JEDDAH - AECOM Technology Corporation, a leading provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world, announced on Friday that it has been awarded a $17.4-million contract from Rayadah Investment Company, through AECOM's Tecsult subsidiary, to review the King Abdullah Financial District Master Plan and to design the infrastructure for a 160-hectare site in Saudi Arabia that is envisioned to become the Middle East's first new major financial district of the 21st century. The 16-month contract includes validation and participation reviews of the master plan and detailed infrastructure design for roads and parking, systems for fire-fighting, storm water drainage and solid waste management; networks of sewage treatment and sanitary sewage, potable water supply, the supply and distribution of electricity and natural gas; as well as irrigation, pumping stations and other related facilities. “AECOM is proud to play such a significant role in a project that will help the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia meet the goals of its financial modernization program,” said AECOM President and Chief Executive Officer John M. Dionisio. AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental and energy. With 43,000 employees around the world, AECOM is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation, and technical excellence in delivering solutions that enhance and sustain the world's built, natural, and social environments. AECOM serves clients in more than 100 countries and had revenue of $5.2 billion during its fiscal year 2008. – SG Brazil food exhibition JEDDAH – The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) has announced that it will organize “Flavors from Brasil” at the Intercontinental Hotel Festival City, Dubai on Feb. 16-17, 2009, in an effort to strengthen the reputation of Brazilian food brands in the Middle East's food and beverage market. IFP Emirates is collaborating with Apex-Brasil, which will select around 40 top companies with strong export experience to present their products to potential Arab consumers during a business roundtable that will serve as one of the highlights of the event. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iran have imported $29.8 billion worth of food and beverage products in 2007. Brazil, on the other hand, has been one of the biggest exporting partners of the Arab countries. It has been responsible for 16 percent of that trade. Also in 2007, Brazil registered an 81 percent share in the poultry market of the GCC countries plus Yemen, and had an average annual growth of 26 percent between 2002 and 2007. In milk and dairy products, the average annual growth of Brazilian exports to these Arab countries was 107 percent during the same period, while juice exports increased 114 percent. Juarez Leal, project manager, Flavors from Brasil said: “Statistics show that Brazilian products have a high reputation among Arab markets. All exports from Brazil are certified by Cibal Halal, the Brazilian Islamic Centre for Halal Food Stuff Association, ensuring that all products have been processed according to Islamic standards. The Flavours from Brazil in Dubai will surely be an important step towards further consolidating the reputation of Brazilian products among Arab consumers. This initiative will also enable exporters to open new business opportunities and identify new export destinations in the Middle East.” – SG Siemens transformer deal FRANKFURT - Industrial conglomerate Siemens AG said Thursday it has signed a ¤200 million ($258 million) deal to supply two electric transformer substations to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. The company said the transformers will supply power for new infrastructure projects in Dubai -which is seeing a 10 percent annual increase in electric consumption, twice the average global growth rate.
