Foreign Relations

ITCN Asia 2009 Showcase: Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority (UAE)

Luca Gorlero, Marketing & Business Generation Director at the Ras al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority, UAE (RAK FTZA) was much pleased to have his company first time in Pakistan through the ITCN Asia 2009. In an interview during the event, he said that Pakistani investors have great opportunity to invest in the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone under a secure and developed environment with the maximum profit opportunities.

He said that Pakistan is land of opportunities and potential, its business people are considered important figures all over the world while at the RAK FTZ we are here to provide them overall facilities from getting a business/trade license to set up a company to other related services to boost their business. He said we are here directly without any promoter in Pakistan to interact B2B coordination with potential investors.

Luca Gorlero briefed us regarding doing business opportunities in the RAK FTZ by narrating the following salient features:

Ras Al Khaimah emirate is one of the seven emirates forming the UAE federation. It is the northernmost emirate, located approximately 100 kilometers north-east from Dubai to which it is connected by the dual-carriage Emirates Road, a coastal highway, and by a number of small single-carriage roads. Its neighbors are the emirates of Fujairah and Umm al Quwain (plus it has a very short border with the Sharjah emirate in the desert interior) and with the Musandam peninsula enclave of the Sultanate of Oman. Ras Al Khaimah is the part of the UAE which is geographically closest to Iran. The Bandar Abbas port in Iran is only 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Ras Al Khaimah´s Mina Saqr Port.

Ras Al Khaimah ranks among the smaller emirates of the UAE federation but it has always had an important position: in the past it was a centre of traditional shipbuilding and maritime commerce, more recently as a centre of quarrying, manufacturing and tourism. Since 2003, the government of the emirate has been pursuing the policy of diversification of the economy, industrialization and promotion of tourism, investment into education and public health and by investment into public utilities.

With a renewed drive for development over the past few years, Ras Al Khaimah has been pursuing the goal of becoming a serious investment destination. In a few years the emirate could become one of the top tourist draws in the Gulf thanks to its varied landscape which includes both the coast and the sand dune areas and the mountainous regions with pleasant wadis in the Hajar Mountains.

Basic data on Ras Al Khaimah

Area 2,478 km² (650 sq miles)
Population 250,000 (estimate)
GDP 11,124 million AED (2006)
Per-capita GDP 46,407 AED (2005)
Import 4,284,000,000 AED (2006)
Export 3,646,000,000 AED (2006)
Re-export 2,450,000,000 AED (2006)


Government and Politics: Ras Al Khaimah joined the UAE federation in 1972 as the last of the seven emirates. The ruler of the emirate, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, has been in power since 1948. Since 2002, most of the day-to-day political and economic operations are carried out by the crown prince and deputy ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Local government departments in Ras Al Khaimah include:

* Emiri Court
* Law Court
* Land Department
* Municipality Department
* Public Works and Services Department
* Economic Department
* General Accounts Department
* Ras Al Khaimah Oil and Gas Commission
* Ports and Customs Department
* Civil Aviation Department
* Information and Tourism Department
* Ras Al Khaimah Broadcasting Corporation
* Antiques and Museums Department

Economy:
Ras Al Khaimah´s economy is not based on oil as it has only small oil reserves. Its gas reserves are more important but revenues from gas are also of a lesser importance than in other emirates and the emirate has had to look beyond its borders to fulfill its demand for gas. As the emirate will never be a major oil producer, RAK has instead had to concentrate on developing its industrial sector.

The Emirate is rich with raw materials such as limestone, clay, quartz and other minerals. Ras Al Khaimah is unique in the Gulf region as it has a high concentration of leading industrial units which process these natural resources and manufacture various types of cement, clinker, ceramics and other building materials. It opened the UAE’s first cement company in the early 1970s and is now the UAE’s largest producer of cement. RAK also boasts the largest rock quarry in the Gulf region.

In the 1980s, the emirate formed RAK Ceramics, which has become the world’s largest ceramics producer, and Julphar, the Gulf region’s first pharmaceuticals company. As the first pharmaceutical and medical supplies manufacturer in the Gulf region, Gulf Pharmaceuticals (also known as Julphar) has developed into a global brand and now sells its products, which meet the rigorous US Food and Drug Administration and European Commission guidelines, to almost 50 countries.

Since the 1980, other advanced manufacturing companies have set up operations in Ras Al Khaimah, including companies producing glass, CD and DVD discs, air-conditioning equipment, machinery parts, metal products and others. The total number of industrial companies registered in Ras La Khaimah exceeded 100 in 2006.

More traditional industries, such as fishing and agriculture, continue to play an important role in RAK’s economy. In 1955, the first agricultural research centre in the UAE was established there, and since then, innovative methods of arid zone cultivation have made the emirate one of the leading agricultural producers in the UAE. Ras AL Khaimah is well known for its dairy and poultry products, eggs, fodder and animal meat. In addition to this, the fertile plains in the south-east produce fruits and vegetables for the local UAE market.

Tourism is becoming one of the major industries in the emirate with several large tourism projects at various stages of completion. Natural topographical features of Ras Al Khaimah include about 65 kilometres of sandy beaches, mountains which reach almost up to 2,000 metres, gravel plains and sand dunes.

Ras Al Khaimah is emerging as a viable investment alternative with increasingly large numbers of firms choosing to locate their operations there rather than in already well-established but increasingly overcrowded parts of the UAE. The costs of living and doing business in Ras Al Khaimah are markedly lower than in Dubai, for example, while the distance of less than 100 kilometres between Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai can be covered in less than one hour. This enables companies to take advantage of being very close to Dubai but avoiding any negative impacts brought by the high growth there.

Under the guidance of the Crown Prince H.H Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the RAK government has embraced the concept of free enterprise as a vehicle for progress and development. The government is proactive in its approach for attracting foreign investments by creating an incentive based environment and a suitable climate for investment in Ras Al Khaimah. The Emirate registered a GDP growth of 18.1 per cent in 2005 and 9.2 per cent in 2006.

Ras Al Khaimah offers excellent investment opportunities in diverse ever-growing economic areas. The following sectors offer attractive investment opportunities:

Manufacturing: The emirate derives its economic importance from the abundant raw materials which have made the emirate the main producer of cement, building materials, quarries, and ceramics. More recently, companies from other parts of the manufacturing sector have invested in Ras Al Khaimah: pharmaceuticals, electronics, automotive industry, metalworking and machinery, as well as food processing. It is estimated that the costs of setting up a factory in Ras Al Khaimah are about 20 per cent lower compared to other destinations due to lower prices of land, better logistics, no taxes and low customs duties and reduced overheads or costs incurred in bureaucratic delays. Ras Al Khaimah allows investors to save time to complete a project from zero date to a fully operating factory in around 6 to 12 months. These factors, coupled with lower living costs, competitive freight costs and easy access to the rest of the UAE, have created an optimal environment for manufacturing industries to set up their UAE business operations in Ras Al Khaimah.

Logistics / Warehousing: Proximity and excellent road connections to the fast-growing but congested markets in Dubai have made Ras Al Khaimah and ideal location for logistics and warehousing for both the UAE and the GCC markets.

Ras Al Khaimah has a state-of-the-art container terminal in Mina saqr Port and one of the best bulk handling ports in the region in Al Jazeera. The emirate is also developing smaller ports in Ras Al Khaimah and Al Jeer to serve regional traffic and complement the above large ports. Expansion plans for the Ras Al Khaimah Airport and the launch of RAK Airways in late 2007 have boosted the logistics infrastructure of the emirate tremendously. Growing space limitations and lacking infrastructure in major logistics hubs near large ports have encouraged logistics companies to look for alternative locations and Ras Al Khaimah is one of them.

The Service Sector: The service sector in Ras Al Khaimah is still less developed than in Dubai and thus offers many opportunities. The main advantage of the emirate, however, is its proximity to Dubai which allows RAK-based companies to provide services to this fast-growing global business hotspot very cost-effectively due to the lower costs of living and doing business in Ras Al Khaimah.

Tourism: Ras Al Khaimah has tremendous potential in the tourism sector. Its unique natural resources including hot mineral springs, mountains, sand dunes and picturesque locations and greenery provide attractive investment opportunities. The Ras Al Khaimah government has adopted a tourism master plan that embraces a number of large-scale developments, including luxury hotels, residential complexes, an offshore island and the redevelopment of the creek area. The plan also includes the development of a mountain complex – Jebel Jais Mountain Resort – complete with a five-star hotel, luxurious residential units, a snow slope and a climbing and abseiling centre. Some AED 5 billion (USD 1.4 billion) is being spent on building luxurious four- and five-star hotels along the seafront and more money is expected to be invested in developing the mountain areas. The tourism master plan also includes the promotion of Ras Al Khaimah’s heritage sites. It is estimated that by 2010, Ras Al Khaimah will have at least 25 hotels and will be visited by 2 million tourists annually.

Real Estate: The main attractions of the real estate market in Ras Al Khaimah include underdeveloped local market for residential and commercial properties, proximity to Dubai, lower costs of living in Ras Al Khaimah and diversified landscape offering both nice beaches and mountainous areas for leisure activities. Attractiveness of investment opportunities in the real estate sectors has prompted many foreign investors to investing in Ras Al Khaimah. Hamburg (Germany) based property investment fund Arabian Opportunities 2 announced recently that it will invest USD 377 million in real estate in Ras Al Khaimah, for example. In November 2005 the RAK government issued a decree permitting expatriates to enjoy freehold ownership of property developed in selected developments in Ras Al Khaimah. The legislation was preceded by a grant of 4.6 million square metres of strategically located land to RAK Properties public joint stock company to be used in various real estate projects. Major schemes underway in the emirate include the Mina Al Arab complex which will contain numerous hotels, 25,000 accommodation units, shops and a theme park, Julfar Towers, a residential and commercial development in the centre of the Ras Al Khaimah city and Mangrove Islands, a low-rise residential and commercial building development. A community area complete with a golf club, 2000 luxury villas, schools and shopping malls is also being planned for an area on Emirates Road and will be completed in 2009. Another major project under way is Al Hamra Village, an 1800-unit residential complex with a shopping mall and two hotels, one of which will be of seven-star standard. The five-star Al Hamra Fort Hotel and Beach Resort, already established in the area, will be part of the complex, along with the brand new Al Hamra Palace Hotel. There are several other large and smaller projects in various stages of planning and development.

Offshore Companies: The government of Ras Al Khaimah has launched an offshore facility, the second in the UAE, which is expected to attract investors looking for a new tax haven. The International Companies Registry allows foreign investors to register offshore companies in the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) without the need to establish a physical presence in the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah offshore scheme provides some distinct advantages like the provision of "bearer shares" under which an entity may decide not to disclose the owner's identity. In such cases, the shareholder's identity is known only to the appointed agent. However, the government may ask the shareholder's identity if required in cases such as bad transactions. (For more info, contact this blogger)

Luca Gorlero appreciated this mega event by saying that the ITCN Asia 2009 provided them a great showcase to market their services to the local clients that is why such events should be continued.

ITCN Asia 2009 Showcase: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL)

Syed Najam Ali, Senior Manager Corporate Sales SME’s & Channels at the PTCL stall was interviewed by this blogger at the ITCN Asia 2009.He described his company as the latest global version based organizations having its wide ranging presence all over the company than any other telecom company. He said at the PTCL though some extent of old aged Pakistani bureaucratic style persists but at large things have changed amazingly. That is why now we can see a global styled corporate culture with marvelous success over its competitors.
Syed Najam Ali said that quality of service, focus on customers requirements and its prompt solution providing are qualities we have at the PTCL. He described that PTCL is specially focusing on the SMEs to provide them with the latest technology based skills and services to develop this important sector of society.
Expressing some hopeless over the visitors of this year’s ITCN Asia 209 he said instead of having serious corporate/business clients we noticed some Fun-going Persons visiting this year, which is alarming indication on which organizers must be careful.

ITCN Asia 2009 Showcase: 360 BPO Solutions

The young dynamic and hopeful CEO of 360 BPO Solutions (http://www.360bposolutions.com ) Ali Sayani was so hopeful and positive over his company’s success through this mega event at Karachi Expo Centre. He expressed his satisfaction that by organizing such events we would be enabling to locate our customers and business decisions in a real time environment.

He said that his company is getting as the total solution provider by offering some superb e-commerce products like 360 e-Cart, 360 HRMS, 360 Real State and 360 Money Transfer. 360 BPO Solution is committed to be as the leading company with global environment.

ITCN Asia 2009 Showcase: 360 BPO Solutions

ITCN Asia 2009 Showcase: Hengtong Group Co; LTD. China

Hengtong Group Co; Ltd. China had their stall at the 9th ITCN Asia 2009 where we visited to their Sales Manager Mr. Alex Wu. He expressed his satisfaction and joy over their first time participation at the ITCN Asia in Pakistan. Alex Wu said that his company with networking & cable products providing business is committed to have some sound and profiteering results in Pakistan and they expect more business orders following by this international exhibition. He said that the ITCN organizers are doing marvelous job by launching such showcases for global and domestic trade/corporate world.

ITCN Asia 2009 Showcase: Jaffer Business Systems

We visited the stall of Jaffer Business Systems (A Division of Jaffer Brothers Pvt Ltd) where Mr.Afzal Niazi Senior Accounts Manager talked to us representing his Project Manager Mr.Mohammad Rehanullah who got some unavoidable meeting during that.

Talking to us Afazal Niazi briefed the blogger that Jaffer Business System is one of the leading Information Support System providers of the country and region. He said that we have a large and effective clientele circle encompassing the small, medium and large-scale local and multi-national groups and companies collaborating global giants like Microsoft, Cisco, HP and Oracle etc.

Talking about the ITCN 2009, he mentioned a little hopeless in terms of trade/corporate visitors this year and said there is a slash in such business visitors instead of which we noticed some non-business visitors who were not interested in B2B relations. On the other hand, he expressed his satisfaction over the efforts made by the E-Commerce Gateway Pakistan to organize such mega technology events in the country to develop the IT and Telecoms sectors according to the global standard.

Mr.Niazi provided us with the following contents regarding his company info:

Vision 2020
To be one of the leading Information Technology Companies of Pakistan.

Mission
To be the preferred nationwide IT solutions provider for the continuous improvement of Business Processes, achieving customer satisfaction through service excellence delivered by a professional and motivated team.

Established in 1982, Jaffer Business Systems (JBS), has expanded its operations over the past 25 years, venturing into the multi-dimensional domain of Information Technology and Security. JBS enjoys the position of being one of the most reputed IT companies in Pakistan.
JBS has continued to keep pace with the ever evolving IT industry by providing Integrated Solutions based on the needs of its customers, complemented with the largest Support Services infrastructure and highly competent support personnel.
It brings together the right team to meet customers’ needs in a timely manner. With a keen eye for value and having processes that ensure quality, while monitoring cost, JBS delivers solutions that bring a positive return on investments.

ITCN Asia 2009: Overall Program Glimpses:

(Exhibition was opened for Trade/Corporate Visitors)

Following are some glimpses of the 9th ITCN ASIA 2009 Int’l Exhibition & Conferences held at Karachi Expo Centre under the auspices of Pakistan’s No-1 event organizers the E-Commerce Gateway (Pvt) Ltd Pakistan from 11th to 13th August 2009.


Tuesday, August 11, 2009 (Day-1)


9nth International Telecom Conference: Cellular Technology & Services, Broadband & Connectivity- Local Gateway to Global Opportunity, 3G-Challenges of Dynamic Technology

Throughout the Day Exhibition

Matchmaking meetings of Exhibitors and Trade/Corporate Visitors



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Wednesday, August 112, 2009 (Day-2)

9th International Technology Conference: Banking Solutions, Information Security Interfaces, IT & Outsourcing


Throughout the Day Exhibition

Matchmaking meetings of Exhibitors and Trade/Corporate Visitors
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Thursday, August 13, 2009 (Day-3/Final Day)


International Conference on Enterprise Resource Planning: Updates on Enterprise Resource Planning, ERP Implementations- effort towards meeting business industry needs, ERP in Manufacturing Industry, ERP in Service Industry

International Conference on e-Marketing: An overview of e-Marketing, Internet Marketing via Online Content, Panel Discussion, Marketing via Mobile & Converged Technologies



Throughout the Day Exhibition

Matchmaking meetings of Exhibitors and Trade/Corporate Visitors

ITCN Asia 2009: Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone

RAK Free Trade Zone Authority(RAKZ) UAE has its stall at the ITCN Asia 2009 where I visited to Ms.A.Nillofar Faaliyat, the Business Development Manager RAK FTZ UAE.

Ms. Nillofar told that the government of RAK is offering tremendous opoprtunities for Pakistani investors and busines circles to grow their lucrative business there.

She briefed about their following salient features:

Established in 2000, Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) is one of the fastest growing and most cost-effective free trade zones in the UAE and today is home to some 5000 companies. Our commitment to simple and customer-friendly procedures has already become recognised in the region and RAK FTZ is rapidly emerging as the preferred business hub of the Middle East.

With the same services companies enjoy in other centres, for instance in Dubai, but with lower costs, our clients benefit from a range of advantages:

100% tax exemption
100% foreign ownership
Transparent laws and regulations
No restrictions on capital and profit repatriation
Strategic location within proximity to Dubai
State-of-the art communication facilities
Easy access to Ras Al Khaimah international airport and a sea port

Vision

Achieve global brand recognition as a premium investment agency where customers find the optimal business solutions to their needs.

Mission

To attract and maximize the growth of high value added, know-how based, technologically advanced, and innovative businesses to benefit Ras Al Khaimah and generate increased revenue AND to help UAE companies internationalize via RAK FTZ international offices network.


Visit us in our office at Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai or Abu Dhabi to learn more!

ITCN Asia 2009: Pakistan's First Web Awards

Talented Pakistani woman Huma Saeed has recently did a marvelous and the greatest achievement in terms of her ever… Launching of Pakistan Web Awards at the ITCN Asia 2009. The ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted by by Mr. Raza Haroon, Sindh IT Minister alongwith Mrs. Nasreen Jalil, City Naib Nazim at the stall of The Xeptionalz in ITCN Asia 2009.

Congrats to Huma Saeed and her team members on this great achievement.

ITCN Asia 2009: Pak Sat, The Pakistani Satellite Guru

Amir Hussain, the Regional General Manager of Pakistani satellite guru company Pak Sat said that the Pak Sat is providing state-of-the-art telecommunications, E-Learning and Tele-medicines services to its local and international customers with a total customer satisfaction strategy. Talking to this blogger during the ITCN Asia 2009 in Karachi, Amir disclosed that there is no more capacity with the Pak Sat at the moment while they are receiving numbers of requests for more capacity expansions or new locations.

He provided the following details regarding his company providing satellite based telecommunications services.

PAKSAT International (Private) Limited (PAKSAT) became operational in January 2006, and is responsible for commercial aspects of Pakistan’s National Satellite PAKSAT-1 @ 38° East as the commercial arm of Pakistan’s national space agency - Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). Since becoming operational the company has successfully established a solid customer base for PAKSAT-1 across Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Europe. PAKSAT-1 today has the fastest growing Pakistani TV channel neighborhood. Additionally a number of i-direct and DVB-S2 hubs are using PAKSAT-1 capacity to offer innovative and cost effective data & internet services across Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

PAKSAT has also started marketing other space related applications and services developed by SUPARCO, including Satellite Remote Sensing data, GIS, Environmental monitoring and analysis services and Fleet Management Solutions.

With its head office in Karachi, the company operates a regional office in Islamabad and a Technical Support Centre (TSC) in Lahore.

Pakistan’s National Communications Satellite PAKSAT-1 operates at orbital location of 38° East Longitude and offers C and Ku band coverage in over 75 countries across Europe, Africa, Middle East, South and Central Asia. PAKSAT-1 currently serves a number of regional customers including, TV broadcasters, telecom companies, data and broadband internet service providers as well as government organizations.

PAKSAT-1 is the first in a series of communication satellites being planned for launch. PAKSAT-1 will be replaced before its end of life by PAKSAT-1R to ensure continuity of service.

Pak Sat's services and productucts are ranging from Video Applications and Broadband Services to Telecoms.

ITCN Asia 2009: PTCL , Going To Be A Symbol of Modern Global Trend Setter Pakistani Company

Mr.Walid Irshad, the Arabic President of Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) in an interview with this blogger indicated to bring the PTCL Ltd into the global trend setters' folk through a multidimensional corporate image approach providing the end users with latest of the technology for their personal or business enhancement.

On the occasion of 9th ITCN Asia 2009 in Karachi, Mr.Walid Irshad expressed hopes that despite tough competition and local market impacts of the telecom sector the PTCL has great extent of potential to go ahead as a global trendsetter leader.

He said Pakistan is a real and safe heaven for foreign investors and his team is plying a psitive role in telecommunication development of Pakistan

ITCN Asia 2009: 360 BPO Solutions, Making a Difference in IT Services

Mehwish Sattar is the Project Manager and Marketing Associate with the 360 BPO Solutions, a company which provides complete solution to Business Process Outsourcing. Mehwish briefed this blogger of the following services her company is providing to their local and international clients:

Complete Solution to "Business Process Outsoucing"

360 BPO Solutions is a professional website design, E-commerce web development and SEO marketing company. We are dedicated to provide web based solutions for any type of business, be it small, medium, or large. We provides professional custom website design, affordable ecommerce web development and website redesign services to the clients in a professional manner.

360 BPO Solutions also take care of clients online brand building process by providing wide range of Internet marketing & SEO services. A professional website design and web development company does not limit its service in building up your website but also extends its services to proper strategic search engine marketing of your web presence to the potential online clientele. We provide you amazing services at very affordable prices.

We also provide Inbound Call Center Services for our International Clientelle.

Early Syed adeel Zaidi (Technical Manager) and Mehwish Sattar wellcomed me at their simple but dashing stall at the ITCN Asia 2009.

ITCN Asia 2009: Starchika.com, An Upcoming E-Marketing Trend Setter

Offering his ntelligent and professional e-marketing services from his boom boom starchika.com e-marketing based website, the young participant of the ITCN Asia 2009 Asif Ahmed disclosed that his said website is offering amazing E-mail and SMS marketing services at very affordable price.

Asif is confident that his www.starchika.com would be a trend setter in E-marketing in Pakistan.