Thumbay Group welcomes 6000th medical tourist at Thumbay Hospitals on World Tourism Day

 

Thumbay Medical Tourism (TMT) – the award-winning medical tourism initiative of Thumbay Group – celebrated the World Tourism Day on September 27, 2016 by welcoming its 6,000th Medical Tourist at Thumbay Hopsital, Ajman. Concurrently, TMT also hosted celebrations at Sharjah International Airport.  In a bid to foster awareness among the international community on the significance of medical tourism, the TMT kiosk at the airport welcomed numerous passengers from various countries, providing over 1000 complimentary gift packs which included free consultation passes at Thumbay Hospitals, information packs and other goodies.

Commenting on Thumbay Group’s participation in the celebration of tourism, Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice-president - Healthcare Division at Thumbay Group, said, “On the historical occasion of welcoming our 6000th medical tourist at our hospital, especially on World Tourism Day, we are very proud of our achievement. Although most travelers prefer to stay away from hospital/illness while on vacation, a fast-increasing number of medical tourists (people who align treatment with travel) are choosing international destinations like UAE for the sole purpose of attaining quality medical services.  We take this opportunity to inform everyone about the services we offer. We aim to assist medical tourists arriving to the UAE with access to Thumbay’s state-of-art, efficient and affordable healthcare services.”

Thumbay Medical Tourism focuses on promoting Thumbay Group’s ultra-modern healthcare services to the growing number of international patients visiting the UAE, at affordable costs. TMT provides a host of travel and medical services to medical tourists from all over the world, and also arranges on-demand translator services, accommodation services, customized treatment packages, preferred cuisine, travel arrangements, priority appointments, airport pick up and drop off, etc.

Thumbay Medical Tourism currently has offices in six different countries and looking to open in 20 different nations.  TMT is looking to partner with interested parties to expand its network and is inviting proposals for the same.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan opens the Shi Dachan Exhibition of Oriental paintings and Calligraphy

United Arab Emirates: His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan opened the exhibition of ink paintings and Arabic calligraphy by leading oriental artist, Shi Dachan.  

The artist will be showcasing his ink paintings and calligraphic pieces at the Emirates Palace from the evening of 29th of September to the 2nd of October 2016 and from the 5th to the 7th October at St. Regis Hotel, Dubai.

Shi Dachan combines ink art, traditionally from Chinese culture to express ways to co-exist with one's surroundings in harmony. Inspired by nature and calligraphy, Shi Dachan introduces classic and timeless pieces of contemporary art that sets its own cultural and heritage trends in Asia’s art industry.

Mr. Oswald Wong, President and CEO of the China International Development and Investment Corporation Limited will be attending the event. He is particularly supportive of the Chinese national strategy "One Belt One Road", which aims to link over 60 countries to enhance cross-border trade and investment with the ultimate objective of cultural exchange and economic improvement. UAE is naturally an important market given the new visa free free rule for Chinese nationals entering UAE and the exhibition is the first step towards initiating cultural exchange between the two countries.

According to Shi Dachan, “Chinese calligraphy is very similar to Arabic calligraphy when it comes to attention to detail and accuracy. With increased interest from Ink Calligraphy lovers, it was only time before we ventured into the Middle East region to strengthen cultural ties with art lovers from the GCC and Levant.

Vanessa de Caires, Owner of Sulty Events and Entertainment Dubai said, ”We are excited to introduce Shi Dachan to the UAE through this exhibition. Shi Dachan is inspired by the natural world, embracing conceptual art and his Chinese influenced collection presents a modern yet culturally diverse and authentic art expression to enthrall the local audience.”

Respected UAE gallery owner, Salwa Zeidan of Salwa Zeidan Gallery is curating the exhibition. “As a monk, Shi Dachan’s work transmits spiritual energy and makes viewers look deeper for answers in his work. His fresh minimalist style blends well with the group of artists we represent, hence we felt important to introduce his art to our group of art collectors,” she adds.   

 Mrs. Salam Hamzeh Ghaith , Founder & President of Smallworld adds," Access to Art and Education is the key catalyst for achieving most of our potential as a civilization. We are delighted to collaborate with Shi Dachan exhibition to celebrate culture through art. Our mutual objective is to bring different communities together in a creative environment to explore and appreciate the Chinese ink art and calligraphy.”

Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation will be inviting art and calligraphy enthusiasts amongst its members as a key supporter of exhibition.

“Shi Dachan’s collection has an universal aesthetic, intended for a global audience and demonstrates the diversity found in current ink techniques. His style is used by the most admired and innovative practitioners aimed to create poetry with fluid and expressive ink tones,” adds Oswald.

The paintings and calligraphy showcased in the UAE ranks among the finest in China and beyond, perfect as masterpieces in art galleries and private collectors residences. Dignitaries for the opening night of the exhibition hailed from the USA, Australia, China and the UAE, with the attendance of Diplomats, Art Collectors, regional Businessmen and regional media.

 معالي الشيــخ نهيــان بن مبــارك آل نهيــان يفتتح معرض الفنان شي داشـان للوحات الفن الشرقي وفنون الخـط    

دبــي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة: قام معالي الشيخ نهيان بن مبارك آل نهيان بافتتاح معرض اللوحات المرسومة بالحبر وفنون الخط العربي للفنان الشرقي الرائد؛ شي داشان.

حيث سيقوم الفنان شي داشان بعرض لوحاته المرسومة بالحبر وقطعه الفنية لفنون الخط؛ وذلك بقصر الإمارات في الفترة من 29 سبتمبر إلى 2 أكتوبر 2016 ومن 5 إلى 7 أكتوبر  بفندق سانت ريجيس في دبي.

ويقوم شي داشان من خلال أعماله الفنية بالجمع ما بين فن الرسم بالحبر التقليدي المستمد من الثقافة الصينية؛ للتعبير عن سبل تعايش الفرد في انسجام وتناغم مع محيطه. حيث يقدم شي داشان قطع فنية كلاسيكية خالدة من الفن المعاصر؛ مستوحاة من الطبيعة وفنون الخط؛ والتي تحدد الاتجاهات الثقافية والتراثية الخاصة بها في مجال الفنون الآسيوية.   

هذا وسيشارك السيد / أوزوالد وونغ، الرئيس والمدير التنفيذي لمؤسسة الصين الدولية للتنمية والاستثمار المحدودة، بحضور الحدث؛ وهو أحد الداعمين الأساسيين وبشكل خاص للاستراتيجية الوطنية الصينية التي تحمل عنوان "حزام واحد...طريق واحد"؛ والتي تهدف إلى ربط أكثر من 60 بلدا لتعزيز التجارة والاستثمار عبر الحدود؛ مع الهدف النهائي المتمثل في التبادل الثقافي والتطور الاقتصادي. هذا فيما تعتبر دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة بطبيعة الحال سوقا هاماً نظرا للمبدأ الجديد المتثمل في منح التأشيرة الحرة للمواطنين الصينيين لدخول دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة؛ فيما يعد المعرض بمثابة الخطوة الأولى نحو إنطلاق وبدء التبادل الثقافي بين البلدين.

ووفقاً للفنان شي داشان، فإن: "الخط الصيني يتشابه للغاية مع الخط العربي عندما يتعلق الأمر بالاهتمام بالتفاصيل والدقة. ومع تنامي الإهتمام لدى عشاق فن رسم الخطوط بالحبر؛ فقد حان الوقت لطرق أبواب منطقة الشرق الأوسط من أجل تعزيز العلاقات الثقافية مع محبي الفنون بدول الخليج والمشرق العربي".

وقد صرحت فانيسا دي كيريس؛ مالكة سولتي إيفنتس آند انترتينمت دبي، قائلة؛ "نحن سعداء بتقديم الفنان شي داشان لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة من خلال هذا المعرض. فالفنان دي داشان يستوحي العالم الطبيعي من خلال أعماله؛ مع تبنيه للفنون التصورية ، في حين تقدم مجموعته الفنية المتأثرة بالثقافة الصينية لمسة فني تتسم بالحداثة والتنوع الثقافي، فضلاً عن التعبيرات الفنية الأصيلة التي تأسر ألباب الجمهور المحلي".   

وقد صرحت السيدة الإماراتية المحترمة / سلوى زيدان؛ صاحبة معرض سلوى زيدان جاليوي؛ والقائمة بالإشراف على المعرض؛ قائلة "كفنان راهب؛ فإن أعمال شي داشان تنقل الطاقة الروحية و تدفع المشاهدين إلى النظربصورة أعمق من أجل الحصول على إجابات من واقع أعماله الفنية؛ حيث يمتزج أسلوبه الفني الجديد المميز ببساطته على نحو جيد مع مجموعة من الفنانين الذين نقدمهم بالمعرض؛ وبالتالي فقد شعرنا بأنه من المهم تقديم فنه إلى مجموعات جامعي القطع الفنية لدينا".

فيما أضافت السيدة/ سلام حمزة غيث، مؤسسة ورئيسة مؤسسة “سمول وورلد”، قائلة، "تعد حرية الوصول إلى الأنشطة الفنية والتعليمية حافزاً رئيسياً لتحقيق معظم قدراتنا الحضارية. ونحن سعداء بالتعاون مع معرض شي داشان للاحتفاء بالثقافة من خلال الفن. فهدفنا المشترك هو الجمع ما بين المجتمعات المختلفة معا في بيئة خلاقة لاستكشاف وتقدير فنون الرسم بالحبر وفنون الخط الصينية ".

هذا وستقوم مؤسسة سلطان بن علي العويس الثقافية بدعوة المهتمين من أعضائها بالفنون والخطوط؛ بصفتها أحد الداعمين الأساسيي للمعرض.

فيما أضاف السيد / أوزوالد قائلاً " تتميز مجموعة شي داشان بطابع جمالي عالمي، يستهدف شرائح الجمهور على مستوى العالم، ويظهر التنوع الموجود في التقنيات والأساليب الحالية للرسم بالحبر. حيث يتم استخدام أسلوبه من قبل الفنانين المبتكرين الأكثر إثارة للإعجاب والذين يهدفون إلى إبداع لمسات شعرية من خلال طبقات الحبر السائلة المعبرة".    

تعتبر اللوحات والقطع الفنية لفنون الخط الخاصة بالفنان شي داشان المعروضة بدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة من بين الأعمال الفنية الأفضل في الصين وخارجها؛ حيث ستحتوي المجموعة المعروضة على روائع فنية تلائم المعارض الفنية وهواة جمع التحف الخاصة. هذا وسيتشرف المعرض بتواجد العديد من كبار الشخصيات المتوافدة من الصين ودولة الإمارات في ليلة الإفتتاح، بحضور الدبلوماسيين، وجامعي الأعمال الفنية، ورجال الأعمال البارزين بالمنطقة، و وسائل الإعلام الإقليمية.

The Importance of Mobile Threat Defense

By Rick Rogers, Area Manager for East and West Africa at Check Point Software Technologies

LAGOS, Nigeria, September 30, 2016/ -- HummingBad. Stagefright. QuadRooter. Mobile malware and vulnerabilities have been making headlines well over the past year, and attacks are becoming a more common way for cybercriminals to steal sensitive data. We believe this trend – one that our research team encounters daily – is illustrated in the Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense (http://APO.af/xHieRt) Solutions.* This rise in the sophistication and volume of mobile malware and continued exposure to unknown vulnerabilities demonstrates how Android and iOS devices simply aren’t secure on their own. According to the Check Point 2016 (https://www.CheckPoint.com) Security Report mobile devices pose massive risks for organisations. Some of the key takeaways include: Employees mix business with personal use and 1 in 5 mobile devices are infected One in five employees will be the cause of a company network breach through either malware or malicious Wi-Fi Mobile security lags behind mobile adoption as users discover new ways of engaging while on the go The Mobile Threat Defence Market is Growing Rapidly Mobile malware and vulnerabilities aren’t all that different than their cousins in the PC world. We’ve seen how today’s mobile malware imitates techniques introduced by PC malware. According to the 2016 Security Report the five major categories of attacks and vulnerabilities challenging the mobile device space are: System Vulnerabilities Root Access and Configuration Changes. Repackaged or Fake Apps Trojans and Malware Man-in-the-Middle AttacksAs mobile threats develop, more companies should adopt mobile security solutions designed to keep pace with this evolution. Is your business ready for the next mobile breach? Find out! According to Gartner, “by 2018 fewer than 15% of organisations will have mobile threat defense (MTD) in place, which is an increase from fewer than 5% today.” We believe if the number of organizations implementing MTD solutions triples by 2018, it becomes that much harder for cybercriminals to infiltrate and exploit mobile devices, and gives them even less motivation to do so. Learn More: CISO’s Guide to Mobile Threat Prevention (http://APO.af/C8H82s) Watch: How Check Point Mobile Threat Prevention Works (http://APO.af/I32gO4) The time to act is now. If organisations don’t do something soon to stop mobile malware in its tracks, we’ll soon face a problem on a much wider scale, like the one we encounter already for PCs today. Organisations Need Across-the-Board Protection Cybrercriminals focus on three main vectors to conduct attacks on mobile devices: Networks: Network attacks allow cybercriminals to handpick their targets, minimizing the potential risk of discovery and focusing their efforts only on the specific objective. Cybercriminals can easily set up a fake hotspot, or hijack an existing one. Apps: App-based attacks provide cybercriminals with the greatest capabilities, enabling them to compromise virtually any target. Malicious apps can be found in a number of Both the Apple App Store and Google Play have been contaminated with malware. The situation is even worse in third-party app stores which have even less control over the apps they host. Device: Both iOS and Android are riddled with exploits developers constantly struggling to patch. These exploits exist everywhere, from the kernel through the chipsets to the OS. From the moment an exploit is discovered to the moment it is patched, cybercrminals can use it to attack defenseless users. Accordingly, Gartner says “MTD solutions provide security at one or more of these four levels: Device behavioral anomalies —MTD tools provide behavioral anomaly detection by tracking expected and acceptable use patterns. Vulnerability assessments —MTD tools inspect devices for configuration weaknesses that will lead to malware execution. Network security —MTD tools monitor network traffic and disable suspicious connections to and from mobile devices. App scans —MTD tools identify “leaky” apps (meaning apps that can put enterprise data at risk) and malicious apps, through reputation scanning and code analysis.” Check Point Mobile Threat Prevention (http://APO.af/u0qi2j) combats threats all four of these levels to help keep mobile devices and data safe. It uses static and dynamic threat analysis to detect malicious and leaky apps. It detects and blocks jailbreak or root attempts which can undermine a device’s built-in protections, and it blocks network attacks and malicious network connections. With billions of new connections formed every minute, the world is more globally linked than ever. Innovations like cloud, mobility and IoT are changing the way we deploy, the way we consume, and the way we secure technology. More and more malware is being put into our ecosystem that traditional security techniques are powerless to prevent. Given this, staying a leader requires being one step ahead of things you cannot see, know or control – and preventing attacks before they happen. Organisations need to do everything in their power to ensure that they are as secure as possible. Some of the best practices to protect your mobile business are: Educate your workforce Define your risk tolerance Enforce basic hygiene Separate work and personal data Invest for an uncertain future For the modern enterprise advanced threat prevention, mobile device protection and segmenting a network are all critical components in order to secure themselves. *Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense Solutions, John Girard, Dionisio Zumerle, Published: 28 July 2016 Distributed by APO on behalf of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd..

Mercedes-Benz Vans is presenting the van of the future: intelligent, interconnected and electric

New strategic future initiative adVANce and Vision Van

• Mercedes-Benz Vans launches future initiative adVANce to expand its growth strategy and develop new business models
• Investments of approximately 500 million euros over the next five years for digitalisation, automation and robotics in vans as well as innovative mobility solutions
• New organisational unit within the start-up scene in Stuttgart, Berlin and Silicon Valley – approximately 200 employees already work on numerous projects
• Close cooperation with start-ups, including first strategic investments – among others in Matternet
• All-electric "Vision Van" van study with a range of up to 270 km, fully automated cargo space and integrated drones

Press Information

3rd October 2016

Stuttgart – Today the globally successful van manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Vans, has unveiled its strategic future initiative adVANce for the transport industry. This sees the division systematically taking up its customers' changing requirements. The transformation of the industry is the result of various economic and social trends, among them urbanisation, the growth in
e-commerce, the intelligent networking of a wide range of technologies in the Internet of Things (IoT), and the proliferation of platform-based business models.

Mercedes-Benz Vans is systematically making use of present-day and future technological opportunities presented by digitalisation, automation and robotics. The business division is developing from a mere vehicle manufacturer into a provider of system solutions and will offer integrated and intelligent systems in addition to its basic vehicles in the future. These solutions can make the transportation of goods and passengers even more efficient and open up new business opportunities and economic benefits for costumers.

"In the first six months of this year, we brought in the best results yet for Mercedes-Benz Vans. This provides us with an excellent foundation to position our vans division systematically for the future", said Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, at today's Van Innovation Campus in Stuttgart.

"To live up to the dramatic changes in our sector, we adapt our
'Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global' strategy and expand it beyond the product and untapped international markets. We are focusing our attention beyond the vehicle on the entire value chain and business environment of our customers. We provide transport solutions for the digital age and evolve the van into an intelligent, interconnected data centre on wheels. In order to do this, we are investing around half a billion euros over the next five years, and we created a separate organisational unit. So far, this approach is unique within the van sector."

Identifying the customer requirements of tomorrow

With the adVANce initiative, Mercedes-Benz Vans is systematically adapting
to new, rapidly changing customer requirements. Examples include the burgeoning business in food and everyday necessities ordered online. Here, demand for same-day delivery or delivery within an hour is increasing rapidly. At the same time, more and more people are living in cities – by 2030 urban areas will be home to more than two thirds of the world's population. It is clear that the rising transportation requirements will need to be met even faster and more efficiently in future and, above all, in an environmentally friendly way.

All-electric "Vision Van" van study for innovative delivery on the last mile

Mercedes-Benz Vans is presenting a fascinating, integrated solution for new customer requirements with the "Vision Van" van study, which was presented today and evolved as part of the adVANce initiative. This all-electric vehicle combines various innovative solutions for last-mile delivery in urban and suburban environments. It is the first van worldwide to fully digitally connect all people and processes involved, from the distribution centre to the consignee. Furthermore, it is the first van ever to feature a fully automated cargo space and integrated delivery drones. For example, if a parcel service provider stops his vehicle in a residential area, it will be possible to deliver multiple packages to nearby consignees autonomously by air – even if they are not at home – in addition to manual delivery. This makes the deliverer’s job easier, reduces the delivery time and offers end customers new opportunities such as same-day delivery at an agreed time. Mercedes-Benz Vans envisages deployment of the Vision Van boosting efficiency by up to 50 percent on the last mile. The vehicle is equipped with a 75 kW electric drive and – depending on the intended application – has a range of 80 km to approximately 270 km. With the Vision Van, deliveries are emission-free.

"With the Vision Van from Mercedes-Benz Vans we provide an idea of future generations of vans: the intelligent automation technology connects the entire process, from loading and transportation by road through to delivery to the consignee. This makes it easier for the deliverer to do business and rapidly reduces the delivery time for end customers", adds Volker Mornhinweg.

"Equipped with an electric drive system, the Vision Van not only operates locally emission-free, it also moves almost silently. This means that it can be operated in cities even during times when there are traffic restrictions or for late-night deliveries in residential areas. This gives our customers the possibility of offering new services to their customers."

Focusing on three key fields of innovation: adVANce

As part of the strategic future initiative, Mercedes-Benz Vans will be focusing on three fields of innovation: the first involves incorporating the van into the Internet of Things. For this purpose, Mercedes-Benz Vans is integrating smart technologies into the van, which increase its efficiency and make it a central component of the digital value chain. The focus here is on relevant applications and connectivity solutions (digital@vans). One example is developing a telematics unit for vans which collects and processes data concerning the status of the delivery tour, the present location and the load, and sends this information to the distribution manager. In this way it is possible to monitor and manage last-minute changes within the fleet efficiently from a central point.

Another application concentrates on the efficient part and tool management for service vehicles, for example tradespersons' mobile workshops. In future new holistic system solutions will enable parts to be ordered in a fully automated way by means of an intelligent inventory management within the vehicle, as well as for the relevant parts to be placed overnight directly into the van. Intermediate steps such as inventory evaluation, ordering parts manually and the tradesperson having to equip the vehicle are no longer necessary.

The second focal point is on innovative hardware-based solutions for the transportation industry (solutions@vans). Here Mercedes-Benz Vans is working on automated cargo space systems for delivery vehicles for parcel services, for example. Until now, deliverers need to rearrange their packages (on average around 180 per load) ten times while making deliveries within a residential area and schedule approximately three to four minutes per stop. New, interconnected cargo space systems make loading and unloading much faster, thereby increasing process efficiency. One-shot loading (loading the vehicle with all pre-picked parcels in one go) cuts loading times considerably and reduces the amount of vehicle downtime at distribution centres. When the deliverer is unloading, the system will show him the exact load configuration and make the right package available at the right time for delivery depending on the delivery destination. The team at Mercedes-Benz Vans also has the integration of autonomous delivery systems such as drones or self-driving robots in mind.

The third field of interest for the Stuttgart-based van manufacturer in conjunction with various cooperation partners is new mobility concepts for the on-demand transportation of goods and people (mobility@vans). In future these intelligent mobility concepts could supplement public transit by making fast, efficient and individual transport of passengers possible during peak and off-peak hours via ridesharing concepts. In the future, the intelligent networking of technologies can also make the transportation of goods more efficient and considerably improve transport on the last mile. In this pioneering field Mercedes-Benz Vans is also working on innovative leasing, rental and sharing models, which are completely tailored to the needs of van customers.

New organisational unit within the start-up scene

In order to fully exploit the numerous opportunities of evolving the van and vehicle-related business systems, Mercedes-Benz Vans has created a new organisational unit called Future Transportation Systems. The project teams are based within the start-up scene in Stuttgart, Berlin and Silicon Valley. In total around 200 employees are working on these topics. They work closely with customers and partners from business, technology, logistics, research and the public sector. The objective of working with young companies is to combine the knowledge of the vehicle sector accumulated over decades with new perspectives, agile working methods and innovative ideas.

Strategic investments in innovative start-ups

In order to make new approaches market-ready, Mercedes-Benz Vans is investing in several innovative start-ups in the areas of automation, robotics and mobility services in a first step. One of the companies that Mercedes-Benz Vans has a stake in is Matternet, a US-based developer of autonomous drone logistics systems. Together with Matternet, Mercedes-Benz Vans worked on the Vision Van show car, the first integrated delivery system that automates last-mile delivery. The new system, which combines van and drone logistics, is a more efficient, faster and a more economical way for people to receive goods on-demand.

Mercedes-Benz Vans achieves most successful first half year ever with records in unit sales, revenue, EBIT and return on sales

In the first half of 2016, Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved the best figures in its history. Unit sales increased by 21 percent to approximately 176 200 vehicles (prior-year: approximately 145 400 units). The entire product portfolio contributed to this increase in unit sales. Revenue was up 19 percent to 6256 million euros, another best-ever level (prior-year: 5244 million euros). EBIT and return on sales climbed by 56 percent and 30 percent to 702 million euros and 11.2 percent reaching a new record level (prior-year: 449 million euros and 8.6 percent). Mercedes-Benz Vans anticipates further significant growth in unit sales for the 2016 financial year as a whole. The business division is also expecting a significantly higher EBIT from ongoing business
in 2016 compared to 2015 as well as a significantly higher return on sales.

The Mercedes-Benz Vans division

Mercedes-Benz Vans is a global full-line supplier of vans and related services. Alongside the large-size Sprinter van and the mid-size Vito van (known in the US as Metris), the division's worldwide product portfolio includes the Mercedes-Benz Citan urban delivery van. Mercedes-Benz Vans is also represented in the private segment with the V-Class MPV and the Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY travel vans. The division has a total of nine production locations: in Germany, Spain, the USA, Argentina, China (joint venture with Fujian Benz Automotive Co., Ltd), France (strategic alliance with Renault-Nissan) and Russia (partnerships with GAZ and YaMZ). To date, the main markets have been in Western Europe, accounting for a total of 65 percent of unit sales in 2015.

The 7th Arabia CSR Forum ropes in leading names in sustainability

Forum in October 19 will bring in global and local leaders in CSR and sustainability

UAE, October 2, 2016 - The Arab Region’s most talked about CSR Forum will be happening on October 19, 2016 in Dubai. Taking place annually for the past six years, the forum has become known all over the Region and even beyond as a platform that promotes latest thinking and current philosophies around CSR and sustainability. This year too, the forum will present fresh thinking and current topics, particularly on the subject of critical importance, namely, the Sustainable Development Goals. The forum will raise the curtain on the Arab Sustainable Development Agenda and its priorities.

The theme, ‘Accelerating the Arab Sustainable Development Agenda Through Innovation and Collaboration’ will reflect this and more. The theme is bold and gives out a call to action in the region.

Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Arabia CSR Network, pointed out that the Forum will address four sessions. The first will focus on the current state of sustainability in the Arab world in the wake of the Millennium Development Goals, and what are the most pressing development priorities in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The second session will dwell on partnerships for the SDGs; enhancing Corporate Social Responsibility for policy coherence and resilient collaborations. Specifically, this will discourse policy coherence with the SDGs from a global perspective; evaluate if extractive industries support the SDGs from a regional perspective and study the business case for Arab collaborations.

She goes on to discuss the third session as “interdependencies and disparities between private, public and civil society collaborators. To what extent are businesses in the region equipped with knowledge and awareness of the post 2015 development agenda?” Further, bridging the gap between expectations and reality: what is the role of each key stakeholder state and non-state player in the Arab sustainability scene? Last but not least, there will be focus towards the nexus of youth, innovation and social enterprise addressed in the fourth session. Primarily, “what is the role of academia in developing the capacity of Arab youth to innovate and collaborate towards inclusive sustainable development?” and what are “the new and appropriate business models and technologies” needed to do so.

The forum therefore promises to be a great opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about all the key issues within CSR and sustainability that people in the Region should be cognizant of. It will bring together 25 thought leaders, government and business leaders, UN officials and youth spokespersons. Some of the acclaimed speakers will be HE Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim At-Twaijri, Assistant Undersecretary General of Economic Affairs from the League of Arab States, HE Mr. Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of DEWA, Dr. Iyad Abumoghli from UNEP ROWA, Dr. Abdullah Al Dardari, Deputy Executive Secretary at UN ESCWA, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University, Dr. Shahira Wahbi, Chief of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation at the League of Arab States, among many others.

As it’s clear from the list, it has the right balance of local and global perspectives, which will make for an exciting round of discussions. A special session on youth has been arranged, keeping in view that youth are among the most potent force in society and one that is demanding that its voice be heard. The 7th Arabia CSR Forum is therefore offering the youth a high class platform where they will be able to rub shoulders with the leaders and change makers in sustainability, and gain an enhanced understanding about why such issues are important for their future.

The Forum is being organized by Arabia CSR Network, the leading think tank and training center based in the UAE, under the patronage of the League of Arab States and supported by the United Nations Environment Program. The forum is also supported by a range of public and private organizations such as ENOC as a Strategic Sponsor from the UAE, Maaden as a Platinum Sponsor from the KSA, Diamond Developers as a Gold Sponsor from the UAE, GPIC from Bahrain and Tristar Transport from the UAE as Silver Sponsors, Emirates Environmental Group as Environmental Partner, Expert Consulting on Governance as Strategic Supporter in addition to myclimate, as well as Media Partners like 7 days, Gulf News, Moon Media Consultant, Orient Planet and Cyber Gear. The forum will be held from the 19th to the 20th, whereby the two days will see a combination of plenary sessions, creative labs and keynote presentations, moderated by well-known sustainability champions.

الدورة السابعة من "المنتدى العربي للمسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات" تنطلق في 19 أكتوبر مستقطبة أسماء بارزة في مجال الاستدامة

المنتدى يستضيف نخبة من القادة العالميين والمحليين في مجال المسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات والاستدامة

الإمارات،2  أكتوبر 2016 - تنطلق فعاليات "المنتدى العربي للمسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات"، الحدث المنتظر في المنطقة العربية، في 19 أكتوبر/تشرين الأول في دبي. وأصبح هذا المنتدى السنوي، الذي تقام دورته السابعة هذا العام، حدثاً معروفاً على الساحة الإقليمية وخارجها كونه بات منصة لطرح الأفكار والمفاهيم الحالية المتعلقة بالمسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات والاستدامة. وسيطرح المنتدى هذا العام أفكاراً جديدة ويناقش المواضيع الراهنة، خاصة أهداف التنمية المستدامة، كما سيتم خلاله كشف النقاب عن الأجندة العربية للتنمية المستدامة وأولوياتها.

ويقام المنتدى تحت شعار "دفع عجلة الأجندة العربية للتنميـة المستدامة من خلال الابتكار والتعاون" والذي يسعى من خلاله إلى الدعوة للعمل المؤثر والفعال لتحقيق الاستدامة في المنطقة العربية.

أشارت حبيبة المرعشي، رئيسة "الشبكة العربية للمسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات"، إلى أن المنتدى سيشتمل على أربع جلسات هامة، حيث ستركز الجلسة الأولى على الحالة الراهنة للاستدامة في العالم العربي في أعقاب أهداف التنمية المستدامة (SDGs)، وما هي أولويات التنمية الأكثر إلحاحاً في ضوء أهداف التنمية المستدامة. أما الجلسة الثانية فستتمحور حول دور الشراكات في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة وتعزيز المسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات لضمان التناسق بين السياسات وإيجاد شراكات مرنة تسهم في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة. وسيتم في هذه الجلسة تسليط الضوء على تناسق السياسات وأهداف التنمية المستدامة من منظور عالمي، وتقييم إمكانية دعم الصناعات الاستخراجية لأهداف التنمية المستدامة من منظور إقليمي ودراسة البعد الاقتصادي للتعاون العربي.

وأضافت المرعشي إلى أن الجلسة الثالثة ستحمل عنوان "التداخلات والفوارق بين المؤسسات الخاصة والعامة والمجتمع المدني"، حيث ستتناول مدى تسلح الشركات بالمعرفة والوعي حول جدول أعمال التنمية المستدامة بعد عام 2015، وستناقش أيضاً سد الفجوة بين التوقعات والواقع وما هو دور ومسؤوليات أصحاب المصلحة الرئيسيين، واللاعبين الحكوميين وغير الحكوميين، في واقع الاستدامة العربي. وأخيراً وليس آخراً، ستركز الجلسة الرابعة على الرابط بين الشباب والابتكار والمشاريع الاجتماعية، حيث ستناقش بشكل رئيسي دور المؤسسات الأكاديمية في تطوير قدرات الشباب العربي على الابتكار والتعاون من أجل تحقيق التنمية المستدامة الشاملة، والبحث في النماذج التجارية الجديدة والمناسبة والتقنيات المطلوبة لتعزيز التنمية الشاملة المستدامة في العالم العربي.  

وسيوفر المنتدى الفرصة لمعرفة كافة القضايا الرئيسية في مجالي المسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات والاستدامة والتي ينبغي معرفتها من قبل المجتمع في المنطقة، حيث سيجمع 25 من أبرز قادة الفكر وكبار الشخصيات من قطاعي الحكومة والأعمال، بالإضافة إلى مسؤولين من الأمم المتحدة وعدد من المتحدثين الشباب. ومن بين المتحدثين المعروفين سعادة الدكتور محمد بن ابراهيم التويجري، الأمين العام المساعد للشؤون الاقتصادية في جامعة الدول العربية؛ وسعادة سعيد محمد الطاير، العضو المنتدب والرئيس التنفيذي لهيئة كهرباء ومياه دبي؛ والدكتور إياد أبو مغلي، المدير والممثل الإقليمي لبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة (UNEP) في منطقة غرب آسيا؛ والدكتور عبدالله الدردري، نائب الأمين التنفيذي للجنة الاقتصادية والاجتماعية لغربي آسيا (UN ESCWA)؛ والدكتورة شهيرة حسن أحمد وهبي، رئيسة التنمية المستدامة والتعاون الدولي في جامعة الدول العربية؛ والبروفيسور جيفري ساكس، مدير معهد الأرض في جامعة كولومبيا الامريكية، وغيرهم من المتحدثين الآخرين.  

ويتضح من قائمة المتحدثين أن "المنتدى العربي للمسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات" استطاع أن يجمع بين وجهات النظر المحلية والعالمية، الأمر الذي سيجعل من دورته السابعة مليئة بالمناقشات القيمة والمفيدة. وتم الترتيب لإعداد جلسة خاصة حول الشباب، على اعتبار أنهم من بين أهم القوى الفاعلة في المجتمع التي يجب الاستماع إلى آرائها وأفكارها. ومن هنا، فإن الدورة السابعة للمنتدى تتيح للشباب منصة رفيعة المستوى للتواصل مع الرواد وصناع القرار في مجال الاستدامة في المستقبل واكتساب فهم أفضل حول مدى أهمية هذه القضايا بالنسبة لمستقبلهم.

وسيتم تنظيم المنتدى من قبل "الشبكة العربية للمسؤولية الاجتماعية للمؤسسات"، مركز الأبحاث والتدريب المعتمد ومقرها دولة الإمارات، وتلتئم فعاليات المنتدى على مدى يومي 19 و 20 أكتوبر تحت رعاية جامعة الدول العربية وبدعم من برنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة. كما يحظى المنتدى بدعم مجموعة واسعة من المؤسسات العامة والخاصة مثل شركة "إينوك" كراع استراتيجي من دولة الإمارات، وشركة "معادن" كراع بلاتيني من المملكة العربية السعودية، وشركة "دايموند دوفيلوبرز" كراع ذهبي من دولة الإمارات، وشركة الخليج لصناعة البتروكيماويات من البحرين، وشركة تريستار للنقل من دولة الإمارات، كرعاة فضيين، بالإضافة إلى عدد من المنظمات الداعمة الأخرى كمجموعة الإمارات للبيئة كشريك بيئي، وشركة "إكسبيرت كونسلتنغ أون جوفيرنينس" (Expert Consulting on Governance) كداعم استراتيجي، بالإضافة إلى مؤسسة "ماي كلايمت" (myclimate)، فضلاً عن الشركاء الإعلاميين مثل "7 دايز" (7 Days)، و"جلف نيوز" (Gulf News)، و"مون ميديا كونسلتنت" (Moon Media Consultant) و"أورينت بلانيت" (Orient Planet) و"سايبر جير" (Cyber Gear).  وسيعقد المنتدى يومي الأربعاء والخميس الموافق 19 – 20 أكتوبر 2016، حيث سيشهد مجموعة من الجلسات العامة، والمختبرات الإبداعية والعروض الرئيسية، التي يديرها رواد الاستدامة المعروفين.