Waste Generated in GCC to Reach 120 million MT per year by 2020

Private waste management sector to see over 1.5 times market growth

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

According to a recent study by Frost and Sullivan, the total waste generated in the GCC is expected to increase from 94 million MT in 2015 to as high as 120 million MT per annum by 2020. Growing population and industrialisation are viewed as the reason for the increased waste generation. The rise in municipal waste alone is expected to push the market potential up by 1.5 to 2 times in the next five years.

Recent media reports also suggest that cities in the UAE are at the forefront in adopting latest solutions in the sector. Also, ‘Waste-to-Value’ methods such as recycling and waste-to-energy are coming into the picture with Dubai Municipality building an AED 2 billion facility to convert solid waste into energy in Warsan district. Whereas, Abu Dhabi has recently announced to install high-tech smart bins and waste collection system. With governments promoting Public-Private Partnerships in the waste management sector, private companies operating in waste collection, transportation, treatment, and technology will have a huge advantage to grow.

Municipalities in the region are now tapping into services offered by private companies to help manage city waste as they are highly capable of providing integrated services with efficient collection and management of landfills. The waste management sector has now evolved to an attractive investment area for companies, which can be attributed to wide industrialization and an increasing population in the cities. With ever increasing waste across the region, a sustainable waste management system, provided by companies like us, ensures sustainable quality as far as waste management is concerned. The public-private partnership in waste management in the region is sure to support the creation of more value in the coming years,” says, Jamal Abdullah Lootah, CEO, Imdaad.

Sultan Jrab, Projects Director Lavajet Group is of the opinion that a major portion of the waste generated in the UAE contained recycled material. “It is not just collecting waste, but about eco-friendly treatment too. Though landfill is still considered cost-effective in the country, we are seeing a lot of efforts from public and private sector to keep waste away from landfills. Segregation of waste right from bins until it reaches treatment plants has resulted in increased demand for new solutions and technologies and timely services. This coupled with the expected development and population growth in the region will exponentially fuel the waste management industry.”

Jayaraman Nair, Chairman, VIS Exhibitions and Conferences – organiser of MECTW, said, “Most of the waste in the GCC has been from construction and municipal sectors till recently, but a rapid increase in electronic, hazardous and bio-medical waste is being observed, which would require newer and eco-friendlier ways of management. With the new Waste Management Pavilion at MECTW, we aim to bring together product and service providers under one roof to grasp the opportunities created by these developments.”

MECTW is region’s largest event that brings together cleaning service providers, equipment, and chemicals suppliers to discuss trends and showcase green cleaning products and innovations. The event will feature new pavilions dedicated to waste management, sewerage, and sanitation, and specialised cleaning for the year 2016.  MECTW features three platforms such as Gulf Laundrex-Linen Care Expo, Gulf Car Wash and Car Care Expo as well as the Clean Middle East Pulire. The event will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on 13 – 15 November this year.

شركة فروست آند سوليفان الاستشارية: حجم النفايات الخليجية سيصل إلى 120 مليون طن متري سنوياً بحلول 2020

المدن في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة تتمتّع بمكانة رائدة على صعيد اعتماد أحدث الحلول في هذا القطاع

الواقع الجديد سيؤدي إلى نمو مساهمة القطاع الخاص في إدارة النفايات بنحو 1.5 ضعف

دبي ، الإمارات العربية المتحدة :

أشارت دراسة أجرتها مؤخراً ’فروست آند سوليفان‘ – الشركة المتخصصة في الاستشارات والبحوث والتحليل- بأنّه من المتوقع لإجمالي حجم النفايات التي تولدها منطقة دول مجلس التعاون بأن يرتفع من 94 مليون طن متري في 2015 إلى 120 طن متري سنوياً بحلول عام 2020، ويعزى ذلك بالدرجة الرئيسية إلى التنامي السكاني واتساع نطاق القطاع الصناعي، علماً أنّه من المتوقع لارتفاع نفايات البلديات لوحده أن يرفع من فرص السوق بنحو 1.5 - 2 ضعف على مدى الأعوام الخمسة القادمة.

وتشير التقارير الإعلامية إلى أن المدن في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة تتمتّع بمكانة رائدة على صعيد اعتماد أحدث الحلول في هذا القطاع، بما يشمل الإقبال على المنهجيات التي تسمح باستخراج القيمة من المخلفات مثل إعادة التدوير أو استخدام النفايات في توليد الطاقة؛ حيث تعمل بلدية دبي على تشييد منشأة بقيمة 2 مليار درهم إماراتي لتحويل النفايات الصلبة إلى طاقة في منطقة الورسان، بينما أعلنت أبوظبي في الآونة الأخيرة عن عزمها تركيب سلال مهملات متطورة تقنياً واعتماد نظام حديث لجمع النفايات. ويتيح هذا المشهد للشركات الخاصّة العاملة في مجال النفايات (بما يشمل جمعها ونقلها ومعالجها والتكنولوجيا المرتبطة بها) الكثير من فرص النمو، ولاسيما في ظل السعي الحكومي للتشجيع على الشراكات بين القطاعين العام والخاص في مجال إدارة النفايات.

وقال جمال عبدالله لوتاه، الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة إمداد معلقاً: "تلجأ البلديات في المنطقة إلى الشركات الخاصة من أجل توفير خدمات متكاملة لجمع النفايات وإدارة المكبات، وهو ما أدّى إلى تطوّر قطاع إدارة النفايات ليغدو مجالاً استثمارياً جذاباً للشركات الخاصة بالتوازي مع ما تشهده المدن الإقليمية من تنامٍ سكاني وتطور صناعي. ومن شأن أنظمة إدارة النفايات المستدامة التي توفرها شركات مثل شركتنا أن تضمن جودة عالية وأداءً مستداماً في هذا المجال، ولا شك بأن الشراكات بين القطاعين العام والخاص سيكون من شأنها الدعم في توفير مزيد من القيمة خلال الأعوام القادمة".  

ومن جانبه، نوّه سلطان جراب، مدير المشاريع لدى مجموعة ’لافاجيت‘، إلى أن معظم النفايات في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة هي عبارة عن مواد قابلة لإعادة التدوير، حيث قال: "لا يقتصر الأمر على مجرّد جمع النفايات، بل يشمل أيضاً معالجتها بطريقة صديقة للبيئة؛ ففي حين ما زالت المكبّات تعتبر خياراً مجدياً اقتصادياً في البلاد، غير أنّ القطاعين العام والخاص يبذلان الكثير من الجهود لمعالجة النفايات بشتى الطرق الممكنة التي تحول دون إرسالها إلى المكبّات. وقد أثمرت جهود فصل النفايات -اعتباراً من سلال المهملات وحتّى منشآت المعالجة- عن ارتفاع الطلب على الحلول والتقنيات والخدمات الجديدة في هذا المضمار، ونتوقع لهذه العناصر- جنباً إلى جنب مع مستويات النمو السكانيي والتنمية الإقليمية- أن تشكل حافزاً مذهلاً لتطور واتساع قطاع إدارة النفايات".

وعلّق جايرامان ناير، رئيس مجلس إدارة شركة ’فيرتشوال إنفو سيستمز للمؤتمرات والمعارض‘ (VIS Exhibitions and Conferences)، الجهة المنظمة لـ’أسبوع الشرق الأوسط لتقنيات التنظيف‘، بالقول: "كانت معظم النفايات في الخليج حتّى فترة قريبة ناجمة عن قطاعي الإنشاءات والخدمات البلدية، غير أننا نشهد اليوم نمواً متسارعاً في كميات النفايات الإلكترونية والنفايات الطبية وغيرها من النفايات الخطرة، مما يتطلب اعتماد منهجيات أكثر مراعاةً للبيئة في التعامل مع هذا الواقع. ولهذا السبب يهدف جناحنا المتخصص في إدارة النفايات ضمن ’أسبوع الشرق الأوسط لتقنيات التنظيف‘ إلى إتاحة منصة تجمع مزودي الخدمات والمنتجات تحت سقف واحد لاغتنام الفرص التي تتيحها هذه التطورات".

وتجدر الإشارة إلى أن معرض ’أسبوع الشرق الأوسط لتقنيات التنظيف‘ (MECTW) يعتبر الفعالية الأضخم في المنطقة التي تجمع مزودي خدمات التنظيف وموردي معدات التنظيف والمواد الكيميائية تحت سقف واحد، وذلك بهدف مناقشة أحدث التوجهات واستعراض أهم الابتكارات ومنتجات التنظيف الصديق للبيئة. وتشتمل فعالية هذا العام على أجنحة جديدةً مخصصة لإدارة النفايات، والصرف الصحي، والتعقيم، والتنظيف المخصص. وتضم فعاليات أسبوع الشرق الأوسط لتقنيات التنظيف معرض ’جلف لوندريكس‘ ومعرض ’لينن كير إكسبو‘، ومعرض ’جلف كار ووش‘، ومعرض ’كار كير إكسبو‘ بالإضافة إلى معرض ’كلين ميدل إيست بولير‘. ومن المقرر أن يًقام المعرض هذا العام بين 13-15 نوفمبر في مركز دبي الدولي للمؤتمرات والمعارض.

Secretary's Remarks: Egypt's Important Economic Reform Steps

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 7, 2016/APO/ -- 

Statement attributable to John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State:

Liberalizing its foreign exchange system and reducing costly fuel subsidies demonstrates a determination to put the country on the path to economic recovery

The Egyptian government took important steps this week as part of its ongoing economic reform program. Liberalizing its foreign exchange system and reducing costly fuel subsidies demonstrates a determination to put the country on the path to economic recovery. The task before them is a challenging one, but ‎it is encouraging that Egyptian leaders are making the difficult decisions needed to move their country towards prosperity.

Distributed by APO on behalf of U.S. Department of State.

Pyramid Analytics Achieves Top Ranking in BARC’s The BI Survey 16

BI Office Ranked No. 1 in Self-Service, Customer Experience and Chosen as Standard Among Peer Groups 

Dubai, UAE –  November 8, 2016 – Pyramid Analytics, provider of the next-generation business analytics platform for the enterprise, today announced that BI Office achieved top rankings in BARC's The BI Survey 16. Categories in which BI Office took the number one spot in its peer group include “self-service,” “customer experience,” and “chosen as standard.” BARC’s The BI Survey 16 is based on findings from the world’s largest and most comprehensive survey of business intelligence end users. In total, BARC surveyed 3,137 end users and ranked 37 different BI products.

“We were impressed with Pyramid Analytics’ above-average results in several important categories in this year’s Survey,” said Larissa Seidler, Senior Analyst at BARC. “With some outstanding results, it is further affirmation to why customers think so highly of the platform.”

Vendors were grouped into different peer categories – BI Office was included in the dashboarding-focused products peer group, EMEA-focused vendor peer group, OLAP analysis-focused products peer group and self-service reporting-focused products peer group. In 21 of the 32 categories, BI Office either placed No. 1 (top-ranked) or as a leader (top 25 percent of peer group) in at least one of its peer groups.

In addition, BI Office received eight top KPI rankings among EMEA-focused vendors, eight top KPI rankings among OLAP-focused products, two top KPI rankings among self-service reporting-focused products, and two top KPI rankings in dashboarding-focused products. BI Office’s top rankings included:

• Self-service: For the third year in a row, BI Office was ranked No. 1 in self-service in three of its four peer groups. In addition to good ad hoc query capabilities, BI Office’s data modeling wizard provides flexibility and self-service for business users, enabling them to join different data sources and create in-memory models in Microsoft SQL Server. Business users can also, on their own, use pre-defined advanced analytics functions, create interactive dashboards and generate contextually-rich print-ready reports.
• Customer experience: BI Office was ranked No. 1 for customer experience in all four of its peer groups. According to BARC, “outstanding results in the ‘ease of use,’ ‘self-service,’ ‘performance satisfaction,’ and ‘recommendation’ KPIs put Pyramid Analytics on top of the competition for customer experience in all its peer groups, showing that BI Office users are extremely satisfied with the solution.”  
• Chosen as a standard: This KPI is based on how often the product is chosen as a standard by respondents at multi-product sites. BI Office was ranked No. 1 in this category in three out of its four peer groups. In the dashboarding-focused peer group, BI Office achieved a “chosen as standard” rating of 9.3 out 10, far surpassing the peer group average of 6.2. According to the BARC The BI Survey 16, “the software seems to impress customers so much they often choose it as their standard BI solution.”

“We designed BI Office to be a seamless, integrated platform catering to all types of end users, whether they are a business or IT user,” said Omri Kohl, co-founder and CEO of Pyramid Analytics. “Achieving a top-ranked position in customer experience amongst all our peer groups drives us even harder to ensure we are giving our BI Office users the best experience with our platform possible.”   

Survey results also proved the versatility of BI Office with a large portion of customers saying they use it for dashboards, basic data analysis, standard reporting and ad hoc queries. In addition, BI Office was named as the number one platform targeted for advanced analysis projects within the next 12 months.

For more information on the results of Pyramid Analytics in The BI Survey 16, please visit to access the survey summary or download the highlight report for Pyramid Analytics.

THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE U.S ELECTIONS DISCUSSED AT AUC’S MEDIA ROUNDTABLE

November 7, 2016, Cairo – Faculty members at The American University in Cairo (AUC) examined the local and regional implications of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton coming to office yesterday as part of the Behind the Headlines media roundtable series in a panel discussion titled “U.S. Elections: Between Clinton, Trump and the Middle East.” Speakers were AUC professors, Bahgat Korany, professor of political science and director of the AUC Forum; Magda Shahin, director of the Prince Alwaleed Center for American Studies and Research at AUC and Mustapha El Sayyid, adjunct professor of political science. The discussion was moderated by Randa Abul-Azm, Cairo bureau chief of Al Arabyia News Channel and AUC alumna. 

“Whether it’s Clinton or Trump, the next U.S. president is doomed to have a legitimacy deficit because to many Americans, they’re choosing the lesser of two evils,” said Korany. "Moreover, each of the candidates seriously undermined the other politically and personally during the three TV debates, thus contributing to this legitimacy deficit."

Korany said, "Indeed, U.S. society is facing severe political and ideological polarization, as well as the undermining of the major political parties, especially the Republican Party. It is a political system in crisis during elections and beyond. Many Americans who will actually go and cast a valid vote will opt for Clinton half-heartedly. They no longer respect the 'Washington establishment,' but still don’t want Trump. It is a vote against Trump rather than for Hilary. This is a dangerous situation for the superpower whose capital, Washington, is considered by many to be ‘the Capital of the World.’ If a U.S. president comes to power with such contested popular legitimacy and trust deficit, this will have a negative effect on the very credibility of future policies, not just in the Middle East, but worldwide." 

In terms of the Middle East, Korany noted, with the exception being the Iran deal, where Trump is closer to the Gulf and Israel's position, Trump and Clinton exhibit mostly differences in emphasis and sophistication. "The major difference is that Trump –– with his aggressive crude capitalistic ethos and inexperience in politics –– is too simplistic, narcissistic and impulsive," said Korany.

For Al-Sayyid, Trump is part of an international phenomenon. “We’ve seen it with leaders in Hungary, France, Germany and Austria: speeches that focus on generalization and stirring people’s emotions. That’s what Trump is doing, and the reason for that boils down to capitalism,” said Al-Sayyid. “The middle class is suffering the most from capitalism, and Trump claims he has all the solutions.”

In fact, Al-Sayyid noted, Trump’s solutions are really problems in disguise. “Trump is suggesting a reduction in taxes, but this will lead to an increase in the U.S. budget deficit,” he said. “Even the rise in military spending that he is proposing won’t be possible due to the lack of resources in the U.S. budget. His policies will only exacerbate the U.S. economic situation.”

If Trump were to become president, his first year in office –– as it pertains to the Middle East –– will be characterized by “floundering,” described Al-Sayyid. “He will try to leave his imprint on U.S. foreign policy in the region, but he is bound by institutions such as Congress, the National Security Council, think tanks, as well as U.S. media and corporations,” declared Al-Sayyid. “His inclinations toward the Middle East will show during his first year in office.”

Nevertheless, for both Trump and Clinton, their policies in the Middle East –– from Iran and Iraq to Syria and Yemen –– will probably not stray away from Obama’s policies, albeit for different reasons. “Even though Trump is against the nuclear treaty with Iran, he has no other option,” said Al-Sayyid. “With Syria, he has declared that Putin and Assad are fighting terrorism, and Yemen’s situation will be left for UN peacemaking efforts, whereby the United States will not interfere.”

As expected, Al-Sayyid said, Clinton will build on Obama’s foreign policies. “Most probably, the current situation will continue, with no U.S. military forces in Iraq or Syria, and no deliberate U.S. effort to resolve the refugee crisis in the Middle East,” Al-Sayyid said. “Obama’s policies have shown that the major U.S. interests are not in the Middle East, but in East Asia, particularly with oil being abundant in world markets at a decreasing cost. Even terrorism in the Middle East is not a major concern, since the United States is primarily concerned with terrorism on its own land.”

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, however, may present an opportunity for Clinton. “It’s every U.S. president’s ambition to resolve this longstanding conflict,” said Al-Sayyid.

But it may be more than just ambition, as Magda Shahin put it. “It would give the United States an edge over Russia and help it gain more ground,” said Shahin, noting how Clinton’s political experience is an advantage in that respect. “With the current political turmoil in many Arab countries, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict may also be easier to settle than other conflicts in the region.”

And this is where Egypt’s role comes in. “Egypt is the gateway for peace and stability in the region and is the only country that can mediate the Palestinian-Israeli conflict because of its regional influence and impact,” said Shahin. “This is a chance for Egypt to reaffirm its role in the region.”

Shahin noted that Egypt’s leading role in the region was demonstrated twice in recent history: during the Camp David accords and the First Gulf War. “Egypt needs to maintain positive relations with the United States, and, in turn, the United States has to be aware of Egypt’s influential role in the region,” Shahin said. “In the midst of the religious and ethnic turmoil in the region, finding a permanent and just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the two-state approach –– with Egypt’s help, advice and mediation –– would undoubtedly reassert Egypt’s role as a regional power.”

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AUC TO HOLD A SYMPOSIUM ON MEDIA AND CULTURE

WHAT

A symposium titled, “Media and Culture,” organized by The Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The symposium will examine the relationship of media with different elements that help in the formation of Arab identity from different perspectives.  

The event will be conducted in Arabic with simultaneous translation into English. 

WHO

Helmy El Namnam, Egyptian minister of culture; Mohi El Din Afifi, secretary general of Al Azhar Islamic Research Academy; Mustafa El Feki, political thinker and analyst and Sami Al Sharif, dean of the Faculty of Mass Communications at MTI University. The symposium will be moderated by Hussein Amin, professor of journalism and director of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University in Cairo. 

WHERE

Oriental Hall, AUC Tahrir Square

WHEN

Wednesday, November 9, 2016; 5:00 – 8:00 pm