 It's
business as usual in this part of the Middle East. The
pace of work in the holy month of Ramadan normally slackens
but this time around here in Dubai and other Emirates of
the UAE, there has been unprecedented
growth in all areas of commerce, trade without a let up
in Dubai's
booming real estate.
The
increasing number of shopping malls, special promotions
and the added zest to balance religious
fervor and work
is indeed uplifting as both locals and expatriates work
together to forge a new era of development in the region.
Dubai
is also becoming home to a growing number of expatriates
especially from Europe who have
made it their home. The
record rise in tourism also spells a new phase of growth
for the industry.
The
number of business visitors to the region also
continues to rise as rising fuel prices have further
accentuated
the growth of surging economies in the Middle East,
with the UAE being no exception and equally raking
in the
windfalls. Looking
at the business scenario, we find that the stock
markets in the region have been highly buoyant registering
robust growth. There have been many IPOs being
offered to the public starting early October
and many more
are being eagerly awaited. Some of the IPOs have
received overwhelming responses and have been oversubscribed
to
record levels.
Stock
exchanges in the region, especially in the UAE, have
lately become a rallying point for
a diverse group
of investors,
traders and even the common layman who have all
started to go strategic about their investment
portfolios.
The continuing boom in real estate and the spate
of exhibitions
in Dubai has led to hotel occupancies registering
record levels. We
had Cityscape 2005, closely followed by GITEX
2005 here in Dubai. Both these major Expos
drew record number
of
visitors. Being actively involved in helping
set up business, we at AGN MAK, also know that
the
number of entrepreneurs
wishing to set up their own business is also
going up.
The
Government has also played its pioneering role in further
facilitating the climate
for business
investment. The Middle
East region is also increasingly becoming
the centre stage for staging events of regional,
trans-regional
and global
importance.
Leaders
and business tycoons from the world converge for the
many symposiums, seminars,
conferences
and summits.
Exceeding
beyond expectations was the historic Beijing AGN World
Congress.
With
"How and why to do business
in China" being
the driving theme for the 2005 AGN World Congress,
the Congress had already enlisted strong
support and great response.
There
were quick registrations and a diverse range of queries.
Also,
some fantastic
mind-boggling Congress logistics
came AGN's way, which was all handled
efficiently in the gigantic, magnificent city
of Beijing.
Perseverance,
a strong focus and a winning spirit from the AGN global
team of committed
professionals
turned
the event into a promise for the
world
that China is the new
frontier for doing business with.
| While
in Beijing for the Conference, I was amazed to
see the spirit and the resilience of the dedicated,
hardworking Chinese people. Everywhere, as far
as the eyes could see, I saw a disciplined city,
a refined dignity and seriousness for business
that would do Harvard proud! |
The
Beijing AGN World Congress is also a starter for all
of
us — Team AGN-Global — to
always be ready to give to
the world, yet another country,
if not an entire
continent for doing business
with, such is our enterprising
spirit and visionary focus.
Dr.
Khalid Maniar
Chairman
West Asia & Africa Region, and
Managing Partner
AGN MAK
E.mail: makdubai@agnmak.com
|
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