Nov 29, 1999

Saudi Pak approves financing of Rs. 202.5 million

The Board of Directors of Saudi Pak Industrial and Agriultural Investment Company (Pvt) Limited met on November 18, 1999 under the Chairmanship of Dr. Abdullah T.Al-Thenayan, who is also Director General of Arab Company for Livestock Development, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Board approved a total financing of Rs. 202.5 million to six companies. The financing comprises of Rs. 192.5 million for five projects in manufacturing sector and Rs. 10.0 million for a company in the financial sector. The projects approved for financing fall in the sub-sectors of chemicals and textile. The financing will facilitate setting up of new production facilities and expansion of existing capacity.

The Board also approved the budget and operational strategy for year 2000 and reviewed the performance of the company for the first ten months of the current financial year, January-October, 1999. The Board expressed satisfaction over the growth and volume of business. During the period, Saudi Pak approved financing of Rs. 1,293 million as compared to Rs. 621 million in January-October, 1998. The disbursement of funds against various commitments amounted to Rs. 679 million in January-October, 1999 as compared to Rs. 475 million in the same period of 1998.

The Board also reviewed the position of collection of dues collected from long term financing porfolio. The amount recovered against long term financing portfolio increased by 14.1 per cent to Rs. 454 million in January-October, 1999 from Rs. 398 million in January-October, 1998.

Since inception Saudi Pak has provided financing by way of direct equity investment and long term finance to 215 companies for an aggregate amount of Rs. 5,722 million. In addition the facility of short term financing of Rs. 2,056 million was made available to corporate sector. Underwriting of public issue of shares and guarantees have also been provided for a total amount of Rs. 1,645 million.

Saudi Pak a joint venture of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic Republic of Pakista,

Marcon'99 a resounding success

Marketing Association of Pakistan's truly international marketing congress, concluded last Saturday afternoon before a full house at a five-star hotel in Karachi. The congress which featured a star-studded line-up of Speakers from the US, UK, Australia, Thailand and Cyprus, in addition to some experts and leading lights from Pakistan, attracted an average of 400 participants per session from across the country.

Delegates came primarily from local and multinational FMCG companies, the service sector, including advertising, IT industry, banks and insurance companies and academia. Outstation delegates came from Lahore, Islamabad and even smaller towns like Peshawar and Mian Channu.

In his inaugural address on Thursday November 11, Dr. Hafiz A. Pasha made a clarion call for creating export-driven marketing policies. He urged the industry leaders to increase export of goods and services produced in Pakistan, and exhorted them to make all necessary investments in technology or manpower in order to ensure that Pakistani manufactures can compete effectively in world markets.

Presenting his address of welcome Mr. S. Masood Hashmi, President Marketing Association of Pakistan spoke of the importance of the congress particularly in terms of it's timing. He said: "A number of people we talked to in the last six months cautioned us that the timing wasn't right. The conditions, they said, were not conducive. But we were encouraged by some of our past presidents, strategic partners and sponsors. It is with their support that we succeeded in arranging Marcon'99." He said: "We at the MAP believed that the timing was just right for Marcon'99, as this was when companies and businesses had to take up the challenge of change all around us, and help put the economy back on track".

Commenting on the reasons for such a high turnout during the congress, Mr. Hashmi said: "It has not just been high. It has been consistently high. And, the most redeeming thing is that many delegates were delighted with the content of the presentations, with the quality of panel discussions by the Pakistani thought leaders, and the attention to detail in terms of the decor, seating, facilities, meals and timing".

The highlight of Marcon'99 was the participation of some of the world's foremost marketing and management gurus from the US, UK, Australia and Asia. These included such names as Robert Pritchard, Philip Steffen, Robert Miller, Brendan Power, Nick Skellon, Will Buttrose, Paul Barrett and Dave McCaughan.

Speakers from Pakistan included Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani, CEO Gallup / BRB, Mr. Nadeem Hussain, GM Global Consumer Banking-Citibank, in addition to Dr. Hafiz A. Pasha. "Thought Leaders" comprised CEOs, Directors and senior managers from Pakistan including the Chairman of Lever Brothers, Country General Managers IBM and Gillette, Managing Directors of S&B and Reckitt & Colman, among others.

Whilst the foreign experts in Marketing presented the "world-view" of marketing, and it's role in the new millennium, Pakistan's business and industry leaders, established the relevance of the varied international experience based on their experiences and thoughts about the future in the Pakistani context. Delegates actively participated in the question and answer sessions and went back wiser and more enlightened. Ejaz Wasay, Executive Director Orient McCann, conducted the congress through the entire period of two-and-a-half days.

Commenting on the success of the Congress, Mr. Shafiq Siddiqui, Vice-President MAP said: "It was a labour of six months. Some of our Council Members did an outstanding job. Without their efforts Marcon'99 would not have seen the light of day".

The Marketing Association of Pakistan's "greatest extravaganza" of the outgoing millennium was supported by a host of companies. On top of the list were the Strategic partners, Dewan Mushtaq Group, Jang Group of Newspapers, Lever Brothers Pakistan Limited and Shell Pakistan Limited. Other sponsors were Packages Limited, Smith Kline & Beecham, Muslim Commercial Bank, KLM (official airline of Marcon'99), Aftab Associates, Market Research Society of Pakistan, Ala Chemicals, Creation 365, Orient McCann-Erickson, Arena Multimedia (IT Partners).

A delegate to the congress from Peshawar commented: "Even if the cost of attending Marcon'99 had need sixty-five thousand rupees, it would have been well worth it. MAP have set a totally new standard for international conferences in Pakistan".

Caption

Mr. Masood Hashmi President MAP with Dr. Hafeez A. Pasha Chief Guest and office bearers of Marketing Association of Pakistan. Others in the picture (L to R) Amer Pasha, Zaheri, Mian Shifique Siddiqui, Qasim Rabbani and Ejaz Wasay.

Singapore Airlines announces Kerbside Check-in at Jinnah Terminal Karachi

Effective 6 November 1999, Singapore Airlines' First, Raffles and PPS Club passengers can check in at the new Singapore Airlines Kerbside Check-in counter at the Departure level of Jinnah Terminal. Our Premium Service team will greet the passenger, take the ticket and baggage and hand over the boarding pass at the kerbside check-in.

A member of the Service team will accompany the passenger through the Customs check and X-ray of baggage. Thereafter, the passenger can clear Immigration and proceed directly to the CIP lounge. The ticket and baggage tags will be given to the passengers at the CIP lounge.

Kindly inform all your First, Rames and PPS Club passengers travelling on SQ418 of this new facility at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport. For your information, kerbside check-in is also available for First Class and PPS Club Solitaire members travelling on Singapore Airlines at Changi Airport.

SUKKUR BEVERAGES CONDUCT WALK-IN INTERVIEWS AT IBA SUKKUR.

IBA Sukkur students seem to be very much in demand just as the first batch is all prepared to graduate in another month or so.

Sukkur beverages conducted a walk-in interview on 16-11-99 especially organized at IBA premises in order to encourage as many students as possible. Opportunities were for District Sales Officers and District Sales Managers 13 students of MBA Final appeared in the interviews. There was an air of excitement as all the boys and girls cued up outside the interview room. Those conducting the interviews were Mr. Rashid Abdul Qadir Sethar, District General Manager; and Mr. Wajid Hussain Kango, Marketing Manager. Mr. Rashid Sethar has been a prominent faculty member previously while Mr. Wajid Kango has visited IBA Sukkur as a guest speaker in the subject of marketing management and been invited as guest to evening programmes arranged by BASC (Business Administration Students Club). Besides that they have been very helpful in providing us practical knowledge by letting us visit their production department and also in making term reports on different subjects such as marketing management, production management etc.

Results are yet to be announced as there are more interviews to be conducted, most probably at their own office.

Caption

Following a nail-biting final in the 2nd Indus Motor Company Interdepartmenal Cricket Tournament, Capt. Niaz Mahmood Khan and Vice Capt. Faisal Muneeb Khan of the Management Team display the impressive Runner up Trophy.

Directors sitting from (L to R) Habib Inam, Sheikh Mohammad Jawed, Fawad S. Malik - Vice Chairman, Inam Ellahi Shaikh - Chairman, Muhammad Rafiq, M. Ikhtiar Baig, Farouq H. Rahimtoola and Sohail Inam Ellahi

Seminar on Software marketing

Speaking at a seminar titled "Challenges of Software marketing" organized by the Business and Information Technology Students (BITS) Club of IBA, the speakers sited the untapped potential of international software markets as a major source of foreign exchange. Mr. Ziaullah, Director Xeno Sys, stressed on the skills and requirements needed for E-Commerce, and said that more programmers in Pakistan should learn how to work with html, Java, and Oracle if they wanted to compete favorably in the international software markets. Mr. Wasif Kazmi, ECO Wavenet, advised the local software developing companies to keep in mind the critical success factors of software marketing. Mr. Kazmi said that software companies in Pakistan should be innovative while being responsive to the needs of their customers. Mr. Saleem Kazi, Managing Director Pro Sys, spoke about his experiences in stimulating customers for offshore software development, and advised companies to establish credentials and references before aiming for contracts with the bigger companies in the United States and elsewhere. Mr. Hamza Mateen, Director (BD), EDP Services, targeted the opportunity for niche marketing of software both in Pakistan and in international markets. There was a general consensus among all present that software developers in Pakistan should study market needs before coming up with a product, and that expertise was gravely required in the newer technologies being used abroad.

Dr. Syed Irfan Hyder, Deputy Director of Centre for Computer Studies at IBA, offered Mr. Ziaullah the IBA premises to conduct meeting and focus groups on E-Commerce, and expressed his hopes that the UIS graduates of IBA will provide the local industry with the much needed expertise in the field of IT.

The seminar was organized by the Marketing Society of the BITS Club.

Chief of naval staff launches ideas 2000

Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza HI(M) S.Bt, Chief of Naval Staff and member National security Council formally launched IDEAS 2000, at an impressive ceremony held at the Army Auditorium, Rawalpindi.

An international defence exhibition and seminar scheduled for November 2000, IDEAS 2000 would serve as a platform for arms related manufacturers and suppliers to directly market to a highly targeted audience in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. IDEAS 2000 will also be a venue for a biennial gathering of defence officials from friendly countries to encourage professional interaction with the objective to promote trade and investment. The exhibition based upon the theme "Arms for Peace", reflects Pakistan's desire to promote peace and stability not only in the region but also elsewhere in the world.

Gillette's Regional Business Director visits Pakistan

George Nassar, Regional Business Director Grooming, Gillette Middle East, is currently visiting Pakistan. Nassar is responsible for all the marketing activities that fall under Middle- Eastern Hub of Gillette.

Whilst in Pakistan he will assess the retail and wholesale markets in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Sheikhupura. He will also review Gillette's marketing plans for the year 2000.

Pakistan, being an integral part of the fastest growing region, is a significant market for Gillette. One of the major factors in Gillette's worldwide success has been the emphasis the company places on keeping in touch with the consumers. Although Gillette Pakistan has a full-fledged commercial operation, regional heads like Nassar regularly visit to keep abreast of the global and local market scenarios.

Gillette Pakistan Limited is a subsidiary of The Gillette Company with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Gillette is the world leader in male grooming products, a category that includes blades, razors and shaving preparations.

The Gillette Company is not only the world leader in male grooming products but also owns brands such as Oral-B, Duracell, Braun and Parker Pens which are world-wide market leaders in their respective categories. II also holds the number one position worldwide in selected female grooming products, such as wet shaving products and hair epilation devices.