Gulf in the News – September 25, 2013

Discussions continue on GCC security agreement

Source:Kuwait Times (Read full story)

MP Khalil Al-Saleh urged the parliamentary foreign affairs committee not to rush its report on the GCC security agreement until they ensured it matched Kuwait’s constitutional regulations. Al- Saleh also told reporters that the agreement would be discussed today and that all security-related bodies should be invited to the meeting, namely the ministers of foreign affairs and interior. He also wondered why it took the government so long to endorse it if it did not contradict the Constitution. “This treaty includes disastrous articles”, he underlined reminding that until last May when some of its articles were amended, Kuwait was the only GCC country that did not sign the treaty approved in Riyadh in 1994 as some of its articles contradicted Kuwait’s Constitution.

Arab Spring facing problems: Emir

Source: The Peninsula Qatar (Read full story)

The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressing the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday.  The Arab Spring revolutions are now facing difficulties but things will not revert in the Arab world since the people have become more aware of their rights, the Emir  H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said yesterday. Addressing the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, the Emir said that Qatar aimed to become a hub for dialogue and not a party in the regional and international conflicts. “The Arab Spring revolutions during which the Arab people have risen up calling for freedom, dignity and social justice, are now facing difficulties that seem to be trying to go back in time. In fact these difficulties were expected, but what is strange is that some politicians do not succeed in avoiding even expected problems,” said the Emir.

Dubai Creek for World Heritage List

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

The municipality, which has submitted a 460 page report to support its bid, has now identified a large traditional house in Al Shindagha to convert it into a visitors’ centre, a requisite for the World Heritage Sites. “It will have all the information related to the Creek for the tourists and other visitors. There will be lecture halls, culture and heritage offices and administrative offices in the centre.” The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing is also pitching in to upgrade the management and administration activities of the campaign to get the Creek listed. The integrity of the project, the management of its programme, maintenance works under it, visitors’ centre and other activities will be evaluated by the expert from Unesco for four days, beginning October 21. The expert is also expected to interact with the stakeholders of the project.

GCC discusses standardising petroleum prices

Source: The Peninsula Qatar (Read full story)

The 32nd Ministerial meeting of the GCC Petroleum Cooperation Committee has considered steps taken to standardise the prices of petroleum products in GCC countries. During the meeting attended by Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada and the GCC ministers of energy, the GCC Petroleum Cooperation Committee also discussed the draft regulations of the common law of GCC mining, as well as a report on the energy group meetings of the GCC countries and the results of their meetings with economic partners of other countries and economic groups. The meeting was held under Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Minister of Finance, the Minister Supervising Oil and Gas Affairs, Chairman of Board of Directors of the National Commission for Oil and Gas, who addressed the meeting, expressing  thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for generous hospitality and warm reception, congratulating the Kingdom on the 83rd anniversary of its National Day and wishing it further progress and prosperity.

Aramco, GE, TCS set up first all-female BPO services center

Source: The Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

Saudi Aramco, GE and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced Tuesday the launch of the first all-female business process services (BPS) center in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The center will be staffed by Saudi females with TCS and GE owning 76 percent and 24 percent equity in the new venture, which will initially serve Saudi Aramco and GE as anchor clients. The collaboration of the three companies underscores their strong commitment to support Saudi Arabia’s localization strategies to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and enable the growth of a viable employment sector.    The new business process services center will serve as a building block to localize the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Kingdom. The three partners will work together with the intention of scaling up the new venture to create up to 3,000 jobs for Saudi professional females. GE will create up to 1,000 employment opportunities for this initiative.