GEC plans second security expo
Dubai: The second Security and Safety Middle East 2005 exhibition and conference is to be held from November 14 to 17 in Abu Dhabi.

The show is organised by the General Exhibitions Corporation (GEC) and the German Exhibition Company Messe Essen, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Interior
“The first exhibition in 2003 was a huge success with the participation of 188 companies from 24 different countries, exhibiting the latest technologies of security and safety. More than 11,500 international visitors attended the 2003 exhibition and all of them held interests in the security and safety fields,” says a GEC spokesman. “The exhibition also attracted considerable interest from the local and international media. More than 63 per cent of the participating companies in 2003 expressed their intention to exhibit in the second edition of Security and Safety Middle East 2005,” he adds.

Icon, III conclude successfully
New Delhi: The recently-concluded Indian Interiors International (III) and the Indian Construction Exhibition (Icon), which were held at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, New Delhi were a huge success in that they attracted over 4,100 professionals from across the country and abroad, says show organisers dmg world media in conjunction with the Expomedia Group.
“Both the III and the Icon attracted exhibitors from 12 countries representing 134 companies and surveys indicate that over 57 per cent of exhibitors achieved the majority of their objectives with 71 per cent of the exhibitors rating the visitor quality as good or excellent,” he says.
“This is a very good exhibition, which is well organised. We have seen quality visitors and will be returning to participate in the exhibition next year,” says Mohammed Basheer from the Hamriyah Free Zone (UAE).
“For serious contract exhibitors, who are interested in the Indian market, this is the show for 2006,” says Sue Graves – British Contract Furnishing Association (UK).
There have been some encouraging words from the Indian exhibitors as well. Says Ashim Saha of Pidilite Industries: “The show has been a tremendous experience for us and has given us wonderful leads. We have had over 300 visitors to our stand. The organisation of the show was amazing and we have had very helpful people around.”

Three in fray for Jubail power plant
Jubail: Pre-qualified bidders for Saudi Arabia’s multi-billion-dollar water and power plant project at the Gulf coast industrial city of Jubail have been grouped into three consortia.
The first is led by Britain’s International Power and includes Saudi Oger, Japan’s Sumitomo, South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries and Germany’s Siemens as well as international and local banks.
The second is led by Mitsui includes Korea Electric Power Company, Saudi Arabia’s National Power Company and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
A third is led by Tractebel includes Saudi Arabia’s Bugshan, General Electric and South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Saudi Arabia is upgrading plans for the plant at Jubail to more than double its projected desalinated water output. This will result in a significant increase in desalinated water output from 300,000 to 800,000 cu m per day. Power output will be increased from 2,400 to 2,500 MW.

Saudi Arabia to cut cement tariffs
Riyadh: The kingdom will cut duties on cement imports to five per cent from 20 per cent to help meet rising domestic demand, Saudi media said.
The lower duty will not be introduced until January 1. The cabinet agreed that the government will subsidise cement prices until the end of the year so that the effect of the lower duties can be felt immediately, state media said.
Cement shares on the Saudi stock exchange rose by more than eight per cent last month, during which there had been daily reports of shortages and price hikes as a construction boom in the kingdom fuels demand.
The GCC has agreed to set customs on foreign goods at a uniform five per cent.

Metito lands Oman desal plant deal
Muscat: Metito Overseas, the international water treatment, desalination and wastewater treatment experts, has secured a Dh13 million ($3.54 million) project as part of the Sohar power and desalination plant in Oman.
This project, owned by the Oman Ministry of National Economy, covers the re-mineralisation part of the multi-stage flash (MSF) process that is used to desalinate sea water.
The MSF evaporator process produces distilled water from feed water by heating it until it is ready to flash. The flashed vapour is drawn to the cooler tube bundle surfaces where it is condensed and collected as distillate.
This distilled water is highly aggressive in nature and not suitable for drinking purposes. It has to be re-mineralised with vital mineral additives that are necessary to make it potable.

Keller introduces new piling technology
Manama: Keller Grundbau, which has won the BD1 million ($2.65 million) piling contract for the Al Ezzel combined cycle power plant, has introduced a new piling technology for the construction of Bahrain’s first private power station. The new plant will add 950 MW of electrical generating capacity to meet the future needs of the country.
The main contractor for the project is Siemens AG Power Generation.
“Our work involves the improvement of the soils under the power station buildings by installing more than 70 km of what are called vibro-replacement stone columns,” said Keller Grundbau branch manager Imtiaz Ahmed Syed.

Depa’s interiors for Doha museum
Doha: Mivan Depa Contracting, the Dubai-based theming and specialist interiors company, has been shortlisted for the interior work for the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar.
“The Museum of Islamic Art is a complex and exquisite work of art in itself and will therefore be a formidable challenge for us,” said Mivan Depa’s business development manager, James Hicken. “The tough bidding process has advanced to its final stages and we are very excited and hopeful about our prospects, but only the best companies worldwide have been asked to bid.”