BGD-Nass wins golf course deal
A new joint venture, BGD-Nass, has been awarded the contract to construct the new Colin Montgomerie Signature golf course, at the Riffa Views project in Bahrain.

The BD6.2 million award followed a competitive tender process involving four bids.
The joint venture comprises Scotland’s Braemar Golf Developments (BGD) and Bahrain-based Nass Contracting Company.
The contract award was announced by Riffa Golf and Residential Development Company chief executive officer Richard Browning.
“The partnership brings a professional calibre that is essential for the quality demanded by the Riffa Views project,” he said.

CCC to build $980m GTL plant
Royal Dutch/Shell Group has awarded Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) a QR3.5 billion ($980 million) construction contract on the Pearl GTL (gas-to-liquids) project.
CCC’s scope of work centres on the synthesis core and the captive power plant.  It will carry out civil, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation works for the GTL plant, which includes the heavy paraffin synthesis area and the Shell gasification process.
For the captive power plant, CCC will carry out the mechanical and civil works.
The engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor is the Japanese/US joint venture of JGC Corporation and Kellogg Brown & Root.

Saudi to build $2.6bn university
Saudi Arabia has announced plans to build a university of science and technology in Thuwal, about 100 km north of Jeddah, at a cost of SR10 billion ($2.66 billion).
The university will spread over an area of 30 million sq m along the Red Sea and classes are scheduled to begin in 2008.
The new university, named after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, will offer studies in micro-technology, nano-technology, water and conservation technology, biotechnology, information technology and computer science and programs.
The university would receive not only Saudis but also some outstanding Muslim students from other countries.
Work on the project, which is managed by Saudi Aramco, has already started. The new university project is significant as it would support the kingdom's push for achieving balanced development for all regions by opening mega economic cities, which require highly educated and trained manpower.

Gulf to partner Bauma 2007
Bauma 2007, to be held in Munich in Germany at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre between April 23 and 29, will be the biggest ever, according to the organisers of the show that draws thousands of visitors from across the globe.
With all the reputable names in the industry coming together for seven days at the world’s biggest trade fair for construction machinery, an extra 30,000 sq of exhibition space has been added as compared to the 2004 event. This will take the total size of the international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment to 530,000 sq m.
This year's Bauma 2007 takes on an added significance as the Gulf is the partner region of the world fair for construction machinery and equipment, building materials machinery and mining technology. Since 2001, the partner region concept, initiated by VDMA (The German Engineering Federation) the conceptual sponsor of bauma, brings together different business communities, connects people and helps to make contacts that are lasting. Since the concept proved successful, it was repeated in 2004 with the CIS-States. The new partner region for 2007 is the Gulf with the main focus being in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The show organiser Messe Munchen reports that it has received requests for five times as much space compared to 2004.

Iraq Fair to open in Turkey
Around 1,500 companies from more than 30 countries – which include many from Europe – are expected to participate in this year’s Iraq International Fair to be held at Gaziantep in Turkey.
The Second Iraq International Fair to be held from May 23 to 27 this year is expected to repeat the resounding success of the earlier edition which contributed vastly both to the development of the relations between Turkey and Iraq and to the economy of Iraq.
The event will spread across a covered area of 40,000 sq m and an open area of 15,000 sq m in the Gaziantep Industrial Zone Fairground. It is being held in cooperation with Iraqi Ministry of Commerce General Directorate of Fairs Administration, Gaziantep Chamber of Industry and Forum Fairs and Promotions Company, with the support of DTM (State Planning Organisation), TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges), Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, South Eastern Exporters’ Union, Gaziantep Industrial Zone and many other related organisations.
The First Iraq International Fair drew in 1,023 exhibitors including 732 local and 291 foreign companies and attracted a total of 65,000 visitors, 7,000 of whom were foreigners.