Schneider Electric re-establishes and targets the African market : The multinational company has announced its big return to Algeria

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Schneider Electric is making a comeback in Algeria, a reappearance and a geo-economic and strategic redeployment both announced the day before yesterday and during a press briefing held on the side-lines of the 54th Algiers International Fair (FIA 2023), through which Director General of Schneider Electric Group, Samuel Philippe, informed the Group’s main objectives on its recovery of the largest country in Africa and the Arab world. The French multinational, Schneider Electric, wants to win back Algeria and become a digital partner and a solid supplier of household appliances and professional equipment, through its big return to Algeria.

The representative of the multinational Schneider Electric stated that the objective of his Group is to “be present on the Algerian market, to introduce new household appliances and high-end professional equipment with well-designed prices for the Algerian market but also to integrate the labour rate in Algeria and also to introduce a new training system, to export products made in Algeria to the African market, to bring our know-how through our support, and to become a major industrial and long-term partner for Algeria, all this with our Algerian partner of Sacomi”, stated the DG of Schneider Electric, Samuel Philippe.

Source: https://algeriainvest.com/news/schneider-electric-se-reimplante-et-vise-le-marche-africain-la-multinationale-a-annonce-son-grand-retour-en-algerie

Dubai diamond major Evermore eyeing UAE, GCC expansions

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Evermore, the popular diamond brand from Dubai-based Siroya ALTR, is eyeing a major expansion in the GCC region, with immediate plans to make foray into Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The company is also finalising further expansion within the UAE, with plans to open at least three more stores in the coming few months.

“We are looking at Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as aggressive markets for our future stores. The former has the largest youth population and Bahrain has an increasingly aware demographic looking for options,” Rohan Siroya, founder of Evermore, told Arabian Business.

“In the next 3-4 months, we hope to have multiple retailers selling the brand in Saudi Arabia,” Siroya said.

Siroya said Evermore is currently present in multiple stores in Bahrain and Muscat but the company now wants to go full steam in some of the GCC markets to expand its presence and size.

On the UAE expansion, Siroya said: “The UAE has been true to its name as a global consumer hot pot. With 6 stores here, we are looking at adding on 3 more in the next six months.”

Evermore is currently present in multiple stores across Dubai, including Bur Dubai, Dubai Mall, and Mirdiff City Centre, besides its flagship store in the Deira Gold Souk.

Evermore GCC and India expansions
Incidentally, Siroya ALTR – a joint venture between well-known UAE-based jewellery brand Siroya and New York-based ALTR created diamonds, is looking to expand in the GCC market in a big way. close on the heels of it making a foray into India, with the opening of the first Evermore store in Pune, Maharashtra.

Siroya said the GCC and India expansions are part of the company’s ambitious global expansion plans to make the Evermore brand a true global brand.

Evermore was first launched in Dubai and London.

“On a 5-year plan, we are looking keenly at 50 stores in the Middle East, and a similar footprint in India,” he said.

Siroya also revealed plans to add more countries to the company’s expansion programme going forward.

“New counters will be added at where we believe the demographic exists to accept this category,” he said.

“Within Siroya we have an existing client base of over 3000 retailers, and we have begun pitching to many potentials and bringing the opportunity to them,” said Evermore founder, the second generation from the Siroya Group, a multi-business entity and a stalwart in UAE’s gold industry.

“This [the group client base] is where we really differentiate from competitors who lack a marketing approach – we handhold and then continue to grow business together,” Siroya said.

He said the second year operations of the JV – Siroya ALTR – will be focused on consolidating the stores.

“We must ensure higher throughput for our partners in terms of sales. We are running new training programmes, CRMS and end-to-end branding projects to do so,” Siroya said.

Evermore, which is into manufacturing of lab-grown diamonds, supplies jewellery ranging from -2 size diamonds up to 10-carat single stones to retailers.

“Our business currently is relatively smaller than the 35-year-old parent business. However, the growth rate is extremely encouraging. We know the consumer preference is shifting rapidly and we are primed for it as retailers look for organised B2B players,” Siroya said.

“Diamonds are a slower-turn, higher-margin business; Gold is a higher-turn, lower-margin business. They differ in that way,” he said.

Source:https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/retail/dubai-diamond-major-evermore-eyeing-uae-gcc-expansions

The UAE’s Ministry of Finance has successfully closed its offering of a $4 billion US dollar-denominated multi-tranche sovereign bond package.

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The bonds, which is comprised of medium and long-term tranches, captured the demand of international and regional investors. Global books peaked at over $22.5 billion, a statement said.

The announcement was made during a virtual media briefing where Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary of Ministry of Finance previewed the results of the subscription to the country’s sovereign bonds.

The 10-year tranche bonds were sold at $1 billion at a spread of 70bps over US Treasuries while the 20-year tranche bonds were sold at $1 billion at a spread of 105bps over US Treasuries. The $2 billion 40-year Formosa tranche is debt sold in Taiwan by foreign borrowers and denominated in currencies other than the Taiwanese dollar.

Al Khoori said: “The government bond tranches offered raised $4 billion, while global books peaked at $22.5 billion… The order book momentum increased the deal size to $4 billion from the initial target of $3 billion.”

He added: “The UAE issued these bonds to contribute to the development of the bond market and find investment alternatives for investors.”

The issuance come as the International Monetary Fund forecasts the UAE’s economy to grow by 3.1 percent in 2021, and the Central Bank of the UAE estimates a 4.2 percent growth in 2022.

The Ministry of Finance authorised Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, BofA Securities, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan Securities, Mashreqbank and Standard Chartered Bank to be lead managers and bookrunners to arrange subscription sessions with international investors.

Source:https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries-banking-finance/469691-huge-investor-demand-seen-as-uae-closes-4bn-sovereign-bond

Saudi imports from UAE drop 33% in July after new trade rules

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The value of Saudi Arabia’s imports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in July fell by 33% month on month, official data showed on Wednesday, after the kingdom imposed new rules in July on imports from other Gulf countries.

Imports from neighbouring UAE fell to 3.1 billion riyals ($827 million) in July from 4.6 billion riyals in June, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics. On an annual basis, UAE imports declined by about 6%.

In July, Saudi Arabia amended its rules on imports from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to exclude goods made in free zones or using Israeli input from preferential tariff concessions, a move seen as a challenge the UAE’s status as the region’s trade and business hub.

Despite being close allies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are competing to attract investors and businesses.

In Dubai on Wednesday, electronic signs celebrated UAE-Saudi friendship ahead of the Saudi national day on Thursday, but the two countries’ national interests have increasingly diverged, including in their relations with Israel and Turkey.

Saudi Arabia’s new trade rules excluded from the GCC tariff agreement goods made by companies with a workforce made up of less than 25% of local people – a problem for a country like the UAE where the population is mostly made up of foreigners.

It also said all goods made in free zones in the region would not be considered locally made – a blow to the UAE where free zones are a major driver of the economy.

The monthly drop in UAE import value was by far the sharpest decline this year, the statistics authority data showed.

The UAE slipped to third-main import country in July after China and the United States, while it was second in June.

“The July data might have been particularly volatile with regards to creating the required paperwork … The upcoming months might provide a clearer indication of the new Saudi regulations on UAE exports,” said Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.

The value of Saudi Arabia’s overall exports jumped 79.6% compared with July 2020 when international trade was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The increase was mainly because of higher oil exports, which increased 112.1% year on year, the authority said.

Source:https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/saudi-arabia/saudi-imports-from-uae-drop-33-in-july-after-new-trade-rules/articleshow/86421499.cms

Rural areas to receive electricity powered by renewable sources

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Rural areas far from the national grid will get electricity through renewable energy sources, says Minister of Electricity and Energy U Win Khine.

He said the government will provide electricity to these areas through renewable energy as lower population density and electricity usage may not make it economical to expand the national grid.

U Win Khine added that the government would look into the supply and distribution of these renewable energy sources to rural areas.

He pointed out that the government was also taking steps to enact a renewable energy law, implementation and related procedures.

The first meeting of the National Renewable Energy Committee was held on March 1 and comprises the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE), related ministries as well as private organizations.

Meanwhile, the deputy director of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s renewable energy research department, Dr Thi Thi Soe, told Myanmar Times that policy and strategy would be needed to develop and implement renewable energy projects.

She said the move to have create more public awareness, research and infrastructure development will also attract investors.

The government aims to distribute electricity to 50pc of the country by end-2019, and to cover the entire country by 2030.

Myanmar’s current power-generation capacity stands at 3,500MW with electricity usage improving 15pc yearly. The MOEE plans to generate an additional 394MW in 2018-19, 450MW in 2019-20, and 1,712MW in 2020-21.

According to earlier reports, the government aims to generate 8pc of electricity through renewable energy sources by 2021 and 12pc by 2025 through solar and wind energy.

Currently, Myanmar has one solar energy power plant, the first in the country, located in Magway Division generating 170MW of electricity. Another two solar energy plants, located in Myingyan and Wundwin in Mandalay Division, with a generation capacity of 150MW each, have been planned.

An agreement has also been signed with China’s Three Gorges Corporation to develop a 30MW wind energy power plant in Chaung Thar, Ayeyarwaddy Division, which would make it the first in the country.

According to the MOEE, wind energy plants can potentially be developed in Chin State, Rakhine State, Yangon Division, Shan State, Kayah State, Tanintharyi Division, Mon State and Kayin State.

Source:https://www.mmtimes.com/news/rural-areas-receive-electricity-powered-renewable-sources-minister.html

Finance Firms Given 15-month Regulatory Grace Period if No-Deal Brexit

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British regulators will give banks, asset managers, insurers and brokers until mid-2020 to fully comply with rules that replace European Union law in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The Bank of England and Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on Thursday published a “near final”version of the rulebook that would come into effect if Britain leaves the EU without a transition deal.

Britain has already turned EU laws into UK statutes, but this “onshoring”entailed some changes to function properly and financial firms have said they would have limited time to comply if there is a no-deal Brexit, meaning they would be in breach of regulation and face possible sanction.

“In most cases, we plan to allow firms a period of 15 months to adapt,”the FCA and BoE said in separate statements.

Financial firms have been planning for all forms of Brexit since Britain voted in June 2016 to leave the EU, with the bloc as well as the UK putting in place measures to avoid markets falling off a “cliff edge”if there is a no-deal Brexit.

But FCA chief Andrew Bailey told UK lawmakers on Wednesday that despite the preparations, he could give no assurance that a no-deal Brexit would not disrupt finance.

“This grace period will offer relief and a degree of regulatory predictability,”Jonathan Herbst, global head of financial services at Norton Rose Fulbright law firm, said.

The final version of the rulebook would be published on 28 March, a day before Brexit is officially due to take place on March 29, if there is no deal.

If there is a transition deal, financial firms would continue under EU rules until the end of 2020 when the UK wants new, long-term trading terms with the bloc to start.

FCA executive director international, Nausicaa Delfas, said Thursday’s announcement was a significant milestone in the financial sector’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

“They ensure that there is a functioning regulatory regime from day one, and that firms are clear as to the requirements they need to meet by end March 2019 and beyond, so they can continue to meet the needs of their customers,”Delfas said.

Source:https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/finance-firms-given-15-month-regulatory-grace-period-if-no-deal-brexit

Myanmar launches trade, investment project with UK support

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The Ministry of Commerce together with the Directorate of Investment Administration (DICA) and the International Trade Center (ITC) launched the Trade and Investment Project (TIP) on Monday with the aim of boosting Myanmar’s business ecosystem by improving trade and investments.

The TIP, which would run from 2019-21, is funded by a US$5.28 million grant from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) with technical assistance from the ITC, a multilateral agency based in Geneva.

The project’s strategic focus include improving trade competitiveness and business environment through updating National Export Strategy (NES), supporting investments in building productive capacities as well as expanding public and private trade and investment support services to micro, small and medium enterprises.

The TIP will also improve the investment promotion through the Myanmar Investment Promotion Plan (MIPP), and enable priority sectors growth through specialized support for the private sector.

The current NES, which runs from 2015-19, has a list of 11 prioritized sectors, which includes rice; beans pulses and oilseeds; fisheries; forestry products; textiles and garment; rubber; tourism; information and promotion; trade facilitation and logistics; access to finance; and quality management as supporting services to improve export.

The Ministry of Commerce will be adding fruits and vegetables, gems and jewelry, handicrafts, processed food products and digital business as the potential export sectors for the updated NES (2020-25).

The Ministry of Commerce’s permanent secretary U Aung Soe said the states and divisions of the country will then develop the prioritized sectors assigned to them following the NES’s updating of these sectors.

He said the NES will need to address how the country can leverage new opportunities through the creation of sustainable agro-processing, manufacturing and services jobs.

U Aung Soe added that it would also be important for trade to be inclusive and reach all the states and divisions, as well as promote the building of productive capacities.

Meanwhile, DICA Director General U Aung Naing Oo said seven states and divisions will be chosen for the TIP implementation, which will also support the MIPP.

ITC Executive Director Arancha Gonzalez said Myanmar has great growth potential as the TIP will work with private and public sector partners to capitalize on these opportunities and help the country to position itself for greater investment and deeper regional integration.

The DFID’s senior economist and inclusive-growth team leader Tom Coward said the TIP will support economic development in the states and divisions as well as generate jobs and improve incomes.

The launch of TIP comes at a time when exports appear to be gaining on imports. Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed the trade deficit for the first four months of the 2018-19 fiscal year, which starts in October and ends in September, has declined with imports increasing at a slower pace compared to the same period of last fiscal year.

According to the data, trade volumes for the period up to the second week of February reached US$12.65 billion, a gain of US$634 million compared to the same period of last fiscal year. Exports stood at US$5.9 billion while imports dropped by US$280 million to US$6.8 billion.

The government is targeting a total trade of US$31 billion for the current fiscal year, with US$15.3 billion for exports and US$15.8 billion for imports. This would reduce the trade deficit to US$500 million.

Myanmar exports items from seven major commodity groups. These include manufactured goods consisting mainly of garments, as well as agriculture produce, minerals, cattle, fisheries and forestry products.

In comparison, Myanmar’s major import items are divided into four groups — capital goods, intermediate goods, consumer goods and cut-make-pack garment products.

Source:https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-launches-trade-investment-project-uk-support.html

Oil prices dip as demand outlook dims

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SINGAPORE: Oil prices dipped on Monday as rising trade tensions dented the outlook for fuel demand growth especially in Asia, although US sanctions against Iran still pointed toward tighter supply.

Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $72.63 per barrel at 0509 GMT, down by 18 cents, or 0.25 percent from their last close.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $67.63 a barrel, unchanged from their last settlement.

Signs of slowing economic growth and lower fuel demand increases, especially in Asia’s large emerging markets are weighing on the oil markets.
Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures said on Monday that “trade protectionism and escalating tensions between the world’s largest economies (The United States and China) have cast a looming shadow on global oil demand growth in 2018.”

Hedge funds and other money managers reduced their bullish positions in US crude futures and options in the week ending on Aug. 7, data from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday.

Beyond the darkening economic outlook, Phillip Futures said hedge funds had reduced bullish bets because of “rising production levels from OPEC and the United States.”

US energy companies last week added the most oil rigs since May, adding 10 rigs to bring the total count to 869, according to the Baker Hughes energy services firm.

That was the highest level of drilling activity since March 2015.
Despite this cautious oil market sentiment, there are drivers that are keeping prices from falling further.

The United States has started implementing new sanctions against Iran, which from November will also target the country’s petroleum sector.
Iran is the third-largest producer among the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

“With US sanctions on Iran back in place … maintaining global supply might be very challenging,” ANZ bank said on Monday, although it added that “the US is doing its bit to increase production.

Source:http://www.arabnews.com/node/1355481/business-economy

New Oman retail destination set for Sept 2020 opening

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Oman’s first outlet mall and largest retailtainment destination – Al Araimi Walk in Barka – is set to open in September 2020, Al Raid Group has announced.

The 240,000 sq m development project will feature 164 retail outlets, 42 food and beverage outlets, seven entertainment hubs, a hypermarket, and IMAX cinema.

It will also include an indoor waterpark, trampoline park, snow village, ice-skating rink, virtual reality zone, and cliff climbing adventure facility, the company said in a statement.

Construction on Al Araimi Walk is scheduled to begin this month and the property will open its doors by September 2020, it added.

Raid Abdullah Al Araimi, vice chairman, Al Raid Group said: “Having a sprawling tree-lined promenade, a high-tech digital park, gourmet restaurants, world-class designer brands and a lot more; each and every aspect of Al Araimi Walk will exemplify and reflect the essence of refined taste, and the innovative spirit of the Al Raid Group.”

He added: “Through the launch of Al Araimi Walk it is our endeavour to become the nation’s number one destination for families, tourists and shoppers.”

Last month, Al Raid Group said its Al Araimi Boulevard project is set to open later this year. The mall in Seeb is “well underway” and will be completed in time for a September opening.

With 70,500 sq m of space to be leased out, Al Araimi Boulevard will accommodate the “finest collection of labels from around the world”.

Source:https://www.arabianbusiness.com/retail/400025-new-oman-retail-destination-set-for-sept-2020-opening

Oman Air targets Europe, Far East with new Dreamliner

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Oman Air has announced it will stick to expansion plans laid before the departure of its CEO earlier in the year, as it inducts a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner into its fleet.

The Dreamliner, delivered to the carrier yesterday, is the largest variant of the aircraft, and is configured with 30 business class suites, and 258 economy class seats.

The new aircraft will allow Oman Air to bring its full service experience on high yielding long-haul routes, “in Europe and the Far East,” the carrier said in a statement.

“The delivery of new aircraft is part of Oman Air’s fleet and network expansion,” acting CEO, Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi said. “We’re adding new aircraft to keep up with the expansion programme.”

Raisi was named acting chief after Paul Gregorowitsch stepped down as CEO in October.

Before his departure, Gregorowtisch had said the airline was looking to grow its network in Europe as well as expand to destinations in the Far East including Hong Kong.

The carrier expects to receive three more 787-9 Dreamliners in 2018, two of which will be equipped with first class cabins.

Oman Air also has 30 Boeing 737 MAX on order, as part of plans to increase its fleet from 48 to around 70, which will see the carrier operate around 75 destinations by 2023.

Source:https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/transport/385142-oman-air-targets-europe-far-east-with-new-dreamliner