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Radhwan Al-Saqqaf Aden The Aden International trade and investment exhibition held in Al-Sheikh Othman, Aden, concluded last Friday a successful weeklong show. Products of more than thirty local and foreign companies including foodstuffs, home appliances, electronics, furniture, agricultural equipment, perfumes, cosmetics, etc. were presented at discounted prices. In a statement to the Yemen Times, Mr. Clinton Mitchell, managing director of the exhibition, said the success the exhibition achieved would encourage similar events in future. “This exhibition is part of a series of exhibitions to take place in Yemen in general, and Aden in particular,” he said. “Two marketing festivals, Ramadhan and Id marketing festivals, are scheduled for the near future,” he added. The exhibition, organized by the Aden Company for Advertising and Publicity, was inaugurated on September 16 by Mr. Taha Ahmad Ghanem, governor of Aden; Mr. Nasser Mansour Hadi from the Political Security Office in Aden; Staff Brigadier Mohammed Tareeq, Director of Aden Security Office plus a number of businessmen and politicians. In a tour of the different stalls of exhibition, Aden governor visited the Yemen Times’ stall and where he got briefed on the different stages of producing the paper until it is printed and is in the hands of readers. On this occasion, he expressed his appreciation of the Yemen Times’ efforts to follow the footsteps of its founder, late Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. He also admired organization of the event and what was presented. “Good quality should be the main goal for Yemeni industries and companies so that they can compete with foreign products,” he said. Yasser M. Ahmad Yemen Times On the sidelines of the 16-19 September second Meeting for Arab Consumer Union hosted by Yemen, a seminar on trade counterfeiting was organized at the Taj Sheba Hotel last Wednesday. The seminar centered on four main premises: negative impact of counterfeiting on society, impact on investment and national economy, role of legislation to limit it and discussion of some Arab experiments in this field. Sawsan Shenidi, vice chairwomen of the Sudanese Society on Protection of the Consumer presented a paper entitled “The Legal side of Counterfeiting” in which she highlighted the Islamic teachings related to consumers’ protection and how Islam assures this by a number of laws. The paper called for making comprehensive legislation besides conducting inspection campaigns to protect the consumer. Mr. Hassan Al-Kutheiry, vice chairman of the Emirates Society discussed impact of counterfeiting on Arab consumers, pointing out the fact that counterfeiting amounted to US$ 800 billion in the Arab countries in 1998. He further indicated that the volume of counterfeiting would even increase with the spread of e-trade and globalization principles if there were no awareness, laws and sufficient control. At the end of his discussion he called for granting consumer societies more powers so that they could sue on behalf of consumers. Dr. Abed Fadhliah, professor of economy at University of Damascus presented a full definition of trade counterfeiting. He also discussed the hazards of adding extra materials to products which he divided into three kinds, those added to foodstuffs, which have been proved to be harmful, those whose harm is still questioned and pollutants added to foodstuffs as a result of ignorance and carelessness such as dust. Dr. Saeed Boraitel, assistant secretary general of the Arab Consumer Union gave examples of the phenomenon in Morocco. He also mentioned some poisonous chemical substances that were sometimes added to products. Counterfeiting and consumers’ protection in Libya was presented by Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Dowaibi who said that legislation and laws related to consumers’ protection are paid more attention . Mr. Ahmad Ahmad Al-Bashah explained the role of the Yemen Organization for Standardization Metrology and Quality Control in fighting the phenomenon by making laboratory tests on products available in the market. In a short interview with the Yemen Times, Mr. Khamis Al-Farisi, Omani supervisor from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said that they were preparing in Oman to issue special laws to protect consumers. Mr. Abdullah Hassan Al-Gaib from the Bahraini Ministry of Trade described the assembly as a success. “There are no non-governmental organizations in Bahrain to protect the consumers, however, the government is doing that,” he said. He said that the consumers’ protection department at the Ministry of Trade organized many programs either on TV or as lectures for consumers. On the role media can play in guiding people to the best foodstuffs, Mrs. Soad Al-Deeb, director of Health programs in Egyptian TV, Channel 2, said that media people should realize the negative outcomes of TV advertisements that are broadcast intensively on TV channels. :Media people should understand the principles of protecting the consumer, she said. At the end of the seminar a number of journalists and newspapers were honored for their efforts against attempts to harm consumers. Sponsored by the Environment Protection Council, a training course on computer documentation system was organized on 24-27 .9.2000 at the office of Aden branch of environment protection council. The course contains 12 trainees representing information centers in governmental institutions related to environment. Students will get theoretical as well as practical lessons on how to acquire and exchange information about environment. 20 children left Yemen Saturday 23.9.2000 for Germany for treatment. The 20 children are suffering from difficult diseases, strong handicaps, deaf cases, etc. They are to be treated in Germany at the expense of Hammer Forum, the German charitable society. Worth mentioning is that this is the seventh time the society takes children for treatment in Germany. The 67 detainees from Said Bani Jabr tribe, khawlan were released from the military prison last Wednesday. They were detained after arguing with the president after being called to discuss some problems related to their village on 26.6.2000. Releasing the detainees came after strong and intensive mediation with the president of the Republic. These mediations guaranteed that no negative reaction will be taken on the part of the detainees. Socotra Environmental and Cultural Exhibition was inaugurated Saturday 23..9.2000 held in the Information center of the UN in Sana’a by Dr. Abulkarim Iryani. The exhibition will last until 14 October, 2000. A number of speeches were made in the inauguration ceremony expressing the importance of this island. In cooperation with the Yemen Organization to Protect Human Rights, Freedoms and Democracy the Arab Institute for Human Rights concluded last Thursday a training course for human rights’ trainers in Aden. Twenty trainers from different Arab countries participated in the course which lasted for two weeks. On the other hand, the Information Center for Human Rights organized on September 18-19 a workshop on women’s rights in Aden with collaboration with the Arab Institute and the Yemen Organization to Protect Human Rights, Freedom and Democracy. The workshop included 20 trainers representing NGOs and some of the authorities concerned. In presence of Dr. Abdulwahab Raweh, Minister of Youth and Sports and Mr. Mohammed Al-Bahr, chairman of Yemen Horsemanship Association, the first Equestrian championship started last Thursday at the Yemen Horsemanship Club located in Hiziaz. During the opening ceremony it was announced that President Ali Abdullah Saleh had donated 13 Yemeni horses to the club. Twenty five horseracers from the Military Academy, Police Academy, Republican Guards and the Yemeni Horsemanship Club took part in the two-day competition demonstrating excellent skills in jumping over barriers. At the end results were announced with Bakil Yahia Al-Yamani first in the singles while among teams the Military of Police achieved the first position. An assembly grouping sheikhs of Juhm, Serwah, and officials in the governorate was organized yesterday 24.9.2000 to discuss issues related to the area including the latest events taking place recently. Reports have it that troops of 25 Mech. Brigade stationed at the area had closed ways leading to the area and surrounded it. Troops have also released sheikh Mohammed Ahmad al-Zaidi who was detained a week ago. It is reported that pumping station No 2 had been shelled with bazookas. A helicopter carrying general brigadier Ali Salah had come under fire in the same area. These incidents came as a reaction to the military campaigns launched against the tribe recently. The Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Nasher inaugurated last Wednesday the Consultants ophthalmology Center which is considered the most modern eye center in Yemen. Dr. Nasher highlighted the private sector’s role in the development of health sector, pointing out that the newly established ophthalmology center would save many patients the trouble of traveling abroad for treatment. Dr. Ali Salem Al-Kaf, ophthalmology consultant said the center would offer modern services with more sophisticated medical equipment and stressed the center ability to do different operations on eyes. The center contains a number of well-equipped departments to make all necessary eye tests and examinations. Under the title “Investment and Development of Human Resources in Yemen,” the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Aden is presently doing the groundwork for the Fifth Businessmen Conference scheduled for November 12-13 2000. In a statement to the Yemen Times, Sheikh, Mohammed Omar Bamashmoush, Chairman of Board of Directors, said that preparations were made at that time to ensure success of the conference. The conference, to be organized under the auspices of the President and Ministry of Immigrants, is an annual tradition held by Aden Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Invitations have already been sent to participants and interested people. The Fifth conference is expected to be more successful than the previously organized ones owing to the great number of Yemeni, Arab and foreign businessmen and investors expected to participate in this event which upholds the aim of developing human resources. ‘Universal net,’ the biggest Internet Cafe in the city of Sana’a, featuring UTB computers, PIII and 3com cards has been recently opened for the public. Colored Laser Writers are available besides headphones and mics for distance speaking are available. |
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