STANDPOINT by Atique Naqvi

Publicis Groupe SA is ideally positioned to tackle future growth, says Maurice Lévy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the French multinational advertising and public relations company. "We also have to make sure that all religions are respected. We are against fanaticism. Everyone should live their own religion in their own way and by being respectful to others." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Michael Dell, Founder and CEO of Dell Inc., talks about the growth of the ICT sector, how the industry is forcing itself into the heart of economies and facing the challenges accompanying this growth. "We combine it all together to help customers transform their infrastructure, connect their people, inform their business with relevant data and protect their environment from a cyber standpoint." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

South Africa is open for all kinds of investment to come in, says the country’s new Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene. "As a government, we are doing everything in our power to make sure that we channel these investments to where they would be most required." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Africa is the new frontier for growth after the BRICS, says Carlos Ghosn, the Chairman and CEO of the Franco-Japanese carmaker Renault-Nissan. "We are now in the second position, but investing heavily not only in North and South Africa, but also in countries like Nigeria where we are establishing a new plant." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Panama’s economy has weathered the storm of global volatility and continues to grow at a rapid pace, says Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, the President of Panama. "The sense we are getting at this conference in Davos is that there is some optimism about the economic situation and about the future." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Egypt has devised a multifaceted strategy to support SME development, says Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, the country’s Minister of Industry & Foreign Trade. "In all Egyptian banks, there is a special department for funding small and medium enterprises." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Extremism is a real and serious threat for Libya. But with a new constitution being drafted, there is optimism for the country in 2015, says Ali Tarhouni, Former Prime Minister of Libya. "Gaddafi ruled keeping the law and power in his hands, which basically meant he was a very strong ruler, but with very weak institutions and a very weak state." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

A smooth economic recovery is needed to sustain the success of Tunisia’s political transition, says its Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa. "We have introduced some reforms to promote investments in Tunisia. And I think that we have to work harder to continue on this path." The interview was published in the March 2015 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Managing director of International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, says despite new challenges the global economy has a better chance to recover in 2014. "The euro zone is turning the corner from recession to recovery, but growth is unbalanced, and unemployment is still worryingly high." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Former Secretary-General of NATO and Ex-EU Foreign Policy Chief, Javier Solana, says nations should work toward the integration of regional security framework. "One hundred years ago in 1914, Europe was a problem. Being a European this year, I can say that Europe is not part of the problem but I hope it is part of the solution." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Political stability in Egypt is vital for attracting foreign investment and the country is moving in the right direction, says its Minister of Finance Ahmed Galal. "The new Egyptian constitution, voted by an overwhelming majority, guarantees all human rights. It has the equivalent of almost a Bill of Rights in the United States, it has governance or governing arrangements that ensure checks and balances among the president, the parliament and the judiciary." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Telecom companies should partner with firms operating in entertainment space to expand services and achieve growth, says Ooredoo Chief Executive Nasser Mohammed Marafih. "The focus should be on services and innovative telecom solutions. The services on top of the agenda should be ones related with connectivity, and such services are heavily reliant on mobile infrastructure." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

“United States is moving away from Saudi Arabia” By Atique Naqvi | Dubai, UAE | Uploaded on the blog recently** Countries outside the Arab world want follow the Saudi leadership. In an interview, Washington-based think tank Eurasia Group's President Ian Bremmer speaks on global issues that would shape up 2016. How do you see the GCC region’s geopolitical tensions playing out in 2016, ­especially with Saudi Arabia and Iran? The Saudi-Iran row really concerns me because I think both the Saudi and the Iranian governments have reasons to escalate. The proxy wars have been intensifying, the Iranians have been getting a lot stronger and energy prices are touching the floor. Also, [there is] an internal succession issue that plays out in support of nationalism as Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman tries to expand his power. At the same time, the Iranian government – especially the hardliners – are scared after putting this nuclear deal in place. They need to show their na

Chairman of Booz and Company, Joe Saddi, tells TRENDS that 2014 will be a crucial year for the Middle East and job creation will top the agenda after political stability. "There have been some initiatives for job creation in Saudi Arabia. Even some large companies in the Gulf have launched programs to create employment." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Potential Iranian nuclear deal will open doors to significant market opportunities and growth, says Iyad Malas, Chief Executive of Majid Al Futtiam Group. "Today, at minimum, you have to use technology as a support of strategy, because, if you look at a company like Amazon, it started as an e-commerce company, but today is investing very heavily in logistics – and I think the two are complementary." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Labor reform programs in Saudi Arabia are bearing positive results, says Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al Assaf, Minister of Finance, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "If there are some problems, we’ll fine tune Saudization programs. It is an initiative designed for a unique situation in Saudi Arabia where we have a large number of non-Saudi workers." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.

Ireland has changed financial regulations to accommodate shari’a-compliant products, and this will help bring investment from the Arabian Gulf, says Enda Kenny. "We have changed financial legislation to accommodate shari’a-compliant financial products. They would be given the same tax treatment as any other financial products." The interview was published in the March 2014 issue of the Dubai-based magazine TRENDS - An International Magazine on Arab Affairs. Below is the jpeg file of the TRENDS magazine.