expo 2012

By Lim Wei Chean

AN AGREEMENT was inked in Shanghai on Wednesday to confirm Singapore’s participation at the Shanghai World Expo which will be held in 2010.

The 150-year-old global event is held once every five years.

The last one, hosted by Japan, attracted 2 million visitors and made a surplus of US$90 million (S$127 million).

The Shanghai event will be held from May 1 to Oct 31, 2010 and is expected to attract 70 million visitors.

Singapore’s presence at this event will be the biggest ever, with a 3,000 sq m Singapore Pavilion featureing the theme, ‘City of Possibilities, Transforming Lives’.

A Singapore Tourism Board statement said it ‘will showcase Singapore’s achievements in sustainable development, its continuous drive to reinvent itself, and other lesser known aspects of Singapore beyond its economic success.’

Mr Yip Wei Kiat, consul-general of Singapore in Shanghai, signed the agreement in the host city on Wednesday.

A website http://www.SingaporeAtWorldExpo.com.sg  will see a competition launched on Aug 25, inviting ideas to enhance the Singapore Pavilion.

Winners to the competition, which ends on Dec 31, stand to win cash prizes, return air tickets to Shanghai, visitor passes to Shanghai World Expo 2010 and more.

Ms Leong See Kay, STB’s director of World Expo said: ‘We look forward to sharing with international participants, our experience in ensuring sustainable development and learning from other nations as well’.

‘From our early beginnings as a tiny fishing village in the 1800’s, we have taken giant leaps in growing our economy and raising the standards of living for Singaporeans’.

‘Having been through the challenges of integrating live-work-play within limited land space, we hope to provide useful insights into the building of a better city, a better life.’

Source:

http://www.straitstimes.com

The tickets for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 will be on sale from September 28 at the benchmark price of 160 yuan (about 23.50 U.S. dollars) for a set, according to Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

First presale of tickets are set aside for groups. He said that this is the benchmark price. Tickets will be sold using various methods and price fluctuations will occur according to ticket purchase time, group of people and visitation period. Seniors, disabled people, students, children and military personnel will receive a discount.

It is estimated that 70 million people will visit the Expo. So far, 214 countries and international organizations had confirmed their participation in the event.

People’s Daily Online

Source:

http://english.people.com.cn

Eugene Hoshiko / AP

The 101-story, 492-meter-high Shanghai World Financial Center finally opened its doors last week, becoming the world’s second tallest building after Taipei 101, which has a lower roofline but a higher spire. Designed by New York architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, it contains not only premium office space but also the world’s highest hotel, the Park HyattShanghai—and dwarfs China’s former tallest building, the 420.5m Jin Mao Tower next door. The project is the brainchild of leading Japanese property developer Minoru Mori, president and CEO of Mori Building Co., Ltd., and the man behind Tokyo’s celebrated Roppongi Hills development. He first conceived the idea of the Shanghai project 15 years ago, and has remained committed to it ever since, despite years of delays caused by the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, as well as anti-Japanese sentiment that led to a change in the building’s design. He spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Duncan Hewitt in Shanghai. Excerpts:

Hewitt: What gave you the idea for this project back in the early ’90s, when Shanghai’s modern development had barely begun?
Mori: When I came here in 1993 Shanghai really felt like postwar Japan: everyone was dressed in drab clothes, there were a lot of bicycles. But I felt this was the place to invest. I visited many different cities—including Moscow, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh, also Shenzhen in southern China—but we settled on Shanghai. I knew that Shanghai was the center of Asia before World War II, for finance but especially for trade. It was a larger center than Tokyo … and so I felt that once the system turned from communism to capitalism, Shanghai would certainly come back onto the world scene.

What did people say when you went back to Tokyo and told them you were going to build in Shanghai?
Generally the Japanese were very sensitive to the risk represented by China, including the political risk. I knew that reactions would be rather difficult and negative back home. So I had the idea of making this project part of the official development assistance from Japan to China. I approached the president of the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund, and they agreed to gather about 70 percent of the equity portion, and Mori Building was to take up 30 percent. So the funding was partly public— and I think that’s how China authorized this.

Is it meaningful in terms of Sino-Japanese relations?
Absolutely. When we started [in 1993], we didn’t expect a roller-coaster path for Sino-Japanese relations: we expected they would naturally become deeper and stronger, so we didn’t really think about the building as a symbol of Sino-Japanese relations. But of course Sino-Japanese relations deteriorated; people even threw rocks at the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai [in 2005], and some violence occurred when the Japanese soccer team beat China. After so many incidents between the two countries, I feel the presence of this building is very symbolic. In fact this year is the 30th anniversary of the Sino-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty, so the fact that it’s completed at this moment is also symbolic.

But you had to change the design because many Chinese thought the rising sun’s shining through the original round hole on top of the building resembled Japan’s wartime rising-sun flag, a despised symbol in China. Doesn’t that show there are still problems?
The design change was not based on a political consideration but rather a social consideration—in many countries there can sometimes be an overflow of patriotism—so you have to be sensitive toward this. But this actually resulted in a happy outcome: it gave us this extraordinary observation deck [on the 100th floor]. And I have a fundamental optimism about relations between China and Japan, that these will become better and better.

But the Chinese real-estate industry, along with the rest of the economy, is showing signs of slowing down. Are you worried that there’s a risk in opening a property like this?
As far as Shanghai is concerned, I think this is a short-term correction. The city has already started its preparations for hosting the 2010 World Expo; this will trigger new inbound investment into Shanghai, and will also stimulate Shanghai’s economy to move more into the post-industrial sector. So I think and hope that Shanghai’s growth rate will not slow down so much.

There is a discussion among some Chinese architects and intellectuals about whether the country is too obsessed with tall buildings. Are you concerned that a high-profile building like this will just inspire taller and taller buildings?
I don’t think the height is a problem; actually the higher the better—as long as you keep the ratio of greenery large and the footprint of each building minimal. This is my concept of the Vertical Garden City. City development is not contradictory to nature: you build high up in the sky and use the rest of the land at ground level for greenery and water—and also use underground space efficiently for functions that don’t need sunlight to make a city which is well lit by natural sunlight. The more compact the better for the global environment.

Source:

http://www.newsweek.com

Zaragoza / Pamplona, (Europe Press) - El consejero de Relaciones Institucionales y portavoz del Gobierno de Navarra, Alberto Catalán, afirmó esta mañana que el modelo de gestión medioambiental y desarrollo sostenible de su comunidad es un referente y un ejemplo a seguir para el resto de comunidades. The counsel for Institutional Relations and spokesman for the Government of Navarre, Alberto Catalan, said this morning that the model for environmental management and sustainable development of their community is a benchmark and an example for other communities.

Catalán pronunció estas palabras durante el acto inaugural del día de Navarra en la Tribuna del Agua de la Exposición Internacional Zaragoza 2008 ‘Agua y desarrollo sostenible’, en el que se sucederán diversas intervenciones de expertos sobre los aspectos políticos, técnicos y sociales de la gestión del agua y el desarrollo sostenible de esta comunidad. Catalan spoke these words during the opening day of Navarra in the Tribune Water Expo Zaragoza 2008 International ‘Water and Sustainable Development’, which happen several interventions expert on the political, technical and social management water and sustainable development of this community.

El consejero aportó algunos datos que ponen de manifiesto la labor desarrollada por Navarra en materia medioambiental, como que “el 97 por ciento de las aguas residuales de Navarra se devuelven depuradas a los ríos, el 24 por ciento de la masa forestal se ha recuperado en los últimos 25 años”. The counselor provided some data that show the work of Navarra in environmental matters, as that “97 percent of wastewater Navarre returned to clean rivers, 24 percent of the forest has recovered in the last 25 years. “

Catalán agregó que “el 65 por ciento de la electricidad de la comunidad tiene su origen en energías renovables”. Catalan added that “65 percent of electricity from the community comes from renewables.” “Somos un ejemplo a seguir en la utilización de energías renovables, tanto la eólica, como la solar o la hidroeléctrica”, prosiguió. “We are an example to follow in the use of renewables, wind, such as solar or hydropower,” he continued.

El portavoz del gobierno sostuvo que “Navarra ha querido tener una presencia en la Expo que evidencie la apuesta y el compromiso de Navarra con el respeto medioambiental y el tratamiento del agua, que es un elemento vital para la vida, pero también desde el punto de vista del compromiso humano”. The spokesman for the government argued that “Navarre wanted to have a presence at the Expo which evidences the bet and commitment of Navarre with respect environmental and water treatment, which is a vital element for life, but also from the point of Given the human commitment. “

Alberto Catalán resaltó que el compromiso con el desarrollo humano de Navarra “es muy importante, ya que la comunidad contribuye a que otros ciudadanos del mundo puedan disfrutar de un progreso adecuado”. Alberto Catalan stressed that the commitment to human development in Navarre “is very important because it helps the community as other citizens of the world can enjoy adequate progress.” “Como decía el Premio Nobel de Química de 1999, el progreso debe atender a los más desfavorecidos”, matizó. “As the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999, progress should serve the most disadvantaged,” qualified.

PABELLÓN DE NAVARRA. Flag of Navarre.

El consejero de Relaciones Institucionales de Navarra manifestó que el pabellón de su comunidad en la Muestra “es un ejemplo fehaciente de el compromiso con el respeto medioambiental y con el desarrollo humano de Navarra”. The advisor of Institutional Relations of Navarre stated that the flag of their community in the Sample “is a vivid example of the commitment to respect environmental and human development of Navarre.”

Asimismo, Catalán mostró su satisfacción con el éxito del pabellón navarro, del que dijo que “ha recibido ya más de 830.000 visitantes y es uno de los más visitados de comunidades autónomas”. Also, Catalan satisfied with the success of Navarre flag, which he said “has already received over 830,000 visitors and is one of the most visited of autonomous communities.”

“Desde Navarra hemos hecho una apuesta importante para esta Expo, ya que somos la comunidad más comprometida, junto con Aragón, con el tema el agua y el desarrollo sostenible”, agregó Catalán. “Since we made a bet Navarre important for this Expo, and the community that we are more committed, along with Aragon, with the theme water and sustainable development,” he said Catalan.

Según apuntó el consejero, “Navarra se ha implicado especialmente en la Expo de Zaragoza, no sólo por el tema que trata, sino también porque nunca habíamos tenido una Exposición Internacional por lo que hemos querido aprovechar y desempeñar un papel brillante en ella”. According to the counselor said, “Navarre has been particularly involved in the Expo Zaragoza, not only because the subject matter, but also because we had never had a World Exposition in what we wanted to take advantage and play a role in her brilliant”.

Con la participación activa de Navarra en la Expo, Catalán señaló que “se demuestra, una vez más, la relación de fraternidad que une a aragoneses y navarros”. With the active participation of Navarra in the Expo, Catalan noted that “demonstrates once again the relationship of fraternity that binds Aragon and Navarra.”

En este sentido, el portavoz navarro indicó que “desde Navarra se están trayendo muchos grupos artísticos y folclóricos a Zaragoza, no sólo a la Expo, sino también a la Plaza del Pilar, en lo que se ha denominado ‘Los sábados de Navarra’”. In this regard, the spokesman Navarro indicated that “from Navarra are bringing many artistic groups and folk to Zaragoza, not only to the Expo but also to the Plaza del Pilar, in what has been called ‘On Saturdays Navarre’” .

Catalán recordó la fecha de una “importante cita”, la del 14 de septiembre, cuando la Sala Mozart del Auditorio acogerá un concierto homenaje de Navarra a la ciudad de Zaragoza, con la participación de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra y el Orfeón Pamplonés, todo ello con entrada gratuita. Catalan recalled the date of an “important event” of the September 14, when the Mozart Hall Auditorium will host a concert tribute to the Navarre city of Zaragoza, with the participation of the Symphony Orchestra of Navarra and the Orfeón Pamplonés, everything with free admission.

NAVARRA EN LA TRIBUNA DEL AGUA. Navarra in the Tribuna del Agua.

Tras el acto de apertura en el que compadeció Catalán, dieron inicio las conferencias para hondar en las conclusiones que presentó el consejero de Relaciones Institucionales de Navarra. After the opening ceremony in which sympathize Catalan, initiated the conference for Honda in the conclusions presented by the counsel of Institutional Relations of Navarre. En estas intervenciones, participarán a lo largo del día, un total de ocho expertos en el tema. In those speeches, participate throughout the day, a total of eight experts in the field.

Los principales asuntos que se abordarán son la gestión eficiente del agua y las energías renovables. The main issues to be addressed are the efficient management of water and renewable energies. En concreto, se tratará cuestiones como la concesión de obras del canal de Navarra; la energía y el cambio climático; el drenaje urbano sostenible, la implantación de la directiva Marco; o el Foro del Agua de Navarra. Specifically, these will be issues such as works concession Channel Navarre; energy and climate change, sustainable urban drainage, the implementation of the Framework Directive, or the Water Forum of Navarre.

Además, se presentarán dos estudios. In addition, two studies will be presented. El primero es un proyecto elaborado por la Unión de Agricultores y Ganaderos de Navarra, llamado ‘Impacto de una gestión eficaz del recurso del agua en el desarrollo sostenible de los territorios rurales de Aquitania y Navarra’. The first is a draft drawn up by the Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Navarre, called ‘Impact of effective management of the resource of water in sustainable development of rural areas of Aquitaine and Navarre.

El segundo es una publicación de la Federación Navarra de Municipios y Consejos y el centro de Recursos Ambientales de Navarra, bajo el nombre ‘Buenas prácticas locales de gestión sostenible del agua y los ríos de Navarra’. The second is published by the Federation of Municipalities and Navarre Councils and the Environmental Resource Center of Navarre, under the name ‘Good practices of local sustainable management of water and rivers of Navarre.

Source:

http://www.europapress.es/navarra/noticia-expo-2008

The women’s association of Quer organizes these days a visit to Zaragoza Expo 2008 Quer leave the next day on September 12 in one of the last few days in which you can see open. A través de la Concejalía de Mujer del Ayuntamiento de Quer la Asociación de Mujeres de la Villa solicitaba una subvención a la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha para este concepto. Through the Department of Women of the council want the women’s associations of Villa requested a grant to the Board of Communities of Castilla-La Mancha for this concept. “Hace unos días recibimos la confirmación de la subvención, que nos llega con el fin de promover nuestra visita al pabellón que Castilla-La Mancha mantiene en la Expo, así que una de las paradas obligatorias de nuestro viaje será el pabellón regional”, ha dicho la presidenta de la asociación, María Angeles Bargiela. “A few days ago we received confirmation of the grant, which comes with a view to promoting our visit to flag that Castilla-La Mancha remains at the Expo, so a stop on our trip will be mandatory for the regional flag,” he said the president of the association, Maria Angeles Bargiela.

La subvención aportará el 50% del coste del autobús. The grant will provide 50% of the cost of the bus. El número de plazas disponibles es de 55. The number of seats available is 55. Con las ayudas y el descuento por grupos que ofrece la organización, el viaje de ida y vuelta que incluye autobús y entrada, cuesta 45 euros a los adultos, 38 euros a los jóvenes hasta 25 años, 33 euros para niños entre 5 y 14 años y, por último, 38 euros para los mayores de 65 años. With the aid groups and the discount offered by the organization, the round trip that includes bus and entry costs 45 euros for adults, 38 euros for youth to 25 years, 33 euros for children between 5 and 14 years and, lastly, 38 euros for those older than 65 years.

El viaje a Zaragoza saldrá de Quer el día 12 de septiembre de 2008 a las 7:00 horas de la mañana para llegar a la Expo en torno a las 10:00 horas de la mañana. The trip to Zaragoza leave Quer on September 12, 2008 at 7:00 am to reach the Expo around 10:00 am. El autobús de retorno partirá de la capital maña a las 24:00 horas, con margen suficiente para permitir disfrutar con todos los espectáculos de la Expo. The return bus will depart from the capital maña at 24:00 hours, with sufficient margin to allow everyone to enjoy the shows of the Expo.

Sobre la Expo About Expo

Del 14 de junio al 14 de septiembre de 2008 se celebra en Zaragoza la primera Exposición Internacional según el nuevo modelo reconocido por el Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). From June 14 to September 14, 2008 is held in Zaragoza the first World Exposition under the new model recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). Expo Zaragoza 2008 se celebra bajo el lema de Agua y Desarrollo Sostenible. Zaragoza Expo 2008 is being held under the theme of Water and Sustainable Development.

Para respaldar la Exposición Universal se cuenta con sólidos principios y motivos de orden internacional, nacional, regional y local. To support the Universal Exposition there are solid reasons and principles of international order, national, regional and local levels.

Source:

http://www.guadalajaradosmil.es/noticia.asp?ref=30689

Zaragoza, 29 Aug. (EUROPA PRESS) - (Europe Press) – La atleta aragonesa María José Pueyo, líder del ránking español del año en maratón y recién llegada de los Juegos Olímpicos de Pekín, acudirá hoy, viernes 29 de agosto, a las 11.00 horas a la presentación de II Maratón Expo Zaragoza-El Corte Inglés para mostrar de nuevo su apoyo a esta cita en su segunda edición. The athlete Maria Jose Pueyo Aragon, ranking leader of the Spanish marathon in the year and newcomer of the Olympic Games in Beijing, will come today, Friday August 29, at 11.00 presenting II Marathon Expo Zaragoza-El Corte Ingles for again show their support for this event in its second edition.

A la presentación asistirán el director general del Deporte en Aragón, Álvaro Burell, el gerente de la Sociedad Zaragoza Deporte del Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza, José Antonio Martín, el director general de Recursos y Medios de Expo Zaragoza 2008, José Luis Murillo y el jefe de Relaciones Externas de El Corte Inglés en Zaragoza, Rafael García Noguero. The presentation will attend the CEO of Sport in Aragon, Alvaro Burell, the manager of the Society Zaragoza Sports council of Zaragoza, Jose Antonio Martin, CEO of Media Resources and Zaragoza Expo 2008, Jose Luis Murillo and the head of External Relations of El Corte Ingles in Zaragoza, Rafael Garcia Noguero.

Patrocinado por El Corte Inglés y Expo Zaragoza Empresarial, el maratón se celebra en homenaje a la labor de los voluntarios en la Muestra Internacional. Sponsored by El Corte Ingles and Business Expo Zaragoza, the marathon is held in tribute to the work of volunteers at the International Fair. En una de sus últimas acciones con el uniforme del Voluntariado, más de mil voluntarios colaborarán en diversas tareas de la organización de la prueba deportiva. In one of his last actions in the uniform of Volunteers, more than a thousand volunteers will work in various tasks of the race organizers sports.

Source:

http://www.europapress.es/deportes/noticia-expo-2008

En la competición se pondrá en juego el título de campeón de Aragón | La organización entregará el 12% de las inscripciones a ANUE-UNESCO In the competition will play the title of champion Aragon | The organization will deliver 12% of annual registrations to Unesco

La segunda edición de la Maratón Expo financiará un pozo de agua en África The second edition of the Marathon Expo will finance a water well in Africa

EFE

La segunda edición de la maratón Expo Zaragoza El Corte Inglés, que se celebrará en la capital aragonesa el 28 de septiembre, servirá para homenajear a los voluntarios que han colaborado en la muestra y para financiar un pozo de agua en una población africana. The second edition of the marathon Expo Zaragoza El Corte Ingles, to be held in the Aragonese capital on September 28, will honor the volunteers who helped in the sample and to finance a water well in an African population.

El director general de Recursos y Medios de la Expo, José Luis Murillo ha explicado, en la presentación del maratón, que en sólo dos ediciones, la prueba se ha colocado “entre las grandes de España” . The general director of Media Resources and Expo, Jose Luis Murillo explained in the presentation of the marathon, in which only two editions, the test has been placed “among the top flight.”

Murillo ha destacado que esta competición une el mundo del deporte con la participación ciudadana -corredores, voluntarios y público-, y además servirá para poner en juego el título de campeón de Aragón . Murillo has stressed that this competition unites the world of sport with citizen participation-runners, volunteers and public-and also serve to bring into play the title of champion Arag ó No.

La competición ha contado con el asesoramiento de María José Pueyo, atleta aragonesa que llegó hace pocos días de Pekín, donde representó a España en el Maratón Olímpico. The competition has received advice from Maria Jose Pueyo, Aragon athlete who arrived a few days ago in Beijing, where he represented Spain in the Olympic Marathon.

La atleta de Sabiñánigo ha destacado el hecho de que la salida sea desde un punto más alto que la meta, algo que crea un desnivel de 30 metros que permitirá a los corredores bajar sus marcas hasta dos o tres minutos. The athlete Sabiñánigo has highlighted the fact that the output from a point higher than the target, something that creates a gap of 30 meters that will allow brokers lower their marks until two or three minutes.

El evento también tiene un fin humanitario, ya que la organización destinará el 12% de los ingresos por inscripciones a financiar, a través de ANUE-UNESCO , la construcción de un pozo para abastecer de agua la población de Cinkassé, en Togo. The event also has a humanitarian purpose, as the organization devoted 12% of revenues to fund registrations, through annual Unesco, the construction of a well to supply water to the population Cinkassé in Togo.

Source:

http://www.adn.es/local/zaragoza

 

‘We have grown 10 times over since 2005′. (MUSTAFA KASMI)

 

 

 

He has been in the industry for 19 years and firmly believes Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the way to go forward. Tahir Sharif, Managing Director of Tekla ME, says in the late 90s it was adopted by the likes of Bechtel, JGC and other major players in the oil and gas industry. “They adopted BIM in a specific way, which includes working with their sub-contractors where the information flow is used in the detail stage such as steel detailing.”

Fast forward to 2008. Today the construction boom in the Middle East offers great potential for business for the company, says Sharif.

Tekla ME plans to open an office in Saudi Arabia and sees most potential in the UAE, the Kingdom and Kuwait. “Whether a boom or downturn, projects will continue up to 2020. The Middle East is a strategic part of our business,” he said.

Founded in 1966, the Finnish Tekla, is a software company, whose international operations account for more than 80 per cent of its net sales.

Yet, market perceptions have a long way to go, says Sharif. In his words, ‘BIM is localised by a vendor who wants to capitalise’. He spoke to Emirates Business on why the AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) industry should look at the bigger picture.

What is the market perception of BIM in the global sense?

The BIM movement in the US is quite advanced with the US government looking to mandate BIM – more in relation to spatial modelling as opposed to details. That will come in time. But the momentum of BIM is being promoted more by vendors.

However, BIM is not really understood in the global sense. Couple of vendors do understand the value chain of BIM. But it has not been explained to the extent on the real benefit of usage in projects. The challenges are that BIM is localised to a vendor who wants to capitalise and positions it into the market from their point of understanding.

Over 19 years, I have witnessed the early implementation of computer-aided design (CAD); today all building processes have been integrated to create one intelligent 3D product model, resulting in improved productivity, greater speed, higher quality and lower costs. Today AEC is beginning to talk of 3D/4D (time), 5D (cost), and 6D (facility management) solutions. Everywhere, owners are expecting greater efficiency and cost saving in the design, construction and operation of facilities. With the adoption of BIM, they can achieve more than 20 per cent savings on project costs.

Is BIM accepted in the region?

Many leading architects, consultants and contractors have incorporated BIM into their business strategies. This is mainly driven by the industry challenges of needing fast and accurate information to avoid delays and to keep projects within budgets.

How does BIM translate into usage for high-rise structures?

It is perfect to use in high-rise structures. In a multi-storey building, a seemingly simple change to the architectural appearance on one floor of the building may affect and cause design changes on many other floors, too. All changes have to be thoroughly analysed and the associated affects correctly communicated, as described above. This often means many drawing revisions and much cross-checking being made in the drafting offices to ensure all related drawings, impinged on by these changes, have been correctly modified and nothing has been missed.

With BIM, we start and continue the whole process in 3D, which means everyone collaborating on a project is working off the same 3D model, seeing everything the way it really is, while fabrication and construction are taking place. This will keep a project on schedule and within the budget, specially, if everyone knows what is due when and where on site. This makes for better co-ordination between consultants and contractors, which is beneficial to the project.

Tekla projects include Burj Dubai, Trump Hotel, Dubai Mall, The Tower, Al Attar Tower, Rose Rotana, Ski Dubai, Dubai Metro Stations, Al Mas Tower and others in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, we have worked on the Feature Tower and Shaikh Zayed Mosque dome.

What does the coming year look like in terms of profits?

We expect some very big revenue increases in Tekla. Last year’s figures were already achieved in the first six months of this year. Revenue is €60 million (Dh324m) globally and the Middle East is a strategic part of our business.

We will open a branch office in Saudi Arabia and be active in around eight countries here. We are active in the GCC, Egypt, Jordan and Iran. But it is the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which we feel have great potential for us.

How do you create awareness in this market?

Apart from conducting seminars and conferences on BIM, Tekla ME has been associated with many engineering colleges and municipalities across the Gulf. We are also organising a conference along side the Construction Machinery Exhibition (Conmex), which will be held on October 20 and 21 at the Sharjah Expo. It will examine BIM, lean construction and RFID.

What are the global market forecasts for BIM?

It is estimated the BIM market is worth $1bn in annual sales and is expected grow at 10 per cent per annum (normalised) in 2008-2012. The primary growth drivers include: improved design process enabled by 3D modelling; increased project complexity and better interoperability; and costs savings.

What challenges lie ahead?

The fear factor is there at the user level, not at the management level – this has been our experience. But this is the market to be in. We have a large user base and a loyal one. In terms of growth from 2005 to date, our growth has increased over 10 times.

Whether a boom or downturn, projects will continue up to 2020.

Developers are not knowledgeable about BIM details but they buy into the transparency aspects and real-time information. And we are looking to be more involved at the owner-end. Even more than before.

PROFILE: Tahir Sharif, Managing Director of Tekla ME

Sharif is a building industry consultant specialising in BIM with more than 18 years of experience on senior management level positions.

He has written several articles and presented number of papers internationally on BIM.

In the Middle East, he has been instrumental in promoting awareness in the use of 3D/4D/5D/6D as central tools for construction and design processes.

He was influential in promoting BIM technologies for use at JGC, Bechtel, Ove Arup and Partners and Precast Concrete Software Consortium.

Source:

http://www.business24-7.ae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to deepen their two countries’ newfangled “strategic cooperative partnership.”A joint statement after their meeting envisages no fewer than 34 ways of cooperation in four categories — politics, economy, human resources and cultural exchanges, and international cooperation. In a press conference, Lee said, “We agreed to expand the bilateral relations, which have so far centered on economic and cultural exchanges, to the political and security sectors. We also agreed to meet more often in the future to exchange views on such issues.”

Hu said the two agreed to pursue their partnership “by strengthening political communications and deepening cooperation in economy and trade.”

President Lee Myung-bak and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao embrace after a joint press conference in Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. /Yonhap

In a bigger meeting, the two sides also agreed to hold the first high-level strategic meeting between the two foreign ministries this year, and to stimulate exchange between ranking defense officials, improve liaison, and seek military exchange and cooperation.

The two leaders also agreed to strengthen consultations and cooperation within the framework of the six-party talks to solve the North Korean nuclear issue, and to press for implementation of phase 2 of the denuclearization process.

They agreed to increase the annual volume of two-way trade to US$200 billion by 2010, two years ahead of the previous target year, and to strengthen cooperation in economy and trade.

Exchanges including tourism were also on the agenda: they designated 2010, the year of Shanghai World Expo, “Visit China Year,” and 2012, the year of Yeosu World Expo, “Visit Korea Year.”

The two countries signed five memorandums of understanding: closer cooperation in the fields of energy conservation, the prevention of desertification, and state-of-art technology; and two agreements on sanitary control on fisheries products and on educational exchange.

Hu leaves Tuesday after meeting the house speaker and the prime minister, attending a seminar on the exchange between organizers of Shanghai Expo and Yeosu Expo, and attending a luncheon hosted by the heads of four employers’ organizations.

Source:

http://english.chosun.com

(RTTNews) -  Aiming a target of annual bilateral trade worth $200 billion by 2010, China and South Korea vowed to intensify cooperation in trade and investment, inspection and quarantine, trade relief, and intellectual property rights.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak announced this during a joint press conference after their meeting in the Korean capital, Seoul.

Hu Jintao is on a two-day visit to South Korea, his second in almost three years.

The leaders issued a joint communiqué Monday, detailing frequent exchange of high-level diplomatic visits and contacts between the two countries.

Diplomatic bodies of the two countries will begin a series of advanced strategic dialogues on important issues concerning bilateral common interests, this year.

It has also been decided to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of defense, foreign policy and international situation, environment, information and communication, logistics, and energy on multiple levels.

Seoul and Beijing will accelerate studies on the possibility of setting up a free trade zone.

Officials from both the sides signed agreements for successfully hosting the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and the 2012 Yeosu World Expo.

The east-Asian nations have designated 2010 as Visit China Year and 2012 as Visit Korea Year.

It has also been agreed to implement the second phase action of the six-party talks on North Korea’s de-nuclearization.
Source:

RTT Staff Writer

http://www.rttnews.com