Economic Focus 10

ISSUE 3 VOL 10 AUTUMN 2015 MAGAZINE OF THE ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GULF RAIL AND TRANSPORT NETWORKS

UK’S NON-DOMICILE TAX REGIME

BRITISH ECONOMIC SURVEY

RAS AL KHAIMAH INVESTMENT

WHY ARABIC BRANDING IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

TOP UNIVERSITIES IN THE UK

QATAR SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES

KUWAIT BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE

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Economic Focus is an Arab-British Chamber of Commerce publication.

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Abdeslam El-Idrissi, Chief Editor Cliff Lawrence David Morgan Dr Yasmin Husein Arab-British Chamber of Commerce 43 Upper Grosvenor Street London W1K 2NJ Tel: +44 (0) 20 7235 4363 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7245 6688 economicfocus@abcc.org.uk www.abcc.org.uk

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CONTENTS Focus Reports Expansion of the Gulf Rail and Transport Networks Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority – 10 Years of Attracting Business

Special Features 6

12

Qatar Solar Technologies Heralds Birth of a New Industry 14 Update: The UK’s Latest Changes to the Non-Domicile Tax Regime 26 Foundation for International Education 30

Disclaimer

Distinctive Publishing or Arab-British Chamber of Commerce cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

ISSN No: ISSN 1751-4339

Why Arabic Branding Makes Good Business Sense

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Security Services International 48 British Economic Survey

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AchieveGlobal 66

Relocation and Inward Investment

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Health Focus

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Finance 60

Chamber News Kuwait Ambassadorial Roundtable 70 New Members

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Arabic Section 102

HELPING TRADE FLOW Europe Arab Bank is uniquely positioned to help your business take advantage of trade flow and investment opportunities in MENA. As part of the Arab Bank Group, with the largest banking network in the Arab region, you gain seamless access to MENA and a network of 600 branches around the world.

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ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Expansion of the Gulf Rail and Transport Networks

By Mike Shears, UKTI Rail Business Specialist

Key Facts about Arab Rail Plans l

$200bn total planned investment in rail and public transport infrastructure in ME region (IRJ)

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$100bn investment in Rail by 2020 in Saudi Arabia (SAGIA)

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40,000km of railway infrastructure

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2,177km length of GCC Railway

Plans for new rail and public transportation networks across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue apace, despite the depressed price of oil. UK companies are competing and winning business in the region.

I have met with many UK suppliers over the past few months and attended the Middle East Rail exhibition where the UK presence really stood out. There are some challenges, but with application and perseverance rewards will be forthcoming. The UK has the railway heritage, capability and expertise that is required to assist clients in introducing modern public transportation systems.

There is a healthy level of competition, but we can be confident that through nurturing and developing relationships, the UK will continue to win business across the full spectrum of supply and add value to some of the amazing projects that are planned and underway in the GCC. The GCC rail link will start in Kuwait and pass by the eastern Saudi Arabian city

Model for King Abdullah Financial District Metro station (Zaha Hadid Architects)

of Dammam, connecting with Bahrain through a bridge parallel to King Fahd Causeway before reaching Qatar via Salwa, while another line will connect the Kingdom with the UAE through Bathaa.

The network’s length will be 2,117km in total with 684km in the UAE, 663km in Saudi Arabia, 306km in Oman, 283km in Qatar, 145km in Kuwait and 36km in Bahrain. It will consist of a double track, continuously welded, with design speed up to 120 km/h for freight and up to 200 km/h for passenger services.

UK Involvement A UK consortium consisting of Serco Group plc, Network Rail Consulting and Freightliner Group successfully won the tender process in Saudi Arabia against strong international competition. Saudi

Railway Company (SAR) has appointed the consortium to be its partner in providing management and technical support for operations on the North South Railway (NSR). The contract, which has since started, has a total value to Serco of approximately £120m over five years and is Serco`s first major rail contract in Saudi Arabia.

Serco will operate as prime contractor and will provide technical support for passenger operations. Other consortium members include Freightliner Group, which will take the lead responsibility for providing freight expertise and support, and Network Rail Consulting, which will provide infrastructure technical support.

The consortium will use its international expertise in rail operations to develop and implement operating procedures

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 7

Model for King Abdullah Financial District Metro station (Zaha Hadid Architects)

and systems, provide management and technical assistance, and deliver training and expertise to support the development of capabilities within SAR and its personnel.

UK Transport Minister Visit to Saudi Arabia and UAE The British Transport Minister Robert Goodwill paid a well-timed visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UAE in December 2014. Visits to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dubai provided valuable opportunities to lobby for high value projects in the rail, metro and aviation sectors.

Whilst in Riyadh the Minister met with Dr Rumaih Al Rumaih, CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and expressed support for UK firms involved in the North-South Railway project. The UK consortium consisting of Serco, Network Rail Consulting and Freightliner Group was the preferred bidder for the operations and maintenance contract of capabilities within SAR and its personnel.

The Minister visited Dr Abdulaziz AlOhaly, President of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) and Deputy Transport Minister based in Riyadh. As well as providing follow-up to Dr Al Ohaly’s earlier visit to the UK, the Minister

discussed UK support and cooperation in implementing Saudi Arabia’s plan to introduce and expand the national rail network and to introduce integrated public transit networks in major cities.

The Minister also lobbied on behalf of UK interests where there are a number UK firms competing to win business and support Saudi Arabia in realising its plans for expansion of public transportation services.

The Minister visited Dr Osama Abdouh, the CEO of Jeddah Metro Company, to discuss opportunities for UK suppliers on Jeddah’s Urban Transportation projects.

Whilst in the UAE, the Minister met with Etihad Rail and toured the Operations Control Centre and rode the brand new Dubai Tram, operated by Serco.

Middle East Rail 2015 The annual Middle East Rail Exhibition and Conference (ME Rail) was held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai in March 2015. An outstanding UK pavilion dominated the skyline within the exhibition hall. It was the largest country pavilion with 23 UK exhibitors, as well as several UK companies who were exhibiting independently.

UKTI Trade Advisors and Specialists held a briefing seminar on the evening before

the exhibition opened. This event was attended by over 50 UK companies who were able to learn of the opportunities in the sector and network with incountry UKTI Trade Advisors. There was also a vibrant conference programme and many high-quality contacts were made during the course of the two days.

H E Dr Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority (Land and Maritime), attended the exhibition on the opening day. He was shown around the British Pavilion and was enthusiastic in his discussions and engagement with many UK suppliers.

This year, the UK Pavilion at ME Rail had sold out even faster than in 2014.

Once again, the feedback has been very positive, with many potential business wins. To meet demand next year, the UK Pavilion will be increased in size to 360m² and will be able to accommodate 40 booths. Many UK companies have already confirmed their intention to participate including Network Rail. Any company wishing to take part in ME Rail 2016 should contact Guy Rogers at grogers@intecuk.com or go to www.intecuk.com and register your interest. continued page 8

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

from page 7

Unipart Rail in Partnership Agreement Unipart Rail signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Arabia Railway Consulting (ARC), which is part of the Mohawarean International Group, at Middle East Rail. The intention is that they will work collaboratively in developing business and opportunities for supply chain and consultancy services within Saudi Arabia’s growing rail sector. Unipart Rail’s expertise globally in the rail infrastructure and rolling stock sectors, allied with ARC’s connectivity within Saudi Arabia, provides an excellent fit with Unipart’s ambition to grow its business in the Middle East.

UK suppliers interested in working with Unipart Rail in key Middle East markets should contact Tom Maxwell, Export Sales Manager, by email, which is: tom.maxwell@unipartrail.com The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman are all diversifying their economies to reduce their dependence on oil. Rail is needed to support this diversification drive by transporting freight cargo and minerals.

There is an opportunity for UK suppliers to assist in planning and implementing connections so that the railway is better served and utilised.

To this end, UKTI, with the help of capable UK suppliers, is developing a total delivery function, the ‘Last Mile Consortium’ that will be available to assist clients in optimising the use of their railway infrastructure.

There are also opportunities for making metro stations into community centres with links to major activity centres and malls. This assists in creating ‘metro cities’ where there is potential for developers to become involved at the outset and contribute to funding.

Madinah Development Authority in UK Visit In early March 2015 a delegation from the Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Development Authority (MMDA) visited the UK led by Engineer Mamdough Tarabishi, Director of the Transport Department. During a short programme they met with Alexander Dennis and travelled on their bus, had a series of focus area meetings with London Underground and presented to

Bahrain’s version of the Oyster card

approximately 60 UK companies at a briefing seminar, where Baroness Kramer, then Minister of State for Transport, gave an opening address.

The delegation also spent a whole day with Bombardier in Derby where they were able to discuss their project and requirements, tour the train manufacturing facility and drive a new Surface Stock (s-stock) tube train on the test track.

MMDA’s proposals for their mass-transit system include three metro lines, two bus rapid-transit (BRT) lines, four express bus routes and seven feeder bus routes.

These transit networks are required to transport the ever-increasing numbers of visitors. The metro is planned to be operational within eight years and will feature driver-less trains and be mostly overground.

Project Updates and Opportunities OMAN The GCC Railway Conference was held in Muscat in January 2015 where all member states reported on progress with their plans to implement domestic national rail networks. The target date for the partial opening of the GCC Railway was confirmed as 2018.

being evaluated with the contract award expected mid-2015.

The Municipal Council in Muscat is investigating ways to improve public transport within the city of Muscat and is considering tram systems and enhancements to the bus service.

KUWAIT The Municipal Council approved the first stage of the GCC railway in January 2015. The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) will manage the procurement of the projects. KAPP was to issue the bylaws (which will regulate its work) by the end of March 2015. The law refines the tendering process for Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) Projects which will be the model used for rail project procurement.

The National Railroad (511km) and the Kuwait Metro (K-Metro) project (169km and 69 stations) are to be among the first projects to be tendered under the new law, although no award is expected before 2016.

The Spanish Project Management Consultant, Técnicas Reunidas (TR Group), was awarded a $149 million contract for the first segment of the Oman Railway (207km), according to news reports 11 February 2015.

QATAR Qatar Rail re-launched the prequalification process for the design and build contract for its long-distance passenger and freight rail. Submission of prequalification documents was required by 6 April 2015. Qatar Rail announced a contract award for the Doha Metro Systems on 18 February 2015. The scope of the contract includes systems, rolling stock, depots and track work. The consortium is led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and includes Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo and Thales.

Eleven international consortia made bids for the design and build of Segment 1, with bids submitted on 1 March 2015.

At the time of writing, the bids were

Deutsche Bahn International was awarded the shadow operator contract for the long-distance and freight rail network in January 2015.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 9

UAE The Dubai Metro is currently operating at near full capacity. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is therefore examining ways to increase capacity and will be buying new rolling stock and systems to support the increase in capacity and to service the requirements of planned extensions to the Dubai Metro.

The Dubai Metro line that will service the Expo 2020 site will be an extension to the Red Line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station. The RTA is currently receiving expressions of interest to design and build the new line, and the tender process is expected to commence in July 2015.

Plans for phase 2 of Etihad Rail and the development of integrated mass transit systems within Abu Dhabi are expected to begin moving forward later this year.

SAUDI ARABIA The Madinah Development Authority (MMDA) is expected to appoint Louis Berger as Project Managers and Systra/ Egis Rail as Designers for their transit systems. Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) is likely to launch its Pre-Qualification process for main construction contracts on the Landbridge Project (5 to 7 packages) during the third quarter of 2015.

Makkah Metro has received bids for civil design and build (2 packages), systems and rolling stock All bids are currently being evaluated.

Construction of the six-line Riyadh Metro continues apace, with a planned opening date of 2019. There are opportunities across the full scope of supply. Please contact Mohammad Farooq for introductions to the three consortia at: Mohammed.Farooq@fco.gov.uk BAHRAIN Bahrain Public Transportation Company (BPTC) held a press conference on 2 April 2015 at the newly opened Four Seasons hotel in Manama, to launch the new public bus network. The planned bus network will increase from 12 to 32 routes by August 2015.

The concessionaire implementing the new service is a joint venture between National Express and Bahraini company, Ahmed Mansoor Al A’ali (AMA) Group.

The initial transition phase was launched

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) engine

in mid-February, with Phase 1 launched on 1 April and the final Phase 2 starting from 1 August 2015.

A total of 77 buses are currently operational, covering a total of 22 routes. Eventually, there will be 141 buses covering 32 new networks and 77% of the island.

Initial reaction to the new bus transportation system has been overwhelmingly positive and has received much media coverage since the soft launch in February. The Minister of Transportation, H E Kamal Ahmed, confirmed that the Ministry had projected a total ridership of 16,000 passengers. However, the figure has since topped 21,000 passengers demonstrating that the extensive public campaign and the visual impact of the bright red buses, had captured the imagination of both Bahrainis and expats alike.

Key features of the buses include low floor easy access for those with disabilities and special needs, on bus info-tainment, free wi-fi across a 4G network and an automated ticketing system which will replace the current paper tickets from 1 August 2015.

GCC Railway Delegation Visits UK On 8-9 June the GCC Railway Secretariat visited the UK with a large delegation of representatives from each of the Gulf countries. Their visit was part of a global fact-finding field trip by the GCC Railway which visited the USA, Canada and Mexico, the UK, Belgium and Spain.

Their intention was to learn from others about customs and border controls and the management of through freight

and passenger journeys between neighbouring countries. The delegation was led by Mr Ibrahim Abdulrahman Alsabti, Director of Transport Department, GCC Rail Secretariat, and in total numbered approximately 25 delegates from across the Gulf region.

On the first day the delegation heard presentations from experts at the conference centre in Victoria Street, London. These included the Department of Transport, Crossrail, Railway Safety and Standards Board, Border Force, UKTI Cyber Security, Office of the Rail Regulator, Land Transport Security (Rail Executive), BT Police, Network Rail Consulting, Freightliner Group and the National Skills Academy of Rail Engineering.

On the second day the delegation visited the Hitachi Rail Europe maintenance depot at Ashford in Kent followed by visits to the Eurotunnel freight inspection facility at Dolland’s Moor Yard and then onwards to the Eurostar passenger terminal at St Pancras.

The visit was arranged by UKTI with support from the Rail Industry Association (RIA).

Conclusion UK companies and its rail capability are held in high regard in the region. The scale of projects and the requirements in the Gulf are enormous and local companies are looking for partners. The opportunities are enormous too.

For further information on these and other projects in the transport sector around the Arab world contact Mike Shears at: Mike.Shears@mobile.ukti.gov.uk

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

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ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority – 10 Years of attracting business Since its inception in 2005, the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) has moved far beyond the scope of developing and managing free zones and industrial zones. Tasked solely with boosting industrial and business opportunities in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, RAKIA began attracting regional and international businesses to RAK within a short period of time, bringing in a wider range of small, medium and large companies to its two industrial parks. The upshot has been a steady increase in brand awareness and stimulating interest among investors in what was once a low-key emirate.

RAKIA Industrial Park, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Thanks to its flexible and tailored offerings, such as free zone and nonfree zone facilities, RAKIA has brought in billions of dollars of fixed investment to RAK. Its scope of services is evidence of the company’s evolution and success. At RAKIA, investors can obtain everything from business licenses to leasing options on land and office spaces to visas. The facilities and solutions cover a broad swathe of client needs with warehouses, commercial and residential units. Its administrative units offer assistance with visas and all coordination efforts with government departments.

MENA and Asia region, makes RAKIA the preferred choice for setting up operations.

RAKIA’s Industrial Parks, spread over 25 million m2, are well located and connected to destinations in the Gulf, Russia, Central Asia, the European Union and Asia providing access to emerging and well-established markets in the region. Easy access to the strategic markets, 3 billion consumers in a 5-hour flying radius, proximity to 2 express highways, 3 sea ports and 3 airports, a 45-minute drive from the Dubai International Airport, and RAK’s geostrategic location in the Gulf, which is crucial factor for exports in the

Earlier this year, RAKIA signed a strategic partnership agreement with RAK Courts to smoothen and expedite processes by establishing a dedicated branch at RAKIA’s headquarters. The agreement also allowed RAKIA’s employees to have access to the electronic system of RAK Courts and legal advisory services concerning RAKIA’s legal affairs.

The number of licenses that RAKIA issues is a good barometer of investment flowing into the emirate. There has been a significant amount of growth in new industrial entities registered with RAKIA. The low cost of RAKIA’s quality services and swift setups is likely to account for the increase.

Characterised by exceptional value and convenience, RAKIA’s approach

has earned the company a respected reputation in the free zone world and a growing portfolio of investors across the sectors. RAKIA’s parks are home to over 500 manufacturers in various sectors, including metal, chemicals, food, plastics and automotive.

Some of the major clients present in RAKIA’s industrial parks include Guardian Glass (USA), Arc International & Saverglass (France), Zamil Steel (Saudi Arabia), Falcon Technologies International (UAE), Posco (South Korea), Ashok Leyland, JBF, Dabur & Mahindra Motors (India), Duscholux (Germany), Vesuvius (UK) and Ahmed Tea (UK).

The clients range from a variety of sectors but have equally impacted the economic development in Ras Al Khaimah and the wider UAE being major suppliers of different materials. Cement production is one of the major sectors in the country, with five major cement

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 13

factories that produce over nine million tonnes per year. One of RAKIA’s first clients, Pioneer Cement Industries, has a remarkable capacity to produce one million tonnes per year.

Another important division is the glass sector. Guardian, a US-based multinational industrial manufacturer of glass, produces 700 tonnes of glass per day which is used in automotive, commercial, residential and furniture applications. Saverglass, the French glass manufacturer, built its first plant in the Middle East in one of RAKIA’s industrial parks, Al Hamra Free Zone.

World renowned specialists in manufacturing and decorating luxury glass bottles, with their first factory abroad, Saverglass’s factory has a capacity of 350 tonnes of glass bottles a day and approximately 90,000 tonnes a year. Due to its strategic location, the company’s products are exported from RAK’s branch to more than 80 countries, supplying the demands in the Southern hemisphere and serving markets such as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

UK-based Vesuvius, a global leader in metal flow engineering serving the steel and foundry industries set up an Advanced Refractory Division of Vesuvius Group in RAKIA’s park in 2012. Vesuvius Group provides products, services and technologies dedicated to high temperature industrial processes.

The Advanced Refractory Division represents the single largest investment for the European Advanced Refractory business in 2012, a total investment of $10.5 million. One of India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, Ashok Leyland set up an integrated vehicle assembly plant in 2006 in RAKIA’s Al Ghail Industrial Park with a capacity to build 1000 buses per year.

K M Mandanna, Ashok Leyland’s VicePresident (Manufacturing), stated “RAKIA proved the ideal partners in realising our plans to expand to the Middle East. Thanks to RAKIA, we managed to set up our unit and commence operations remarkably quick.”

With a list of big name clients, RAKIA developed an initiative to maintain its good relations among its growing portfolio of investors. In May 2015, RAKIA launched a platform to drive business sustainability and engender a sense of

community on its premises. Known as the Tenants’ Committee, the initiative invites business leaders from its tenant companies operating within RAKIA’s Al Hamra and Al Ghail industrial parks to express any issues or concerns directly to RAKIA’s management and engage in meaningful exchanges and networking among fellow CEOs, corporate heads and senior managers.

As part of the expansion plan, RAKIA is currently working to increase the warehouse units in its industrial parks.

The development of more warehouses has been put in motion to meet the rising demand from investors after all units were quickly rented out.

The warehouse facilities have been a successful approach to meet the needs of investors, allowing for easy and effective storage and light industrial activities.

Infrastructure projects have also been put in motion to provide better services for existing and prospective clients. To accommodate the increase of clients at the industrial parks, RAKIA has implemented an improved road network to ease operations and to enhance road connectivity.

RAKIA is considering several expansion options for Ras Al Khaimah’s port facilities such as Saqr Port, one of the region’s largest bulk handling ports.

Constructed in 1977, Saqr Port is located in the northern part of the emirate and is the first major port. The port handles over 90% of imports and exports entering and exiting RAK by sea.

RAK has enormous aggregate reserves, which can help streamline the production process for manufacturers.

The emirate’s ports provide a further advantage of operating out of RAK. The emirate benefits from a great location that brings unique geographical advantages, standing at the crossroads of trade between East and West.

RAKIA, a fundamental contributor to Ras Al Khaimah’s economy, has played a prominent role in the cycle of growth in the emirate. In essence, while endorsing the organisation itself, RAKIA promotes the emirate through marketing and business campaigns. By attracting investors, Ras Al Khaimah’s economy continues to boom which allows for more investments that help develop the emirate. Economic stability and enhancement of the local infrastructure remain main attractions for investors.

Heading into its tenth year, RAKIA is a complete business park offering end-to-end business formation services and solutions, with the goal of being the undisputed choice among industrial zones in the region. With a prosperous future ahead, RAKIA plans to increase its industrial land assets to ensure sustainability while supporting the economic development of Ras Al Khaimah.

For further information see www.rak-ia.com

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Qatar Solar Technologies heralds the birth of a new industry Dr Khalid K Al Hajri is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec). QSTec is an integrated solar energy company that is currently completing and commissioning its state of the art polysilicon production facility located in the north of Qatar. QSTec is the largest equity holder in Europe’s biggest solar company, SolarWorld AG. Dr Al Hajri has over 35 years of senior management experience in the global energy industry and is pioneering the development of the region’s solar manufacturing industry. Here he responds to our questions about QSTec and its plans.

What exactly is QSTec? Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) was established to develop a brand new solar energy industry in Qatar. QSTec is a multi-award winning company that is providing solar technologies and solutions that will have a lasting impact for Qatar and the world by protecting the environment and caring for the society.

QSTec is currently building a polysilicon production facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Polysilicon is the key ingredient in the world’s most efficient domestic and commercial use solar modules. In addition, QSTec and its partners are the key suppliers of solar solutions for some of Qatar’s most iconic buildings. From polysilicon and solar solutions through to international investments in key solar companies around the world, QSTec has a vision to become a world leading integrated solar company and we are making great progress in making this vision a reality.

Formed in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030’s key objectives, QSTec is a

Dr Khalid K Al Hajri

joint venture between Qatar Solar, a fully owned subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, SolarWorld AG and the Qatar Development Bank.

Qatar has ambitious targets for solar energy despite being one of world’s leading exporters of liquefied natural gas. What is driving this growth in solar energy in Qatar and the region?

Qatar is the world’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas and additionally has oil reserves. Like many other countries in the region, it aims to preserve its gas and oil reserves for the future by diversifying its energy mix and utilizing renewable energy.

We are seeing a rapid rise in solar energy generation across the world and in the Middle East this growth is forecast to

be significant. Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s recent New Energy Outlook report forecast that by 2020 the Middle East and Africa will have 32 Gig watts (GW) of solar energy and this will increase to 158 GW by 2040. This growth will have an enormous positive impact on the development of the Middle East’s solar industry. We are witnessing the birth of a new industry for this region and it is an exciting time for QSTec.

QSTec is currently at the stage of commissioning and producing polysilicon. When does the next stage come in and what are your plans for the future?

We are always looking forward at QSTec and have taken great strides towards realizing our vision. In 2014 QSTec became the largest equity holder in Europe’s biggest solar company,

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 15

technologies (PV solar modules) have shown the largest reduction in overall installed cost. They are also versatile and can be scaled to any size from small lighting systems for private residential villas through to utility scale solar farms that deliver power to commercial and manufacturing facilities, especially during peak demand periods of the day.

The second reason is that across the Middle East there is a huge demand for electricity and increasingly the region is looking to be more sustainable with a desire to preserve our environment and resources for the future generations.

What we are seeing today is a push to utilize the sun as a resource to create electricity and this trend will continue.

SolarWorld AG. Our vision is to become a world leading integrated solar company and QSTec’s strategic investment in SolarWorld provided us with an opportunity to rapidly realize our goals with a strong global partner that is well known for its quality products, research and development and innovation.

Our key focus right now is on getting our Ras Laffan polysilicon plant commissioned and moving into the production phase. The construction of a new large green-field manufacturing facility like ours is an enormously complex process requiring many different elements to integrate seamlessly to produce a product of the highest standard. The plant itself is fully integrated and includes waste recovery systems that virtually eliminate waste by recycling gases back into the process, efficient reactors, a reverse osmosis unit that supplies the plant with fresh water, advanced heating and cooling equipment and a host of other advanced technologies. All are in the finishing stages of completion and undergoing testing and commissioning.

Following this we have future plans to expand across the whole solar value chain.

with Qatar Foundation and others. One of our major solar installation projects is occurring at our Ras Laffan facility. QSTec is in the finishing stages of completing its 1.1 megawatt solar installation that includes solar car parking shades, roof top module installations and a ground based solar farm that will provide solar power to QSTec’s administration buildings, cafeteria and mosque.

We are also in talks with a number of local companies and government entities regarding the utilization of solar solutions for their projects and initiatives. We are very confident about the future of solar in Qatar and the region.

What factors are driving the use of solar energy across the Arab World?

With oil and natural gas forming the basis of the Middle East’s electricity requirements, renewable energy has only recently gained some momentum in this part of the world, but this is changing rapidly. The GCC and the Middle East as a whole have one of the fastest growing energy requirements in the world and solar energy is an obvious choice to meet the increasing demand.

Is QSTec currently in contract with any upcoming construction projects?

There are two main factors that are driving solar energy use within the region.

In conjunction with our partners, QSTec is involved in numerous solar energy projects across Qatar including several

First is the reduction in cost of technologies that are involved in producing solar energy. From a cost perspective, Photovoltaic

QSTec’s plant in Ras Laffan requires niche specialists. Has it been a challenge to procure enough solar professionals?

We have not had an issue finding solar professionals to join QSTec. People are always looking to work in a progressive organisation that is shaping the future of solar energy. It’s a real sense of achievement to put your stamp on a new industry and to be a part of this growing solar energy culture in Qatar and the Middle East.

Additionally there are a lot of synergies between the refining processes within the petrochemical industry and producing high quality polysilicon. We have been able to capitalise on this local oil and gas industry expertise and have a strong management team comprised of talented Qataris and international solar experts.

What are the projects in Qatar you find most successful in utilizing solar power for their energy needs? Please provide details.

Our parent company, Qatar Foundation (QF), is a showcase for solar energy use and research in Qatar. They have deployed rooftop installations on the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) and the new student accommodation buildings and they are retrofitting solar technologies on some of their existing buildings within Education City.

QF has also utilised solar car parking

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

installations, pioneered Qatar’s first smart grid operations management system. QF is a leading researcher of solar energy within the region and have a solar technology testing facility to gather knowledge on what technologies work best in our environment and are conducting solar research and applied applications development at several of the QF campuses, the Qatar Energy and Environment Research institute (QEERI) and the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).

The use of solar technologies in buildings and projects is always exciting to see. One of the buildings that utilises solar technologies and other environmentally friendly technologies, as well as being one of Qatar’s most iconic buildings, is the QNCC. This enormous state of the art facility produces over 12% of its energy requirements from solar modules supplied by QSTec’s partner SolarWorld and the modules are blended seamlessly into the building. It’s sustainable, functional and beautiful at the same time.

In putting together a solar plant, what are some key challenges that QSTec faces?

As in every new industry there are challenges, but we are facing them head on. We have a team of highly experienced people and, with our excellent partnerships with industry leaders along with a drive for excellence, we are shaping QSTec to be a leader in this industry.

One of the largest challenges is the lack of awareness about the use of solar in the region. We hear comments that the dust and heat are huge issues for solar in the region, but research done in Qatar, the UAE and other places just doesn’t back up this level of concern.

Any loss of module efficiency due to the heat in summer is outweighed by the huge amount of sunlight we receive and the type of technology you choose. The dust can be controlled through various cleaning methods that are specific to our climate. Our partner SolarWorld’s modules are a great example for solar energy use in the region and have been generating solar power on several buildings in Qatar, including the Qatar National Convention Centre, for several years without any issues.

QSTec has recently implemented programs in several schools in Qatar that encourage children to learn about solar energy. How important is it to educate children in solar energy and its applications?

Educating our children about the use of energy, the protection of the environment and the conservation of our natural resources is of prime importance for the future of our country and the region. The program we developed is called Shams Generation (Shams is Arabic for sun). Shams Generation was established by QSTec as an interactive learning program that combines art, science, reusing and solar energy to actively develop our next generation of solar engineers and instill a good working knowledge of solar energy and its potential uses in our youth from a young age. QSTec supplies solar energy kits for various ages and academic levels and the students create fantastic pieces of art using solar power and recycled materials.

There were over 750 students that participated in the Shams Generation last academic year and it will be expanding to include over 1,500 students during 2015/16. The results have been amazing.

Our youth hold the key to the future of our planet and we are honored to be involved in this exciting initiative.

How do you rate the potential of British companies in the development of the renewable energy sector for the Arab countries?

The UK is one of the fastest growth regions for solar energy in the world and in 2014 became the sixth country in the world to have installed more than over 5 gig watts of solar. This is a phenomenal achievement. British firms have a solid reputation in the Arab world for quality and service and there is an opportunity for UK companies to tap into the future growth across the MENA region.

What many Arab businesses are looking for is to form a partnership with quality UK companies that share a common vision for the future. Many companies look at short term returns or quick contracts when the real value is in developing a long term business relationship. This is an expanding solar market where quality and reputation count and the potential for future economic growth is high.

For further information about QSTec see www.QSTec.com

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 17

ADVERTORIAL

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Since starting my legal career as a young criminal barrister over fifteen years ago, moving later into immigration and human rights, I have recalled and revered these principles. By 2013, when Cromwell Wilkes was born, I was

determined myself to create something with them uppermost in mind, and something uniquely “London-British” in style and character. A law firm that Sherlock Holmes himself might design.

And our very British brand compliments a keen internationalist outlook, with many successful clients from the Arab world and beyond. We are proud of what we have achieved, but determined to achieve much more. We have an exceptional record of gaining success for our clients; and strive to be a brand leader in professional ethics and conduct. Our Client Charter promises we shall never mislead or deceive. We never take a case unless we believe we can win rightly under the law - if we don’t succeed first time, any further advice and representation is free of

Cromwell Wilkes

charge. And we are well regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), an organisation I believe has done really excellent work in driving up standards in immigration law advice. Upholding those standards, doing so in our unique way, never compromising on truth or integrity, is our enduring ambition.

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ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Boom or bust – what next for London property?

Prime London property has seen huge price gains since 2010. This has divided opinion.

because they thought they would be priced out otherwise? No.

The bulls, normally estate agents and developers, are convinced the market will surge higher. Their stock argument is that demand is far outstripping supply, so prices must go up. This sounds reasonable but then demand far outstripped supply in 2007 until it didn’t and prices fell dramatically.

In 2007, just as in every previous property cycle, London and the UK went mad. Everyone was in the market.

Sealed bids were the rule rather than the exception. Prices were going up 25-30% per annum. That simply hasn’t happened this time.

Conversely, the more pessimistic commentators, who tend to be highly regarded economists, also get it completely wrong. For example, in 2003 Roger Bootle, managing director of Capital Economics, formerly chief economist at HSBC and one of the Bank of England’s ‘wise men’ said:

So where are we in the cycle? In my opinion we are much closer to 1998 than 2008. Then just as now, the press is screaming headlines about the market crashing. Then just as now, they are wrong.

“House prices could fall by as much as 30 per cent over the next four years”

4. Economic problems in the Eurozone, China, Russia, South America and Asia

If you had followed his advice you would have missed out on some of the largest house price gains in history.

5. House prices that bear no relation to earnings

Unfortunately none of the people who comment in the press have studied the history of the London property market in any detail. Which is why the lengths of the trends confound them and then the dramatic shifts surprise them. And history provides a very clear indicator that helps predict what the market will do.

So are we on the verge of a market collapse like 2008?

Well there are numerous issues: 1. The savage increase in Stamp Duty Land Tax 2. The changes to the non-dom rules 3. The reduction of mortgage interest relief for buy-to-let investors

6. An extraordinary number of newbuild, highly priced, identikit developments in the pipeline 7. Large price increases in the last 5 years which mean that all the gains have already been had

There will be a massive crash but that is years away (although one section of the property market will definitely see price falls next year).

To discover the vital information you need to make an astute property acquisition in London you can download a complimentary copy of the full report, Boom or Bust – What Next For London Property, by visiting www.boomorbust.co.uk

8. Stock markets across the globe that look decidedly sick 9. Interest rates are as low as they will ever be You can probably add a few more. So it would seem obvious that now is not a prudent time to buy a property in London.

But the difference between now and 2008 is huge Has there been a mad frenzy? Have people been buying indiscriminately

Jeremy McGivern is the leading expert on acquiring property in prime central London. He has represented some of the world’s wealthiest families and successful businesspeople and has appeared on Bloomberg TV, CNBC, The Financial Times and numerous other publications.

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The Seven Most Expensive Mistakes London Property Buyers Make You do not want to make the same mistakes most overseas’ buyers make, i.e. failing to see the best properties and over-paying because you do not really under-stand the prime London property market.

The majority of international buyers rely on the internet because they assume that the property portals have all the properties…or worse, they fall for the glossy sales brochures and marketing roadshows held by the developers.

Of course, you know that following what the majority do is rarely a good strategy. That is why sophisticated property buyers do not rely on websites or estate agents because they know that the market is rigged against buyers. How? 1. Estate agents work in direct conflict to you the buyer – they are legally obliged to achieve the highest price possible for their clients, the sellers. You are not their client.

2. You are not their priority – their focus is not to find you your ideal home but to sell one of their clients’ homes to you or any buyer at a high price.

3. Each agency only has access to a small percentage of properties available. The market is highly fragmented as there are over 232 agents in prime central London

obviously you need a better source of information, not to mention advice on how to achieve the lowest price in the negotiations.

However, there are simple solutions to these problems if you understand the market. So if you are planning to acquire a property in London and wish to acquire your ideal home or investment on the best terms possible, simply request a complimentary copy of The Seven Most Expensive Mistakes London Property Buyers Make & How To Avoid Them.

Of course this last point is why so many turn to the websites because it would seem the obvious solution, but there is no one site that has all the agents’ properties. More importantly a large percentage of the best properties never reach the open market or websites, so most buyers actually fail to even see the best properties.

Written by London’s leading expert on acquiring property in central London, Jeremy McGivern, the guide shows you how to gain access to off-market properties and the simple but effective negotiation strategies he uses to help his clients acquire their ideal homes and investments while avoiding all the wasted money, time and stress suffered by the typical property buyer.

There is then the problem of valuations. How can you tell if you are making an astute decision?

Unbelievably, buyers are often guided on the price by the estate agents. This is clearly not wise and

To request the report email veronika@ mercuryhomesearch.com quoting Economic Focus, call +44 (0)8003 894280 or visit www.7MostExpensiveMistakes.com

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ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 25

ADVERTORIAL

Why building developments need a sense of style

Look around any major city in the UK and the profusion of cranes on the skyline will tell you that the country is coming out of the recession with a powerful expansion in the commercial property sector, with one forecaster predicting output to reach almost £27 billion in 2018.

In the offices sub-sector growth is expected to reach eight per cent this year and seven per cent in 2016. In addition there are major infrastructure projects such as the CrossRail in London and the accelerating increase in residential projects wherever developers can get hold of suitable land.

The problem is that this process of regeneration often involves the demolition of existing buildings and the creation of unsightly, development sites.

Sadly our major cities can look like giant construction sites and the public can see this continuous development as an eternal eyesore.

To the property industry the visual look of building developments may seem a peripheral concern given the billions being invested in these projects, but our cities also belong to the people who live and work in them every day, and they feel they have the right to endure as little visual pollution as possible.

Yet there is no reason why a development should present a depressing picture of

dirt, dust, scaffolding and debris netting, when the facades can be wrapped in attractive displays that will enhance the street scene and enable workers and shoppers to enjoy the visual landscape around them.

When buildings are being constructed or refurbished, the frontages can be securely wrapped with facades used for many purposes: site marketing, artworks bringing local history to life or simple replicas of how the building will eventually look.

Our company specialises in making developments look attractive by installing these smart but also sturdy and hard-wearing facades.

For example LSQ Leicester Square, a new retail and office development currently being constructed, is now covered by a three elevation hoarding running for 160 metres, plus two 260 sqm wraps on the corner with Coventry Street. These all illustrate the development’s slogan, “LSQ London takes flight” by portraying 42 handfinished blackbirds on an aluminium frieze surrounding the building.

Further examples include two wraps for the John Lewis Partnership at its flagship Oxford Street store – the first one promoted the London 2012 Olympics by wrapping the store in a giant Union Jack – and a number of projects for Historic

Royal Palaces at Kensington Palace and the Tower of London during their refurbishments.

These wraps don’t just make the building look good, by concealing the construction work from the public gaze.

They are also extremely solid, durable and well constructed, and so act as a containing envelope surrounding a site, preventing the unchecked escape of dust and debris. They also improve the safety and security of the sites, an important consideration for the developers and owners of such high cost enterprises.

All cities have multiple stakeholders; in this case the developers and property owners who create a vibrant economy but also city dwellers, workers and visitors, who all deserve more attractive surroundings.

It only takes a little time, effort and investment to turn these eyesore construction sites into stylish environments.

Steven Tokaya Development Director at blowUP media www.blowup-media.co.uk

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Update: The UK Government’s latest changes to the non-domicile tax regime

By Chris Waddington, Senior Associate, Clyde & Co LLP l

For income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) purposes, there is currently no deemed domicile status. Instead, long-term UK residents who are non-UK domiciled can claim the “remittance basis” of taxation by paying the annual “remittance basis charge” in order to avoid paying UK tax on their offshore unremitted income and gains (note, they are still liable to UK tax on their UK source income/gains and any foreign income/gains which are remitted to the UK).

Currently, the remittance basis charge is £30,000 per year for non-UK domiciled individuals who have resided in the UK for seven of the last nine tax years, £60,000 per year for those who have resided in the UK for 12 of the last 14 years and £90,000 per year for those who have resided in the UK for 17 of the last 20 years.

The UK’s Summer Budget, the second budget of 2015, announced on 8 July 2015, included a raft of changes to the UK tax system. The most important of these changes which will affect non-UK domiciled individuals who reside in the UK or who indirectly own UK residential property are briefly set out below.

as an individual’s nationality, or the country in which they happen to be living.

Under the UK’s current rules there is an inconsistency in relation to the tax treatment of non-UK domiciled individuals as follows: l

An end to permanent non-domicile tax status In broad terms, an individual’s domicile for tax purposes is their permanent home. It is determined by the application of a set of legal principles and is not merely dependent on the facts. It is also not necessarily the same

For UK inheritance tax (IHT) purposes, only UK situs assets (such as UK real estate and UK bank accounts) form part of their estate, except where an individual has been tax resident in the UK for at least 17 of the last 20 tax years, in which case they will be deemed to be UK domiciled and subject to IHT on their worldwide estate.

The UK tax system therefore currently allows individuals who claim the remittance basis to benefit from indefinite non-UK domicile status and protection of their offshore income/ gains from UK tax.

However, under the proposals announced in the Summer Budget (due to take effect from 6 April 2017), the rules will be harmonised such that individuals who have been UK resident for more than 15 of the last 20 tax years will be deemed to be UK domiciled for all tax purposes.

This change renders the £90,000 remittance basis charge obsolete. For example, following this change, a nonUK domiciled individual who has been

UK resident for more than 15 of the last 20 years will be subject to UK income tax and CGT on both their UK and foreign income and gains, and subject to IHT on their worldwide estate (wherever assets are situated). However, the £30,000 and £60,000 remittance basis charges will remain unaffected. Therefore, a non-UK domiciled individual will still be able to claim the remittance basis for income tax and CGT purposes and, apart from the remittance basis, remain nondomiciled for IHT purposes, until they have been resident in the UK for at least 15 of the last 20 tax years.

Returning individuals with a UK domicile of origin Another aspect of the Summer Budget is that from 6 April 2017 an individual with a UK domicile of origin – that is, broadly, an individual whose father was domiciled in the UK at the time of their birth – will be deemed to be UK domiciled whenever they return and become resident in the UK. This change is designed to prevent someone with a UK domicile of origin who has lived

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 27

abroad from treating that country as their domicile on returning to reside in the UK.

Indirect ownership of UK residential property Until now, a common form of IHT planning for non-UK domiciled individuals has been to own UK property indirectly through an offshore company, so that one could argue that the relevant asset owned for IHT purposes was a non-UK situs asset, being the shares in a non-UK company - so called “enveloping” of UK property.

This, of course, gives rise to other tax consequences, such as higher stamp duty land tax charges, CGT and the annual tax on enveloped dwellings or ‘ATED’.

The changes announced in the Summer Budget will render this form of IHT planning ineffective from April 2017. The new rules will mean that shares in an offshore company or similar vehicle will no longer be “excluded property” for IHT purposes to the extent they derive their

value directly or indirectly from, or it is otherwise attributable to, UK residential property. The effect is, broadly, that the same IHT charges and reliefs will apply as if the property was held directly by the owner of the offshore company.

The above reforms are forecast to generate a modest £1.5bn by 2020 but are of greater political significance.

Public perception is that the UK’s nondomicile tax rules (which have been in place for over a century) are outdated and unfair.

Non-domiciled but long-term UK residents and non-domiciled investors who indirectly hold UK residential property should now consider carefully their current UK tax position and, if necessary, take professional advice.

For further information contact Ray Smith (Partner) or Chris Waddington (Senior Associate) at Clyde & Co LLP Tel Direct Dial: +44 20 7876 4212 Email: Christopher.Waddington@ clydeco.com

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Due diligence and IP portfolios The UK has an enviable record in research and development in high-tech fields, not least in the oil and gas sector. UK businesses continue to make important advances in techniques for both prospecting and extracting previously out-ofreach fuel reserves. With this in mind, it is no surprise that investors continue to seek opportunities to invest in, and potentially acquire, such companies. have been acquired from third parties, can the vendor demonstrate a secure chain of ownership, such that it is entitled to sell the rights itself?

Ed Round

Dr David Grant

Partner and Patent Attorney (UK and European), Marks & Clerk

Patent Attorney (UK and European), Marks & Clerk

As with any acquisition, it is important to perform the necessary due diligence before proceeding. In the case of technology companies, intellectual property (IP) is of crucial importance, since a company’s value may reside largely, perhaps almost entirely, in its IP; this is particularly true for companies that are at an early stage of life, such as university spin-outs, or technology start-ups. Such companies may own few physical assets but will instead derive their value from their innovations and resultant IP. Investors will want to carefully review the state of the company’s patent portfolio, as well as its other IP, including registered trademarks, and designs, both registered and unregistered.

From a legal perspective, the focus will be on establishing whether the IP rights are in good standing i.e. are the rights presently in force or have they lapsed, and can the vendor demonstrate its entitlement to ownership? For example, if some of the patents or other IP rights

Of course, whilst the above steps are essential, they form the bare minimum in terms of determining whether or not to proceed with the acquisition. In addition to these legal considerations, investors will want to evaluate the commercial opportunities that are afforded by ownership of this IP. This is where a sound understanding of the technological landscape, and the company’s place within it is crucial; investors will need to understand precisely what the patents cover and what they do not. For example, if the company is valued for its role in developing particular plant, machinery or other tools, then it will be necessary to consider whether those technologies are actually covered by the patent portfolio.

The geographic coverage of the IP is another consideration. Investors may be interested in growing a company and expanding the range of jurisdictions in which its technology is sold or distributed; thought should be given to whether these jurisdictions are covered by the existing IP portfolio.

This is a particular concern in the oil and gas sector, where investors will always want to be on the lookout for new territories for exploration. In some cases, if investors are looking to upscale manufacture of the patented technology, they may be considering relocating the base of production to territories with lower labour costs,

easier access to raw materials, or more favourable tax regimes. In this case, it will be useful to consider whether such territories are also covered by the IP portfolio, so as to further inhibit competitors from entering the market for those products.

The lifespan of the IP rights is another consideration: how long will it be before the patents and the monopoly they provide expire? The maximum lifespan of a patent is 20 years; how does this align with investors’ plans for growth of the company in different markets?

Finally, thought will need to be given to the company’s freedom to operate in the territories of interest, by considering where there are any third party IP rights that might force the company to cease work on a particular enterprise in order to avoid infringing those rights. Failure to investigate these matters could result not only in the wastage of significant costs for the transaction, but could threaten the company’s very survival in the event that substantial damages are awarded against it for infringement of another party’s IP. By taking the above factors into account as part of any prospective acquisition, investors can ensure that they obtain a high value from the transaction, whilst minimising their exposure to risks – two components that should help to ensure the success of any venture.

Leading businesses and investors through the world of intellectual property It may seem obvious, but when you have a good idea you should protect it. And so if you are investing in a company, you will want to make sure its good ideas are already properly safeguarded.

It is vital you work with people who have the right experience and expertise to provide a thorough assessment of an intellectual property portfolio.

Get in touch to find out how we can help.

www.marks-clerk.com

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Foundation for International Education Economic Focus interviews Hania AL Muhaisen, Chairman, Foundation for International Education (FIE) Please briefly introduce your company.

FIE was established in 1998 with the aim of building an international learning communities and developing young people into global citizens. From small beginnings, we now host around 1,600 students a year across three world cities.

We provide the tuition, student support, social activities, housing – everything that students need to set them up for transformational educational experience.

We have programmes specifically for first-year undergraduate students as well as upper classmen.

What are FIE’s unique selling points?

Our focus on the ‘experiential’ is very important to us. We operate our programmes in vibrant, modern cities where students are bombarded with opportunities to dig into the fabric of cultures and communities. Our curriculum is specifically designed to capitalise on ‘big C’ and ‘little c’ culture.

Walking lectures, gallery visits, theatre trips, community projects – depending on the course subject – are hugely important to curricular elements that get students learning beyond the walls of our classrooms.

What are the main ethics or principles that are underlying your approach to education and provision of services?

Our main value areas – diversity, sustainability, social justice – permeate the curriculum and all our support services. We have programmes that specifically focus on ‘service in the

FIE students in Amman, Jordan

city’, where students do placement with charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises and experience firsthand what a career in these types of organisations might mean. We use the ethnic, social and religious diversity of the cities in which we operate to help young people to experience the richness of multiculturalism, to understand injustice and conflict and power and privilege - and their role as a potential future leaders in all of this.

Environmental sustainability – as well as social and economic – is something in which students are directly and practically involved, such as with our ‘Student Switch-off’ scheme, for which we have won awards. We actively encourage and support students from diverse backgrounds – who are less likely to partake in an overseas study experience – by constantly reviewing our practices and making sure we take down any barriers to participation that we can.

You work in close partnership with universities and other institutions. Please explain the nature and scope of these partnerships?

Our biggest partner base is in the United States. We partner with over 50 colleges and universities – a diverse set of institutions across the US – to help them realise their own goals and missions with respect to internationalisation.

We craft programmes to provide students from our partner institutions with an enriching overseas study experience. These are semester or summer programmes in a wide range of academic disciplines. We have a vast resource in expert faculty and staff to develop and deliver these programmes in concert with faculty and staff from the home institution.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 31

Students’ residence in Dublin

FIE students visiting Chelsea FC

You have offices in London, Dublin and Amman. How do the three locations relate to each other within the overall framework of your activities?

Each location is unique and operates differently – but all fall in line with our values and mission. Our partners and our students can find the opportunity they need within the numerous options available – and if they can’t, we’ll build it.

London is a flagship operation, where we draw on faculty from across the capital and beyond and teach out of a study centre in South Kensington. In Dublin, we utilise the academic resources of Dublin Business School, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin so that students can find the study path and environment that suits them.

We have an excellent team there that provides for all needs of the students – social, cultural, residential. Our LondonAmman dual-city programme harnesses our London resources and connections in addition to exposing students to life in the Middle East – a very different experience to any most have ever had.

Can you please provide some examples of your recent projects with MENA clients?

We deliver our Amman summer programme in partnership with Amideast, a key educational charity in the region. Together, we offer a dual-city

FIE students in Brick Lane, London

(London-Amman) programme in Peace and Conflict Resolution and Arabic study.

This programme is in its fifth year, and it has been very successful. It provides the opportunity for students from US universities to engage in dialogue about the region, its rich history, its problems and its future. I believe it is of the utmost importance for young people – particularly from the US – to have first-hand opportunities to gain an understanding of the MENA region.

I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that peace and democracy and a sustainable and just future for the globe depend on it.

Would you like to describe to our readers some of your plans for future expansion, growth and launch of any new courses?

Can you explain how your internship programme works?

Do you have any final message for our readers?

In London and Dublin, students have the opportunity to intern alongside their studies. Our role in developing globallyminded individuals extends to helping them translate their academic study and skills into the international workplace.

Students intern with a wide-range of companies and charities for two or three days a week during their study abroad experience with us. We help students to develop their CV and how they present themselves to employers and match them with good organisations that are like-minded in supporting our educational mission. Students gain in confidence and transferrable skills – in multicultural workplace environments.

I would reemphasise the importance of education and intercultural understanding through direct contact with ‘the Other’ as the key to a positive global future. FIE and international educators in general have a key role and a responsibility in that. A value-based, critical and transformational student experience is what we provide and believe will benefit students as individuals and have great potential impact as they rise into positions of leadership in our businesses, governments, charities – around the globe.

We look forward to seeing our Amman programme grow. For the important reasons I’ve already stated, Jordan and the MENA region can and should be a focus for international education opportunities. In Dublin and London, we have capacity to build further our spring and summer programming based on the needs of our current or future partner universities.

For more information see the website of the Foundation for International Education: www.fie.org.uk

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Welcome Translations – speaking your language In an increasingly global business world, there has never been a greater need to speak your clients’ language and that means bringing in a specialist translation service.

Mastering clients’ native tongues is crucial which is why it makes good sense to turn to London-based Welcome Translations.

Established in 2004, Welcome Translations have been delivering outstanding quality services for more than a decade to a variety of clients across different industries.

The fact that more than 300 regular clients – including UK and international logistics firms, solicitors, local authorities and major corporations – trust the company time and time again is testimony to the team’s absolute dedication to customer care.

The company has a team of in-house staff who co-ordinate 4,000 highly skilled translators working in the fields of Language Mediation, Interpreting and Translation to offer professional bespoke language services to clients.

This is not one-size-fits all. Every case is different and the Welcome Translations team know that.

Not only do they work in the world’s most popular languages, including Portuguese, French and Arabic on a daily basis, they also translate many of the lesser known tongues, including the ability to work in local dialects from North Africa to the Middle East.

Indeed, an increasing number of the company’s clients are from the Arab world, using the skills of Welcome Translations to overcome language barriers.

Each and every member of the team loves to work with languages and people

– that is their strength and it shows in the quality of their work.

They work across a broad spectrum of business sectors, with a particular emphasis on legal and technical translations.

The tasks undertaken cover a wide range of activities. For example, many clients use Welcome Translations to prepare documentation for items being shipped through ports and airports so that security and customs officials understand the contents of containers.

The team also translates a lot of medical information into different languages, making sure that medical practitioners in different countries understand precisely how to use the products effectively and safely.

Welcome Translations is increasingly being used to translate documents for Britons purchasing property abroad, including in Spain, and for Russians buying houses in this country, ensuring that nothing of the legal complexities of property negotiations is lost in translation.

The team also works on many personal legal documents, including translating divorce papers and other legal documents for civil proceedings.

So, whether you are a firm of solicitors, a local authority, a social service, a probation office, a prison, a blue-chip business or an individual, the team is here to assist you in all your translation needs.

Their rates are tailored just for you. No project is too small or too big. Whether you want to have your marriage certificate translated or have a 1,000page brochure turned into multiple languages, you will find the company’s services extremely competitive and reliable.

When it comes to language-related matters Welcome Translations offers a unique service. Indeed, it is the only translation company in the UK that is willing to tailor its terms and services to meet your requirements.

For more information, ring 020 7091 0491 or email info@welcometranslation.com

W e lco m e T r a n s l at i o n s Lt d t r a n s l a t i o n

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Serving your linguistic needs ACCURATELY CONFIDENTIALLY and ON TIME

TRANSLATION

INTERPRETING

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NOTARISATION

We provide a wide range of translation services to cater to your specific needs. From legal documents to technical translation, from marketing brochures to medical reports, we work with any type and size of documents. We only rely on a network of qualified and experienced translators who combine their language fluency with excellent writing skills, cultural understanding and the technical expertise required to help you convey your message with accuracy – and timeliness.

Professional interpreting is a critical component in ensuring the success of any business working across different languages. We have the capacity to guarantee professional, personalised language service for any setting and all venues, including courts and prisons.

We offer transcription services of audio/video files in English as well as foreign languages. We accept a variety of formats – including DVD and USB – that will be converted by our team of experts into consistent text. Over the years we have provided time-coded transcriptions of police interviews, immigration tapes, court hearings, documentaries, just to name a few and comparisons of audio and video materials.

Our transcription process is meticulous, fast and certified for use in courts.

We understand that certain translations have to be formally verified for official uses. We can guide you through the process of certifying your documents, and offer notary translation services according to the nature of each document and their uses.

Welcome Translations Unit 3 Lincoln House 1-3 Brixton Road London SW9 6DE Tel: 020 7091 0491 Fax: 020 7735 5390

Whether you require to facilitate multilingual communication simultaneously or consecutively, face-to-face or over the phone, our team will assist you in determining how to best meet your needs.

Should you require a sworn certification, an Apostille legalisation or any other notarisation services please do not hesitate to contact us!

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Why Arabic branding makes good business sense

By Saba Al Sultani, Associate and Rob Deans, Partner, Clyde & Co The Middle East and, in particular, the Arabian Gulf region has long been an attractive market for international brand owners. As the region continues to experience economic growth, the interest from international brand owners also continues to rise. With this increasing interest, the need to adequately protect their IP rights in the region remains an issue of core importance to brand owners.

Despite there being a large number of English speakers within the Middle East, Arabic remains the first language across the region. Accordingly, it is important for international brand owners to give careful consideration to the registration of Arabic versions of their trademarks, through either translating or transliterating the original marks in order to reflect their use in local markets.

However, with the cost of securing trademark registrations in the Middle East among the highest worldwide, careful assessment of how best to focus resources is crucial. In countries such as the UAE (where the official fees for trademark applications have recently increased by two-fold), this is now more important than ever before.

Local requirements and considerations In most Middle Eastern jurisdictions it is not a requirement for trade marks to be registered in Arabic. It is possible for trade marks to be registered in Latin script, either alone, or alongside an Arabic translation or transliteration of the original mark, as a combined mark.

Similarly, in the marketplace, international brands which have a

presence in the Middle East may use the Latin script alone or alongside an Arabic translation or transliteration of the mark (even if these are not registered). It is less common, however, for international brands to feature the Arabic version alone in the marketplace, although this does occasionally happen in countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Perhaps it is for these reasons that some international brand owners choose to rely solely on their protection for the English language (or Latin script) version of their trade marks. However, problems can arise when it comes to asserting and enforcing these rights (for example in trademark infringement actions or opposition proceedings) against third parties using or attempting to register conflicting Arabic translation or transliteration marks.

In many Middle Eastern jurisdictions, the English language (or Latin script) trade mark provides some degree of protection for the Arabic equivalent (translation or transliteration). However, it is always easier to rely on and enforce ‘like for like’ language marks. Relying on the English (or Latin script) mark alone is an incomplete brand protection strategy which can result in additional costs being incurred when it comes to enforcement against Arabic language brands.

There is some degree of protection afforded to well-known trademarks under Article 6bis of the Paris Convention, which some Middle Eastern member states (such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) have incorporated into their trade mark laws.

Signatories to the Paris Convention are obliged “to refuse or to cancel the registration, and to prohibit the use” of a translation of a well-known mark

should it cause confusion. However, Article 6bis only applies to well-known trademarks and there is no definition within the Paris Convention as to what constitutes a well-known mark.

Therefore, this provision can be a difficult one on which to rely, leaving many marks exposed to infringement if the translation is not registered within the relevant jurisdiction.

The UAE Trade Mark Law (UAE Federal Law No. 37 of 1992, as amended) extends this protection to earlier registered marks as well as well-known marks, with Article 3.14 stating that it is not possible to register “marks that are considered to be not more than translations of a famous mark or another previously registered mark if the registration of the mark would cause confusion amongst consumers in relation to the products that are distinguished by the mark or similar products.”

Article 38 goes on to provide that the use of such a mark constitutes a trademark infringement.

However, the degree of protection afforded to the Arabic translations of foreign language marks varies from country to country across the region.

The most notable issue when it comes to selecting an Arabic version of a trademark is whether to select the literal translation of the original English language mark (assuming it is a mark with a dictionary meaning, and not an invented word itself) or a phonetic transliteration of the original English language / Latin script mark into Arabic characters.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 35

Translation vs.

Transliteration

Key Issues Brand owners with an established or intended presence in the Middle East should ensure that their marks are adequately protected and that they reflect their use in local markets. For the most part, there is no strict requirement for brand owners to register Arabic language versions of their marks.

However, consideration should be given to obtaining Arabic language protection in order to assist in developing a single ‘official’ Arabic brand and make it more straightforward to maintain exclusivity for this Arabic brand.

The literal translation of an English language trademark into Arabic will almost certainly be phonetically different from the sound of the original mark in English. Although there are a few words shared by both languages, these are relatively rare and most translations will sound very different. In addition, there may be more than one possible translation into Arabic for a given word, and so care must be taken to select the most accurate and appropriate translation.

Often, particularly with innovative and distinctive trademarks, an Arabic transliteration of the original mark will hold more value and strength than a translation. When selecting an Arabic language version of a mark (whether a translation or a transliteration) it is important to remember that there may potentially be several variants available. Therefore, careful thought and consideration should be given to selecting the most appropriate variant for adoption and protection in local markets.

Relying solely on trade mark registrations for English language marks to provide protection for the Arabic translations can be a risky strategy.

Although the two versions may share the same meaning, in some jurisdictions, if a third party were to use or apply to register the Arabic translation of a mark, the marks may not be considered confusingly similar based on the visual and phonetic differences.

The other option is to protect the phonetic transliteration into Arabic characters of the original English language/Latin script mark. The biggest problem that can be faced when producing a suitable Arabic transliteration mark is that the Arabic and Latin alphabets are significantly different – not all of the letters present in one are present in the other, and vice versa. For example, the letters ‘G’, ‘P’ and ‘V’ do not exist in the Arabic language.

Therefore, when creating a transliterated version of a mark containing any of these letters, it is normally necessary to substitute the unavailable letter with ‘the next best thing’ – usually a similar sounding letter. An example of this would be a word such as ‘PINEAPPLE’, in which the letter ‘P’ would typically have to be substituted for the Arabic equivalent of the letter ‘B’ – so the transliterated word would be pronounced ‘BINEABBLE’.

One point which is of core importance when considering the option of a transliterated mark is that transliteration is largely subjective and there may be more than one way to transliterate a mark into Arabic characters. For example, in order to convey the sound of the word ‘STICKS’ in Latin characters,

it could be written as ‘STIX’, ‘STIC’ or ‘STIKS’. The same principle applies when transliterating words into Arabic characters.

This introduces scope for inconsistencies and it is important from the outset to ensure that care is taken to select the most accurate and appropriate transliteration and that this version is consistently used. If, for example, a brand owner registers one version of an Arabic transliteration, yet uses another in the marketplace, then the trade mark registration could in due course become vulnerable to cancellation for non-use. Further, the use of more than one transliteration could produce uncertainty in the minds of consumers.

Also, by registering and using an ‘official’ Arabic version of a mark, consumers may start to recognise the brand in Arabic and they are less likely to develop their own unofficial (and unprotected) Arabic versions of the brand. By registering and using a single ‘official Arabic version of its mark, the brand owner can help ensure that consumers will have certainty as to the origin of the goods or services and thereby build valuable brand equity.

Comment Arabic is the fifth most used language worldwide, with some 300 million native speakers, and it is the dominant and official language in most countries in the Middle East. There is a risk that by not protecting the Arabic version of the mark by which a brand owner wishes to be known, Arabic speaking consumers will either develop no real recognition for the brand or develop their own inaccurate Arabic names when referring to the brand. By selecting and registering official Arabic versions of their marks, brand owners will ensure that, not only will they achieve a greater degree of protection for their marks, but that they are also able to build and manage consumer recognition in the region such that the value of their brands is further increased.

Contacts Saba Al Sultani Associate, Clyde & Co Email: saba.alsultani@clydeco.com Rob Deans Partner, Clyde & Co Email: rob.deans@clydeco.com

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

HEALTH FOCUS

Specialist healthcare widely available in London Seeking medical treatment can be a worrying time for patients and their families, especially when this is done in a foreign country. There is nothing more important than your health, so when we encounter a concern, we seek the best help possible.

The combination of specialists with expertise in complex cases, along with a heritage dating back to the 19th century, has seen Harley Street and the surrounding London areas world renowned. Add to that the constant improvements in state of the art technology and services that prove more cost effective than compared to many other countries, and you can see why London’s £1.5bn private hospital market has been beating the recession by attracting wealthy patients from overseas.

The scale of services offered in London is only matched by the underlying numbers involved. Private patients from the Middle East account for 80 per cent of London’s international patients. In total, 52,000 oversea residents came into the UK for treatment in 2014.

International private healthcare, as seen by spending of overseas clients was up almost 20% to be worth 5.6% of total revenues for hospitals and clinics, and continued similar growth was projected for 2015.

The capital’s private hospital market has grown about 9 per cent a year since 2006, according to a report by LaingBuisson, the healthcare researchers.

Total revenues are expected to reach £1.5bn by the end of 2015, partly because of a surge in overseas patients demanding more costly and complex treatments.

Patients, especially from the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, have driven almost 23 per cent of revenues. Much of it is paid for by Middle Eastern governments, which boosted expenditure on healthcare in the wake of the Arab Spring.

More important than the revenue being created for the UK economy is always that health is at the heart of the matter. The lure of London’s Consultants over those in New York, Europe or the emerging medical hotspots in the Gulf States, India or Thailand is indeed that the Harley Street and London heritage draws patients from all over the world where there is the availability of top medical technology — yes at a cheaper price than the US, but London’s biggest asset is its consultants.

Middle Eastern countries have fantastic, state-of-art hospitals but what they lack is expertise — the populations are so small that doctors don’t see the volume of complex cases, whereas in London consultants see a huge range of conditions.

Most of the Gulf States will pay the bill for any medical care that is not available in their home countries, as well as providing generous housing allowances for patients and their families while they are in London. This means access to the top specialists is not reserved for only the wealthiest, but top consultants in both Harley Street and across London can be widely accessed. This means the

international private patient services within the NHS are also some of the best in the world, with access to consultants with their own Harley Street practices.

The NHS private patient clinics have also seen revenues soar. Since the passage of the Health and Social Care Act in 2012, some NHS hospitals have seen a big increase of up to 40% in their private income. With regulations stating up to 49% of a hospital’s income can come from private patients, much of the revenue generated is filtered back into general NHS services, ensuring the capacity for providing the best services to everybody in the UK is enhanced.

So the question is; with the best specialists, two centuries of heritage, state of the art technology and prices highly competitive to other countries, where else are you going to go but London?

Dr Awais Bokhari has been a physician and cardiologist in London for almost 30 years. Alongside The Harley Street Cardiology Practice he also joined Bedford Hospital NHS Trust in 2005 as a consultant cardiologist.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 37

ADVERTORIAL

Experience freedom.

Live life without limits Our vision is extremely important to all of us but it is often over looked and neglected.

Advanced Vision Care (AVC) was established over ten years ago and is a leading independent surgeon-led Harley Street clinic. They offer a variety of world class treatments, focusing on outstanding patient care and achieving the best results. AVC’s enviable reputation is respected globally and it is a beacon of excellence attracting people from around the world. They are the preferred choice in clinic of the Middle East and Arab League countries, who often only want the best of the best.

Wearing glasses or contact lenses can be a cumbersome dependency, leading us to spend money on multiple pairs of glasses and on the constant replacement and maintenance of contact lenses.

Glasses wearers frequently have to give up activities like swimming, tennis or golf because spectacles are unable to fit their lifestyle. It is often thought that the only safe alternative to glasses are contact lenses but they lead to a host of problems like dry eyes, infection and even permanent damage to the eye.

With our busy lives we often compromise our vision in the long run for short term benefits by wearing contact lenses for extended periods despite the negative effects. With advancements in technology, vision correction treatment provides a safe and permanent solution even for those with complex prescriptions.

Freedom is important and being shackled by the constraints of glasses and contact lenses is a dependency that can be changed.

For something as important as your eyesight you should never compromise which is why choosing a clinic can seem daunting but ‘it couldn’t be any simpler’ says Dr Pillai, Medical Director of AVC and active member of the Arab Chamber of Commerce, ‘if you want the best results, treatment must be conducted by the best surgeons using the most advanced technology and the safest techniques available’.

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77 Harley Street, London W1G 8QN 0207 935 7497 info@advancedvisioncare.co.uk www.advancedvisioncare.co.uk

to fit patients’ visual and lifestyle needs.

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ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Pioneering work that is transforming lives Medical consultants in London are making remarkable strides to advance the treatment of kidney disease by using ‘live’ kidney transplants.

The kidney patients undergoing treatment at London’s Hammersmith Hospital are a classic example of the way that Imperial Private Healthcare is transforming lives through innovative research-based treatments.

Imperial Private Healthcare is the private division of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, a group of pre-eminent teaching hospitals in and around north west London, which benefits from the ground breaking research of Imperial College London.

Going beyond dialysis Until the late 1990s, most patients needing a kidney transplant in the UK had to wait on dialysis until a deceased donor match was found. However, since that time, the Renal and Transplant Centre of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has taken an alternative approach.

When possible, the team at Hammersmith Hospital performs the transplant using a kidney from a living donor and before the patients need dialysis. This offers a better long-term outcome because a patient’s condition generally deteriorates over time on dialysis.

Professor of Transplantation Surgery Vassilios Papalois said: “Relying on a deceased donor is a lottery. You could be on a waiting list, and on dialysis, for years.

“Live donors are usually a better match and higher quality, as they come from a healthy individual. Our approach has revolutionised the renal transplant philosophy across west London and for our international patients.”

The pioneering nature of the work on kidney transplants has earned the hospital team a global reputation.

The centre’s consultants have the skills to take on high-risk surgery, for example on older donors or heavier patients with a BMI well above the typical cut-off of 35. If a living donor and recipient are incompatible or mismatched by blood type or tissue, it is also possible for them to be matched with another donor and recipient pair and the kidneys exchanged. The team performs about 80 live donor transplants each year.

The team uses mini-open surgery on the donor, a safe and minimally invasive technique that enables a kidney to be removed through a small side incision which leaves a tiny scar that is hardly visible a few weeks later. Donors usually go home after two or three days, compared to up to ten days for conventional surgery.

A global reputation The advancements in kidney transplants illustrate how innovation drives everything that Imperial Private Healthcare carries out.

In 2009, the Trust and Imperial College London came together to form an academic health science centre, one of only six in the UK, to combine groundbreaking clinical trials and academic research with clinical practice so that patients receive the most up-to-date treatment.

Jonathan Ramsay, chief of service for Imperial Private Healthcare, said: “Our focus on cutting-edge research and highquality training is one of the reasons our consultants are internationally recognised as leaders in their field.”

Health managers in Dubai want to send patients to Hammersmith for transplantation but also develop their own service. However, they are not familiar with live donor transplantation and Hammersmith is helping them establish the right infrastructure.

Jonathan said: “We are interested in facilitating collaborative learning with overseas health institutions. Those discussions will enable us to widen the scope of our research and deliver worldclass healthcare to more people.”

Hospitals that provide setting for pioneering work The kidney transplant advances are typical of work carried out by Imperial Private

Healthcare’s consultants, of which there are more than 350 based within large NHS teaching hospitals.

Caring for UK and overseas patients, the consultants have developed enviable reputations across many disciplines – from cancer, renal services and haematology to neurology, cardiovascular services and plastic surgery.

The work is delivered across five sites, each offering the peace, privacy and personalised care of a comfortable, private environment.

They are: The Thames View, Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF - a leading centre for cancer care, neurosciences, neurorehabilitation, complex surgery, elective orthopaedics, urology and vascular services The Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Wing, Hammersmith Hospital Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS - specialises in cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, cancer care, renal, gynaecology, clinical haematology and hepatobiliary conditions The Lindo Wing, St Mary’s Hospital Praed Street, London W2 1NY - specialises in complex and robotic surgeries including trauma, weight loss, vascular, gynaecology, ear, nose and throat, and urology, as well as running a world-renowned maternity service Sir Stanley Clayton Ward, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS - a major centre for fetal medicine and gynaecological and maternity services Western Eye Hospital Marylebone Road, London NW1 5QH – where treatment is available for everything from common eye problems like glaucoma or cataracts to complex ophthalmic conditions.

To find out more about Imperial Private Healthcare visit www.imperialprivatehealthcare.co.uk

EXPERIENCE

WORLD CLASS CARE

At Imperial Private Healthcare, our patients experience the best of both worlds: our world-class consultants provide care in modern private facilities within the reassuring setting of some of London’s most trusted NHS hospitals.

With over 350 consultants covering every medical, diagnostic and surgical speciality, we care for our patients whatever their healthcare needs.

For more information on our private healthcare services, please contact our customer relations manager on +44 (0)20 3311 7700 (09.00 - 17.00 GMT) or email private.healthcare@imperial.nhs.uk

Our partnership with Imperial College London means that many of our consultants are involved in cutting-edge research, which in turn allows us to provide the most up-to-date treatment for patients.

For more information about our consultants please visit www. imperialprivatehealthcare.co.uk

THE LINDO WING OF ST MARY’S

CHARING CROSS

HAMMERSMITH

WESTERN EYE

QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S & CHELSEA

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Offering state-of-the-art personalised cardiac care in the heart of London Developing heart trouble is a deeply worrying time for the sufferer and they need to know that they are in good hands as they go through the experience.

That means seeking out the best of care and they do not come better than the private Harley Street Cardiology Practice in London, run by Dr Awais Bokhari.

Dr Bokhari, who is an eminent and experienced cardiologist, leads a highly trained team experienced in dealing with everything from patient evaluation and management, both in an out-patient and an in-patient setting, to delivering cardiac care to the patient’s home as well as deploying pacemakers and overseeing cardiac rehabilitation.

Dr Bokhari has vast experience in the field since 1984. After completing his initial training in 1987, he was trained in various teaching hospitals in London and the UK. He completed his specialised cardiac training in the UK and was appointed Assistant Professor of Cardiology at United Arab Emirates University, and a cardiologist at Mafraq Hospital in Abu-Dhabi, where he remained for twelve years.

For the last seven years of his time there, Dr Bokhari was also Personal Physician & Cardiologist to Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates.

In 2005, he joined Bedford Hospital as a consultant cardiologist and is the clinical lead for pacemaker deployment.

His other areas of interest include invasive cardiology, trans radial coronary angiography and internal medicine and he is heavily committed to teaching, including working with specialists across the world. He is a senior examiner for the Royal College of Physicians both in the UK and overseas.

He is the founder and director of The Harley Street Cardiology Practice, which offers a range of specialised cardiac investigations and treatments.

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Exercise Tolerance Test, (ETT), (TMT)

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Pulmonary Function Tests

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Trans Thoracic Echocardiogram (ECHO)

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Trans Oesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE), (TEE)

Non Invasive Cardiac Investigations: l

ECG

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24 Hour Ambulatory ECG Monitoring

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7 Day Ambulatory ECG Monitoring

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Cardiomemo

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24 hr Ambulatory BP Monitoring

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Tilt Testing

Invasive Cardiac Investigations: l

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LV Angiography

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Peripheral Angiography

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Right Heart Catheterization

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 41

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Left Heart Catheterization

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Post CABG Graft Control Study

Specialised cardiac consultations are offered at our Harley Street Chambers .

The team at The Harley Street Cardiology Practice has gone beyond the conventional modalities of consultations and patient care and offer- : l

Full telemedicine service to the patient anywhere in the world.

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Domiciliary visit to the patients home or hotel with the central London area

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Cardiac escort service to fly the patient from anywhere in the world with medical and nursing staff to London

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Providing a dedicated Cardiac Nurse service at the patients home.

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Full Cardiac Rehabilitation service

Everything the team does at Harley Street Cardiology Practice is designed to provide peace of mind, to offer the patient the very highest standards of care and a programme which allows complete recovery.

You can find out more at The Harley Street Cardiology Practice 10-Harley Street, London, W1G 9PF Clinic: +44 (0) 207-467-8328 PA: Ms. Priscilla Du Plessis +44 (0) 7535-502-085 Secretary: Ms. Lynne Granger +44 (0) 01234-792619 Fax: +44 (0) 1234-792222 www.ukcardiologist.com

The Harley Street Cardiology Practice Where we have a passion for healing and are dedicated to care‌Because your heart matters

First-Class Cancer Care Aspen Healthcare operates nine facilities in Britain, including four acute hospitals, two cancer centres, three day-surgery hospitals, and has an impressive record in treatment and care for patients with cancer.

Aspen Healthcare’s facilities cover a wide range of specialties and healthcare services for individuals seeking treatment overseas in Britain, and in particular major cities such as London, Sheffield and Leeds.

Aspen Healthcare’s London portfolios of facilities include Parkside Hospital and the dedicated oncology clinic, Cancer Centre London, both in Wimbledon; Highgate Private Hospital in north London; and Holly House Private Hospital in Buckhurst Hill. Their Claremont Private Hospital in Sheffield and Nova Healthcare based in the Leeds Cancer Centre can provide care for patients travelling to this region of the United Kingdom for care.

Pioneering technology and techniques, reducing longer term health risks: The United Kingdom is renowned for its prevalence of ground-breaking techniques and the number of medical consultants pioneering new technology. In 2014 Aspen’s Cancer Centre London (Wimbledon) became the first private hospital in London to provide targeted radiotherapy with the Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator system.

This system is the latest advancement in radiotherapy technology, and is used in managing a range of cancers in the head and neck, lung, gastro-intestinal system, breast and prostate. The technology also facilitates use of stereotactic radiotherapy (focussed high-dose radiotherapy treatment) for primary tumours or small deposits of secondary disease in bone, brain and other organs. It has the ability to continually reshape the radiation beam to the fine contours of the tumour so an extremely precise, higher dose of radiation can be delivered, reducing treatment times and preserving healthy tissue. This machine has been described by Aspen Healthcare CEO, Des Shiels, as “the cutting edge of the most recent technology in the provision of radiotherapy.”

Breast Cancer Treatment Advances More women are now surviving breast cancer - so much so that new methods of reducing the long-term effects of radiotherapy treatment are now being introduced, using machines such as this at Aspen’s Cancer Centre London. Despite an increasing number of cases over the last 30 years, UK deaths from breast cancer have fallen as a result of earlier detection and improved treatment. However, with survivors living longer the long-term effects of radiotherapy treatment are of increasing concern with survivors having up to a one per cent higher risk than average of cardiovascular disease. Dr Anna Kirby, clinical oncologist at the Cancer Centre London says: “There are currently 500,000 breast cancer survivors in the UK. Therefore, even a 1 per cent cardiac mortality affects thousands of women.” By 2040 there are forecast to

be 1.7 million UK breast cancer survivors so radiation-related heart disease deaths are likely to increase.

The problem is that radiotherapy for breast cancer commonly also irradiates the left anterior descending coronary artery resulting in an increased risk of heart disease. While improvements in radiotherapy techniques, including heart shielding methods, have reduced non-breast cancer deaths among survivors over the last three to four decades, research shows that rates of major coronary events rise with increased radiation doses to the heart.

Now new radiotherapy technology and methods are appearing that may help reduce deaths from radiation-related heart disease. The most important development is the use of breath-holding techniques.

When a patient holds their breath, the heart is pulled backwards and downwards away from the left breast and chest wall area thereby minimising the dose of radiation to the heart and therefore the risk of late radiation-induced heart disease. There are a number of ways to achieve breath-hold but one of these makes use of an active-breathingcontrolled device which maintains patients in breath-hold during radiation treatment. Furthermore, new Versa HD technology, developed by medical technology company Elekta and installed last year at the Cancer Centre London continually reshapes the radiation beam to the fine contours of the tumour and/or breast tissue so that radiation can be delivered more accurately and quickly while minimising damage to healthy surrounding tissue. This is particularly useful in women requiring lymph node radiotherapy as part of their breast cancer treatment.

Parkside Hospital Wimbledon, London

Cancer Centre London Wimbledon, London

Highgate Private Hospital Highgate, London

We have over 30 years’ experience in offering award winning treatments and care to our patients.

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“Using heart-sparing radiotherapy methods including the breath-holding technique approximately halves the radiation dose to the heart,” says Dr Kirby. “Assuming there are 1.7 million UK breast cancer survivors in 2040, reducing the mean heart radiation dose (Gy) from 3 to 1Gy could be expected to reduce the number of radiation-related acute coronary events in this population from around 19,500 to 6,000 and the number of deaths from ischaemic heart disease from around 9,000 to 2,000.” She concludes: “The use of heart-sparing breast radiotherapy techniques is likely to significantly reduce the incidence of radiation-related cardiovascular disease in survivors of breast cancer.”

Brain Tumour Treatment Advances: The Leeds Gamma Knife Centre, part of Nova Healthcare, is based in one of the largest and most technically advanced cancer treatment centres in Europe (the Leeds Cancer Centre). Gamma Knife® Surgery (Stereotactic radiosurgery) is a non-invasive technique that has proven effective in a wide variety of conditions including benign brain tumours (such as acoustic neuromas and arteriovenous malformations) and also secondary brain metastases. In late 2015, the Gamma Knife Perfexion® will be enhanced by the addition of Elekta’s new Icon system meaning the most precise radiosurgery available can be delivered. With stereotactic imaging, online Adaptive DoseControl™, ultra-precise dose delivery and the availability of frameless treatments, Icon is capable of treating virtually any target in the brain, regardless of type, location or volume. As the procedure is non-invasive there is no incision, no pain, and in most cases, no hospitalisation.

Outstanding Customer Service: While the concepts of quality and comprehensive healthcare are undeniably essential to any patient, the importance of exceptional

customer service for the travelling patient cannot be underestimated.

As well as first-class medical facilities, Aspen Healthcare private Hospitals and Clinics also offer first-class patient services. These include a concierge service provided by International Patient Coordinators, who may assist overseas patient with anything from arranging travel to and from the hospital, to navigating the healthcare services they require. The patient coordinators are multi-lingual and not only have access to interpreting services, but are also familiar with healthcare services in general, the Consultants and nurses and any cultural considerations that may need to be taken to ensure a smooth and stress-free stay. International patients are offered the support of having their UK-based consultant liaise and communicate with their medical team in their home country, ensuring consistent and continuous care regardless of location.

Quality private healthcare provision is a process of constant evolution and improvement. Aspen Healthcare not only focusses on constantly improving the clinical offering, but also their hospital and clinic infrastructure. They have learnt that investing in all areas, especially in quality, is essential when it comes to patient satisfaction. Through substantial capital investment in existing facilities, they are able to offer their patients the best clinical care, in comfortable, safe and world-class surroundings.

Further information Aspen Healthcare International Patient Centre T +44(0) 208 971 8013 E info@aspenlondonhospitals.co.uk W www.london.aspen-healthcare.co.uk/contact-us/treatment-in-uk

Holly House Private Hospital Buckhurst Hill, London

Nova Healthcare Leeds

Claremont Private Hospital Sheffield

Committed to investing in first-class healthcare services and new technology, all in a friendly atmosphere.

Located in Leeds, Nova healthcare is based in one of the largest, technically advanced cancer treatment centres in Europe.

Delivering first class private healthcare for over 60 years in Sheffield.

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Latest in technology transforms life for sufferers of shoulder problems There was a time when a shoulder operation was a major undertaking for the patient, requiring major surgery and a lot of recuperation time. However, times have changed and London-based specialist Simon Moyes is making use of the very latest technology which requires remarkably little invasive surgery, leaves the smallest of scars and allows rapid recovery. of the work that is done in the UK and know they will receive the very highest standard of care. They will still require physiotherapy returning home but we have excellent contacts in the Middle East and can ensure that they receive the very best of after care.”

Simon Moyes treats patients with:

Simon, an established independent Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon, with clinics within 130 Old Broad Street and The Wellington Hospital in London has been credited for introducing some of the latest advances in Orthopaedic medicine and surgery to the UK. Twenty per cent of his patients come from outside the UK and much of his work is shoulder surgery carried out on patients from the UAE, including Oman, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.

From this market alone, he has seen an increase in over 90% in the last two years”. According to recent research by healthcare researchers LaingBuisson, London is the capital of the world when it comes to seeking medical advice and treatment. The research suggests that international patients prefer to visit London-based consultants for complex treatments, and this is represented in the international work Simon regularly performs at his clinic.

Simon, who has both lectured in and conducted operations in the Middle East, said: “In my experience my patients usually prefer to travel as these techniques are not always

available in their home countries, and they may have concerns about the expertise of the specialist in those areas treating them. There is a preference for a specialist who sees self-referred patients, and one who operates solely in the private sector, as more clinic time is available to spend time with international patients.

“My patients see me for my subspeciality, which is arthroscopic/ minimally invasive reconstructive surgery to the knee, shoulder, foot and ankle.

It’s only when you go to the Middle East that you see how common shoulder problems are. Arthroscopic surgery is an excellent way to treat the majority of shoulder problems and is very popular with patients because it can be done easily without the need for a major operation. By recovering more quickly from surgery, patients can then enjoy their time in London before returning home. After just a couple of days in a sling they are ready to leave London, if they like, and return home.

“Patients from the UAE use us because they value the high quality and safety

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Adhesive capsulitis/frozen shoulder – a disorder in which the shoulder capsule and the connective tissue surrounding the gleno humeral joint become inflamed and stiff, greatly restricting motion causing severe pain

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Acromio clavicular joint (ACJ) injury – in which the ligaments of the joint are damaged as a result of violent impact, normally by a fall onto the tip of the shoulder

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Acromio clavicular joint (ACJ) osteoarthritis – arthritis can affect the bones in the joint, causing pain, inhibited movement and degeneration of the joint

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Rotator cuff impingement – in which the tendon of the shoulder joint is torn as a result of trauma or chronic wear and tear

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Rotator cuff tear – in which the tendons of the shoulder joint are torn as a result of a high impact, or chronic wear and tear

You can find out more about at www.simonmoyes.com

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Surgical Services: The Weymouth Street Hospital is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most luxurious independent hospitals providing first class healthcare. We continually strive to maintain and improve our services with patient care being at the forefront of everything we do. Our highly experienced team of Surgeons, Anaesthetists and Nurses at Weymouth Street Hospital offer excellent care in state of the art facilities.

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Changing the Thinking of Substance Use Janus Solutions and Charter House Clinic are pioneering providers of substance misuse treatment.

Janus steers away from terminology such as addiction, disease and illness when referring to substance misuse. This terminology imprisons and encourages the user to believe that they are ‘slaves’ to their drug/s of choice.

Kenneth Robinson (The Head of Clinical Practice at Janus) states: “We must get past the point of saying substance misuse is an unmanageable monster. Substances through their very nature are designed to affect how someone, thinks, feels and behaves, and part of this is the fact that substances are pleasurable. Anyone investing time, energy and resources in to constructing a relationship with substances will find themselves in a dangerous and problematic relationship.”

Substances affect the world, the Middle East being no exception.

Kenneth Robinson further states: “Many societies, including the Middle East, have stigmas and taboos with regard to substance use as the impact of substances on friends, family and the community is immense. However no matter our beliefs we have to at times think and act in a way that allows the substance user a safe and professional space to address their drug use.”

Janus does not believe that the West has the monopoly on best practice, however Janus does believe that its approach to treatment is unique and pioneering.

“We place the responsibility of change on the client, we educate the client, we work with the client to realize that within this relationship ‘you’ have the ‘choice’ and ‘the power’ to affect change. We call our approach ‘The Resonance Factor’. We emphasize that hard work is required, and pleasurable surroundings are not priority over creating an environment for effective treatment.

Testimonial “I had been trying to address my alcohol issues over a period of 12 years....I had been an in and out patient of private rehab hospitals,used professional therapy services and attended AA on a regular basis, all without success....Having successfully graduated from the Janus Day Programme, I have managed to completely rebuild my life.....I am 2 years sober. I have rebuilt a career in the city of London in banking ......I also stopped taking medication for depression/anxiety which I had been prescribed for five years prior.....I would hugely encourage those with drug and alcohol problems to join a Janus programme.”

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ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Security Services International Economic Focus interviews Mr Russell Grey, Managing Director, Security Services International Please tell readers about your company and its services?

Security Services International is a UK-based, specialist security company, providing individually tailored protection packages for “High-End” VIP individuals and their families. We offer comprehensive mobile and residential security packages for residents, visitors, and those planning international travel.

Our experience with clients from the Middle East has helped us remain mindful and aware of cultural sensitivities. This, along with operational experience in 49 countries means we are able to confidently assign highly experienced Protection Teams both at home and overseas. To supplement this service we can also provide top level driver and vehicle services offering security aware drivers who understand the need for discretion and confidentiality for our clients.

Additionally, our extensive network of international contacts means that we can even arrange the charter, or purchase of such luxury items as private aircraft and yachts etc. should a client make the request.

We also provide investigative services for clients, along with bespoke security solutions for more complex assignments such as social profiling and cyber threats.

All our operatives are also trained and qualified to administer emergency medical assistance, adding to the peace of mind of any client whose family we are engaged to protect.

In which areas of security does your company primarily focus?

At Security Services International we primarily focus on the needs of the Ultra High Net Worth client, providing what is now widely known as “Executive

Protection”. Executive Protection is perhaps best described as a “Modern Bodyguard Service”, and while the priority will always be to shield a client and his or her family from physical harm, this modern protective role also looks to support the client’s day-today needs and requirements. This will often see us working alongside a client’s current security manager, PA or staff to help facilitate business and social engagements and the like. Our aim is for clients and their staff to quickly regard us as an additional asset to their daily lives.

Our tailor-made security packages may also include the provision of a residential team to give occupant’s an additional level of safety at a residence or, sometimes for added insurance purposes when a residence is unoccupied.

Having provided support to travelling VIPs in nearly 50 countries, we have the level of experience to offer a comprehensive travel security service that competitors will find hard to match.

This total package will regularly also include the provision of top quality drivers and vehicles.

To supplement our physical presence we also work closely with experts who can advise on cyber security and the effects of one’s digital footprint, which is an important consideration in modern life.

How do you reach out to your target market?

The majority of our clients come to us via referrals. There is no better way of advertising than by personal recommendation. I believe that our unique approach has made our professionalism shine out, leading to clients readily recommending us to their associates.

Having utmost respect for our clients’ privacy, “advertising” our successes

can prove difficult. So when a friend or colleague of a potential client offers that feedback – it’s priceless. It does our marketing for us.

What are your company’s core values?

Our core values are providing a quality service based on honesty, integrity, loyalty and a commitment to always providing the client with a level of service that reflects the respect that their status deserves. Our clients are successful individuals, highly respected families, dignitaries and VIPs who have earned their status.

At Security Services International we believe that our standards should be in line with those of the clients we represent. In addition to their physical safety, we believe that a full service protective role should also give consideration to the protection of a client’s image; something we feel is often overlooked by others in our industry.

In order to achieve this, the need to constantly maintain professionalism is paramount.

When clients invest in a quality life style, they expect the best. We believe the same to be true when they invest in a security service. It’s our responsibility to give them the best.

As the MD of your company, how much of a hands-on role do you take?

Despite many years in the industry, I’m as enthusiastic now as when I began my career. I like to lead by example, and when possible I always try to demonstrate my organisation’s commitment to a new client by first putting myself “on-the-ground “as part of the team, to initiate services. No

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 49

two clients are the same, so this allows me to more fully understand a client’s needs and requirements. Once a client is confident and content with the levels of service that we provide, I look to hand over to one of my team, ensuring that I match the correct gender, age and personality to meet this requirement, with a further commitment to maintain regular, personal contact with the client to ensure that they remain satisfied with what we are providing.

Of course, sometimes a client will prefer the continuity, and whoever initiates the service can be requested to remain with the client. A few years ago we were engaged by one particular client for a three-week assignment, but at the clients’ request, I ended up remaining as part of the team, travelling with him almost continuously for more than two years. Our duties finally ended when his overseas business dealings had been concluded. I still keep in touch, and he kindly invites me to meet with him on his annual visit to the UK.

How can you help protect an organisation against unknown attacks?

In our view, best practice means being prepared. We have a network of contacts that keep us updated and alert to emerging risks and situations.

In addition to keeping us updated on security incidents or increases in threat levels these contacts can also provide us with information ranging from due diligence relating to a client’s potential business investment, to how to combat the latest cyber threats.

The more informed we are, the better prepared we can be. We try to live by the phrase, “Prepare for the worst, hope for the best”.

Who do you typically provide this service for, or should we say “who really needs your services”?

As I said earlier, our clients are primarily UHNWIs. These can be from a range of backgrounds, from Royal families to self-made entrepreneurs, hedge fund managers, Family Offices and international business leaders. We have even been called on to manage the safety of children being sent overseas for additional education. The safety of

children and family is always a huge consideration for our clients.

In the vast majority of cases we’ve been fortunate to be engaged by clients who we have been proud to represent.

I like to think that they feel we have represented them well in return.

We currently have the capacity to expand our client base, so would welcome enquiries from quality potential clients, namely those who recognise the value of, and benefits to be had, from a truly professional service.

In a world where one’s profile and status alone can make you and your family a target to the wrong people, the list of people who may need a security service is likely to grow.

What final message would you like to pass on to potential clients reading this article?

We ask clients or their representatives to please reach out to us, even if only to have a no obligation review, of the current security coverage, or to discuss alternate measures to enhance this service. Be proactive, and do not wait for an incident to occur. Allow us to show that in addition to the peace of mind that a professional security package can provide, we also bring a complete bespoke service that can become a real asset to your daily lives, without being an invasion of your privacy.

We have found that many VIPs can be dissuaded from engaging such services due to a perception that it has to be obtrusive or intrusive. This does not have to be the case, and we would like the opportunity to prove that when performed discreetly and professionally, such a service has the potential to even enhance a client’s image. We seek to protect, not invade their privacy.

Finally, I’d like to say that over recent years I believe the level of service being provided to many VIPs from the Arab world has fallen well below the standard it should be. I see this as disrespectful.

I have been shown great kindness, hospitality and even friendship by many clients from the Arab nations, so for me it’s vitally important that I demonstrate the respect I have for them also. I do this by giving them the best service that I possibly can.

When a client invests their trust in us, we immediately look upon it as our moral obligation to repay that investment by continually demonstrating a commitment to provide a professional service that’s second to none. When a client engages our services it goes beyond a business arrangement, it creates a personal bond.

Our aim is to never let them down and to make them feel that they are being looked after to an unequalled standard, enabling them to continue with their daily lives, confident that their security is taken care of.

So to return to the question, the message I’d like to pass on to potential clients and their representatives is this: The current unpredictability of the world, and someone’s status or personal wealth alone, can mean that a serious problem can appear at any time, and can impact upon you and your family directly or indirectly and without warning. If you feel it is better to be prepared in advance of such a situation, please consider reaching out to us now.

And put your security, and that of your loved ones, in experienced hands.

Russell Grey can be contacted directly: Mobile: +44 7970 102917 Email: r.grey@ securityservicesinternational.co.uk www.securityservicesinternational.co.uk

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Rubb to review, refurbish, renew and regenerate fabric buildings for MoD Rubb doesn’t just supply new fabric buildings to the military sector. The company prides itself on helping provide a quality, cost effective, long-term investment that can be adapted to suit ever-changing needs.

The UK MoD has been using Rubb Military buildings for more than 35 years and has more recently seen the benefits of the company’s EFASS post-use storage, assessment and refurbishment service.

Engineered to Last In 2010 work began on the construction of six Rubb military warehouses for Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. The Expeditionary Forces Aircraft Shelter System structures measured 100m in length and featured span widths of 25m. The buildings were supplied to the Operational Accommodation Technical (OAT) Output Section of the Expeditionary Campaign Infrastructure (ECI) Project Team, who successfully delivered the equipment infrastructure for the Interim Force Primary Depot (IFPD) in Helmand Province.

These structures, among others, will be returning to Rubb in 2015/2016, with the first two arriving back at the Gateshead plant to be converted into five new aircraft hangars.

Rubb Sales Manager Andy Knox said: “When the first 25m x 100m returns, we will inspect it, clean it and make any necessary repairs so it is fully refurbished. We will then add the components needed to turn this IFPD building into two shorter hangars measuring 25m x 40m, each featuring one Heli-Door and one closed gable end.”

The remaining 20m of hangar modules from the first warehouse will be used to create another hangar when more buildings return from Afghanistan.

“I believe we can create five new buildings from first two IFPD buildings,” added Andy. “There are numerous EFASS shelters deployed around the world.

Many will be returned to the UK to undergo refurbishment work to bring them back up to A1 (new) condition.

A typical refurbishment to bring the building back to ‘good as new’ will cost between 10-15 per cent of the cost of a new hangar.”

The modular nature of the EFASS means that the aluminium framing system, steel components and PVC

covers can be reused to create a variety of configurations to suit changing requirements.

Rubb Managing Director Ian Hindmoor said: “We are always looking for ways to add value to the products and services we provide. This process is an excellent example of adding value to the ways in which we can help our client base. Our customer care goes beyond just one sale and into aftercare commitment, maintenance, delivery of improved solutions to existing and changing requirements and a dependable system of ongoing R&D and engineering in the fabric building industry. We take care of your building investment for you, prolonging the life of your EFASS and providing savings on long term costs.”

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Military Buildings

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

British Economic Survey The British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey brings together results obtained from surveys carried out within the nations and regions of the United Kingdom by individual Chambers of Commerce.

The BCC Quarterly Economic Survey for the 3rd Quarter 2015 received almost 7,500 business responses. The respondents cover the entire UK, and were surveyed by postal and online questionnaires over the period 24 August to 14 September.

In the manufacturing sector, 1,828 firms, employing approximately 747,000 people, responded. 1,220 (67%) of manufacturing respondents were exporters. In the services sector, 5,656 businesses with approximately 532,000 employees responded. Of the services sector participants, 2,423 (43%) were exporters.

While the majority of respondents employ fewer than 500 people, the sample included many large businesses.

Total responses are weighted according to the actual distribution of companies by size within each region and nation, and each region and nation is similarly weighted within the national aggregates to ensure that the sample provides a truly representative picture of UK commerce and industry.

The survey is the largest and most representative of its kind in the UK.

SUMMARY Overall, the results signal moderate economic growth over the next year, but the UK recovery is facing serious challenges. In both manufacturing and services, most key balances were weaker in Q3 2015 than in Q2, but there were a few improvements. In services, there were improvements in the domestic sales balance and employment balance. However, all the other key service balances worsened between Q2 and Q3: for exports, confidence, investment in plant & machinery, employment growth expectations, and cash flow. Even so, the falls in the Q3 service balances are in general smaller than the declines in the manufacturing balances.

In the manufacturing sector, the balances for exports, investment, confidence, employment expectations and cashflow all recorded falls between Q2 and Q3. The domestic manufacturing balances for sales and orders were both static in Q3 2015, after weakening markedly in Q2 2015. The main exception to the pattern of weaker manufacturing balances was a Q3 improvement in the balance of manufacturers who expanded their workforce. Intentions to increase prices also fell sharply for manufacturers and the percentage of firms operating at full capacity increased slightly in both sectors.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 53

Domestic Market The domestic manufacturing balances for sales and orders were both static in Q3 2015, after weakening markedly in Q2. The balance of manufacturers reporting improved domestic sales was +20% in Q3 2015, the same as in Q2 2015 and the joint lowest level since Q2 2013. The balance of manufacturers with improved domestic orders stood at +18% in Q3, unchanged from Q2 and also the joint lowest level since Q2 2013. The service sector’s balance for domestic sales rose from +31% in Q2 2015 to +36% in Q3 2015, the highest level since Q4 2014. The service balance for domestic orders stood +29% in Q3, also unchanged from Q2.

Export Market The national export balances weakened in Q3 2015 for both the manufacturing and services sectors. In the manufacturing sector, the balance of firms reporting improvements in export sales is not only below its prerecession level in 2007, but is also below its long-term historical average. The manufacturing balance for export sales fell to +10%, the lowest level since Q3 2009. The balance of service sector firms who reported improved export sales fell by one point in Q3 2015 to +18%, the lowest level since Q1 2012. For service sector export orders, the balance fell by four points in Q3, to +16%, the lowest level since Q3 2012.

Employment The national employment balances recorded mixed movements in Q3 2015. In both manufacturing and services, the balances of firms which grew their work forces in the previous three months strengthened, while the balance of firms anticipating growth over the next three months weakened.

The backward-looking manufacturing employment balance rose eight points in Q3 2015 to +28%. The forwardlooking manufacturing employment expectations balance fell five points in Q3, to +22%, the lowest level since Q2 2013. The backward-looking service sector employment balance rose two points in Q3 2015 to +24% while the forward-looking service employment expectations balance fell six points in Q3 to +24%, the lowest level since Q2 2013.

Investment Most national investment balances weakened in Q3 2015. The balance of manufacturing firms that have revised upwards their plans to invest in plant & machinery fell three points in Q3 2015, to +18%, the lowest level since Q1 2013.

The balance of manufacturing firms that have revised upwards their plans to invest in training fell six points in Q3 to +20%, the joint lowest level since Q1 2013. The balance of service firms that have revised upwards their plans to invest in plant & machinery fell three points in Q3 2015 to +17%%, the joint lowest level since Q2 2013. The balance of service firms that have revised upwards their plans to invest in training stood at +27% in Q3, unchanged from Q2.

Business Confidence The national confidence balances also weakened for both sectors in Q3 2015, but the falls were considerably larger among manufacturers. The balance of manufacturing firms which are confident that turnover will improve in the next 12 months fell from +51% in Q2 to +43% in Q3, the lowest level since Q4 2012. The balance of manufacturing firms who are confident that profitability will improve in the next 12 months fell from +45% in Q2 to +32% in Q3, also the lowest level since Q4 2012. The balance of service sector firms confident that turnover will improve in the next 12 months fell slightly from +55% in

Q2 to +54% in Q3. For service sector profitability confidence, the balance fell from +45% in Q2 to +42% in Q3.

Capacity Utilisation Capacity utilisation rose slightly in both manufacturing and in services. The percentage of manufacturing firms operating at full capacity increased to 36% in Q3 2015. The percentage of service firms operating at full capacity also rose to 48%, a historic high.

Cashflow The balance of firms reporting improved cash flow weakened slightly in Q3 2015 for both the manufacturing and services sectors. The balance of manufacturers reporting improved cash flow fell to +9% from +11% in Q2, the lowest level since Q2 2013, and lower than its average 2007 prerecession level. The balance of service sector firms reporting improved cash flow fell to +16%, but this is still higher than in 2007.

Prices Intentions to increase prices fell sharply in the manufacturing sector and increased slightly for service firms.

The balance of manufacturing firms reporting that they intend to raise prices fell significantly to +8% from +23% in Q3, the joint lowest level since Q4 2009.

The balance of service sector firms expecting to raise prices rose three points in Q3 to +23%. continued page 54

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

from page 53

DOMESTIC

Sales and Orders

Q Excluding seasonal variation, domestic sales over the past 3 months are: Up/Same/Down

Q Excluding seasonal variation, domestic orders over the past 3 months are: Up/Same/Down

The National Perspective The domestic manufacturing balances for sales and orders were both static in Q3 2015, after weakening markedly in Q2. The balance of manufacturing firms which reported improvements in domestic sales remained unchanged at +20% in Q3 2015, the joint lowest level since Q2 2013. The balance of manufacturers which reported improvements in domestic orders also remained unchanged on the previous quarter, at +18%.

In the service sector, the domestic picture was more optimistic. The balance of service firms reporting improvements in domestic sales for domestic sales rose to +36% in Q3, up from +31% in Q2.

The balance of service firms reporting improved domestic orders remained unchanged at +29%.

The Regions and Nations Perspective The Q3 2015 manufacturing balances for domestic sales were in positive territory in all twelve regions and nations. Comparing the manufacturing sector’s domestic performance across the various regions and nations, the strongest Q3 domestic manufacturing balances were in Wales, at +36% for domestic sales, and at +35% for domestic orders. By contrast, the weakest Q3 balances were in the South West, at +5% for domestic sales and at 0% for domestic orders.

EXPORT

Sales and Orders

Q Excluding seasonal variation, export orders over the past 3 months are: Up/Same/Down

Q Excluding seasonal variation, export sales over the past 3 months are: Up/Same/Down

The Q3 2015 service sector’s balances for domestic sales were also in positive territory in all twelve regions and nations. Comparing the service sector’s domestic performance across the various regions and nations, the strongest Q3 2015 balances were in the East Midlands for domestic sales at +50% and domestic orders at +42%.

Conversely, the weakest Q3 service sector balances were in Northern Ireland at +4% for domestic sales and at -4% for domestic orders.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 55

The National Perspective The national export balances continued to weaken in Q3 2015 for both manufacturing and services. In the manufacturing sector, the export balances are now at historic lows; they are not only below their pre-recession levels in 2007, but also below their long term historical averages. The balance of manufacturers reporting improvements in export sales fell to +10%, the lowest since Q3 2009. The manufacturing balance for export orders fell by 5 points in Q3 2015, to +10%.

The service sector balance for export deliveries fell by one point in Q3 2015 to +18%, the lowest level since Q1 2012.

The service sector balance for export orders fell by four points in Q3, to +16%, the lowest level since Q3 2012. However, both service balances are still higher than their long term historical averages.

The Regions and Nations Perspective The Q3 2015 net manufacturing balances for export sales were in positive territory in nine regions and nations, while three balances were negative. Comparing the manufacturing export balances across the various regions and nations, the strongest Q3 2015 balances were in the South East for export sales at +21%, and in Scotland for export orders at +40%. By contrast, the weakest Q3

manufacturing net balances were in Yorkshire & Humber for export sales at -4%, and in the South West for export orders at -31%.

The Q3 2015 service sector balances for export sales were in positive territory for ten of the twelve UK regions and nations. Comparing service sector export performance across the various regions and nations, the strongest Q3 2015 balances were in London, at +40% for export sales and at +46% for export orders. By contrast, the weakest Q3 service balances were in Northern Ireland at -10% for export sales, and at -15% for export orders.

EMPLOYMENT Q Over the past 3 months your workforce has : Increased/Remained Constant/Decreased

Q What changes do you expect to your workforce over the next 3 months:

Increase/Remain Constant/Decrease

The National Perspective The balance of manufacturing firms which expanded their workforce in the previous three months rose to +28% in Q3 2015, up from +20% in Q2. For the service sector, the balance of firms who expanded their workforce rose to +24% in Q3, compared to +22% in Q2.

In contrast, the balance of firms expecting their workforce to increase over the next three months in the manufacturing sector decreased to +22% in Q3 2015, down from +27% in Q2 2015. The services sector employment expectations balance fell to +24% in Q2

2015 from +20% in Q2. Both balances are at their lowest level since Q2 2013.

The Regions and Nations Perspective Wales (+72%) recorded the highest manufacturing sector balance of firms who reported that their workforce had increased, followed by the East Midlands (+43%). In contrast, Yorkshire and Humber recorded the only negative balance (-5%). Wales also recorded the strongest employment expectations balance of +38%, followed by Scotland (+36%). By contrast, Yorkshire and

Humber (-5%) again recorded the only negative employment expectations balance in the manufacturing sector.

The balance of firms in the service sector who expanded their work force over the previous three months was highest in the South East and the East Midlands (+32), followed by the East of England (+31%). Scotland recorded the smallest balance (+1%). The East Midlands (+29%) also recorded the largest positive employment expectations balance among services firms, while Scotland recorded the only negative balance (-2%). continued page 56

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

from page 55

RECRUITMENT DIFFICULTIES Q Have you attempted to recruit staff over the past 3 months: Yes/No

Q If yes, were they for: a) Part-time jobs/Full-time jobs b) Temporary jobs/Permanent Jobs

Q Did you experience any difficulties finding suitable staff? Yes/No

Q If yes, for which of the following categories: Skilled manual and technical/Professional and managerial/Clerical/Un- and semi-skilled

The National Perspective The percentage of firms in the manufacturing sector that attempted to hire fell to 78% in Q3 2015 from 80% in Q2. Of these firms, 83% attempted to recruit full-time staff, the highest proportion since Q3 2010.

The percentage of manufacturing firms trying to recruit part-time staff fell to 18% in Q3 from 20% in Q2. The percentage of firms in the manufacturing sector that ran into difficulties when trying to hire fell from the record high of 81% in Q2 2015 to 72% in Q3 2015.

In the service sector the percentage of firms that attempted to recruit new staff rose in the third quarter of 2015, from 70% in Q2 2015 to 72% in Q3 2015.

The percentage of firms that tried to hire full-time staff rose from 69% to 79%, the highest proportion on record.

The percentage of firms trying to recruit part-time staff was unchanged at 31%.

The Regions and Nations Perspective Within the manufacturing sector, Wales had the highest percentage of firms that tried to hire in Q3 2015, with 90% of firms looking to take on new staff, followed by Scotland (85%). London had the lowest percentage with just 27% of manufacturing firms looking to take on new employees. Firms based in the North East (86%) experienced the greatest difficulties when trying to recruit staff. They were followed by the South West (80%). Manufacturing firms

INVESTMENT Q Over the past 3 months, what changes have you made to your investment plans:

a) For Plant and Machinery: Revised upwards/ Revised downwards/No change b) For Training: Revised upwards/ Revised downwards/No change

in London (25%) experienced the lowest level of difficulty when attempting to hire new staff.

Within the services sector, the South East had the highest percentage of firms that tried to recruit in Q3 2015, with 83% of firms reporting that they are looking to recruit. They were followed the East of England (80%). Wales recorded the lowest figure with 62% of firms attempting to hire. Service sector firms in Wales also experienced the greatest difficulties in hiring new staff with 89% of companies reporting problems. They were followed by the North West (80%) and the South East (76%). Firms based in London and Scotland (42%) experienced the fewest difficulties in hiring staff.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 57

The National Perspective The investment balances in Q3 2015 within the services and manufacturing sectors showed similar trends. The balance of manufacturing firms planning to increase investment in plant & machinery declined to +18% from +21% in the previous quarter. Manufacturers’ intentions to invest in training decreased by six points to +20%.

The balance of service firms planning to increase investment in plant & machinery also decreased by three point to +17%, while the service sector’s

intentions to invest in training remained unchanged at +27%.

The Regions and Nations Perspective In the manufacturing sector, the percentage balances of firms investing in plants & machinery remained positive across all regions. The strongest results were recorded in West Midlands (+34%) followed by Scotland (+24%) and East Midlands (+23%). For investment in training, the highest results were recorded in Wales (+51%) followed by the North East (+35%).

In the service sector, all regions recorded a positive balance for investment in plant & machinery apart from Scotland (-3%). The strongest positive balance was recorded in Wales at +32%. The percentage balance for investment in training was also positive for all regions. The strongest result at +39% was recorded for London followed by Yorkshire and Humber (+34%).

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE Q Do you believe that over the next 12 months: a) Turnover will: Improve/Remain the same/ Worsen b) Profitability will: Improve/Remain the same/Worsen

The National Perspective The balance of firms expressing confidence that turnover and profitability will increase over the next 12 months fell for both the manufacturing and service sectors in Q3 2015. The balance of manufacturers confident that turnover will improve in the next 12 months fell from +51% in Q2 to +43% in Q3, the lowest level since Q4 2012. The balance of manufacturers confident that profitability will improve in the next 12 months fell to +32% from +45% in the previous quarter, the lowest level since Q4 2012.

The balance of service sector firms confident that turnover will improve in

the next 12 months fell slightly from +55% in Q2 to +54% in Q3. The balance of firms confident that profitability will improve in the next 12 months fell from +45% in Q2 to +42% in Q3.

The Regions and Nations Perspective The Q3 2015 manufacturing balances for turnover confidence were in positive territory in all UK regions and nations.

Comparing confidence levels across the various UK regions and nations, the strongest Q3 2015 manufacturing balances were in Wales for turnover confidence at 67%, and in the North East and the South East for profitability confidence, both at +42%. By contrast, the weakest Q3 2015 manufacturing

balances were in Northern Ireland at +23% for turnover confidence, and in Wales for profitability confidence, at +10%.

In the service sector, the Q3 2015 balances for turnover confidence were also in positive territory across all twelve regions and nations. Comparing service sector confidence across the various UK regions and nations, the strongest Q3 service sector balances were in the East Midlands for turnover confidence at +65%, and in London for profitability confidence at +57%. The weakest Q3 2015 service balances were in Northern Ireland, at +30% for turnover confidence, and at +8% for profitability confidence. continued page 58

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

from page 57

CAPACITY UTILISATION AND CASHFLOW Q Are you currently operating: At full capacity/Below full capacity

Q During the last 3 months how has your cashflow changed:

Improved/Same/Worsened

Capacity utilisation falls for both sectors.

Cashflow balance decreases for manufacturing and services firms CAPACITY UTILISATION The National Perspective In the manufacturing sector, the percentage of firms operating at full capacity stood at 36%, up from 34% in the previous quarter.

In the services sector, the percentage of firms stating that they were operating at full capacity increased to 48% in Q3 2015 from 46% in Q2. The percentage of firms stating that they were operating at full capacity has averaged 45% in 2015 so far.

The Regions and Nations Perspective In the manufacturing sector the highest

proportion of firms reporting that they were operating at full capacity was recorded in Wales (71%), well above the national average of 36%, followed the South West (47%) and Northern Ireland (46%). The region with the lowest capacity utilisation figure was Scotland (5%).

CASHFLOW The National Perspective In the manufacturing sector the percentage balance of firms reporting improvements in cashflow declined to +9% from +11% in the previous quarter. Similarly, in the service sector the balance of firms reporting improved cashflow decreased to +16%.

PRICES Q Over the next 3 months, do you expect the price of your goods/services to:

Increase/Remain the same/Decrease

Q Is your business currently suffering pressures to raise prices from any of the following:

Pay settlements/Raw material prices/Finance costs/Other overheads

The Regions and Nations Perspective In the manufacturing sector, the highest balances for improvements in cashflow were recorded in the West Midlands (+27%) and the South West (+24%) followed East Midlands (+18%). Negative balances were recorded in Yorkshire and Humber (-13%), Scotland (-6%), Northern Ireland (-2%) and London (-1%).

In the services sector, the highest balance was recorded in Wales (+31%).

The lowest balance was recorded in Scotland (0%).

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 59

The National Perspective For the manufacturing sector, the balance of firms expecting prices to rise decreased to +8% in Q3 2015 from +23% in the previous quarter. Of the factors contributing to price pressures, there was an increase in the share of manufacturing firms which identified pay settlements (28%) as the key driver.

Other factors included raw material prices (down three percentage points to 36%) other overheads (down eight percentage points to 26%), and finance costs (which remained unchanged at 9%).

For service firms, the percentage balance of firms expecting prices to rise

increased by three points to +23%. Of the factors identified as contributing to price pressures 11% identified raw materials costs, down 5 percentage points. There was a fall in the share of firms which identified financial costs (from 14% to 12%). There was also a fall in the share of service firms which identified other overheads (down three percentage points to 32%) and pay settlements (down one percentage point to 22%).

The Regions and Nations Perspective

expecting prices to increase included the East Midlands (+22%), East of England (+21%) and Wales (+20%). Negative balances were recorded in Yorkshire and Humber (-11%) the North East (-8%) and Northern Ireland (-3%).

In the services sector, the percentage balance of firms expecting prices to rise was positive across all the regions.

The highest balance was recorded for London (+42%). This was followed by the East Midlands (+30%), Wales and South East (both at +27%). The lowest balance was recorded in Scotland at +2%.

In the manufacturing sector, regions with the largest number of firms

EXTERNAL FACTORS Q Please indicate which of the following factors are more of a concern to your business than 3 months ago: Interest Rates/Exchange Rates/ Business Rates/Inflation/Competition/Tax

Manufacturing

Services

Among the external factors affecting their business, the majority of manufacturers, 34%, reported that exchange rates were their biggest concern, up from 29% in the previous quarter. This was followed by competition, with 31% reporting this as a concern, down from 35% in Q2 2015. A further 21% of manufacturers reported that inflation was the biggest concern, down from 22% in the previous quarter.

Service sector firms at the national level reported competition as the key external factor, with 32% reporting this as the biggest concern, down from 33% in the previous quarter. This was followed by inflation (23%), business rates and interest rates (both 17%).

The region which saw exchanges rates as the biggest external factor was the South East, with 47% of firms citing this as the biggest concern. This was followed by the East of England (44%) and the North East (43%). The regions citing competition as the biggest concern was the North West and London (both 49%), followed by Northern Ireland and the North East (both 45%).

Service sector firms in the North West cited competition as the biggest concern (48%). This was followed by Northern Ireland (44%) and the West Midlands (35%). Inflation was the biggest concern for service sector firms in Yorkshire & Humber (43%). This was followed the East of England (39%) and the South East and Wales (both at 36%).

This edited extract from the quarterly economic report is published with the consent of the British Chambers of Commerce from where the full report may be obtained.

3rd QUARTE

R 2015

BRITISH CHA MBE

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC SURVEY

RS OF COMMER CE

www.economi csurvey.org. uk

ECONOMIC FOCUS

ADVERTORIAL FINANCE

After a tough three months, markets are hopeful of entering a new phase As investors bid farewell to a volatile third quarter, now is a good moment to put some of the recent fearmongering into context. The data was never going to look rosy; and, sure enough, when the figures came in, they reflected the impact of fears that have hounded markets in recent months: China’s slowdown, uncertainty over the timing and impact of the Federal Reserve rate rise, poor corporate earnings and, most recently, the crisis at Volkswagen, were perhaps the most important.

The S&P 500 dipped 8.7% over the quarter. Global stocks generally saw their biggest drop since the same quarter in 2011. Taken together, activity in mergers & acquisitions, debt and equity markets, and syndicated lending generated fees of $16.5 billion – the lowest quarterly total since 2011. The Bloomberg Commodity Index was down 14.8%, its biggest quarterly drop since 2008.

Meanwhile, in a report released last week, the IMF warned of an increase in corporate failures in emerging markets if the US – and its retinue of developedworld central banks – chooses to raise rates. It pointed in particular to a surge in dollar-denominated debt in emerging markets, which it identified as the common prequel to a downturn in emerging markets. Emerging market borrowing costs have spiked to those levels experienced during the 2013 Taper Tantrum.

Some signs were good, however.

September’s manufacturing PMI suggested that the global economy continued to expand moderately in the third quarter, while mergers & acquisitions activity showed an upward trend in both August and September.

The US economy continued to grow (as did China’s, of course) and US

unemployment continued to fall, having reached its best figure for seven years in August. Economic sentiment in Europe (before the VW news, at any rate) reached a four-year high and an array of leading indicators suggested the UK economy is in good health.

Given market affection for rounded numbers and neat timespans, the simple fact of stepping out of the third quarter seems likely to lift spirits. Volatility is not likely to disappear quite yet, not least because the fears afflicting markets have not gone away, and October has a history of wide trading margins. Volatility is particularly dangerous for the purer forms of tracker funds – by following market movements they not only miss out on bargains, but actually increase volatility. For a long-term active investor, on the other hand, the short-term pricing anomalies created by volatility can provide buying opportunities.

The S&P 500, FTSE 100, FTSEurofirst 300 and Nikkei 225 all enjoyed an end-ofquarter relief bounce on the final day of September. After a volatile week on markets, marked by uncertainty over the global economy, the most important news came late in the week: US nonfarm payrolls rose by 142,000, 29% lower than the expected figure of 200,000.

Gold and Treasury bonds saw inflows as a result and stocks initially dipped on the news, but recovery arrived fast – by the end of the week the S&P 500 and FTSE 100 were up by 1.14% and 2.87% respectively.

Still emerging?

But what of those big fears already mentioned? As we have said before, the coming Fed rate rise is not to be feared, and neither does a slower growth trajectory in China mean that a crisis is on the cards. (Official Chinese continued page 62

ECONOMIC FOCUS

ADVERTORIAL from page 60

gain a majority of seats in the regional parliament, raising the likelihood of an independence referendum for Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of the Spanish economy. “It’s definitely worth thinking about,” says Stuart Mitchell. “There’s heated rhetoric about independence, but it’s a while off and less than 50% of the vote went with pro-independence parties – and it wasn’t even an independence referendum.”

In the UK, new data published last week showed second-quarter productivity rising 0.9%, its highest rate for four years. UK stocks were helped by an energy and commodities rally late last week – Shell rose over the week despite its decision to cease drilling in the Arctic.

Proposals aired at the Labour Party conference (from higher taxes to Bank of England reform) were largely ignored on markets.

data has never been fully trusted by analysts, so the recent questions are nothing new.) Nevertheless, even official Chinese figures continued to disappoint, and Asian currencies more broadly ended the quarter at a six-year low.

Manufacturing activity in the People’s Republic contracted for the second consecutive month in September. The government cut a sales tax on small cars as the sector looks set to contract in 2015 for the first time since the 1990s.

Investors remain nervous.

Small fears

Yet the Shanghai Composite didn’t fall drastically over the course of the week (foreshortened as it was by a national holiday) and its trading range in September was, of course, far tighter than in August – around 240 points against August’s 1,050-plus. (It remained above its August low throughout September.)

In Europe, despite the ongoing crisis at Volkswagen, there were a number of positive signs last week. After a rough quarter, the FTSEurofirst 300 experienced a choppy week, dropping early as the Volkswagen effect continued to play out, before rising again, only to be hit by US payroll news. It ended the week down 0.14%, with Friday’s post-payrolls recovery looking set to continue. Fears over Volkswagen now appear to be priced in – some believe by too much. “VW’s provision of $6.5 billion to cover crisis fallout is pretty chunky but the market cap has fallen by almost $30 billion,” says Stuart Mitchell, manager of the Greater European fund at S. W. Mitchell Capital. “Sales might be slightly hit too, but it’s hard to see how the impact on the brand could be what the market implies.”

Moreover, the more general downturn in capital markets in emerging economies – investors pulled around $40 billion out of emerging markets in the third quarter – has brought prices to a point where some investors are ready to head back in. Chris Iggo, CIO of global fixed income at AXA Investment Managers, is mildly optimistic. “We’ve been reducing our EM exposure in both credit and sovereign bonds over the past five to six months,” says Iggo. “Over the next few months, though, buying opportunities will start to increase.”

Business sentiment was much improved in September, and a number of the countries worst-hit by Europe’s debt crisis are now showing strong signs of post-crisis turnaround. Spreads on 10-year Italian government debt continued to tighten last week, and a revised forecast published last week said the Irish economy is set to grow 6.5% this year. S&P raised its nominal GDP growth forecast for Spain to 4% and raised Spain’s credit rating one notch to BBB+. Spanish regional elections saw pro-independence Catalan parties

Growth bedrock Disappointment over the payrolls data announcement took 10-year Treasury yields down six basis points on Friday to 1.98%. The news made Janet Yellen’s rate rise deferral look all the wiser – emerging market stocks were buoyed by the news. Markets are particularly sensitive to monthly data at the moment, given recent volatility, but US figures more broadly give cause for optimism. Indeed, amid the headline news of China and Volkswagen, it can be hard to remember how important steady US growth is for the global economy and for capital markets.

Data released in late September indicated the US economy grew 3.9% in the second quarter, which was above expectations. Some third-quarter blues are expected, and markets are priced accordingly; but the broader trend remains positive, and some fund managers expect to pick up on summer stock discounts before price rises return.

Markets are not yet entering calm waters; but as the quarter ended, the storms of the summer were continuing to subside – despite the ongoing doommongering.

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ECONOMIC FOCUS

ADVERTORIAL

ADCB and Santander have forged an innovative and dynamic partnership Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) was established in 1985 and is now one of the UAE’s largest and most respected banks.

As at the end of March 2015 ADCB employs in excess of 4,000 staff (of 62 nationalities) and serves some 600,000 retail and 50,000 corporate clients across a network of 48 branches in the UAE together with overseas branches in India, Jersey and representative offices in London and Singapore. Total assets (end March 2105) exceed GBP 36.6 Billion with a market capitalisation (excluding treasury shares) of approximately GBP 6.0 billion.

ADCB is a full service commercial bank offering a full range of retail banking, wealth management, private banking, corporate and commercial banking, investment banking, foreign exchange, interest rate and currency derivatives and Islamic products/structures, project finance and property management.

ADCB established a representative office in London in 2014 and provides advisory services, referral and introduction to corporate and commercial clients in the UK wishing to avail of trade, cash and treasury services in the UAE for which the bank has enjoyed an unrivalled series of major awards. The office also works with UK partners organisations and specialists to support their UAE clients requiring banking services in the UK market. In the UK the bank has formed an alliance with Santander UK to serve and support those of their clients who seek to take advantage of the dynamic and fast-growing export to the UAE, now one of the UK’s Top 10 export markets.

Santander Group is a diverse retail and commercial bank with 1,157 branches in the UK and around 14,000 worldwide; more than any other international bank.

between the UK market the UAE and wider GCC and MENA markets. ADCB and Santander are proud to support the work of the Arab British Chamber and their membership.

ADCB Awards: Santander in the UK provide strong local knowledge and expertise and are increasingly the bank of choice for ambitious businesses seeking to expand internationally. Working closely together – and both as active members of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce in the UK – the two banks have forged an innovative and dynamic partnership in driving bilateral trade for UK and UAE businesses alike. Through Santander’s award-winning Trade Portal commercial and corporate entities are able to identify and explore potential trade relationships in new markets such as the UAE which the two banks are then able to support through appropriate cash, trade and risk management solutions.

ADCB and Santander owe their success to their relationship approach; looking to harness a full understanding of client businesses and their unique requirements. The banks deliver a customer-centric and service-led model and are proud to increasingly be the banks of choice to support ventures

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Consolidated Contractors Company www.ccc.gr

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

Focus Interview: AchieveGlobal Economic Focus speaks to Mr John Cartmell, Regional Director, AchieveGlobal Please tell Economic Focus readers a little about your career at AchieveGlobal?

I joined AchieveGlobal Middle East almost five years ago as a Business Development Manager. Since then I have taken on the role of Regional Director with responsibility for sales and business development for the organisation in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. I am based in the UK, but travel to the MENA region approximately eight times a year to meet clients and prospective clients.

I have been successful in developing the size of our customer base in recent years, and I believe that this is due in no small part to my practice of buying into a client’s business culture: not just being seen as a subservient service provider, but as a partner who passionately cares about the success of a given assignment. I thrive on working in a target driven environment where my skills contribute to the overall success of an organisation.

What types of training opportunities do you offer?

AchieveGlobal Middle East delivers sales, leadership and customer service training for organizations based in the Gulf region. We like to work closely with our clients to establish a personalised programme of training from our wide range of solutions that directly address each client’s requirements. The training is delivered to small groups by experienced, certified trainers, inhouse, at a time that suits the client.

We are proud of our programmes and the reputation we have earned in our 24 years working in the countries of the MENA region. As well as our

success there, our programmes have been utilized on a global platform, and indeed recognised by the global training industry: we made the Top Leadership Training Companies List this year on TrainingIndustry.com as we have done for the last 5 years, and in addition, we made the Top Sales Training Company list for the previous 3 years.

If you could describe AchieveGlobal in five adjectives what would they be?

Professional – We respect the relationship we have with our clients, the issues they share with us and honour a code of confidentiality.

Quality – Our programmes are based on years of experience and research and offer proven methodologies to help our clients reach their goals. The content has won numerous awards and been sold worldwide.

Personal – We know how important it is that training is relevant to an organisation and their specific requirements, and we enjoy building a lasting relationship with them to get to the root of what is needed.

Trusted – We act as a trusted advisor to our clients. They know that in working with us, we can be trusted to deliver what they need, in the way they relate to. That’s why so many of our clients come back to work with us again and again.

Thorough – We are careful that clients are kept informed throughout the process to manage their expectations, and we are equally careful to deliver accurate solutions. We have

measurement tools which help evaluate the impact of the training, and our posttraining online support tools help clients manage what participants have learned well beyond our sessions.

What are the main reasons for AchieveGlobal’s success?

I passionately believe that the core of our success is borne out of our desire to really understand and help our clients, and to design solutions that completely address their training needs. We believe the programmes we provide deliver measurable results, and many of our clients who experience success with our programmes choose to buy from us again in the future. Our repeat clients trust the quality and effectiveness of our training. The customer’s needs drive the production of a customised programme of modules; we build close relationships with our clients to ensure their requirements drive the project from proposal stage through to how we measure the results of training, and this proves to be popular. Our trainers are highly experienced in industry themselves, and have been delivering our programmes in the Middle East for many years. We select trainers on a caseby-case basis according to the client’s needs and the trainer’s experience in that sector in order to utilise their strengths. Finally, and essentially I believe that training shouldn’t be just a one-off event. It is my passionate belief that training can only be deemed successful if skills learned in a classroom are ultimately transferred to the workplace.

I’m proud that in AchieveGlobal, our clients have a training partner who can ensure such success.

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 67

as part of new projects in Qatar. We have found success in that market recently in Saudi Arabia and enjoy being able to offer our experience to markets we have worked in previously. Because the way our programmes are designed, we are able to customise to a very high level, so we are able to take advantage of any opportunity in a variety of sectors.

Triangle describes the structure of AchieveGlobal’s programmes

What are your duties and responsibilities as a Regional Director?

As a Regional Director, my role is to develop productive client relationships in the countries I visit, to help clients attain their full potential. I support the rest of our team and publicly represent AchieveGlobal Middle East, and am always looking to increase our profile and raise brand awareness.

My key tasks include:

AchieveGlobal is helping large businesses with their development requirements.

Can you give some examples of companies for which you have provided training programmes?

We serve clients from a range of different sectors including but not exclusive to banking, oil and gas, healthcare, government and manufacturing. Typically the organisations we work with are large, well-established companies looking to build on their success.

What standards and levels do the learning and teaching programmes focus on?

AchieveGlobal offers solutions at different levels of an organisation, from executive level, through the various levels of management to frontline staff. The triangle below describes the structure our programmes are organised by. We understand that those at different levels of seniority have completely different needs and the triangle structure helps you decide which programmes are right for you.

All through the chain of command, we have a programme that can meet your needs.

Can you describe AchieveGlobal’s work environment and office culture?

Working as a small team as the Middle East division of AchieveGlobal, we work very closely to deliver the best results for our clients. The customer is at the centre of all we do, and we work together to assess the needs of the client and propose the best solutions for them. We have a culture of openness and collaboration which makes us a strong team and that is reflected in the personal service we provide our clients day to day.

What are the biggest opportunities facing the company right now?

The business environment in the Middle East is very exciting and opportunities are plentiful. There is a real thirst for knowledge and for business improvement in a variety of market sectors. Recently we have found an uplift in interest from organisations based in the United Arab Emirates which is a country keen to remain at the cutting edge of business. Healthcare is a market that is providing promising opportunities in the Middle East as money is being pumped into the sector

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Expanding business reach into new markets and organisations, so we can bring our training to help as many people as possible.

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Actively developing relationships and ensuring our clients’ needs are being met by keeping communication lines are open.

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Responding to customer enquiries and, in turn, preparing presentations, proposals, Requests for Information (RFIs) and tender responses for prospects.

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Effectively managing existing accounts by offering service, support and expertise to become a trusted advisor, encouraging customer loyalty beyond the sale.

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Establishing and maintaining working relationships with regional trade organisations and government departments.

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Attend networking and exhibition events as necessary to aid business development.

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Staying up to date with MENA news and market/industry trends.

For more information about AchieveGlobal see: www.achieveglobalmiddleeast.com

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

How does “IBAN Only” fit in an increasingly online payments world

Sarkis Akmakjian, Senior Director, Product Management, Accuity

When the ‘IBAN only’ rule was established with the EU Regulation No 260/2012 of the European Parliament (EP) and the European Payments Council (EPC) back in February 2012, there was an understandable trepidation from the community. The rule states that the payment service provider (PSP) receives the IBAN in a payment from the payment service user (PSU). That is, the PSU need only provide an IBAN and not an IBAN and SWIFT/BIC for a payment.

As soon as the EPC instituted the ‘IBAN only’ rule, banks and other PSPs wanted to know how this would impact their current processes. What did they need to do to comply? What additional measures did they need to take? What other systems changes did they need to make? When would the measure have to be adopted?

The ‘IBAN only’ adoption was to be part of the overall SEPA adoption and, as such, would follow the same timelines defined for SEPA. The EPC did provide an option for member states to extend the deadline for the ‘IBAN only’ rule from February 2014 to February 2016 and, not surprisingly, this is what is happening.

Considering the burden that banks had to take on in terms of adopting SEPA, it was a challenge to assume additional costs in changing systems to accommodate for ‘IBAN only’.

Exactly how radical was this step, for the PSU to provide just an IBAN for payment instructions? Already, PSPs have been enriching payment instructions as needed – adding to or modifying instructions to ensure proper routing.

What the regulation did change is that it makes it mandatory for all PSPs to adopt this measure. This means that every PSP from tier 1 financial institutions to small regional cooperatives have to adopt the ‘IBAN only’ rule. For some PSPs, this had little impact as they were already observing the practice to append routing details to payment instructions.

For others, this forced them to review their existing payment systems to see how they could comply with the rule.

SEPA indicated an “IBAN only” future SEPA instituted some real game changers in the payments world. The IBAN and ISO 20022 XML standards, for example, promote efficiencies in streamlining payment processing.

Using an IBAN as the account number standard allows both PSUs and PSPs to avoid errors that can occur with data input. All of the hidden validation checks in the IBAN, as well as the identification of the bank owning the specific account, help to promote efficiencies in payment processing, ensuring proper capture

of beneficiary details as well as proper payment routing.

Likewise, there are substantial benefits tied to the use of ISO 20022 in the industry. This institution of a universal format for messaging radically streamlines payment processing. PSUs such as corporates can leverage the same file format to send messages for payments of various types to their banks. All of their SEPA payments, regardless of the country to which the payments are being routed, can all be sent via ISO 20022. The use of one uniform file format drives down the cost of having to maintain country-specific formats. Technically speaking, the tool also lends itself to scalability. It is easier to accommodate additional required elements in an XML structure than with other traditional messaging format types.

A phenomenon took place with both of these standards, the IBAN and ISO 20022, being adopted beyond the SEPA zone.

Very quickly, after the EPC devised the IBAN as the account number standard for SEPA payments, we witnessed the adoption of IBAN as the account number standard for payments outside of the SEPA countries like Brazil, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Additionally, a trend emerged in leveraging ISO 20022 for more

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 69

IBAN Complete Screening Service File is received by Accuity. Data analysts check input file before processing. File is then processed.

Input file is transferred over FTPS.

Input file

Screening Logic

Complete file is then posted on the FTPS site. Customer is notified that file is ready.

payment types, not simply for SEPA payments. Corporate treasurers are increasingly using ISO 20022 for payment instructions being routed into various payment systems. There are real benefits – the PSU no longer has to maintain multiple formats for payment messaging and processes are more streamlined and efficient as a result of adopting one payment format. Certainly, this is an example of the industry catching up with the innovations that technology makes possible.

“IBAN Only” changes payments processing for the better The ‘IBAN only’ rule itself has benefits for both the PSU as well as the PSP. For the PSU, it means that there is less information to gather. Very simply, the PSU is responsible to provide the IBAN. That IBAN itself, which is a variation of a bank identifier and account number, indicates the institution owning the account. There is no reason for the PSU to provide the routing instruction, the SWIFT/ BIC in this case. That information is already implied in the IBAN. Certainly, the EPC had this idea in mind when they devised the IBAN standard. While very simple in concept, we cannot lose sight of how valuable it is to capture within

Completed File

Expert Knowledge and Oversight

After processing, data analysts review results.

one alphanumeric string that is relatively short (less than 40 characters), the bank and the account.

The ‘IBAN only’ rule fits very well into a world where the use of online payment systems is becoming more prevalent. Online payment system product offerings are proving to be a differentiator in the market for financial institutions. PSUs are demanding an easier way to initiate payment instructions. A user having to submit only an IBAN instead of having to provide both a bank code and account number separately can reduce their payment setup experience by one click.

The reduction of data input certainly reduces confusion for the PSU. There is no need to determine what a SWIFT/BIC is or which SWIFT/BIC goes with which IBAN. Considering that many banks own multiple SWIFT/BIC assignments, determining which SWIFT/ BIC to use for IBAN payments is not easy and, arguably, should not be left to the PSU. Furthermore, reducing the number of clicks is a key measure in improving user experience (UX). On the minds of every product manager in many financial institutions is how to improve UX. The number of clicks, the average time per session, the SLAs in place, etc. are all important factors in measuring the value of online product offerings.

What about the benefit of the ‘IBAN only’ rule to the PSP? One can say that the burden to ensure proper routing categorically shifts to the PSP. After all, now the bank has only the IBAN as a starting point to determine routing.

They are responsible to enrich the payment instruction with a SWIFT/BIC, using the IBAN alone to derive this.

While this does put the pressure on the PSP, it does not radically alter existing processes. Banks already have or are designing systems where payment enrichment is a part of payment setup.

This also reduces risk in that it leaves correct payment routing determination to the entity that is responsible for routing payments, the PSP, not the PSU. ‘IBAN only’ also alleviates any concerns around accepting or not accepting the routing instructions from the PSU. If the EP has stated that the PSU need only provide the IBAN, then this implies that it is the responsibility of the PSP to route that payment. Concern over overriding routing instructions that PSUs provide goes away. If the PSP can ensure that they have a reliable approach to this type of payment enrichment, they can add value to their payment offerings by increasing efficiencies in payment processing, reducing payment rejections and avoiding misrouted payments.

‘IBAN only’ compels the PSP to develop a solution where they can reliably enrich payments with the proper routing instruction, given only an account number. The need to validate an IBAN in a payment system becomes an even more critical requirement for PSPs. Furthermore, the need to determine proper routing of an IBAN payment becomes equally important. It is clear that there is a cost that the PSP has to assume to comply with the ‘IBAN only’ rule. However, outweighing that cost are the many benefits that it can bring to the PSP and the PSU alike. These benefits are increasing straight through processing and improving UX, leading to better customer retention. PSPs should view online payment systems as ways to expand their footprint. As such, every measure should be taken to improve UX in order to capture more market share.

Visit www.accuity.com/iban for more information.

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ABCC Hosts Kuwait Business Roundtable The Arab British Chamber of Commerce held an ambassadorial roundtable on 15 September to focus attention on developments in Kuwait.

Senior executives from a cross-section of companies with an interest in the market took part in the discussions which were designed to highlight current opportunities in Kuwait.

Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General and CEO, welcomed everyone to the meeting and offered apologies for the ambassador’s unavoidable absence.

Mr Meshal Almodaf, Consular, Kuwait Embassy, deputised for His Excellency Mr Khaled Al Duwaisan, the Ambassador of Kuwait, who was required at another important engagement.

Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman, opened the discussions by briefly outlining the country’s current spending plans under the Kuwait Development Plan, whose total amounted to around $118 billion in the oil and non-oil sectors.

She stressed that Kuwait was determined to develop its infrastructure, including housing, transport and water upgrading as well as healthcare and education.

Kuwait was encouraging the growth of its private sector to enable it to play a greater role in the country’s development.

Baroness Symons invited all the participants around the table to introduce themselves and their interests and involvement in Kuwait.

Those taking part included senior executives from high end companies, many of which were members of the ABCC. Mr James Borrelli, Senior Risk Analyst, Olive Group, was active in risk

management in Kuwait’s mining sector.

hospitals and ministries in the region.

Meanwhile, Mr Russell Grey, Managing Director, Security Services International (SSI), explained that his company was able to offer much better security for high status individuals from Kuwait and wider Gulf when travelling abroad and visiting London.

Mairi Scott, Professor of General Practice and Medical Education, University of Dundee, was seeking to expand its partnerships and develop research in Kuwait.

Mr Malcolm Crawford, Director Operations, AMEC Foster Wheeler, mentioned that the company was very active in the oil and gas sector where it is responsible for some large refinery projects.

Corporate lawyers Trowers & Hamlin were represented by partner, Mr Nick Harrisingh, who said that the firm had been present in the MENA for 35 years.

UK based construction firm, Carillion Plc, represented by Shaun Carter, Group International & Development Director, had 25 thousand employees working on projects across the Middle East and was interested in the public-privatepartnerships (PPP) market in Kuwait.

Mr Dave Bridges, Managing Director, Brighton based design and communications agency, Fruit Design, was interested in any openings in the creative industries within Kuwait.

Mr Aaron Taylor, Principle Partner, Stantec, architectural, engineering, and environmental services provider, stated that the company was working on health and education projects in the Gulf.

Mr John Miller, Managing Director, Miller & Miller (Chemicals) Ltd, was an experienced supplier of medical products and pharmaceuticals to

Mr Nikhil Mankad, Asst Vice President Wealth & Investment Management, Barclays Bank, wanted to enhance the bank’s capabilities in the MENA region.

Mr Maher Ghanma, Head of Government Affairs Middle East, DLA Piper, said that the company, which had an office in Kuwait, had been active in the country for 10 years and was interested in how the country was addressing infrastructure development.

Mr James Winterkorn, Cleave & Company, explained that his company was able to produce high quality customised presentation gifts and jewellery to meet the requirements of leading Kuwaiti corporations.

Mr Haitham Ashour, Head MENA Corporates, EAB, expressed an interest in Kuwait’s development plans.

The core discussions were focused around an overview of business environment in Kuwait and the opportunities in the market delivered by Mr Simon Williams, Director, UKTI, Kuwait.

Mr Williams made several key points which can be summarised: Kuwait and the UK have enjoyed long and fruitful bilateral relations for many decades.

Their partnership is reflected in the number of Kuwaiti students coming to the UK to study and the presence of

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 71

Mr Meshal Almodaf, Consular, Kuwait Embassy, (centre), Rt Hon Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman, (top right) and Mr Simon Williams, Director, UKTI, Kuwait (top left)

the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund which is part managed from London and invests highly in high-end projects in the UK.

has replaced the Partnerships Technical Bureau, which was previously the main body responsible for implementation of the country’s PPP projects.

The Kuwait Development Plan was opening up new opportunities for mutual cooperation as Kuwait attempts to diversify its economy away from reliance on petroleum and looks forward to greater private sector involvement, which is seen as essential for its future growth and prosperity.

Mr Williams drew everyone’s attention to an important investment conference on Kuwait which will take place at the Grosvenor House in London on 3rd November and where key officials will be presenting details of the country’s investment plans. (The website for this conference can be found at the end of this report).

New laws have been adopted to facilitate the increased the participation of foreign firms in the country.

First unveiled in 2010, the Kuwait Development Plan has been updated for the 2015-2020 period.

The plan is moving ahead with new mega-projects that include airport, metro, the GCC-wide rail link and port infrastructure, among many others, while looking to PPPs to attract new investors. In fact, a new PPP Law recently came into effect.

Under the new PPP Law, the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP)

Companies with a serious interest in the Kuwait market were advised to attend this high level event.

Trade between Kuwait and the UK is on the increase with exports up 23% on last year and prospects for cooperation between companies were on the increase too.

Leading UK firms such as BP, Shell, Amec and Petrofac have been active in the market for some time but opportunities for more companies were opening up in a number of sectors such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation, transport and housing.

Kuwait was open to UK involvement at various levels as it invests in its infrastructure and economy.

Mr Meshal Almodaf thanked everyone for their interest in his country and undertook to inform the Ambassador of the opinions expressed by participants of the roundtable.

Useful Websites Links for more information on Kuwait Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) www.kfib.com.kw Kuwait Central Tenders Committee www.ctc.gov.qa/main-en.aspx Kuwait Investment Conference 2015 ‘Alliances for the Future’ www.peninsula-press.com/ investment-outreach/kuwaitinvestment-outreach-2015

ABCC Services

The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce offers a wide range of services for companies to help them do business. The services range from documentation for exporters to ease their access to markets, customised research, business briefings, networking opportunities to translation and visa services. Discount rates are available for members of the Chamber.

Trade Services Department The Chamber’s unique Export Documentation service is an important asset to Arab-British trade. With our extensive experience, we are ideally positioned to assist exporters entering the substantial and sophisticated Arab market, encompassing all your certification and legalisation needs.

It is essential when exporting to present the correct documentation as errors can be very expensive, leading to costly delays in payment and in clearing the goods, and even to non-payment.

The documentation service includes: l

Export Documentation Service

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Direct Member Documentation

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EUR1 (members)

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FCO Service

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Notary Service

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A-Cert Electronic Documentation Process

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Visa Service (A-BCC members’ only)

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Express Service for Emergency Documentation.

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A daily courier service to other destinations, Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Argentina.

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Market Entry Report / Research

Training Courses The Chamber also provides various training courses to assist companies with their business. These include cultural awareness, language courses and courses relating to export procedures. l

International trade training programmes

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Business training programmes

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Arabic language training at various levels

Venue Hire The Chamber’s fully equipped venue options are customised to meet all requirements for your AGMs, Board Meetings, Conferences, Presentations, Trade Shows, Exhibitions, Workshops, Lectures, Product Launches and Professional Development Seminars. For venue hire enquiries please contact Omar Bdour email: omar@abcc.org.uk; tel: +44 (0)20 7659 4860.

CONTACT Cliff Lawrence, Deputy Manager, Trade Services Arab-British Chamber of Commerce e: Cliff.lawrence@abcc.org.uk t: +44(0)20-7659-4881

www.abcc.org.uk

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 73

ADVERTORIAL

Ross Consular Services Limited

Beech Court, 29 Summers Road, Burnham, Bucks SL1 7EP Tel: 01628 666001 Fax: 01628 666511 Email: docs@rossconsular.com

www.rossconsular.com

n UK Passport Renewals n 2nd Passport Applications n Childrens UK Passports n Visas n Russian Invitations

n Export Documentation (Certificates of origin, EUR1s, ATR1s) n Notarial Work n Foreign Office

n Collection/Delivery – Same Day – Overnight/International Couriers

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n Airport Meets (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton & Stansted) Others on request

www.rossconsular.com

Established 1973 Registered Agents with IPS and Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London

An unrivalled service Ross Consular Services have been providing expert advice and service to the Travel, Export and Legal Industry for over 40 years and are one of the longest serving Consular agents in London, with many of our staff providing a combined total of over 150 years experience.

We are accredited Agents with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK Passport Office, Embassies and Consulates, a Member of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and an ABTA Partner.

Our speciality is in the difficult task of obtaining both business and tourist visas and UK passports, along with processing export and legal documentation quickly and efficiently. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent service throughout and taking the stress away from our clients.

Adding Value Whether you are an individual traveller or corporate client, your application documents are rigorously pre-checked by our experts before our couriers attend the issuing authority on your behalf.

Tracking When you open an account with us you can track your application using VisaTrack™.

Expertise Our reputation for reliability and timeliness has ensured close co-operation from the many different Embassies, Consulates, Government Ministries, Chambers of Commerce and Banks involved.

The result is an unrivalled service to the world of exports and travel.

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

New members of the chamber Achieveglobal Middle East

Eleven Zero Limited

Global Minds Limited

The Old Coach House Castle Eden Durham TS27 4SU Tel: +44(0)1429 839 248 Fax: +44(0)1429 838 890 Email: john@achieveglobalmiddleeast.com Website: www.achieveglobalmiddleeast.com Contact: Mr John Cartmell Regional Director Activities: Provider of sales, leadership and customer training programmes to corporates in the Mideast

79 College Road Harrow Middlesex HA1 1BD Tel: +44(0)203 586 4095 Fax: +44(0)203 178 2371 Email: saeid@11zero.com Website: www.11zero.com Contact: Mr Saeid Nik Akhtar CEO Activities: Sources, imports, markets and distributes different high-end famous international brands

35-37 Lowlands Road Harrow Middlesex HA1 3AW Tel: +44(0)20-8432 3294 Email: sachin.j@globalminds.biz Website: www.globalminds.biz Contact: Mr Sachin Jayashekhar Director Activities: Oracle applications consulting, training and fusion applications

Class National Company for General Trade and Contracting

Elite Luxury Lifestyle

Fahaheel Block 73 Building 5 Mubarak Abdullah Al Dabous Building Office Number 50 Mezzanine Floor KUWAIT Tel: +965(0)9911 2222 Email: classalwataniya@hotmail.com Contact: Mr Naser Alfadhli CEO Activities: General trade and contracting

Craig International Supplies Ltd Denmore Road Bridge of Don Aberdeen Aberdeenshire AB23 8JW Tel: +44(0)1224-701 888 Fax: +44(0)1224-701 880 Email: cis@craig-group.com Website: www.craig-international.com Contact: Ms Jill MacDonald Joint Managing Director Activities: Oil, gas and petrochemicals

47 Park Street Southwark London SE1 9EA Tel: +44(0)7985-480 024 Email: info@eliteluxurylifestyle.com Website: www.eliteluxurylifestyle.com Contact: Ms Ruth Oti CEO Activities: Luxury leisure services for wealthy customers from holidays and private jets to event management and personal shopping

Excellent Sport PO Box 18630 Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel: +44 (0) 7943 680720 Email: info@excellentsport.co Website: www.excellentsport.co Contact: Mr Ralph Garoub Activities: Sports services and consultation

Howida Simsim Contracting Est Jeddah Old Town Saudi Business Centre Ground Floor Office No 117 Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel: +966 50 220 4488 Email: howaidasimsim@hotmail.com Contact: Mrs Howida Simsim CEO & Director Activities: Interior designer & decorator and contracting

JLL Emaar Square Building 1 Office 403 PO Box 214029 DUBAI UAE Tel: +971 4 426 6999 Email: Evgeniya.Lyapunova@eu.jll.com Website: www.jll-mena.com/ Contact: Ms Evgeniya Lyapunova Operations Executive Activities: Real estate specialists including commercial and London residential property

KS International Consultants & Public Accountants Office 54 Building 315 (Diplomat Tower) Road 1705 Block 317 Diplomatic Area Manama BAHRAIN Tel: +973 17831171 Fax: +973 17831170 Email: ahmed@ksi-me.org Website: Website: www.ksi.org Contact: Mr Ahmed Alsulaiman, Managing Partner Activities: Auditing, corporate finance, risk management, business plans, bookkeeping services, policies & procedures

Laronkarn Ltd Chartwell House 38 Church Street MALVERN Worcestershire WR14 2AZ Tel: +44(0)1684 899 306 Fax: +44(0)1684 893 322 Email: info@laronkarn.co.uk Website: www.Laronkarn.co.uk Contact: Ms Fiona Homes Director Activities: Consultancy for agrochemicals/Biocides; manufacturer of vertebrate repellents

Naylor Drainage Limited Clough Green Cawthorne Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 4AD Tel +44(0)1226-794014 Fax +44(0)1226-791376 Email: elaine.jackson@naylor.co.uk Website: www.naylor.co.uk Contact: Miss Elaine Jackson Activities: Manufacturer of building and construction products; part of Naylor Group

Newsdesk Media Limited 62-68 Rosebery Avenue London EC1R 4RR Tel: +44(0)20-7650 1600 Fax: +44(0)20-7650 1616 Email: info@newsdeskmedia.com Website: www.newsdeskmedia.com Contact: Mr Richard Linn CEO Activities: Contract publishing

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 75

Omega Ark Group Plc

Waves Media Limited UK

17 Red Lion Square London WC1R 4QH Tel: +44(0)7812-022551 Email: info@omegaark.com Contact: Mr Gavin Kaye Consultant Activities: Investment, commodities and financial products

Alperton Lane Wembley Middlesex HA0 1HD Tel: +44(0)758-7002752 Email: khabiry@mediawaves.net Website: www.mediawaves.net Contact: Mr Ahmed Elkabiry Sole Representative in the UK Activities: Marketing and communications

QIB (UK) Plc 43 Grosvenor Street London W1K 3HL Tel: +44 (0)20-7268 7240 Fax: +44 (0)20-7268 7201 Email: izaidi@qib-uk.com Website: www.qib-uk.com Contact: Mr Imran Zaidi Head of Trade & Finance Activities: Islamic investment banking services

Rosewood UK Partners Ltd 20-22 Wenlock Rd LONDON N1 7GU Tel: +44(0)8446 5459 Email: sales@rosewooduk.com Contact: Ms Sharmeen Basu Managing Director Activities: High-end luxury corporate goods including hampers, gift baskets and food

Security Services International SSI 95 High Street Gorseinon SWANSEA West Glamorgan SA4 4BL Tel: +44(0)179-270 0087 Email: info@ securityservicesinternational.co.uk Website: www.securityservicesinternational. co.uk Contact: Mr Russell Grey Managing Director Activities: Security services provider, specialising in VIP and UHNW protective services including close protection, residential security, international travel security and driver services

Associate Member Miss Lina Khashogji PhD Student Kingston London Tel: +44(0)758-441 8181 Email: lina.k@live.co.uk

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

Why choose Salamon & Seaber?

Salamon & Seaber Ltd is a firm of independent analytical chemists providing a service to clients in the global commodity trades.

Clients

Salamon & Seaber was established as a consulting and analytical chemists in 1910 in Mark Lane, in the City of London, as a partnership between Maurice Salamon and William Macro Seaber, who were both in their late twenties at the time.

They recognised that quality control was an ever more demanding requirement from buyers and sellers, of goods being imported into the London Docks from all over the British Empire.

Their analytical interests were wide, from essential oils waxes and feeding stuffs and sugars, to the detection of explosive gases in ships tanks.

Salamon became official analyst to the London Cattlefood Association and was an approved analyst for the London Oil and Tallow Trades Association. After the Second World War these were eventually to become the Grain and feed trade Association (GAFTA) and the Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations (FOSFA), both influential international trade associations.

Through these trade associations, Salamon & Seaber have a global reputation for being completely independent and impartial.

The most profound change to Salamon & Seaber occurred in 1979 when the partners decided to incorporate the partnership as a Trust for the benefit of the company’s employees, and so Salamon & Seaber Ltd was formed.

The guiding principle was to ensure the independence of the company.

Over the years Salamon & Seaber would occupy several premises, including those at Trinity Square near to the Tower of London, Rangoon Street, Crutched Friars, Northumberland Alley, Old

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Our clients are from the UK, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.

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Our client surveys show that we have a reputation for being independent and provide an impartial and reliable service.

Laboratory Accreditation

Street, Hanbury Street, and currently at Beaumont Grove.

The most recent directors, Bob Bassett, Albert Moulder and Michael Blotz, would see Salamon & Seaber develop further, expanding our analytical testing range and becoming accredited by UKAS in 1993.

The world of analytical chemists has changed in so many ways over the years with the disappearance of many independent laboratories.

This has left Salamon & Seaber as the only London based analytical chemists, in the heart of the global commodities trade.

Our staff form a tremendous team, with years of experience and expertise, working together to uphold the core principles of the company, that is, our independence, impartiality, integrity and reliability.

Wide range of commodities tested. l

Animal feed, cereals and grains, oil seeds, oils, and fats, foods for human consumption, sugar, fertilisers, pharmaceutical raw materials, etc.

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Accredited to International Laboratory Standard EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005

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Our accreditation is recognised around the world.

Long standing approved analysts to the international trade organisations; l

GAFTA (Grain and Feed Trade Association)

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FOSFA International (Federation of Oil, Seeds and Fats Association)

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The Sugar Association of London

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International Fertilizer Society

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Members of these organisations use our services for contractual purposes.

Consultation, Technical advice and personal service l

Our surveys show that for clients, analysis time, cost, personal service and communication in the clients’ language are the most important benefits.

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We always work in partnership with our clients to fulfil their requirements.

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Communication in several foreign languages including French and Arabic.

The only fully independent laboratory based in London, providing consulting and analytical testing services to clients in the United Kingdom and across the World Extensive range of analytical services relating to the animal feeds, cereals and grains, oils and fats, sugar, fertilisers and food sectors.

Accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the international standard EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005

Widely recognised in the global commodity trade with a reputation built on principles of independence, impartiality, reliability, and integrity.

Approved GAFTA analysts and FOSFA Full Member Analysts.

Salamon & Seaber Ltd 1st Floor, 2-8 Beaumont Grove, London E1 4NQ United Kingdom +44 (0)20 7791 2392

+44 (0)20 7791 3033

www.salamonandseaber.co.uk

Livelihood Thirty two year old Asmaa from Iraq is a widow and a mother of three children.

With a lack of ďŹ nancial support, she struggled to provide for her family.

However, through a sewing course facilitated by Muslim Aid, Asmaa has developed new skills, enabling her to provide an income and meet the essential needs of her children. She hopes to continue to use her skills to help more women like herself.

Iraq Muslim Aid Bosnia and Herzegovina initiated the Mini Dairy Farm project in 2011 to support beneďŹ ciaries living in rural areas to improve their economic livelihood.

The project involved setting up four mini farms for milk production for eight families.

In addition, Muslim Aid donated baby calves to the disadvantaged local families who could utilise them to provide further support.

Bosnia

As part of this project, Muslim Aid also organised a free skills training course in modern milk production, available to all beneďŹ ciaries.

Projects

working at their best

Bangladesh Before working as a seamstress, Mahinoor struggled to survive. Her husband barely made enough money to support the family and the nearby water resource was contaminated. In order to wash and drink clean water she had to walk miles to the nearest well. Luckily, with a Muslim Aid interest-free microďŹ nance loan, she was able to turn her life around. She borrowed money and bought herself a sewing machine. Once she started to work as a seamstress, orders for tailoring began to increase and her income grew.

ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS

ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

87

@SignorSassi priVaTe rooM aVailaBle

14 Knightsbridge Green, London SW1X 7QL signorsassi@sancarlo.co.uk | T: 0207 584 2277 W W W. s i g n o r s a s s i . c o . u k

Aldo Zilli now part of the San Carlo team

@CicchettiLondon

Cicchetti Covent Garden, 30 Wellington St, London WC2E 7BD | T: 020 7240 6339 215 PICCADILLY, London, W1J 9HL piccadillycicchetti@sancarlo.co.uk | T: 0207 4949435 W W W. s a n c a r l o c i c c h e T T i . c o . u k

Winner of TWenTy TWo presTigious aWards London_Business_Matters.indd 4

17/10/2014 11:27

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‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 81‬‬

‫تزيــد قيمتهــا عــى ‪ £250‬جنيــة إس ـرتليني‪ ،‬وهــي‬ ‫البضاعــة التــي ميكنــك وضعهــا يف حقيبتــك‬ ‫اليدويــة‪ .‬يف هــذه الحالــة يجــب الذهــاب إىل‬ ‫مكتــب الجــامرك بعــد اإلنتهــاء مــن نقطــة األمــن‬ ‫وقبــل التوجــه إىل الطائــرة التــي ســتقلك إىل خــارج‬ ‫أوروبــا‪ .‬ويف مكتــب الجــامرك ســيتم التحقــق مــن‬ ‫البضاعــة املوجــودة لديــك يف الحقيبــة اليدويــة‪،‬‬ ‫وســيتم ختــم النمــوذج الخــاص باســرتداد رضيبــة‬ ‫القيمــة املضافــة‪ ،‬وســتتمكن مــن اســتام املبلــغ‬ ‫مــن مكتــب اســرتداد الـــ ‪ .VAT‬ويطلــب عــادة‬ ‫أن تظهــر البضائــع التــي تحملهــا يف حقيبــة يــدك‬ ‫وكذلــك الوثائــق ملكتــب الجــامرك‪ .‬أمــا إذا كانــت‬ ‫البضائــع ســوف تُشــحن يف حقيبــة ســفر‪ ،‬فعــى‬ ‫املســافر القيــام بإج ـراءات اســرتداد الرضيبــة قبــل‬ ‫وضــع الحقائــب عنــد نقطــة اســتام الحقائــب‪.‬‬

‫إىل آخــر دولــة أوروبيــة يقلــع منهــا إىل خــارج‬ ‫االتحــاد األورويب‪ .‬أمــا إذا كان املســافر يف طريقه إىل‬ ‫دولــة أوروبيــة أخــرى ينتقــل فيهــا إىل طائــرة أخرى‬ ‫تقلــه إىل خــارج أوروبــا فيمكنــة أحــد خياريــن‪.‬‬ ‫• يف بعــض املطــارات‪ ،‬قــد ال يوجــد رجــال جــامرك‪،‬‬ ‫وهنــا يتعــن االتصــال برقــم هاتفــي حتــى يحــرض‬ ‫أحدهــم لختــم االســتامرة‪ ،‬أو تــرك الوثائــق يف‬ ‫صنــدوق خــاص يف املطــارات معــد لهــذا الغــرض‪.‬‬ ‫وســوف يفحــص رجــال الجــامرك الطلــب فيــام‬ ‫بعــد‪ ،‬وإذا كان املســافر يســتحق اســتعادة الرضيبة‬ ‫تجــري إعادتهــا لــه عــن طريــق متجــر البيــع‪.‬‬ ‫• بعــد موافقــة الجــامرك عــى اســرتجاع رضيبــة‬ ‫ميكــن الحصــول عليها‬ ‫القيمــة املضافــة‪،‬‬

‫‪ .5‬استالم األموال‬ ‫الخطــوة الخامســة‪ :‬يعتمــد عــى نوع االســتامرة‬ ‫الخاصــة باســرتداد الرضيبــة املضافــة التــي‬ ‫لديــك‪ ،‬حيــث أن بعــض أنــواع االســتامرات‬ ‫تؤهلــك الســرتداد الرضيبــة املضافــة‬ ‫عــن طريــق ارســالها لبطاقــة‬ ‫االئتــامن الخاصــة بــك‪ ،‬أو عــن‬ ‫طريــق شــيك يتــم إرســاله لعنوانك‬ ‫الخــاص‪ .‬ومــا غــر هــذا‪ ،‬ميكنــك‬ ‫اســتام املبالــغ نقــدا ً (ميكــن‬ ‫ان تكــون هنــاك بعــض التكاليــف‬ ‫للخدمــة)‪ ،‬وميكنــك دفــع هــذه التكاليــف‬ ‫بنــوع آخــر مــن العملــة وليــس إلزام ـاً أن تكــون‬ ‫بالجنيــه اإلســرتليني‪ .‬ويف بعــض الحــاالت ال يحصــل‬ ‫املشــرتي عــى كامــل الرضيبــة حيــث ســيخصم‬ ‫منهــا املحــل أو رشكــة التحصيــل رســوماً إضافيــة‬ ‫لقــاء إدارة عمليــة طلــب اســتعادة رضيبــة القيمــة‬ ‫املضافــة إليــه‪.‬‬

‫مالحظات هامة‪:‬‬

‫• إذا كان املشــرتي مســافرا ً إىل دولــة خــارج االتحــاد‬ ‫األورويب‪ ،‬فــا بــد مــن تقديــم البضائــع املشــرتاة‬ ‫وإيصــاالت الــرشاء واســتامرة اســرتداد الرضيبــة‬ ‫إىل مكتــب الجــامرك‪ .‬ويجــب إتاحــة املزيــد مــن‬ ‫الوقــت يف املطــار للتعامــل مــع الجــامرك قبــل‬ ‫الســفر‪.‬‬ ‫• إذا كان املســافر متوجهــاً إىل دولــة أوروبيــة‬ ‫أخــرى‪ ،‬فعليــه أن يقــوم بتقديــم البضائــع والوثائــق‬

‫وفــق األســلوب الــذي جــرى االتفــاق عليــه مــع‬ ‫منفــذ البيــع‪ .‬وميكــن إرســال الوثيقــة املختومــة من‬ ‫الجــامرك إىل املتجــر أو إىل رشكــة تحصيــل تجاريــة‬ ‫أو تقدميهــا ملنفــذ يف املطــار ميثــل أيـاً مــن الرشكتن‬ ‫لــي يحصــل الشــخص عــى الرضيبــة نقــدا ً‪ ،‬بعــد‬ ‫خصــم رســوم الرشكــة‪.‬‬ ‫• يجــب أن تكتمــل كل اإلجــراءات قبــل مغــادرة‬ ‫االتحــاد األورويب‪ ،‬حيــث ال ميكــن اســتعادة الرضيبة‬ ‫بعــد وصــول املســافر إىل بلــده‪ .‬وتقــدم إدارة‬ ‫الجــامرك الربيطانيــة رشحـاً لهــذه اإلجـراءات عــى‬ ‫موقعهــا اإللكــرتوين بعــدة لغــات مــن بينهــا اللغــة‬ ‫العربيــة التــي ميكــن مراجعتهــا عــى املوقــع التــايل‪:‬‬ ‫‪http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk‬‬

‫مــام يُذكــر أن هنــاك بعــض البضائــع املعفــاة مــن‬ ‫رضائــب القيمــة املضافــة يف بريطانيــا‪ ،‬مثــل الكتب‬ ‫ومابــس األطفــال واملــواد الغذائيــة‪ .‬وهنالــك أيضــا‬ ‫بعــض املشــرتيات التــي تفــرض عليهــا رضيبــة‬ ‫قيمــة مضافــة مخفضــة‪ ،‬مثــل مقاعــد األطفــال يف‬ ‫الســيارات‪ ،‬التــي تفــرض عليهــا نســبة ‪ %5‬فقــط‪.‬‬ ‫تضــع بعــض املتاجــر حــدا ً أدىن لقيمــة املشــرتيات‬ ‫يصــل إىل ‪ 75‬جنيهـاً إسـرتلينياً قبــل أن تقــدم خدمــة‬ ‫اســتعادة الرضيبــة‪ .‬ولكــن الحــد األدىن الرســمي ال‬ ‫يزيــد عــن ‪ 30‬جنيهــاً إســرتلينياً‪ .‬وتختلــف نســب‬ ‫الرضيبــة والحــد األدىن بــن بلــد وآخــر حتــى داخــل‬ ‫أوروبــا‪.‬‬ ‫مــن املاحظــات التــي يتعــن ذكرهــا هــي أن‬ ‫اســتعادة الرضيبــة عمليــة ســهلة ولكنهــا تســتغرق‬ ‫كثـرا ً مــن الوقــت‪ ،‬ليــس فقــط يف إجـراءات طلــب‬ ‫اســتعادة الرضيبــة ولكــن أيضـاً يف انتظــار دفعها‪.‬‬ ‫ويذكــر البعــض فــرتات انتظــار تصــل إىل ‪18‬‬ ‫شــهرا ً أحيانــاً للحصــول عــى نســبة‬ ‫الرضيبــة يف آيرلنــدا‪ .‬وتحــاول بعــض‬ ‫املتاجــر تفــادي هــذا التأخر برصف‬ ‫الرضيبــة مــن منافــذ خاصــة يف‬ ‫املطــارات فــور ختــم االســتامرة‬ ‫مــن الجــامرك‪ ،‬أو تحويــل قيمــة‬ ‫الرضيبــة إىل حســاب بطاقــة االئتــامن‬ ‫التــي يحملهــا املشــرتي فــور إرســاله‬ ‫االســتامرة املختومــة جمركيــاً بالربيــد‪.‬‬ ‫وهنــاك أســلوب ثالــث‪ ،‬وهــو شــحن البضائــع‬ ‫مبــارشة مــن املتجــر إىل عنوانــك خــارج أوروبــا‪،‬‬ ‫ولكــن مــا توفــره مــن الرضيبــة ســوف تدفعــه‬ ‫وأكــر يف عمليــة الشــحن‪.‬‬ ‫نســب رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة يف بعــض الــدول‬ ‫والحــد األدىن الســتعادتها (بالــدوالر)‪:‬‬ ‫بريطانيا ‪ 39 ،%20‬دوالرا؛‬ ‫فرنسا ‪ 240 ،%19.6‬دوالرا؛‬ ‫أملانيا ‪ 34 ،%19‬دوالرا؛‬ ‫إسبانيا ‪ 124 ،%18‬دوالرا؛‬ ‫سويرسا ‪ 318 ،%25‬دوالرا؛‬ ‫الدمنارك ‪ 55 ،%25‬دوالرا‪.‬‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫متاجــر تعلــن ذلــك عــن طريــق عامــة «تســوق‬ ‫بــا رضائــب» (‪ )Tax Free Shopping‬وهــو‬ ‫برنامــج تطوعــي وال تلتــزم بــه كل متــادر التجزئــة‬ ‫يف بريطانيــا‪ .‬عنــد رشاء الســلع‪ ،‬يجــب عليــك أن‬ ‫تبلــغ متاجــر التجزئــة التــي تبتــاع منهــا عــى الفــور‬ ‫بأنــك ترغــب يف اســتعادة رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة‪.‬‬ ‫وســوف يــزودك متجــر التجزئــة باالســتامرة‬ ‫املخصصــة الســرتداد رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة لــي‬ ‫تعبئهــا وتضــع توقيعــك عليهــا‪.‬‬ ‫‪ .2‬امىلء االستامرة‬ ‫الخطــوة الثانيــة‪ :‬تطلــب مــن املتجــر الحصــول‬ ‫عــى اســتامرة اســمها «فــات ‪ »407‬أو مــا يعادلهــا‬ ‫مــن املحــل نفســه‪ ،‬أو الحصــول عــى إيصــال عليــه‬ ‫إشــارة إىل بيــع البضائــع ألخذهــا إىل الخــارج‪ .‬تأكــد‬ ‫مــن تعبــأة االســتامرة بــكل الحقــول املطلوبــة فيها‪.‬‬ ‫‪ .3‬يف املطــار‪ ،‬اذهــب إىل الجــامرك قبــل التوجــه‬ ‫لنقطــة األمــن (التأشــريات)‬ ‫زيارتــك لربيطانيــا‪ .‬معــدل رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة‬ ‫يف بريطانيــا حالي ـاَ ‪ ،%20‬وبهــذه الطريقــة ميكنــك‬ ‫تحقيــق وفــورات كبــرة‪.‬‬ ‫ميكنــك املطالبــة باســرتداد الرضيبــة املضافــة ألي‬ ‫يشء تشــرتي من املتاجر املشــاركة يف نظام اســرتداد‬ ‫قيمــة الرضيبــة املضافــة والتــي تــ ّم إدراج قيمــة‬ ‫الرضيبــة املضافــة بالفعــل يف أســعار بضائعهــا‪،‬‬ ‫باســتثناء مــا يــي‪:‬‬

‫السلع التي ال ميكن استعادة‬ ‫رضيبة املبيعات عليها‪:‬‬ ‫• خدمات الضيافة (مثل فواتر الفنادق)؛‬

‫• الســلع املشــرتاة عــرب اإلنرتنــت أو عــن طريــق‬ ‫النظــام اإللكــرتوين؛‬

‫• الســلع التــي تبلــغ قيمتهــا أكــر مــن ‪ £600‬جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني‪ ،‬والتــي يتــم تصديرهــا ألغـراض تجاريــة؛‬ ‫• الســلع بكميــات كبــرة والتــي يتــم تصديرهــا من‬ ‫خال الشــحن‪.‬‬ ‫• السيارات املستعملة والجديدة؛‬ ‫• اليخــت الشــخيص (يقــوده الشــخص بنفســه إىل‬ ‫خــارج االتحــاد األورويب)؛‬ ‫• الذهــب فــوق وزن ‪ 125‬غرام ـاً أو الفضــة فــوق‬ ‫وزن ‪ 2.75‬أونصــة؛‬ ‫• بضائــع يســتهلك بعضهــا داخــل االتحــاد األورويب‬ ‫مثــل الربفانــات وعلــب الشــكوالته؛‬

‫• الســلع االســتهاكية التــي قمــت باســتهاكها أو‬ ‫بــدأت بالفعــل باســتخدامها؛‬

‫كيف ميكنني املطالبة‬ ‫باسرتداد قيمة الرضيبة‬ ‫املضافة؟‬

‫• الســلع التــي يف حاجــة اىل رخصــة خاصــة‬ ‫لتصديرهــا (باســتثناء التحــف)؛‬

‫الخطــوة األوىل‪ :‬يف رحلــة اســتعادة الرضيبــة هــي‬ ‫اختيــار محــل تجــاري يقــدم هــذه الخدمــة‪ ،‬وهــي‬

‫• األحجار الكرمية الخام‪.‬‬

‫‪ .1‬احصل عىل استامرة اسرتداد الرضيبة املضافة‬

‫الخطــوة الثالثــة‪ :‬يتعــن مــلء االســتامرة الخاصــة‬ ‫بطلــب اســتعادة الرضيبــة‪ ،‬ويجب أن يتــم يف املحل‬ ‫الــذي تــم منــه الـرشاء وأمــام البائــع مبــارشة‪ ،‬حيث‬ ‫ســيطلب البائــع دليـاً عــى أحقيــة الحصــول عــى‬ ‫اإلعفــاء الرضيبــي (مثــل جــواز الســفر األجنبــي)‪.‬‬ ‫كــام يتعــن أيضـاً االتفــاق مــع البائــع حــول كيفيــة‬ ‫اســتعادة رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة‪ ،‬فبعــض املحات‬ ‫ميكنهــا أن تدفــع الفــارق مبــارشة إىل املشــرتي‬ ‫وبعضهــا اآلخــر يعمــل مــن خــال رشكات خاصــة‬ ‫تنجــز إجـراءات رد الرضائــب يتوجــه إليهــا املشــرتي‬ ‫يف املطــار قبيــل الســفر‪ .‬مــن أجــل اســتعادة رضيبة‬ ‫القيمــة املضافــة عــى الســلع التــي اشــرتيتها‬ ‫واملوجــودة بالفعــل يف حقائبــك التــي ســيتوجب‬ ‫وضعهــا عــى ح ـزام األمتعــة الذاهــب إىل الطائــرة‬ ‫التــي ســتقلك‪ ،‬يجــب عليــك الذهــاب إىل مكتــب‬ ‫الجــامرك قبــل أعطــاء أمتعتــك لنقطــة التفتيــش‬ ‫وقبــل التوجــه لنقطــة تفتيــش الجــوازات‪ .‬وعنــد‬ ‫مكتــب الجــامرك ســيقومون بالتحقــق مــن وثائقك‬ ‫وختــم االســتامرة الخاصــة باســرتداد الرضيبــة‬ ‫املضافــة (‪ .)VAT‬ويك تســتلم املبلــغ يجــب عليــك‬ ‫التوجــه إىل مكتــب اســرتداد الرضيبــة‪.‬‬ ‫‪ .4‬ميكنــك التوجــه إىل مكتــب الجــامرك بعــد إمتــام‬ ‫إجـراءات تفتيــش الجــوازات والتأشـريات‬ ‫الخطــوة الرابعــة‪ :‬إذا كنــت تريــد اســرتداد الرضيبــة‬ ‫املضافــة تخــص مجوهــرات أو أجهــزة كهربائيــة‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 83‬‬

‫?‪Are you eligible to claim a VAT refund‬‬ ‫يقبــل كثــر مــن الســياح إىل بريطانيــا مــن أجــل‬ ‫التســوق‪ ،‬خصوص ـاً يف مواســم التخفيضــات ســواء‬ ‫يف فصــل الصيــف أو الشــتاء‪ .‬النســبة الكــربى مــن‬ ‫هــؤالء تدفــع مثــن املشــرتيات نقــدا ً أو ببطاقــات‬ ‫االئتــامن‪ .‬إال أن أغلــب الســياح يغفلــون اســتعادة‬ ‫رضيبــة املبيعــات أو رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة‬ ‫(‪ ،)VAT‬والتــي عــادة مــا تفــرض عــى املشــرتيات‬ ‫التــي يقــوم بهــا املســافرون مــن خــارج أرايض‬ ‫االتحــاد األورويب والتــي تتوجــه إىل خــارج بريطانيا‪.‬‬ ‫هــذه النســبة تصــل إىل ‪ %20‬مــن قيمــة معظــم‬ ‫املشــرتيات وميكــن اســتعادتها بســهولة باتبــاع‬ ‫بعــض اإلرشــادات البســيطة‪.‬‬ ‫ويســتثنى مــن ذلــك الخدمــات كــام ال ميكــن‬ ‫اســتعادة رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة عــى بعــض‬ ‫الســلع‪ .‬وتقــول اإلرشــادات الحكوميــة الربيطانيــة‬ ‫إن الزائــر مــن بلــد خــارج االتحــاد األورويب ميكنــه‬ ‫أن يســرتد قيمــة رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة عــى‬ ‫مشــرتياته مــن املحــات التجاريــة الربيطانيــة أثنــاء‬ ‫زيارتــه‪ .‬ويقتــرص األمــر عــى املشــرتيات التــي‬ ‫يصطحبهــا الزائــر معــه إىل خــارج االتحــاد األورويب‬ ‫لــدى عودتــه‪ .‬كذلــك يتعــن مراعــاة الحــد األدىن‬ ‫املطلــوب لســعر الســلعة قبــل املطالبــة بهــذه‬ ‫الرضيبــة‪ ،‬وهــو يختلــف بــن متجــر وآخــر‪.‬‬ ‫ويشــرتط القانــون أن يكــون الزائــر مقي ـامً خــارج‬ ‫االتحــاد األورويب‪ ،‬وأن يكــون عائــدا ً إىل خــارج‬ ‫االتحــاد األورويب خــال الثاثــة أشــهر األوىل بعــد‬

‫شــهر رشائــه البضائــع التــي يرغــب يف اســتعادة‬ ‫رضائبهــا‪ .‬وعليــه أن يحمــل معــه هــذه البضائــع‬ ‫املشــرتاة وإيصــاالت الــرشاء‪ ،‬وأن ميــأل اســتامرة‬ ‫طلــب اســتعادة الرضيبــة‪ .‬وهنــاك فصــول أخــرى‬ ‫تخــص املقيمــن يف بريطانيــا أو أوروبــا‪ ،‬الذيــن‬ ‫يتعــن عليهــم أن يكونــوا مســافرين خــارج االتحــاد‬ ‫األورويب ملــدة تزيــد عــن ‪ 12‬شــهرا حتــى يتســنى‬ ‫لهــم اســتعادة الرضيبــة‪.‬‬ ‫لدراســة حــول مــا إذا كنــت مؤهــاً للمطالبــة‬ ‫باســرتداد رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة (‪)VAT‬‬ ‫ملشــرتياتك يف بريطانيــا‪ ،‬وكذلــك بعــض رصفياتــك‬ ‫األخــرى‪ ،‬نوافيــك بهــذا العــرض املبســط عــن‬ ‫املوضــوع وكيفيــة اســرتداد رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة‬ ‫يف اململكــة املتحــدة‪.‬‬

‫ستكون مؤهالَ السرتداد‬ ‫رضيبة القيمة املضافة يف‬ ‫الحاالت التالية‪:‬‬

‫• أنت كنت تعيش عادة خارج االتحاد األورويب؛‬

‫• إذا كنــت تعيــش خــارج االتحــاد األورويب ولكنــك‬ ‫تعمــل أو تــدرس يف اململكــة املتحــدة‪ ،‬فقــد تكــون‬ ‫مؤه ـاَ الســرتداد الرضيبــة املضافــة إذا كان لديــك‬ ‫دليــل يثبــت بأنــك ســتغادر أرايض االتحــاد األورويب‬ ‫وملــدة أكــر مــن ‪ 12‬شــهرا ً‪.‬‬

‫• يســتطيع مواطنــي االتحــاد األورويب اســرتداد‬ ‫رضيبــة القيمــة املضافــة إذا كانوا ســيغادرون أرايض‬ ‫اململكــة املتحــدة لوجهــة خــارج أرايض االتحــاد‬ ‫األورويب‪ ،‬ولديهــم الدليــل بأنهــم لــن يعــودوا إىل‬ ‫االتحــاد األورويب يف غضــون ‪ 12‬شــهرا القادمــة‪.‬‬

‫يف جميع الحاالت يجب‬ ‫عليك‪:‬‬

‫• أن تكــون قــادرا عــى إثبــات أن كنــت تنتمــي إىل‬ ‫واحــدة مــن الفئــات املذكــورة أعــاه‪ ،‬وذلــك مــن‬ ‫خــال إظهــار الجــامرك والرضيبــة جــواز ســفرك‪،‬‬ ‫وتأش ـرات الدخــول و وثائــق أخــرى؛‬

‫• يجــب عليــك أن تأخــذ البضاعــة خــارج االتحــاد‬ ‫األورويب قبــل مــي ثاثــة أشــهر وبعــد شــهر إجراء‬ ‫التعامــل (عــى ســبيل املثــال‪ :‬البضائــع التــي يتــم‬ ‫رشاؤهــا يف ‪ 1‬ينايــر أو ‪ 31‬ينايــر‪ ،‬يكــون آخــر يــوم‬ ‫إلخراجهــا خــارج الحــدود هــو يــوم ‪ 30‬أبريــل)‪.‬‬

‫هل أنت مؤهل للمطالبة‬ ‫اسرتداد رضيبة القيمة‬ ‫املضافة؟‬

‫إذا كنــت تعيــش خــارج االتحــاد األورويب ميكنــك‬ ‫اســتعادة رضيبــة املبيعــات (‪ )VAT‬يف اململكــة‬ ‫املتحــدة ألشــياء كثــرة كنــت قــد اشــرتيتها أثنــاء‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫رضائب البنوك‪:‬‬ ‫• أوزبــورن ســيضيف نســبة ‪ %8‬إضافيــة رضيبــة‬ ‫عــى األربــاح مــن البنــوك األربــاح وذلــك مــن غايــة‬ ‫شــهر ينايــر ‪ .2016‬وســوف تطبــق الرضيبــة عــى‬ ‫البنــوك األربــاح الســنوية كاملــة‪ ،‬مــع عــدم وجــوب‬ ‫أيــة مســاعدات لخســائر التــي ممكــن قــد تحققت‬ ‫يف الســنوات الســابقة‪ .‬وهــذا يتبــع خطــوة امليزانية‬ ‫يف شــهر مــارس املــايض لخفــض اإلغاثــة يف خســارة‬ ‫للبنــوك للنصــف‪.‬‬ ‫• ويف املقابــل‪ ،‬قــال انــه ســوف يبــدأ يف خفــض‬ ‫الرضيبــة املرصفيــة مــن نســبة ‪ %0.21‬إىل ‪%0.18‬‬ ‫العــام املقبــل‪ ،‬ومــن ثــم تخفــض تدريجياً إىل نســبة‬ ‫‪ %0.1‬يف عــام ‪.2021‬‬

‫إلغاء صفة عدم املقيميني بشكل نهايئ‪:‬‬

‫تقــدر بأكــر مــن ‪ 2‬مليــون جنيــه إس ـرتليني‪.‬‬

‫ســيتم إلغــاء الوضــع الرضيبــي للشــخص املوصــوف‬ ‫بـــ “غــر املقيــم”‪ ،‬أو أولئــك الذيــن كانــوا يف اململكة‬ ‫املتحــدة ألكــر مــن ‪ 15‬ســنة مــن الســنوات الـــ ‪20‬‬ ‫املاضيــة‪ .‬وبهــذا ســتلغى الصفــة وضــع “غــر املقيم‬ ‫الدائــم” مــن غايــة أبريــل عــام ‪ ،2017‬وبهــذا فــإن‬ ‫أي شــخص أقــام يف اململكــة املتحــدة ملــدة ‪15‬‬ ‫ســنة مــن الســنوات الـــ ‪ 20‬األخــرة ســيدفع نفــس‬ ‫املســتوى مــن الرضائــب كاملواطنــن األخريــن يف‬ ‫اململكــة املتحــدة‪ ،‬وبهــذا التطبيــق ســرتتقع عوائــد‬ ‫الدولــة الرضيبــة بهــذا الخصــوص مبــا يقــدر ‪1.5‬‬ ‫مليــار جنيــه إسـرتليني‪.‬‬

‫• العتبــة الجديــدة لإلعفــاء الرضيبــي ســتكون‬ ‫ضعــف للمتزوجــن والــرشكاء يف الحيــاة املدنيــة‪،‬‬ ‫وهــذا يعنــي أن أحدهــم ســيكون قــادرا ً عــى‬ ‫وراثــة مــا يصــل إىل ‪ 1‬مليــون جنيــه إسـرتليني مــن‬ ‫الشــخص اآلخــر معفــاة مــن الرضيبــة‪.‬‬

‫وقــال أوزبــورن بــأن األفــراد الذيــن يعيشــون يف‬ ‫اململكــة املتحــدة ممــن ولــدوا ألبويــن مقيميــن‬ ‫يف اململكــة املتحــدة ســيكون أيض ـاً غــر مؤهلــن‬ ‫للحصــول عــى وضــع رضيبــي خــاص بالشــخص‬ ‫“غــر مقيــم”‪.‬‬ ‫رضيبة املرياث‪:‬‬ ‫• مــن غايــة عــام ‪ ،2017‬ســيكون هنــاك مبلــغ‬ ‫‪ 175,000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني إضافيــة إعفــاء‬ ‫رضيبــي يف املـراث ألولئــك الذيــن يرتكــون منازلهــم‬ ‫ألوالدهــم أو أحفادهــم‪ ،‬إضافــة إىل اإلعفاء األســاس‬ ‫يف رضيبــة املـراث عى املبالــغ املقدرة بـــ ‪325,000‬‬ ‫ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني املعمــول بهــا حاليـاً‪ .‬وســوف‬ ‫لــن يشــمل بهــذا اإلعفــاء ذوي العقــارات التــي‬

‫رضائب املعاشات التقاعدية‪:‬‬ ‫• مــن يكســب أكــر مــن ‪ 150,000‬ألــف جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني ســنوياً‪ ،‬ســتنخفض العتبــة لألعفــاء‬ ‫الرضيبــي لــه مــن ‪ 40,000‬ألــف جنيــه إس ـرتليني‬ ‫يف الســنة إىل حــد أدىن بقــدر ‪ 10,000‬ألــف جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني‪.‬‬ ‫• إن الحكومــة تجــري مشــاورات عــى نظــام‬ ‫التقاعــد الجديــد عــى غــرار ‪ ISA‬حيــث يدفــع‬ ‫املدخريــن الرضيبــة عــى املبلــغ املدخــر‪ ،‬ولكــن‬ ‫ليــس عندمــا يتــم إخراجــه ذلــك املبلــغ‪.‬‬ ‫ســيتم اســتبدال العتبــة الخاصــة بالســامح الرضيبي‬ ‫مــن ‪ 5,000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني معفــاة مــن‬ ‫الرضائــب‪.‬‬ ‫• ولكــن ســيتم زيــادة معــدالت الرضيبــة عــى‬ ‫األربــاح مــن نســبة صفــر لتصــل إىل ‪ %7.5‬لدافعــي‬ ‫رضيبــة الدخــل املعــدل األســايس‪ ،‬ومن نســبة ‪%25‬‬ ‫إىل ‪ %32.5‬لدافعــي الرضائــب معــدل أعــى‪ ،‬ومــن‬ ‫نســبة ‪ %30.56‬إىل ‪ %38.1‬لدافعــي نســبة إضافيــة‬ ‫مــن الرضائــب عــى الدخــل‪.‬‬

‫• عمومــا‪ ،‬ســوف تكلــف هــذه التغيـرات أكــر مــن‬ ‫مــا توقعــه الســيد أوزبــورن حيــث أن املقرضــن‬ ‫ســيدفعون مبلــغ ‪ 415‬مليــون جنيــه إســرتليني يف‬ ‫الســنة املاليــة ‪ ،17 /2016‬ومبلــغ ‪ 555‬مليــون جنيه‬ ‫إســرتليني إضافيــة يف عــام ‪ ،18 /2017‬و مبلــغ ‪365‬‬ ‫مليــون جنيــه إيرتلينــي إضافيــة يف الســنة املاليــة‬ ‫‪.19 /2018‬‬ ‫اإلنتاجية واملهارات‪:‬‬ ‫• قــال أوزبــورن أن “الكثــر مــن الــرشكات الكبــرة‬ ‫تغــادر مهمــة التدريــب لآلخريــن‪ ،‬وبهــذا فهــي‬ ‫تســتغل النظــام ملصالحهــا بشــكل كبــر”‪.‬‬ ‫• وهــو لهــذا الســبب ســيقوم بإدخال فــرض رضيبة‬ ‫“التلمــذة أو التدريــب” عــى الرشكات الكبــرة‪ ،‬ويف‬ ‫املقابــل ســتتلقى الــرشكات التــي تقــوم بتدريــب‬ ‫املبتدئــن أمــواال أكــر مــام كان عليــه الوضع ســابقاً‪.‬‬ ‫• وأشــاد الســيد أوزبــورن باإلصاحــات التــي تخــص‬ ‫إلغــاء الرســوم الدراســية ويصفــه بأنــه “انتصــار‬ ‫لإلصــاح التدريجــي” للحصــول عــى املزيــد مــن‬ ‫الطــاب مــن خلفيــات فقــرة يف الجامعــات‪ ،‬وإزالــة‬ ‫الغطــاء الحــايل عــى عــدد الطــاب املقبولــن يف‬ ‫الجامعــات‪.‬‬ ‫• وقــال أوزبــورن أنــه مــن غايــة الســنة املاليــة‬ ‫‪ 2016/17‬ســيتم اســتبدال املنــح إعانــة الطلبــة‬ ‫بقــروض للطــاب ليتــم تســديدها عندمــا يتمكنــوا‬ ‫مــن كســب دخــل مــن ‪ 21,000‬ألــف جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني‪ ،‬وســتكون قــروض تصــل إىل ‪ 8,200‬ألــف‬ ‫متاحــة للطلبــة‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 85‬‬

‫مستوى جديد للحد األدىن لألجور‪:‬‬ ‫• ســرتفع الحــد الوطنــي األدىن لألجــور ليصــل‬ ‫إىل حــدود جديــدة‪ ،‬إىل ‪ 9‬جنيــه إســرتليني كأجــر‬ ‫للســاعة الواحــدة مــن العمــل وذلــك بحلــول عــام‬ ‫‪ ،2020‬ويعــد هــذا إلزاميـاً ملــن هــم فــوق ســن ‪25‬‬ ‫عامـاً‪ ،‬وهــذا مــا يعــادل نســبة ‪ %60‬مــن متوســط‬ ‫الدخــل‪.‬‬ ‫• ســيبدأ الحــد األدىن لألجــور باالرتفــاع إىل ‪7.20‬‬ ‫جنيــه إســرتليني مــن غايــة شــهر أبريــل عــام ‪،2015‬‬ ‫وإن اللجنــة املختصــة باألجــور املنخفظــة ســوف‬ ‫ت ُؤســس لتنفيــذ قـرار الوزيــر أوزبــورن بشــأن رفــع‬ ‫الحــد األدىن لألجــور إىل ‪ 9‬جنيــه إســرتليني‪ ،‬وهــذه‬ ‫زيــادة كبــرة مقارنــة مــع الحــد األدىن الوطنــي‬ ‫لألجــور الــذي كان ‪ 6.5‬جنيــه إســرتليني يف الســاعة‬ ‫والــذي دام العمــل بــه خــال القــرن ‪ 21‬وحتــى‬ ‫الوقــت الحــايل‪.‬‬ ‫• وقــال أوزبــورن أن هــذه الزيــادة ســيكون لهــا‬ ‫تأثـرا ً “جزئيـاً” عــى الحــد مــن مســتوى التوظيف‪،‬‬ ‫حيــث ســيكون االنخفــاض بفــرص العمــل ال يتجاوز‬ ‫‪ 60,000‬فرصــة عمــل أقــل بســبب هــذه الزيــادة يف‬ ‫األجــور‪ .‬وســيتم العمــل عــى زيــادة األجــور جنبـاً‬ ‫إىل جنــب مــع العمــل عــى إيجــاد نحــو ‪ 1‬مليــون‬ ‫فرصــة عمــل جديــدة يف االقتصــاد بشــكل عــام‪.‬‬ ‫• وقــال أوزبــورن أن أكــر مــن ‪ 6‬مليــون شــخص‬ ‫ســرى زيــادة يف رواتبهــم وأجورهــم‪.‬‬ ‫تخفيضات مساعدات الرعاية االجتامعية‪:‬‬ ‫قــال أوزبــورن إنــه ســيمي قدمــاً يف تطبيــق‬ ‫إصاحــات جديــدة لنظــام الرعايــة االجتامعيــة‬ ‫تتضمــن تخفيضــات كبــرة يف ميزانيــة الرعايــة‬ ‫االجتامعيــة عــى الرغــم مــن تزايــد الســخط‬ ‫الشــعبي ضــد خطــط الحكومــة الربيطانيــة يف‬ ‫هــذا النــوع مــن التقشــف‪ .‬واشــرتك مــل مــن‬ ‫أوزبــورن وأيــان دانــكان ســميث‪ ،‬وزيــر التأمينــات‬ ‫االجتامعيــة‪ ،‬إن حكومــة املحافظــن التــي أعيــد‬ ‫انتخابهــا حديث ـاً ســتمي قدم ـاً يف خطــط خفــض‬ ‫ميزانيــة املســاعدات والتأمينــات االجتامعيــة وذلك‬ ‫بنحــو ‪ 12‬مليــار جنيــه إســرتليني (أي مــا يعــادل ‪19‬‬ ‫مليــار دوالر) مــن ميزانيــة بريطانيــا الســنوية التــي‬ ‫يبلــغ حجمهــا ‪ 220‬مليــار جنيــه‪ ،‬وتشــمل أيضــاً‬ ‫معاشــات التقاعــد لكبــار الســن‪.‬‬ ‫وأثــر هــذا اإلعــان‪ ،‬نظــم عــرشات اآلالف مــن‬ ‫املواطنيــن الربيطانيــن مســرة أنطلقــت مــن بنــك‬

‫إنجلــرتا يف الحــي املــايل بلنــدن وصــوالً إىل مبنــى‬ ‫الربملــان لاحتجــاج عــى أي تخفيضــات أخــرى‬ ‫قائلــن إنهــا غــر رضوريــة وســتؤدي إىل تفاقــم‬ ‫عــدم املســاواة‪.‬‬ ‫ويتضمــن برنامج الجكومة يف التقشــف مبســاعدات‬ ‫الرعايــة االجتامعية اآليت‪:‬‬ ‫• ســيتم توفــر نحــو ‪ 12‬مليــار جنيــه إسـرتليني مــن‬ ‫وفــورات مســاعدات الرعايــة االجتامعيــة‪ ،‬مــع ت ّركز‬ ‫اإلنفــاق يف الرعايــة االجتامعيــة عــى فئــات كبــار‬ ‫الســن وذوي االحتياجــات الخاصــة‪.‬‬ ‫• لــن تخضــع مســاعدات اإلعاقــة للتغــر الرضيبــي‬ ‫أو حتــى اختبارهــا‪ ،‬يف حــن ســتذهب املزيــد مــن‬ ‫املســاعدات إىل مراكــز النســاء الاجئــات‪.‬‬ ‫• بالنســبة ألولئــك الذيــن تـرتاوح أعامرهــم مــا بــن‬ ‫‪ ،18-21‬يجــب تطبيــق سياســة “أكســب أو تعلــم”‪،‬‬ ‫ويقــول أوزبــورن‪ ،‬وبغــر ذلــك ســوف تفقــد هــذه‬ ‫الفئــة العمريــة الحــق يف الحصــول عى مســاعدات‬ ‫الســكن بشــكل تلقــايئ‪.‬‬ ‫• مــن غايــة عــام ‪ ،2017‬جميــع اآلبــاء واألمهــات‬ ‫لألطفــال مــا بــن ســن ‪ 4 – 3‬مــن العمــر يجــب‬ ‫عليهــم العمــل إذا مــا كانــوا يريــدون الحصــول‬ ‫عــى املســاعدة االجتامعيــة‪ ،‬ولكــن أيض ـاً العمــل‬ ‫‪ 30‬ســاعة اســبوعياً عــى األقــل يك يكونــوا مؤهلــن‬ ‫للحصــول عــى خدمــات رعايــة األطفــال‪ ،‬وهــذا‬ ‫التغيــر ميثــل ارتفاعــاً مــن ‪ 15‬ســاعة عمــل يف‬ ‫الوقــت الحــايل إىل ‪ 30‬ســاعة عمــل‪.‬‬ ‫• ســيتم خفــض الحــد األقــى للمســاعدات‬ ‫والفوائــد االجتامعيــة مــن مســتوى ‪ 26,000‬ألــف‬ ‫جنيــه إســرتليني ســنوياً إىل ‪ 23,000‬ألــف جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني ســنوياً يف مدينــة لنــدن‪ ،‬وإىل ‪20,000‬‬ ‫ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني ســنوياً يف بقيــة أنحــاء‬ ‫اململكــة املتحــدة‪.‬‬ ‫• األشــخاص الذيــن يحصلــون عــى دخــل أعــى‬ ‫مــن هــذا ويتمتعــون بالســكن االجتامعــي (دور‬ ‫اململوكــة للدولــة) ســوف يضطــرون لدفــع إيجــار‬ ‫يعــادل ذلــك يف ســعر الســوق ملنازلهــم‪ .‬وهــذا‬ ‫ينطبــق عــى األشــخاص الذيــن يكســبون فــوق‬ ‫‪ 40,000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني ســنوياً يف مدينــة‬ ‫لنــدن‪ ،‬و ‪ 30,000‬ألــف جنيــه إس ـرتليني ســنوياً يف‬ ‫أي مــكان آخــر يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬ ‫• ســوف يتــم تجميــد اســتحقاقات العمــل ملــدة‬

‫أربــع ســنوات‪ ،‬مبــا يف ذلــك اإلعفــاءات الرضيبيــة‬ ‫ومســاعدات اإلســكان‪ .‬وســيتم اســتبعاد املدفوعات‬ ‫التــي تخــص األمومــة مــن التجميــد‪.‬‬ ‫• ســيتم خفــض مســاعدات اإليجــار للمســكن‬ ‫بنســبة ‪ %1‬يف الســنة عــن كل ســنة مــن الســنوات‬ ‫األربــع القادمــة‪.‬‬ ‫• ســيتم إلغــاء مســاعدات العمــل مــن أولئــك‬ ‫الذيــن ال يعانــوا مــن إعاقــة جســدية أو ذهنيــة‬ ‫(ليســوا معاقــن) وأولئــك الذيــن ليــس لديهــم‬ ‫أطفــال‪ ،‬وســيتم ســحبها بوتــرة أرسع مــع ارتفــاع‬ ‫مدخــوالت األشــخاص‪.‬‬ ‫إعانة األرس من ذوي األطفال‪:‬‬ ‫• الســامح الرضيبــي واملســاعدات االجتامعيــة‬ ‫ســتقترص عــى الطفلــن األول والثــاين وذلــك مــن‬ ‫غايــة أبريــل ‪.2017‬‬ ‫• مســاعدة اإلســكان ســوف تتأثــر أيضــا وذلــك عــن‬ ‫طريــق إزالــة اقســاط مســاعدات األرس لألطفــال‬ ‫الجــدد وذلــك مــن غايــة مــن أبريــل ‪.2016‬‬ ‫• ولكــن ســيتم اســتثناء حــاالت الــوالدات املتعــددة‬ ‫مثــل ثاثــة توائــم مــن الحــد املســموح بــه‪.‬‬ ‫إعانة اإلسكان‪:‬‬ ‫• قــال أوزبــورن ســوف يحصــل أصحــاب العقــارات‬ ‫املخصصــة لأليجــار عــى أقــل نســبة للســامح‬ ‫الرضيبــي عــى دفوعــات الفائــدة للرهــن العقــاري‪.‬‬ ‫• أصحــاب املســاكن التــي تــأوي مســأجرين‬ ‫ســيتمكن مــن كســب ‪ 7,500‬ألــف جنيــه إسـرتليني‬ ‫معفــاة مــن الرضائــب كل عــام‪.‬‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫• وســتجري مشــاورات بشــأن تغيــر قوانــن التجارة‬ ‫يف أيــام األحــاد‪.‬‬ ‫األعامل الخريية والتربعات للرشكات‪:‬‬ ‫يذكــر أنــه منــذ عــام ‪ ،2002‬كان يحــق الــرشكات‬ ‫خصــم املبالــغ التــي تعطيهــا لألعــامل الخريــة‬ ‫وتربعــات النوايــا الحســنة مــن األربــاح الخاصــة‬ ‫بالرشكــة وألغ ـراض الرضيبــة‪ .‬وهــذا أتــاح إمكانيــة‬ ‫رضيبيــة ل ـرشاء املشــاريع التجاريــة أو رشاء أســهم‬ ‫يف رشكات أخــرى‪ .‬فقــد ت ـ ّم إلغــاء إمكانيــة خصــم‬ ‫املبالــغ التــي تعطيهــا لألعــامل الخريــة وتربعــات‬ ‫النوايــا الحســنة مــن غايــة ‪ 3‬ديســمرب عــام ‪2014‬‬ ‫حيــث أصبــح يســمح فقــط بــن طرفــن متكافئــن‬ ‫يف التعامــل‪.‬‬ ‫وقــد تــم اآلن إلغــاء ألي اكتســاب الشــهرة‬ ‫وغرهــا مــن االمتيــازات ذات الصلــة بــن العمــاء‬ ‫واملوجــودات غــر امللموســة وذلــك مــن غايــة ‪8‬‬ ‫يوليــو عــام ‪ .2015‬أيــة أعــامل قــد متــت قبــل هــذا‬ ‫التاريــخ ال تتأثــر بهــذا التغيــر‪ ،‬وتســتمر حســب‬ ‫األصــول القامئــة آنــذاك‪ ،‬وتســتطيع إجـراء الخصــم‬ ‫الرضيبــي‪ .‬وتلتــزم أيــة أعــامل خريــة مــن هــذا‬ ‫القبيــل بالقواعــد التــي نصــت عليهــا التعديــات‬ ‫الجديــدة التــي دخلــت للعمــل مــن غايــة ‪ 8‬يوليــو‬ ‫‪.2015‬‬ ‫مواعيد سداد الرضائب التجارية‪:‬‬ ‫الــرشكات بأربــاح تصــل إىل ‪ 1.5‬مليــون جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني عــادة يجــب أن تدفــع رضائبها كل تســعة‬ ‫أشــهر ويــوم واحــد بعــد نهايــة الفــرتة املحاســبية‪.‬‬ ‫وتعــن العتبــة الرضيبيــة للــرشكات التــي تشــرتك‬ ‫مــن نفــس التصنيــف أو املجموعــة‪ .‬أمــا الــرشكات‬ ‫مــع أربــاح تفــوق هــذا الحــد (‪ 1.5‬مليــون جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني)‪ ،‬فإنــه مــن املقــرر أن تدفــع رضائبهــا‬ ‫عــى أربــع دفعــات يف اليــوم ‪ 14‬مــن الشــهر ‪7‬‬ ‫والشــهر ‪ 10‬مــن الفرتة املحاســبية‪ ،‬ويف الشــهر األول‬ ‫و الرابــع الــذي يــي ذلــك‪.‬‬ ‫وعــادة يجــب تقديــر األقســاط‪ ،‬مــع األخــذ بنظــر‬ ‫االعتبــار التبكــر أو التأخــر يف الدفوعــات‪.‬‬ ‫ومــن غايــة أبريــل عــام ‪ ،2017‬فــإن الــرشكات التــي‬ ‫لديهــا أعــى األربــاح – أو مــا يقــدر بـــ ‪ 20‬مليــون‬

‫جنيــه أسـرتليني ســنوياً فــام فــوق – ســوف تضطــر‬ ‫لدفــع الرضائــب يف وقــت أبكر‪ ،‬عنــد األشــهر الثالث‪،‬‬ ‫والســادس والثــاين عــرش مــن الفــرتة املحاســبية‪.‬‬ ‫الرضائب التجارية للرشكات الشخصية‪:‬‬ ‫معــدالت الســامح الرضيبــي الجديــدة للــرشكات‬ ‫اململوكــة مــن قبــل شــخص واحــد‪ ،‬التــي تطرقــت‬ ‫لهــا املوازنــة تحــت بنــد رضيبــة الدخل الشــخصية‪،‬‬ ‫ســيمثل زيــادة رضيبيــة كبــرة ألصحــاب الــرشكات‬ ‫الصغــرة الذيــن ومنــذ بضــع ســنوات متكنــوا مــن‬ ‫إخــراج األربــاح مــن الحســابات الرضيبيــة مــن‬ ‫أعاملهــم تحــت بنــد الســامح الرضيبــي وذلــك عــن‬ ‫طريــق املــزج بــن الراتــب واألربــاح‪.‬‬ ‫مســاهامت التأمــن الوطنــي للــرشكات الصغــرة‬ ‫ســيخفض مــع بــدل العمــل إىل ‪ 3,000‬ألــف‬ ‫جنيــه إســرتليني‪ .‬وهــذا مــا يتيــح للرشكــة الصغــرة‬ ‫اســتئجار أربعــة موظفــن بأجــور املعيشــة الوطنيــة‬ ‫ودفــع التأمــن الوطنــي‪.‬‬ ‫رضيبة الدخل‪:‬‬ ‫• ســيتم وضــع قفــل عــى أي إقـرار جديــد لرضائب‬ ‫جديــدة لحظــر أيــة زيــادات يف رضيبــة الدخــل‬ ‫ورضيبــة التأمــن الصحــي الوطنــي والرضيبــة عــى‬ ‫القيمــة املضافــة وذلــك ملــدة خمــس ســنوات‪،‬‬ ‫وهــذا مــا ســيتم ترشيعــه يف األســابيع املقبلــة‪.‬‬ ‫ســيتم زيــادة عتبــة الســامح الرضيبــي الشــخيص‬ ‫األول مــن ‪ 10,600‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني إىل‬ ‫‪ 11,000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني يف العــام املقبــل‪،‬‬ ‫وهــذا كخطــوة أوىل نحــو الهــدف املقــدر بنحــو‬ ‫‪ 12,000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني‪ .‬فســوف ترتفــع هذ‬ ‫العتبــة الرضيبيــة أيضــاً مبــا يتــامىش مــع ارتفــاع‬ ‫الحــد األدىن لألجــور‪.‬‬ ‫• العتبــة الرضيبيــة ‪ %40‬ســرتتفع مــن معــدل‬ ‫الدخــل ‪ 42,385‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني يف الســنة‬ ‫املاليــة الحاليــة (‪ )16 /2015‬إىل ‪ 43,000‬يف الســنة‬ ‫الرضيبيــة ‪ ،17 /2016‬وصــوالً لهــدف ‪ 50,000‬ألــف‬ ‫جنيــه إســرتليني‪ .‬وبهــذا الخصــوص‪ ،‬قــال أوزبــورن‪،‬‬ ‫أن هــذا يعنــي إن نحــو ‪ 29‬مليــون شــخص يف‬ ‫بريطانيــا ســيدفعون رضيبــة أقــل مــام كانوا ســابقاً‪.‬‬ ‫مقدار العجز يف ميزانية بريطانيا‪:‬‬ ‫• يبلــغ العجــز يف امليزانيــة الربيطانيــة حالي ـاً أقــل‬

‫مــن نســبة ‪ %5‬مــن إجــاميل الناتــج املحــي وهــو‬ ‫معــدل أكــرب مــن كل االقتصاديــات املتقدمــة‪.‬‬ ‫• يتوقــع أوزبــورن أن يتــم خفــض معــدل العجــز يف‬ ‫املوازنــة بنســبة ‪ %2.2‬مــن الناتــج املحــي اإلجــاميل‬ ‫يف الســنة املاليــة ‪ ،2016/17‬وإىل ‪ %1.2‬يف الســنة‬ ‫املاليــة ‪ ،2016/18‬وإىل ‪ %0.3‬يف الســنة املاليــة‬ ‫‪.19 /2018‬‬ ‫• حســب التوقعــات‪ ،‬ســتدير الحكومــة فائضــاً‬ ‫بنســبة ‪ %0.4‬مــن الناتــج املحــي اإلجــاميل يف‬ ‫الســنة املاليــة ‪ ،2019/20‬ونســبة ‪ %0.5‬للســنة‬ ‫املاليــة ‪.21 /2020‬‬ ‫• وفيــام يتعلــق باملبالــغ النقديــة‪ ،‬يعنــي هــذا أن‬ ‫العجــز يف املوازنــة ســينخفض مــن ‪ 69.5‬مليــار‬ ‫جنيــه إســرتليني يف الســنة املاليــة ‪ 2015/16‬إىل‬ ‫وجــود فائــض بقــدر ‪ 11.6‬مليــار دنيــه إسـرتليني يف‬ ‫الســنة املاليــة ‪.21 /2020‬‬ ‫• وقــال أوزبــورن “هــذه املوازنــة تتضمــن أكــرب‬ ‫فائــض يف امليزانيــة الهيــكي لفــرتة ‪ 40‬عامــاً”‪.‬‬ ‫• يتوقــع أوزبــورن أن يرتفــع اإلنفــاق الحكومــي‬ ‫الــكي مــن ‪ 73.5‬مليــار جنيــه إســرتليني يف الســنة‬ ‫املاليــة ‪ 15 /2014‬إىل ‪ 844‬مليــار جنيــه إســرتليني‬ ‫يف الســنة املاليــة ‪ .21/ 2020‬وخــال نفــس الفــرتة‬ ‫الزمنيــة أنــه مــن املتوقــع أن ترتفــع مجمــوع‬ ‫إيـرادات الحكومــة مــن ‪ 672‬مليــار جنيه إســرتليني‬ ‫إىل ‪ 856‬مليــار جنيــه إس ـرتليني‪.‬‬ ‫خطط اإلنفاق‪:‬‬ ‫• قــال الســيد أوزبــورن بأنــه ســيجعل مجمــوع‬ ‫الوفــورات بنحــو ‪ 34‬مليــار جنيــه إسـرتليني خــال‬ ‫هــذه الــدورة الربملانيــة‪.‬‬ ‫• وإن نصــف هــذا املبلــغ ســيأيت مــن وفــورات‬ ‫ميزانيــات اإلدارات الحكوميــة‪.‬‬ ‫• وإن النصــف اآلخرنحــو ‪ 17‬مليــار جنيه إســرتليني‪،‬‬ ‫فــإن نحــو ‪ 12‬مليــار جنيــه إســرتليني ســيأيت مــن‬ ‫تخفيضــات مســاعدات الرعايــة االجتامعيــة يف حن‬ ‫الـــ ‪ 5‬مليــارات اآلخــرى ســتأيت مــن حصيلــة ماحقة‬ ‫التهــرب مــن دفــع الرضائــب والثغـرات الرضيبيــة‪.‬‬ ‫• ســيتم زيــادة األجــور يف القطــاع العام بنســبة ‪%1‬‬ ‫كمعــدل ســنوي حتى عــام ‪.2019‬‬ ‫• وســيتم دعــم النظــام الصحــي الوطنــي بنحــو ‪8‬‬ ‫مليــارات جنيــه إس ـرتليني‪.‬‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 87‬‬

‫ ‬

‫املبلــغ الــذي يشــمله الســامح الرضيبــي والــذي‬ ‫يتعلــق ببــدالت االســتثامر الســنوي باملصانــع‬ ‫واآلالت ســيتم تخفيضه مــن ‪ 500,000‬إىل ‪200,000‬‬ ‫ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني وذلــك مــن غايــة ‪ 1‬ينايــر‬ ‫عــام ‪.2016‬‬ ‫املبلــغ الــذي يشــمله الســامح الرضيبــي والــذي‬ ‫يتعلــق ببــدالت التأمــن الصحــي الوطنــي للعاملــة‬ ‫ســرتفع مــن ‪ 2,000‬إىل ‪ 3,000‬ألــف جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني‪ ،‬وذلــك مــن غايــة أبريــل عــام ‪،2016‬‬ ‫لكــن هــذه امليــزة ســوف لــن تشــمل الــرشكات‬ ‫املتكونــة مــن شــخص واحــد‪.‬‬ ‫املبلــغ الــذي يشــمله الســامح الرضيبــي والــذي‬ ‫يتعلــق بتصليــح األبنيــة مــن قبــل أصحــاب‬ ‫العقــارات ســيحل محلــه مــن غايــة الســنة املاليــة‬ ‫‪ 2016/17‬مبــا يســمى مســاعدة لإلنفــاق الفعــي‬ ‫عــى املفروشــات‪.‬‬ ‫املبلــغ الــذي يشــمله الســامح الرضيبــي والــذي‬ ‫يتعلــق بتأجــر غرفــة يف مســكن لشــخص فــوق‬ ‫ســن ‪ 18‬ســنة ســيصبح ‪ 7,500‬ألف جنيه إسـرتليني‬ ‫مــن غايــة ابريــل ‪.2016‬‬ ‫املبلــغ الــذي يشــمله الســامح الرضيبــي والــذي‬ ‫يتعلــق بالســامح الرضيبــي الشــرتاكات التقاعــد‬ ‫مــن قبــل الذيــن يزيــد دخلهــم الســنوي بأكــر‬ ‫مــن ‪ 150,000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني ســيخفض‬ ‫للســنة املاليــة ‪ 2016/17‬مــن ‪ 40,000‬ألــف جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني إىل ‪ 10,000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني‪.‬‬ ‫دائــرة الرضائــب الربيطانيــة لهــا الحــق باســتقطاع‬ ‫الديــن الرضيبــي الــذي يتجــاوز ‪ 1,000‬ألــف جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني مبــارشة مــن حســابات األشــخاص البنكية‬ ‫الســيام الذيــن يتمكنــون مــن دفــع الديــن ولكنهــم‬ ‫يرفضــون ذلــك‪.‬‬ ‫ســيتم تطبيــق تغي ـرات هامــة مــن غايــة أبريــل‬ ‫عــام ‪ 2017‬تشــمل اآليت‪:‬‬ ‫• تخفيضات يف معدل رضيبة الرشكات؛‬ ‫• الحـ ّد مــن اإلعفــاءات الرضيبيــة لألشــخاص الذين‬ ‫يشــرتون عقــارات لتأجرها؛‬ ‫• إلغــاء صفــة املقيــم األجنبي‪ ،‬أو املقيمــن األجانب‬ ‫يف البلــد ويســجلون عــى أنهــم غــر مقيميــن بعــد‬

‫• خفــض الرضيبــة عــى املنــزل املــوروث مــن قبــل‬ ‫األرسة بعــد الوفــاة‪.‬‬

‫حملــة مكافحــة التهــرب والتحايــل الرضيبــي مبــا‬ ‫يقــدر بنحــو ‪ 7.2‬مليــار جنيــه إســرتليني‪ ،‬مــام‬ ‫ســيزيد امليزانيــة العاميــة بنحــو ‪ 750‬مليــون جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني‪.‬‬

‫تفاصيل بعض الفقرات من‬ ‫املوازنة‪:‬‬

‫معــدل رضائــب البنــوك ســتنخفض تدريجي ـاً عــى‬ ‫مــدى الســنوات الســت القادمــة وســتضاف نســبة‬ ‫‪ %8‬كرضيبــة إضافيــة عــى أربــاح البنــك مــن غايــة‬ ‫‪.2016‬‬

‫• قضائهــم فــرتة قصــرة يف الخارج؛‬

‫الرضائب التجارية‪:‬‬

‫قــال أوزبــورن أن الرتتيــب الجديــد للرضيبــة‬ ‫التجاريــة هــو مبثابــة إعــان نقــول فيــه للعــامل أن‬ ‫“بريطانيــا مفتوحــة لألعــامل التجاريــة”‪ .‬وتشــمل‬ ‫التغيــرات الرضيبيــة الجديــدة اآليت‪-:‬‬ ‫ســتخفض رضيبــة الــرشكات لتصــل إىل نســبة ‪%19‬‬ ‫ومــن ثــم إىل نســبة ‪ %18‬يف عــام ‪ .2020‬وســيتم‬ ‫تعيــن معــدل رضيبــة الــرشكات عنــد نســبة ‪%20‬‬ ‫ملــدة عامــن أبتــداءا ً مــن ‪ 1‬أبريــل عــام ‪.2015‬‬ ‫وبعــد ذلــك ســيتم تخفيضهــا إىل نســبة ‪ %19‬ملــدة‬ ‫ثــاث ســنوات أبتــداءا ً مــن ‪ 1‬أبريــل عــام ‪،2017‬‬ ‫وإىل نســبة ‪ %18‬مــن ‪ 1‬أبريــل عــام ‪ .2020‬وســيتم‬ ‫خفــض رضيبــة الــرشكات مــن نســبة ‪ %19‬يف عــام‬ ‫‪ ،2017‬ومــن ثــم إىل ‪ %18‬مــن غايــة عــام ‪.2020‬‬ ‫وهــذا هــو أقــل حــد للرضيبــة مقارنة بنســبة ‪،%28‬‬ ‫والتــي ُعمــل بهــا منــذ أن تــوىل الســيد أوزبــورن‬ ‫الــوزارة ألول مــرة عــام ‪.2010‬‬ ‫• ســرتتفع عوائــد الرضيبــة املســتحصلة مــن قبــل‬

‫• “كاب أون جارجيــس” التــي تفرضهــا إدارة‬ ‫الــرشكات وســرتتفع رضيبــة التأمــن بنســبة ‪%9.5‬‬ ‫مــن غايــة شــهر نوفمــرب ‪.2015‬‬ ‫• فــرض رضيبــة جديــدة عــى أصحــاب الــرشكات‬ ‫الكبــرة‪ ،‬وتتعلــق بالتدريــب والتلمــذة‪.‬‬ ‫• إعفــاء الــرشكات الصغــرة مــن رضيبــة التغــر‬ ‫املناخــي عــى الكهربــاء املولــدة مــن الطاقــة‬ ‫املتجــددة‪.‬‬ ‫• ســرتفع معــدل التأمــن الوطنــي للــرشكات‬ ‫الصغــرة بنســبة ‪ %50‬ليصــل إىل ‪ 3,000‬جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني مــن غايــة ‪.2016‬‬ ‫• ســيتم تحديــد بــدل االســتثامر الســنوي بشــكل‬ ‫دائــم عنــد ‪ 200,000‬جنيــه إســرتليني مــن غايــة‬ ‫شــهر ينايــر ‪ .2016‬بــدل االســتثامر الســنوي‪ ،‬والذي‬ ‫كان مدرج ـاً عــى التخفيضــات الرضيبيــة املؤقتــة‬ ‫للــرشكات‪ ،‬ســيتم وضعهــا عنــد ‪ 200,000‬ألــف‬ ‫جنيــه إســرتليني وبشــكل نهــايئ مــن غايــة شــهر‬ ‫ينايــر ‪.2016‬‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫‪British Budget Summary 2015‬‬ ‫قــدم وزيــر املاليــة الربيطــاين الســيد جــورج‬ ‫أوزبــورن أول ميزانيــة لــه بعــد االنتخابــات األخــرة‬ ‫التــي فــاز بهــا حــزب املحافطــن باغلبيــة وش ـكّل‬ ‫الحكومــة لوحــده دون أن يحتــاج للتحالــف مــع أي‬ ‫حــزب آخــر‪ ،‬وبهــذه املناســبة قــال أزبــورن‪:‬‬ ‫أن هــذه امليزانيــة تضــع جانــب األمــن أوالً‪ ،‬وأعرتف‬ ‫أن العمــل الشــاق والتضحيــة التــي قدمهــا الشــعب‬ ‫الربيطــاين عــى مــدى الســنوات الخمــس املاضيــة ال‬ ‫يجــب أن يضيــع هــدرا‪ ،‬وقــال “نحــن لــن نســمح‬ ‫بالخطــر أن يقــرتب منــا‪ ،‬وإن هــذه امليزانيــة‬ ‫ســتكون ميزانيــة الطبقــة العاملــة”‪.‬‬ ‫وقــال أوزبــورن “نحــن ال نبنــي مشــاريع مبــا فيــه‬ ‫الكفايــة لــي نســتوعب االســتثامرات املطلوبــة”‪،‬‬ ‫وأضــاف “نحــن ســوف نكــون جريئــن يف إصــاح‬ ‫التعليــم‪ ،‬وإصــاح الرعايــة االجتامعيــة‪ ،‬وتقديــم‬ ‫األولويــة ملشــاريع البنيــة التحتيــة‪ ،‬وبنــاء محطــات‬ ‫الطاقــة الشــاملية‪ ،‬وإن هــذه امليزانيــة الكبــرة لبلد‬ ‫لديــه طموحــات كبــرة”‪.‬‬ ‫وأضــاف “إن الشــعب الربيطــاين لديــه ثقتــه بنــا‬ ‫إلنهــاء هــذه املهمــة عــى أتــ ّم وجــه”‪ ،‬وأضــاف‬ ‫“أن الطريقــة الوحيــدة للحصــول عــى نظــام‬ ‫وطنــي للصحــة والرعايــة ســيكون مــن خــال بنــاء‬ ‫مؤسســات تعليميــة ومــدارس جيــدة ورصينــة‪،‬‬ ‫وكذلــك نظــام أمنــي ودفــاع قــوي‪ ،‬وهــذا مــن‬ ‫معــامل االقتصــادات القويــة”‪.‬‬ ‫متســك مكتــب املســؤولية امليزانيــة بتوقعاته بشــأن‬ ‫معــدالت النمــو االقتصاديــة لعامــي ‪ 2015‬و ‪،2016‬‬ ‫وزادت معــدالت توقعــات املكتــب لنمــو إجــاميل‬ ‫الناتــج املحــي يف األعــوام مــن ‪ 2020 – 2017‬مــن‬ ‫نســبة ‪ %2.3‬إىل ‪ %2.4‬كمعــدل زيــادة ســنوي‪.‬‬ ‫يتوقــع أوزبــورن أنــه ســيتم إيجــاد ‪ 1‬مليــون فرصــة‬

‫عمــل ووظائــف جديــدة عــى مــدى الســنوات‬ ‫الخمــس املقبلــة‪ .‬وقــال أنــه يســتهدف إيجــاد فرص‬ ‫وظائــف كاملــة وليــس نصــف يــوم عمــل‪ ،‬وإنــه‬ ‫يســعى إليجــاد ‪ 2‬مليــون فرصــة عمــل يف املســتقبل‬ ‫القريــب‪.‬‬

‫(متــوز) ‪ .2015‬وقبــل البــدء باســتعراض املوازنــة‬ ‫البــد لنــا مــن اإلشــارة بــأن أحــد األعــامل املهمــة‬ ‫التــي قــام بهــا الســيد جــورج أوزبــورن كان إنشــاء‬ ‫مكاتــب تعنــي بعمليــة تبســيط الرضائــب‪ ،‬وقــد‬ ‫تـ ّم العمــل عــى إنشــاء هــذه املكاتــب يف األعــوام‬ ‫الخمســة املاضيــة وذلــك للحــد مــن التعقيــد يف‬ ‫النظــام الرضيبــي وتبســيطه‪ ،‬والتوصيــة بإجــراء‬ ‫تغيــرات لجعــل التعامــل مــع الرضائــب أقــل‬ ‫تعقيــدا ً‪ .‬وقــد اعطيــت ضامنــات بذلــك‪.‬‬

‫ملخص املوازنة الربيطانية‬ ‫الجديدة‪:‬‬

‫أهم النقاط التي تناولتها املوازنة‪:‬‬

‫وقــال أوزبــورن بأنــه يريــد رفــع األجــور أيضــاً‪،‬‬ ‫ويتوقــع ترسيــع ارتفــاع األجــور مــن نســبة ‪%2.2‬‬ ‫هــذا العــام لتصــل إىل ‪ %4.4‬يف عــام ‪.2020‬‬

‫نقــدم لكــم ملخــص يغطــي التغي ـرات الرضيبيــة‬ ‫الرئيســية التــي أعلــن عنهــا الســد جــورج أوزبــورن‪،‬‬ ‫وزيــر الخزانــة الربيطــاين يف ‪ 8‬مــن شــهر يوليــو‬

‫تغيــرات كبــرة يف الرضائــب املفروضــة عــى‬ ‫الــرشكات املــدارة مــن قبــل مالكيهــا مــن غايــة‬ ‫أبريــل عــام ‪ ،2016‬مــن حيــث مــا يخــص حســابات‬ ‫األربــاح‪.‬‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 89‬‬

‫أفضــل الجامعــات البحثيــة يف اململكــة املتحــدة‬ ‫يف الســنوات األخــرة‪ .‬وجامعــة إمســرت عضــو‬ ‫يف مجموعــة “راســل” للجامعــات والبحــوث‬ ‫املتخصصــة يف اململكــة املتحــدة‪ ،‬وهــي عضــو‬ ‫رابطــة الجامعــات األوروبيــة‪ ،‬وعضــو يف رابطــة‬ ‫جامعــات الكومنولــث‪ ،‬وهــي مؤسســة معتمــدة يف‬ ‫رابطــة ماجســتر إدارة األعــامل (‪.)AMBA‬‬

‫دليل جريدة الغارديان‬ ‫لتصنيف الجامعات‬ ‫الربيطانية‪:‬‬

‫يعتــرب دليــل جريــدة الغارديــان احــد املراجــع‬ ‫الــذي يـ ّزود الطــاب مبعلومــات ترتيــب املؤسســات‬ ‫التعليميــة يف بريطانيــا‪ ،‬هــذا املرجــع ليــس كغــره‬ ‫مــن املراجــع التــي تصنــف الجامعــات‪ ،‬حيــث‬ ‫يتعمــد يف تصنيفــه للجامعــات بنــاء عــى األداء‬ ‫التعليمــي واملــوارد التــي تســتخدمها الجامعــة‬ ‫إضافــة اىل أداء األبحــاث التــي تنرشهــا الجامعــات‪،‬‬ ‫مــام يجعــل هــذا الدليــل كمــورد أســاس للطــاب‬ ‫الراغبيــن بالقيــام بالدراســات العليــا يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬

‫معيار الغارديان‪:‬‬ ‫جــودة التعليــم كــام يقيمهــا طــاب ســنوات‬ ‫التخــرج مــن خــال إحصــاءات يقــوم بهــا مركــز‬

‫اإلســتطاعات الطــايب الوطنــي(‪National Stu-‬‬ ‫‪.)dent Survey‬‬ ‫نسبة الطاب الراضين عن دراستهم يف الجامعة‪.‬‬ ‫الــرىض العــام عــى الدراســة بشــكل عــام مــن‬ ‫طــاب ســنوات التخــرج‪.‬‬ ‫تقييــم الطــاب عــى مقيــاس مــن ‪ 1‬إىل ‪ 10‬حــول‬ ‫رضاهــم عــى جــودة التعليــم‪.‬‬ ‫الحصــول عــى عمــل بعــد التخــرج‪ :‬نســبة الطــاب‬ ‫الذيــن حصــول عمــل خــال ســتة أشــهر مــن بعــد‬ ‫التخرج‪.‬‬ ‫متطلبات القبول‪.‬‬ ‫نســبة عــدد العاملــن يف الجامعــة مقارنــة بعــدد‬ ‫الطــاب‪.‬‬ ‫مقارنــة كفــاءات الطــاب فرديـاً كمتطلــب للقبــول‬ ‫يف الجامعــة مــع الشــهادة التــي يحصلــون عليهــا‬ ‫بعــد التخــرج‪.‬‬

‫دليل جريدة التاميز لتصنيف‬ ‫الجامعات الربيطانية‪:‬‬

‫يعتــرب ترتيــب التاميــز الجامعــات الربيطانيــة‪ ،‬أحــد‬ ‫أكــر املراجــع املعتمــدة لتصنيــف الجامعــات‬ ‫الربيطانيــة وذلــك منــذ عــام ‪.1993‬‬

‫ ‬

‫معيار التاميز‪:‬‬ ‫رىض الطــاب و اعتــامدة عــى نتائــج اإلحصــاء‬ ‫املطنــي الطــايب ‪National Student Survey‬‬ ‫األبحاث‪ :‬مساهمة الجامعات يف البحث العلمي‪.‬‬ ‫متطلبات القبول لدى الجامعات‪.‬‬ ‫نســبة عــدد الطــاب مــع عــدد العامليــن يف‬ ‫الجامعــات‪.‬‬ ‫حجــم مصــارف الجامعــات عــى املكتبــات و‬ ‫التجهيزيــات اإللكرتونيــة و الحواســب‪.‬‬ ‫حجــم مصاريــف الجامعــات عــى منشــئاتها‬ ‫الخدميــة الرياضيــة و الرتفيهيــة للطــاب‪.‬‬ ‫نســبة الطــاب الخريجيــن بنســبة عاليــة مــن‬ ‫العامــات‪.‬‬ ‫نســبة الطــاب الذيــن أكملــو دراســتهم منــذ‬ ‫دخولهــم للجامعــة‪.‬‬ ‫احتاملية الحصول عى عمل بعد التخرج‪.‬‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫اســتطاعت جامعــة النكســرت املحافظة عــى ترتيبها‬ ‫يف التصنيــف الســنوي بينــام تقدمــت مرتبــة نحــو‬ ‫األمــام لتصنيــف ‪ .2016‬وهــي تشــتهر بالبحــوث‬ ‫العلميــة املتخصصــة يف العديــد مــن املجــاالت‪،‬‬ ‫وهــي عضــو يف مجموعــة الجامعــات البحثيــة جنباً‬ ‫إىل جنــب مــع جامعــات دورهــام‪ ،‬وجامعــة ليــدز‪،‬‬ ‫وجامعــة ليفربــول‪ ،‬وجامعــة مانشســرت‪ ،‬وجامعــة‬ ‫نيوكاســل‪ ،‬وجامعــة شــيفيلد‪ ،‬وجامعــة يــورك‪ .‬ويف‬ ‫عــام ‪ 2014‬احتفلــت جامعــة النكســرت بعيدهــا الـــ‬ ‫‪ 50‬بسلســلة مــن الفعاليــات عــى مــدار العــام‪،‬‬ ‫والتــي شــارك فيهــا الخريجــن واملوظفــن والطــاب‬ ‫وأف ـراد املجتمــع املحــي‪.‬‬

‫ت‬ ‫لنكس�‬ ‫جامعة‬

‫والعلــوم الطبيــة‪ ،‬وكليــة اإلدارة والحقــوق‪.‬‬ ‫ولجامعــة رسي عــدد كبــر مــن املوظفــن الذيــن‬ ‫هــم أعضــاء يف الجمعيــات العلميــة‪ .‬وقــد توســعت‬ ‫الجامعــة يف اآلونــة األخــرة إىل الصــن مــن خــال‬ ‫إطــاق معهــد رسي الــدويل مــع جامعــة دونجبــاي‬ ‫لاقتصــاد يف الصــن‪.‬‬ ‫ويقــع الحــرم الجامعــي الرئيــيس للجامعــة عــى‬ ‫األيــل هيــل بالقــرب مــن مركــز غيلدفــورد املجــاور‬ ‫لكاتدرائيــة غيلدفــورد‪ .‬ويقــع الحــرم الجامعــي‬ ‫الثــاين‪ ،‬يف مانــور بــارك‪ ،‬وعــى مســافة قصــرة سـرا ً‬ ‫عــى األقــدام مــن األول‪ ،‬وقــد تــم تطويــره لتوســيع‬ ‫بنــاء الســكن واملبــاين األكادمييــة القامئــة واملرافــق‬ ‫الرياضيــة‪.‬‬ ‫وتعتــرب جامعــة رسي مركــزا ً رئيســاً للبحــوث‬ ‫الفضائيــة واالتصــاالت املتنقلــة‪ .‬ويف عــام ‪،2014‬‬ ‫أعلــن رئيــس الــوزراء الربيطــاين ديفيــد كامــرون‬ ‫رشاكــة جامعــة رسي مــع جامعــة كينجــز كوليــدج‬ ‫لنــدن وجامعــة دريســدن لتطويــر تكنولوجيــا ‪.G5‬‬ ‫وجامعــة رسي عضــو يف رابطــة ماجســتر إدارة‬ ‫األعــامل‪ ،‬والرابطــة األوروبيــة‪ ،‬واتحــاد جامعــات‬ ‫الكومنولــث‪ .‬وتــأيت جامعــة رسي يف مرتبــة متقدمــة‬ ‫باســتمرار‪ ،‬بحســب تصنيــف تاميــز‪ ،‬وتصنيــف‬ ‫الجارديــان‪ ،‬وتصنيــف الصنــداي تاميــز للجامعــات‪.‬‬ ‫ووفقــا لألرقــام التي كشــفت عنهــا وكالــة إحصاءات‬ ‫التعليــم العــايل يف عــام ‪ ،2014‬فــإن جامعــة رسي‬ ‫لديهــا أعــى معــدالت توظيــف خريجيهــا‪ ،‬حيــث‬ ‫ســجلت نســبة ‪ %96.9‬توظيــف خريجيهــا يف‬ ‫فــرتة قياســية‪ ،‬وهــذا أعــى مــن جامعــة أكســفورد‬ ‫(‪ ،)%92.6‬وجامعــة كامــربدج (‪ )%95.2‬وكينجــز‬ ‫كوليــدج لنــدن (‪.)%94.6‬‬

‫جامعة النكسرت‬

‫)‪(Lancaster University‬‬

‫تأسســت جامعــة النكســرت يف عــام ‪ 1964‬وهــي‬ ‫أحــدى أكــرب الجامعــات ىف بريطانيــا‪ ،‬وتقــع يف‬ ‫مقاطعــة ىف النكشــاير‪ ،‬وحصلــت عــى مركــزا ً‬ ‫متقدمــا بــن الجامعــات الربيطانيــة عــى مســتوى‬ ‫البحــث العلمــي ىف بريطانيــا‪ .‬وتحتــوي جامعــة‬ ‫النكســرت عــى حــوايل ‪ 18000‬ألــف طالــب باإلضافة‬ ‫إىل عــدد املدرســن الذيــن يقــارب عددهــم قرابــة‬ ‫‪ 2250‬مــدرس ومدرســة‪ .‬وي ـرتاوح أو يفــوق دخــل‬ ‫جامعــة النكســرت الســنوي ‪ 149‬مليــون جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني‪ .‬وتتخصــص جامعــة النكســرت يف العديــد‬ ‫مــن الكليــات منهــا‪ :‬كليــات اآلداب‪ ،‬والعلــوم‬ ‫اإلجتامعيــة‪ ،‬وكليــات العلوم والتكنولوجيــا‪،‬‬ ‫وكليــات اإلدارة‪.‬‬

‫جامعة إكسرت‬

‫)‪(University of Exeter‬‬

‫جامعــة إكســرت هــي جامعــة أكادمييــة بحثيــة عامة‬ ‫تقــع يف مدينــة إكســرت‪ ،‬جنــوب غــرب إنجلــرتا‪.‬‬ ‫تأسســت الجامعــة وحصلــت عــى امليثــاق امللــي‬ ‫عــام ‪ .1955‬ولــدى جامعــة إكســرت ثاثــة فــروع‪:‬‬ ‫فــرع ســرتثم‪ ،‬وفــرع القديــس لوقــا (وكاهــام يف‬ ‫إكســرت)‪ ،‬والفــرع الثالــث ترومــف يف كورنــوال‪.‬‬ ‫وترتكــز الجامعــة يف مدينــة إكســرت يف مقاطعــة‬ ‫ديفــون‪ ،‬وحيــث فرعهــا ســرتثم وحيــث تتمركــز‬ ‫مؤسســات الجامعــة الرئيســية للتعليــم العــايل‬ ‫وأكــرب أكــرب حــرم جامعــي يحتــوي عــى العديــد‬ ‫مــن املبــاين اإلداريــة يف الجامعــة‪ ،‬وتعتــرب واحــدة‬ ‫مــن أجمــل الحــرم الجامعيــة يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬ ‫وحافظــت جامعــة إكســرت عــى عــدم تخطــي عتبة‬ ‫النخبــة العــرشة يف التصنيــف املمتــاز للجامعــات‬ ‫الربيطانيــة‪ ،‬وهــي تصنــف كواحــدة مــن بــن ‪10‬‬

‫ت‬ ‫لنكس�‬ ‫جامعة‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 91‬‬

‫جامعة وارويك‬

‫جامعــة وارويــك جميــع الخدمــات التــى يحتاجهــا‬ ‫الطــاب مــن محــات وخدمــات ترفيهيــة ووكاالت‬ ‫ســفر وتوظيــف وصيدليــات ومطاعــم ومقاهــى‬ ‫وبنــوك ومتاجــر وســوبر ماركــت وغرهــا‪.‬‬

‫جامعة رسي‬

‫)‪(University of Surrey‬‬

‫دراســياً مشــرتكاً فريــدا ً مــن نوعــه يطلــق عليــه‬ ‫بكالوريــوس مــع مرتبــة الــرشف الدوليــة‪ ،‬ويجمــع‬ ‫بــن أفضــل املناهــج الدراســية يف إســكتلندا‬ ‫والواليــات املتحــدة‪ .‬ويقــي الطــاب عامــن يف‬ ‫كل جامعــة‪ ،‬وعنــد التخــرج يحصــل الطالــب عــى‬ ‫شــهادة معتمــدة مــن كلتــا الجامعتــن‪.‬‬ ‫ومــن جانبــه يقدم مركــز الربامــج التمهيديــة الدولية‬ ‫يف مركــز تعليــم اللغــة اإلنجليزيــة يف جامعــة ســانت‬ ‫أنــدروز مجموعــة متنوعــة مــن الربامــج التمهيديــة‬ ‫للمرحلــة الجامعيــة والدراســات العليــا مــن أجــل‬ ‫الطــاب الذيــن مل تكــن اإلنجليزيــة لغتهــم األم‪ ،‬وقد‬ ‫ت ـ ّم تصميــم هــذه الربامــج خصيص ـاً لســد الفجــوة‬ ‫بــن مســتوى املؤهــات التــي اكتســبها الطــاب مــن‬ ‫املدرســة يف بادهــم ومتطلبــات برنامــج الشــهادة‬ ‫الجامعية‪.‬‬

‫جامعة وارويك‬

‫)‪(University of Warwick‬‬

‫ال تقــع جامعــة وارويــك ىف مدينــة وارويــك‬ ‫كــام يظــن الجميــع بســبب إســمها‪ ،‬بــل تقــع ىف‬ ‫كوفينــرتي‪ ،‬وتأسســت جامعــة وارويــك ىف العــام‬ ‫‪ .1965‬تعتــرب مــن ضمــن الجامعــات املشــهورة‬ ‫عــى مســتوى العــامل فهــى تحمــل الرتتيــب‬ ‫العــارش عــى مســتوى العــامل‪ .‬وتتألــف جامعــة‬ ‫وارويــك مــن أربعــة كليــات‪ :‬كليــة اآلداب‪ ،‬وكليــة‬ ‫الطــب‪ ،‬وكليــة العلــوم‪ ،‬وكليــة العلــوم االجتامعيــة‪.‬‬ ‫ويبلــغ عــدد الطــاب فيهــا اليــوم ‪ 22‬ألــف طالــب‪.‬‬ ‫وتعتــرب جامعــة وارويــك مؤسســة تعليميــة بحثيــة‬ ‫عامــة‪ ،‬قامــت جامعــة وارويــك بتخريــج العديــد‬ ‫مــن املوســيقين والساســة والعلــامء والباحثــن ىف‬ ‫العديــد مــن املجــاالت‪.‬‬

‫وتعتــرب جامعــة وارويــك مــن أمتــع الجامعــات ىف‬ ‫بريطانيــا مــن حيــث املوقــع والدارســة والخدمــات‬ ‫التــي تقدمهــا الجامعــة حيــث أنهــا تقــع ىف وســط‬ ‫إنجلـرتا يف موقــع مميــز جــدا ً‪ ،‬لذلــك تعتــرب مبثابــة‬ ‫مــكان ســياحي نظــرا ً ملوقعهــا امللفــت لألنظــار‬ ‫بذلــك املوقــع‪ .‬تحتــوي الجامعــة عــى قاعــات‬ ‫محــارضات مجهــزة عــى أعــى مســتوى مــن‬ ‫التكنولوجيــا والتقــدم وأحــدث الوســائل والخدمات‬ ‫العامليــة‪ .‬ومتتلــك مكتبــة تحتــوي عــى أكــر مــن‬ ‫مليــون مجلــد‪.‬‬ ‫وتتخصــص جامعــة وارويــك ىف العديــد مــن‬ ‫املجــاالت أهمهــا‪ :‬الطــب‪ ،‬والفنــون‪ ،‬والعلــوم‬ ‫التطبيقيــة والعلــوم اإلجتامعيــة وغرهــا‪ .‬وتقــدم‬ ‫الجامعــة الســكن للمغرتبــن حيــث أن لديهــا‬ ‫حــوايل ســتة أالف غرفــة مخصصــة للطــاب‪ .‬وتوفــر‬

‫تــأيت “جامعــة رسي” ضمــن الجامعــات التــي‬ ‫شــهدت أفضــل تطــور يف األداء حيــث ارتفــع‬ ‫تقييمهــا مركزيــن عــن التصنيــف املــايض‪ ،‬وذلــك‬ ‫نظــرا ً الهتاممهــا بتوفــر فــرص العمــل املامئــة‬ ‫لطابهــا عــن طريــق ربطهــم مــع أربــاب العمــل‬ ‫حيــث يســتطيع أكــر مــن ‪ %97‬مــن خريجــي‬ ‫جامعــة رسي العثــور عــى عمــل خــال ســتة أشــهر‬ ‫مــن التخــرج‪.‬‬ ‫تأسســت جامعــة ســاري يف عــام ‪ .1966‬وتقع داخل‬ ‫البلــدة مقاطعــة غيلدفــورد يف مقاطعــة ســاري‪ ،‬يف‬ ‫جنــوب رشق إنجلـرتا‪ .‬وكانــت تقــع ســابقا بالقــرب‬ ‫مــن حديقــة باتــريس يف جنــوب غــرب لنــدن‪.‬‬ ‫وكانــت معروفــة باســم كليــة باتــريس للتكنولوجيــا‬ ‫قبــل الحصــول الوضــع األخــر كجامعــة عــام‬ ‫‪.1966‬ويبلــغ عــدد الطــاب الذيــن يدرســون بهــا‬ ‫حاليــاً حــوايل ‪ 14186‬طالبــاً‪ .‬ومتنــح جامعــة رسي‬ ‫الدرجــات الجامعيــة والدراســات العليــا إىل جانــب‬ ‫دورات يف اللغــة اإلنجليزيــة للطلبــة الدوليــن‪.‬‬ ‫وتضــم الجامعــة أربعــة مؤسســات أكادمييــة هــي‪:‬‬ ‫كليــة األداب والفنــون والعلــوم االنســانية‪ ،‬وكليــة‬ ‫الهندســة والعلــوم الفيزيائيــة‪ ،‬وكليــة الصحــة‬ ‫جامعة رسي‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫جامعة سانت أندروز‬

‫جامعة درهام‬

‫)‪(Durham University‬‬

‫تقــع جامعــة درهــام يف مدينــة درهــام يف إنجل ـرتا‪،‬‬ ‫وتعتــرب مؤسســة تعليميــة حكوميــة بحثيــة قدميــة‬ ‫ومعروفــة حيــث تأسســت ىف العــام ‪ ،1832‬وتعتــرب‬ ‫ثالــث أقــدم جامعــة يف إنجلــرتا بعــد جامعــة‬ ‫أكســفورد وجامعــة كامــربدج‪ ،‬وتضــم نحــو ‪16‬‬ ‫كليــة‪ .‬وقدمــت جامعــة درهــام العديــد مــن‬ ‫الرمــوز املميــزة تاريخيــاً ىف مجــاالت‪ :‬الحقــوق‪،‬‬ ‫واإلدارة واألعــامل‪ ،‬والعلــوم‪ ،‬والفنــون‪ ،‬والصحافــة‪،‬‬ ‫والرياضــة‪ .‬وحافظــت جامعــة درهــام عــى‬ ‫تصنيفــات جيــدة جــدا ً‪ ،‬مــا بــن املركــز ‪ 5‬أو ‪6‬‬ ‫كأفضــل جامعــة يف بريطانيــا ويف املركز الـــ ‪ 80‬عاملياً‬ ‫وفقــاً لرتتيــب التاميــز للجامعــات واملؤسســات‬ ‫التعليميــة الدوليــة‪.‬‬ ‫وتحتــوى جامعــة درهــام عــى ‪ 85‬مبنــى قديــم‬ ‫باإلضافــة إىل مســاحات خــرضاء شاســعة‪.‬‬ ‫وتخصصــت جامعــة درهــام يف العلــوم التطبيقيــة‬ ‫والعلــوم البحتــة‪ ،‬واللغــات‪ ،‬والتاريــخ واآلثــار‪.‬‬ ‫كــام تحتــوي عــى مكتبــة كبــرة غنيــة باملجلــدات‬ ‫القدميــة‪ ،‬ويوجــد لــكل كليــة مكتبــة خاصــة بهــا‬ ‫وقاعــة للقــراءة واإلطــاع عــى ارشــيفها الغنــي‪.‬‬ ‫كــام تحتــوي جامعــة درهــام عــى متحفــن‪ ،‬وهــام‬ ‫املتحــف الرشقــى ومتحــف اآلثــار‪.‬‬

‫جامعة سانت أندروز‬ ‫)‪(University of St Andrews‬‬

‫تســاوت جامعــة ســانت أنــدروز يف التصنيــف‬ ‫الخامــس مــع جامعــة درهــام لعــام ‪ .2016‬ومتكنت‬

‫جامعــة ســانت آنــدروز مــن اإلبقــاء عــى ترتيبهــا‬ ‫يف املركــز الثالــث خــال تصنيــف “الجارديــان” لعام‬ ‫‪ ،2016‬كــام أنهــا تحــل دامئـاً يف قامئــة أفضــل خمس‬ ‫جامعــات يف اململكــة املتحــدة‪ ،‬وفقــاً لتقييــامت‬ ‫التاميــز‪ ،‬والصنــداي تاميــز‪ .‬وتتألــف جامعــة ســانت‬ ‫آنــدروز مــن شــبكة مــن الجامعــات الصغرة نســبياً‬ ‫واملهتمــة بالبحــث العلمــي يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬ ‫تقــع الجامعــة يف مدينــة ســانت أنــدروز عــى‬ ‫الشــاطئ الرشقــي إلســكتلندا‪ .‬وتعتــرب جامعــة‬ ‫ســانت أنــدروز أقــدم الجامعــات اإلســكتلندية‬ ‫حيــث تأسســت يف عــام ‪ ،1413‬وهــي إحــدى‬ ‫الجامعــات الربيطانيــة العريقــة‪ ،‬وثالــث أقــدم‬ ‫جامعــة يف الــدول املتحدثــة باإلنجليزيــة‪ .‬واحتفلت‬ ‫بعيدهــا الســنوي رقــم ‪ 600‬يف عــام ‪ .2013‬جامعــة‬ ‫ســان أنــدروز معروفــة دوليــاً باعتبارهــا أســاس‬ ‫رياضــة الجولــف‪ .‬درس بهــا الكثــر جــدا ً مــن‬ ‫الشــخصيات التاريخيــة‪ ،‬أبرزهــم امللــك جيمــس‬ ‫الثــاين ملــك إســكتلندا واكتســبت عــى مــدار‬ ‫ســتة قــرون‪ ،‬ســمعة ممتــازة باعتبارهــا أحــد‬ ‫املراكــز الرائــدة األكــر متيـزا ً يف أوروبــا التــي تقــدم‬ ‫الخدمــات التعليميــة والبحثيــة‪ .‬وتعتــرب واحــدة من‬ ‫أكــر الجامعــات يف أوروبــا التــي تكثــف الدراســات‬ ‫البحثيــة‪ ،‬حيــث متثــل املنــح الدراســية والعقــود يف‬ ‫البحــث العلمــي أكــر مــن ربــع حجــم تداوالتهــا‪.‬‬ ‫ومــن التقاليــد املتميــزة التــي تعــرف بهــا جامعــة‬ ‫ســانت أنــدروز هــي الثــوب الجامعــي الــذي‬ ‫يرتديــه الطلبــة‪ ،‬وخاصــة الــرداء األحمــر الــذي‬ ‫يرتديــه الطلبــة يف مرحلــة البكالوريــوس يف العديــد‬ ‫مــن املناســبات التــي تعقــد يف الجامعــة‪ ،‬كتعيــن‬ ‫رئيــس جديــد للجامعــة‪ ،‬أو يف حفــات الغــداء‬ ‫الرســمية يف الجامعــة‪ ،‬أو يف بدايــة العــام عنــد‬

‫اســتقبال الطلبــة املســتجدين‪ .‬أمــا الطلبــة يف كليــة‬ ‫اإللهيــات فرتــدون ثوبــاً أســودا ً‪.‬‬ ‫تقــع جامعــة ســانت انــدروز يف مدينــة ســانت‬ ‫أنــدروز‪ ،‬يف فايــف عــى الســاحل الرشقــى‬ ‫إلســكتلندا‪ .‬ويبلــغ عــدد طابهــا أكــر مــن ‪7200‬‬ ‫طالــب وطالبــة‪ .‬وتشــمل كليــات وتخصصــات‬ ‫عديــدة مــن بينهــا التاريــخ واألحيــاء‪ ،‬والكيميــاء‪،‬‬ ‫والكاســيكيات‪ ،‬وعلــوم الكمبيوتــر‪ ،‬والدراســات‬ ‫الدينيــة‪ ،‬واالقتصــاد‪ ،‬والتمويــل‪ ،‬واللغــة اإلنجليزيــة‪،‬‬ ‫والدراســات الســينامئية‪ ،‬والجغرافيا‪ ،‬وعلــوم األرض‪،‬‬ ‫والتاريــخ والعاقــات الدوليــة واإلدارة والرياضيــات‬ ‫والطــب واللغــات الحديثــة‪ ،‬والفلســفة‪ ،‬ودراســات‬ ‫علــم االنســان (األنروبولوجيــا) ودراســة صناعــة‬ ‫األفــام‪ ،‬والفيزيــاء‪ ،‬وعلــم الفلــك‪ ،‬وعلــم النفــس‪،‬‬ ‫واملوســيقى والدرامــا‪.‬‬ ‫يخضــع التعليــم يف جامعــة ســانت أنــدروز‬ ‫بإســكتلندا إىل معايــر شــديدة الدقــة يف نظــم‬ ‫الجــودة والتقييــم‪ ،‬ولذلــك تعتــرب واحــدة مــن‬ ‫أفضــل الجامعــات األوروبيــة مــن حيــث البحــث‪،‬‬ ‫وجــودة التعليــم‪ ،‬ورىض الطــاب كــام صنفــت‬ ‫كأفضــل جامعــة منوذجيــة مــن حيــث رىض الطاب‪،‬‬ ‫يف الســنوات األربــع التــي أجــرى فيها اســتطاع رأي‬ ‫الطــاب املحليــن يف اململكــة املتحــدة‪.‬‬ ‫وبلــغ عــدد فريــق العمــل فيهــا ‪ 1800‬وهــي‬ ‫مــن أقــوى الجامعــات يف اململكــة املتحــدة التــي‬ ‫حققــت إنجــازات ونجاحــات كبــرة مــن حيــث‬ ‫شــهادات جــودة الخدمــات التعليميــة والبحــث‬ ‫العلمــي‪ .‬وتعــرف جامعــة ســانت أنــدروز اآلن‬ ‫بأنهــا الجامعــة البديلــة الرائــدة متعــددة الكليــات‬ ‫لجامعتــي أكســفورد وكامربيــدج‪ .‬تســعى ســانت‬ ‫أنــدروز إىل جــذب أفضــل الطــاب يف العــامل‬ ‫وأكرهــم متيـزا ً وعبقريــة‪ .‬وتكــون دراســة ماجســتر‬ ‫اآلداب مــع مرتبــة الــرشف والدرجــة التــي متنحهــا‬ ‫كليــة اآلداب هــي ماجســتر اآلداب وبكالوريــوس‬ ‫العلــوم مــع مرتبــة الــرشف‪ ،‬مدتهــا أربــع ســنوات‪،‬‬ ‫وذلــك لضــامن تحقيــق تعليــم واســع املجــال مــام‬ ‫يشــجع الطــاب عــى تجربــة املجــاالت فكريـاً قبــل‬ ‫التخصــص يف مجــال الدراســة الــذي اختــاروه‪ .‬كــام‬ ‫متنــح كليــة العلــوم درجــة بكالوريــوس العلــوم‬ ‫وعــدة درجــات متميــزة‪ .‬وتــدرس بعــض املــواد يف‬ ‫أكــر مــن كليــة مثــل االقتصــاد والجغرافيــا واإلدارة‬ ‫والرياضيــات وعلــم النفــس والتنميــة املســتدامة‪.‬‬ ‫ويحــدد اختيــار الكليــة طبيعــة الشــهادة النهائيــة‪.‬‬ ‫وتقــدم جامعــة ســانت أنــدروز‪ ،‬وكليــة وليــام آنــد‬ ‫مــاري يف الواليــات املتحــدة األمريكيــة برنامجــاً‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 93‬‬

‫إم�يال كوليدج لندن‬ ‫ب‬

‫رســمياً “الكلية اإلمربياليــة للعلــوم والتكنولوجيــا‬ ‫والطــب”‪ ،‬وهــي كليــة بحثيــة عامــة يف لنــدن‬ ‫وإحــدى الجامعــات األوروبيــة األعضــاء برابطــة‬ ‫الجامعــات البحثيــة األوروبيــة‪ .‬ويحتــل تقييــم‬ ‫إمربيــال كوليــدج لنــدن باســتمرار بــن أفضــل‬ ‫الجامعــات يف العــامل‪ ،‬وإمربيــال كوليــدج لنــدن‬ ‫هــي مؤسســة قامئــة عــى العلــم تتمتــع بســمعة‬ ‫متميــزة يف التدريــس والبحــث‪ .‬وتتخصــص امربيــال‬ ‫كوليــدج يف لنــدن يف العلــوم والطــب والهندســة‬ ‫وإدارة األعــامل‪ .‬يقــع حــرم الكليــة الرئيــيس يف‬ ‫منطقــة جنــوب كنســينغتون يف لنــدن الوســطى‬ ‫عــى الحــدود بــن البلــدة امللكيــة كينســينغتون‬ ‫وتشــيليس ومدينــة وستمنســرت‪.‬‬ ‫تقتــرص الدراســة يف إمربيــال كوليــدج عــى أربعــة‬ ‫أقســام هــي‪ ،‬العلــوم الطبيعيــة والدراســات‬ ‫الهندســية والدراســات الطبيــة ودراســات‬ ‫القانــون‪ .‬وتحقــق كليــة إمربيــال كوليــدج للعلــوم‬ ‫والتكنولوجيــا والطــب خامــس أكــرب دخــل بــن‬ ‫املؤسســات التعليميــة الربيطانيــة‪ ،‬حيــث بلــغ‬ ‫دخلهــا يف عــام ‪ 2012‬نحــو ‪ 1,4‬مليــار دوالر‪ .‬وحصل‬ ‫‪ 14‬أســتاذا ً وباحثــاً مــن امربيــال كوليــدج لنــدن‬ ‫عــى جائــزة نوبــل يف مجــاالت الطــب والكيميــاء‬ ‫والفيزيــاء‪ .‬كــام حصــدت عــرشات الجوائــز‬ ‫األخــرى وســجلت عــددا كبــرا مــن االخرتاعــات‬ ‫واالكتشــافات وبحــوث التطويــر التــي غرت مســار‬ ‫العلــوم يف العــامل‪.‬‬ ‫متلــك وتديــر إمربيــال كوليــدج ‪ 20‬مجمع ـاً كب ـرا ً‬ ‫لســكن الطــاب يف وســط لنــدن وضواحيهــا‪ ،‬توفــر‬ ‫أكــر مــن ‪ 3‬آالف غرفــة للســكن‪ ،‬وهــي تتعهــد‬ ‫بتوفــر الســكن لطــاب الســنة األوىل‪ ،‬كجــزء مــن‬ ‫قبولهــم للدراســة يف الجامعــة‪ .‬وهــم يشــكلون‬

‫معظــم ســكنة املجمعــات الخاصــة بالجامعــة‪،‬‬ ‫يف حــن يلجــأ معظــم طــاب املراحــل املتقدمــة‬ ‫وطــاب الدراســات العليــا إليجــاد مســاكنهم‬ ‫بأنفســهم‪ ،‬مبســاعدة مكتــب يف الجامعــة خــاص‬ ‫بإيجــاد املســاكن يف املجمعــات الخاصــة بالطــاب‬ ‫يف أنحــاء لنــدن‪ .‬كــام تضــم املجمعــات الســكنية‬ ‫قاعــات للدراســة وخدمــات اإلنرتنــت والشــبكات‬ ‫الداخليــة المربيــال كوليــدج‪ .‬وتعــد خدمــات‬ ‫الســكن بــن أحــدث وأفضــل املجمعــات يف لنــدن‬ ‫وعمــوم جامعــات بريطانيــا‪.‬‬ ‫ويتنافــس الطــاب يف إمربيــال كوليــدج‪ ،‬وفــق‬ ‫مقاييــس معينــة‪ ،‬للبقــاء يف مجمعــات الجامعــة‪.‬‬ ‫وهنــاك عــدد كبــر مــن املســاكن الخاصــة والعوائل‬ ‫الربيطانيــة التــي تعلــن لــدى مكتــب الســكن عــن‬ ‫غــرف لإليجــار يف مســاكنها‪ ،‬والتــي يفضلهــا الكثــر‬ ‫مــن الطــاب‪.‬‬

‫ومتلــك إمربيــال كوليــدج عــى ثاثــة مراكــز‬ ‫للتامريــن الرياضيــة وحوضــن للســباحة وعــدد‬ ‫آخــر مــن املنشــآت الرياضيــة‪ .‬وتزدحــم فضــاءات‬ ‫الجامعــة بإصــدارات الطــاب مــن النــرشات‬ ‫والصحــف املســتقلة عــن إدارة الجامعــة‪ ،‬إضافة إىل‬ ‫قنــاة تلفزيونيــة وإذاعــة تبثهــام منظــامت الطــاب‬ ‫أيضــا‪.‬‬ ‫تعــد إمربيــال كوليــدج للعلــوم والتكنولوجيــا‬ ‫والطــب مــن الجامعــات املتشــددة يف معايــر‬ ‫اختيــار طابهــا‪ ،‬وعــادة ال تزيــد نســبة قبــول‬ ‫املتقدمــن للدراســة فيهــا عــى ‪ ،%20‬وهــي إحــدى‬ ‫‪ 3‬جامعــات يف بريطانيــا ال تقبــل إال الحاصلــن عــى‬ ‫أعــى النتائــج حســب التصنيــف الربيطــاين (‪)*A‬‬ ‫يف الدراســة اإلعداديــة أو مــا يعادلهــا يف الــدول‬ ‫األخــرى‪ .‬وتضــع ذلــك رشطــاً أساســياً خاصــة يف‬ ‫الرياضيــات لجميــع دراســاتها العلميــة مــع بعــض‬ ‫االســتثناءات الخاصــة‪.‬‬ ‫ويف عــام ‪ 2008‬أعلنــت الجامعــة أنهــا تــدرس‬ ‫وضــع برنامــج المتحــان الطلبــة املتقدمــن لتتمكــن‬ ‫مــن اختيــار أفضــل الطلبــة‪ .‬وقــد أجــرت الكثــر‬ ‫مــن التجــارب الختيــار أفضــل الربامــج املتعلقــة‬ ‫باالختبــارات يف مواضيــع محــددة‪ ،‬إضافــة إىل‬ ‫قيــاس املهــارات ودرجــة حــامس الطالــب لدراســة‬ ‫املوضــوع الــذي ينــوي التخصــص فيــه مــن خــال‬ ‫مقابــات شــخصية‪.‬‬ ‫وقــد جربــت إمربيــال كوليــدج مــا يعــرف باســم‬ ‫«برنامــج كامربيــدج لتقييــم مهــارات التفكــر»‬ ‫لكنهــا مل تحــدد تاريخــاً محــددا العتــامد تلــك‬ ‫االختبــارات رســمياً وتطبيقهــا عــى املتقدمــن‬ ‫للدراســة يف الجامعــة‪.‬‬

‫جامعة درهام‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫تلعــب كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد دورا ً كبـرا ً وملحوظـاً‬ ‫يف املجتمــع الربيطــاين نظ ـرا ً ألرتباطاتهــا الواســعة‬ ‫وتأثرهــا يف مجــال السياســة واألعــامل والقانــون‪.‬‬ ‫وتســتقطب رشكات املحاســبة والبنــوك االســتثامرية‬ ‫ورشكات القانــون واالستشــارات مــن ضمــن‬ ‫خريجــي هــذه الكليــة التــي تعــد املفضلــة لــدى‬ ‫أربــاب األعــامل والــرشكات الكــربى يف القطــاع‬ ‫الخــاص والخدمــات املرصفيــة يف مدينــة لنــدن‬ ‫ويف خــارج بريطانيــا‪ .‬ويطلــق عــى الكليــة أحيانــا‬ ‫اســم “حضانــة البنــوك االســتثامرية” حيــث يتوجــه‬ ‫‪ %30‬مــن خريجيهــا للعمــل يف املجــال املــرصيف‬ ‫والخدمــات املاليــة واملحاســبة‪.‬‬ ‫وتعــد كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد والعلــوم السياســية‬ ‫مــن املؤسســات املتخصصــة يف الدراســة والبحث يف‬ ‫مجــال العلــوم االجتامعية وهــي الجامعــة الوحيدة‬ ‫يف اململكــة املتحــدة التــي تقتــرص عــى تدريــس‬ ‫هــذه املباحــث دون غرهــا‪ .‬وتوفــر الكليــة مــا‬ ‫يقــارب ‪ 140‬برنامجـاً يف درجــة املاجســتر يف العلوم‬ ‫و ‪ 4‬برامــج ماجســتر إدارة عامــة ودرجة املاجســتر‬ ‫يف القانــون و‪ 30‬برنامج ـاً لدرجــة البكالوريــوس يف‬ ‫العلــوم‪ .‬كــام متنــح درجــة البكالوريــوس يف القانــون‬ ‫ولديهــا أربــع برامــج بكالوريــوس أخــرى‪ .‬وتعــد‬ ‫كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد والعلــوم السياســية وجامعــة‬ ‫كامــربدج الجامعتــن الوحيدتــن اللتــان متنحــان‬ ‫درجــة بكالوريــوس يف العلــوم يف تخصــص تاريــخ‬ ‫االقتصــاد‪.‬‬ ‫وهنالــك العديــد من األســامء الامعة والشــخصيات‬ ‫املعروفــة التــي ترتبــط مــع كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد‬

‫مــن بينهــم ‪ 16‬شــخصية حائــزة عــى جائــزة نوبــل‬ ‫يف االقتصــاد والســام واألدب مثــل جــورج برنــارد‬ ‫شــو‪ ،‬وبرترانــد راســل‪ ،‬ورالــف بنــش‪ ،‬وبــول‬ ‫كروجــامن وغرهــم‪.‬‬ ‫ومــن بــن املواضيــع التــي ت ـ ّدرس يف الكليــة هــي‬ ‫علــم اإلنســان وعلــم الجرميــة والعاقــات الدوليــة‬ ‫وعلــم النفــس االجتامعــي والسياســة االجتامعيــة‬ ‫وغرهــا‪ ،‬إضافــة إىل مركــز للغــات‪ .‬ويعــد التنافــس‬ ‫للحصــول عــى مقعــد يف هــذه الكليــة صعبــاً‬ ‫للغايــة‪ ،‬حيــث تجــاوز عــدد طلبــات التــي قدمــت‬ ‫للجامعــة يف العــام ‪ 2008‬أكــر مــن ‪ 19,039‬طلبــا‬ ‫إال أن الجامعــة قبلــت ‪ 1،299‬طلب ـاً فقــط‪ .‬وتبلــغ‬ ‫نســبة القبــول يف بعــض التخصصــات كاالقتصــاد‬ ‫والعاقــات الدوليــة واإلدارة والقانــون واملحاســبة‬ ‫‪ %4‬إىل ‪ %5‬فقــط‪ .‬ولذلــك فــإن الكليــة تعــد مــن‬ ‫أكــر الجامعــات صعوبــة لالتحــاق بهــا يف مرحلــة‬ ‫البكالوريــوس‪ .‬وهنالــك تعــاون كبــر بــن كليــة‬ ‫لنــدن لاقتصــاد والعديــد مــن الجامعــات العامليــة‬ ‫املرموقــة‪ ،‬مــن أهــم هــذه جامعــة كولومبيــا يف‬ ‫نيويــورك‪.‬‬ ‫تشــتهر كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد والعلــوم السياســية‬ ‫مبكتبتهــا حيــث تعــد املكتبــة الرئيســية يف كليــة‬ ‫لنــدن لاقتصــاد‪ ،‬وهــي املكتبــة الربيطانيــة للعلــوم‬ ‫السياســية واالقتصاديــة‪ ،‬أكــرب مكتبــة يف العــامل‬ ‫متخصصــة بشــكل حــرصي للعلــوم االجتامعيــة‬ ‫والسياســية‪ .‬ويعــود تاريــخ إنشــائها إىل عــام‬ ‫‪ 1896‬وكانــت مكتبــة وطنيــة للعلــوم االجتامعيــة‬ ‫يف اململكــة املتحــدة والكومنولــث وقــد حــازت‬

‫مقتنياتهــا عــى أهميــة وطنيــة وعامليــة كبــرة‪.‬‬ ‫ويــزور املكتبــة مــا يزيــد عــى ‪ 6,500‬طالــب‬ ‫وعضــو هيئــة تدريــس يوميــاً وتوفــر املكتبــة‬ ‫مجموعــة خاصــة لألبحــاث الدوليــة املختصــة‬ ‫وتقــدم خدماتهــا ملــا يزيــد عــن ‪ 12,000‬مشــرتك‬ ‫ســنوياً‪ .‬وهنالــك مكتبــة شــو والتــي تقــع يف مبنــى‬ ‫فخــم عريــق يف املبنــى القديــم للكليــة تحــوي‬ ‫كتــب الروايــات واألعــامل األدبيــة املتعــددة وكتــب‬ ‫القــراءة العامــة للتســلية وقضــاء الوقــت‪.‬‬ ‫وحققــت كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد ســمعة عامليــة‬ ‫متميــزة جعلتهــا علــامً يف مقدمــة املؤسســات‬ ‫األكادمييــة املختصــة بالعلــوم االجتامعيــة‪ ،‬وتــرى‬ ‫لجنــة فولربايــت أن كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد والعلــوم‬ ‫السياســية هــي املؤسســة األكادمييــة األوىل يف العامل‬ ‫يف العلــوم االجتامعيــة‪ .‬وتشــر صحيفــة التاميــز إىل‬ ‫أن كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد تقــع يف املرتبــة الثانيــة‬ ‫بــن الجامعــات الربيطانيــة وهي تشــارك أكســفورد‬ ‫يف هــذه املرتبــة‪ .‬وتحتــل كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد‬ ‫والعلــوم السياســية مكانــة متميــزة‪ ،‬وحتــى أنهــا‬ ‫وفقـاً لتقريــر تقييــم النشــاط البحثــي لعــام ‪،2008‬‬ ‫احتلــت املرتبــة األوىل يف مجــال علــم اإلنســان‬ ‫(األنروبولجيــا)‪ ،‬واالقتصــاد والعلــوم السياســية‬ ‫والقانــون والسياســة االجتامعيــة والدراســات‬ ‫األوروبيــة‪.‬‬ ‫ومتنــح كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد درجاتهــا العلميــة‬ ‫يف مرحلــة البكالوريــوس واملاجســتر والدكتــوراه‪،‬‬ ‫وهــي ال متنــح الدرجــات الفخريــة الســنوية‬ ‫بخــاف الجامعــات األخــرى‪ ،‬ومل تقــدم الكليــة‬ ‫منــذ تأسيســها ســوى ‪ 15‬درجــة فخريــة لبعــض‬ ‫الشــخصيات ذات األهميــة العامليــة مثــل نيلســون‬ ‫مانديــا الــذي منحتــه الكليــة درجــة الدكتــوراه‬ ‫الفخريــة يف االقتصــاد‪.‬‬

‫إمربيال كوليدج لندن‬

‫)‪(Imperial College London‬‬

‫كلية لندن لالقتصاد والعلوم السياسية‬

‫لنــدن – إمربيــال كوليــدج للعلــوم والتكنولوجيــا‬ ‫والطــب هــو االســم الرســمي‪ ،‬لكنهــا تعــرف‬ ‫اختصــارا بـــإمربيال كوليــدج لنــدن‪ .‬تأسســت عــام‬ ‫‪ 1907‬إال أن تاريــخ بعــض املؤسســات التابعــة لهــا‬ ‫يعــود إىل القــرن الخامــس عــرش‪ .‬واســتمرت جــزءا ً‬ ‫مــن جامعــة لنــدن ملــدة ‪ 100‬عــام قبــل تصبــح‬ ‫جامعــة مســتقلة عــام ‪ .2007‬ويعــد جناحهــا‬ ‫الطبــي‪ ،‬أكــرب مؤسســة طبيــة تعليميــة يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬ ‫كليــة “لنــدن اإلمرباطوريــة” أو كــام تعــرف‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 95‬‬

‫جامعة أوكسفورد‬

‫تخصصــت جامعــة كامربيــدج بشــكل عــام يف‬ ‫الرياضيــات حيــث أن الرياضــات هــى الرائــدة ىف‬ ‫تلــك الجامعــة ســواء أكانــت رياضــات بحتــة أو‬ ‫رياضــات عامــة‪ ،‬وبعــض تخصصــات التــي تشــتهر‬ ‫بهــا جامعــة كامربيــدج إضافــة إىل الرياضيــات‪ ،‬هي‬ ‫العلــوم‪ ،‬والفنــون‪ ،‬والفيزيــاء‪.‬‬ ‫ومنــذ زمــن إســحق نيوتــن يف القــرن الســابع عــرش‬ ‫حتــى وقــت الحــق حتــى منتصــف القــرن التاســع‬ ‫عــرش‪ ،‬واصلــت جامعــة كامربيــدج الرتكيــز القــوي‬ ‫عــى الرياضيــات التطبيقيــة والفيزيــاء الرياضيــة‬ ‫بشــكل خــاص‪ .‬وإن دراســة هــذا املوضــوع كان‬ ‫إلزاميــا للتخــرج مــن جامعــة كامربيــدج‪ ،‬حتــى‬ ‫للطــاب الطالبــن لشــهادة بكالوريــوس يف اآلداب‪،‬‬ ‫والدرجــة األوىل األساســية يف جامعــة كامربيــدج يف‬ ‫كل مــن الفنــون والعلــوم‪ .‬ويعــرف هــذا االمتحــان‬ ‫بـ “‪.”Tripos‬‬ ‫وعــى الرغــم مــن التنــوع يف مجــاالت البحــوث‪،‬‬ ‫مــا زالــت جامعــة كامربيــدج حتــى اليــوم محافظــة‬ ‫عــى قوتهــا يف الرياضيــات‪ ،‬وقــد فــاز خريجوهــا‬ ‫بثامنيــة ميداليــات وجائــزة نوبــل يف الرياضيــات‪.‬‬ ‫وتديــر الجامعــة أيض ـاً شــهادة خاصــة يف الربنامــج‬ ‫الــدرايس “الدراســات العليــا” يف الرياضيــات‬ ‫والرياضيــات البحتــة‪.‬‬

‫جامعة أوكسفورد‬ ‫)‪(Oxford University‬‬

‫تع ـ ّد جامعــة أوكســفورد أقــدم جامعــة يف العــامل‬ ‫الغــريب املتحــدث باإلنجليزيــة‪ ،‬وأقــدم جامعــات‬ ‫بريطانيــا الســبع العتيقــة‪ ،‬ومــن خــرة ورابــع‬ ‫أفضــل جامعــات العــامل والجامعــة األوىل يف اململكة‬ ‫املتحــدة‪ .‬وتقــع الجامعــة يف مدينــة أكســفورد يف‬ ‫إنجل ـرتا‪.‬‬ ‫ال يوجــد معرفــة مضبوطــة بالتاريخ الدقيق إلنشــاء‬ ‫هــذه الجامعــة‪ ،‬إال أن أصولهــا ترجــع‪ ،‬عــى أقــل‬ ‫تقديــر‪ ،‬إىل القــرن الحــادي عــرش‪ .‬حيــث يُــروى أنــه‬ ‫قامــت أعــامل شــغب بــن العلــامء وســكان املدينــة‬ ‫يف عــام ‪ 1209‬مــا حــدا ببعــض علــامء أكســفورد‬ ‫إىل الفـرار إىل بلــدة كامربيــدج يف الشــامل الرشقــي‬ ‫حيــث أُ ُسســت جامعــة كامربيــدج هنــاك‪ ،‬والتــي‬ ‫أصبحــت منــذ ذلــك الوقــت منافسـاً قويـاً لجامعــة‬ ‫أكســفورد‪ .‬وتعتــرب هاتــان الجامعتــان مــن أفضــل‬ ‫وأرقــى الجامعــات يف اململكــة املتحــدة والعــامل‪.‬‬ ‫احتلــت جامعــة أوكســفورد حديثـاً املركــز األول يف‬ ‫تصنيفــن مــن تصنيفــات الجامعــات الربيطانيــة‪.‬‬ ‫وعــى الرغــم مــن املكانــة املرموقــة التــي يحتلهــا‬ ‫هــذا التصنيــف بنــاءا ً عــى معايــر عامليــة الرتتيــب‬ ‫املتبعــة‪ ،‬إال أن جامعــة أكســفورد جــاءت يف املركــز‬

‫الرابــع يف تصنيــف التاميــز للتعليــم العــايل والعــارش‬ ‫يف التصنيــف الــذي تعــده جامعــة شــانغهاي جيــاو‬ ‫تونــغ‪ ،‬حيــث احتلــت جامعــة هارفــرد املركــز‬ ‫األول‪ .‬ويف عــام ‪ ،2015‬جــاءت جامعة أوكســفورد يف‬ ‫املركــز الثــاين عــى التصنيــف العاملــي بعــد جامعــة‬ ‫هارفــارد‪.‬‬ ‫وتبقــى جامعــة أكســفورد دامئــاً مــن أفضــل‬ ‫الجامعــات يف بريطانيــا وتتنافــس معهــا عــى املركز‬ ‫األول جارتهــا جامعــة كامربيــدج‪ .‬تحتــوي جامعــة‬ ‫أوكســفورد عــى مثانيــة وثاثــن كليــة مســتقلة‪.‬‬ ‫ويعتــرب نظــام الجامعــة الجامعــي ســمة نجاحهــا‪،‬‬ ‫حيــث يتســنى للنــاس االجتــامع مع ـاً يف مؤسســة‬ ‫كبــرة ويف تخصصــات متعــددة والعمل معـاً لتبادل‬ ‫األفــكار‪ .‬وجامعــة أكســفورد معروفــة مبرافقهــا‬ ‫الكثــرة مثــل‪ :‬املكتبــة‪ ،‬وتكنولوجيــا املعلومــات‪،‬‬ ‫والســكن والرعايــة والدعــم‪ ،‬والرياضــة واألحــداث‬ ‫االجتامعيــة‪ .‬وتحافــظ جامعــة أوكســفورد عــى أن‬ ‫يكــون عــدد قليــل مــن الطــاب يف كل كليــة وذلــك‬ ‫ملنــح االهتــامم الــكايف للطالــب والتطويــر األكادميي‬ ‫ورفاهيــة االفــراد‪ .‬وتحتــوي جامعــة أوكســفورد‬ ‫عــى ‪ 6‬قاعــات خاصــة دامئــة والتــي أنشــأت مــن‬ ‫مختلــف الطوائــف املســيحية ومــا زالــت تحتفــظ‬ ‫بطابعهــا الدينــي‪.‬‬ ‫كــام تعــد جامعــة أوكســفورد معلـامً ســياحياً كبرا ً‬ ‫للســياحة يف بريطانيــا إذ يوجــد بهــا العديــد مــن‬ ‫املتاحــف التــى يزوهــا مــا ال يقــل عــن مليــون‬ ‫شــخص مــن الســياح ســنوياً‪ ،‬يأتــون لرؤيــة معــامل‬ ‫الجامعــة العريقــة وزيــارة املتاحــف املوجــودة‬ ‫فيهــا الســيام متحــف األشــمويل للفــن واآلثــار‪،‬‬ ‫ومتحــف الجامعــة لآلثــار الطبيعيــة‪ ،‬ومتحــف‬ ‫بيــت ريفــرز‪ ،‬ومتحــف تاريــخ العلــم‪.‬‬

‫كلية لندن لالقتصاد والعلوم‬ ‫السياسية‬ ‫& ‪(London School of Economics‬‬ ‫)‪Political Science‬‬

‫تأسســت كليــة لنــدن لاقتصــاد والعلــوم السياســية‬ ‫عــام ‪ ،1895‬وانضمــت إىل جامعــة لنــدن عــام ‪1900‬‬ ‫لتكــون كليــة لاقتصــاد‪ .‬وهــي إحــدى الكليــات‬ ‫التابعــة لجامعــة لنــدن يف مدينــة لنــدن‪ ،‬وبــدأت‬ ‫الكليــة مبنــح الدرجــات العلميــة منــذ العــام ‪.1902‬‬ ‫وتعــد حتــى اآلن كليــة مختصــة تصــف نفســها‬ ‫بأنهــا املؤسســة التعليميــة الرائــدة عــى مســتوى‬ ‫العــامل يف البحــث والتدريــس يف العلــوم اإلنســانية‪.‬‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫شهادة املاجستري‪:‬‬

‫قــد تعتمــد شــهادة املاجســتر يف اململكــة املتحــدة‬ ‫عــى البحــوث‪ ،‬أو تكــون دورة تعليميــة أو مزيــج‬ ‫ـرض الطــاب لحقبــة عمليــة‬ ‫مــن األثنــن‪ ،‬وهــي تحـ ّ‬ ‫معينــة أو لشــهادة دكتــوراه‪ ،‬وتتوفــر يف مجــاالت‬ ‫متعــددة‪ ،‬ميكــن تلخيــص هــذه املرحلــة الدراســية‬ ‫والــرشوط املطلوبــة بالنقــاط التاليــة‪:‬‬ ‫القبــول يف مرحلــة املاجســتر يشــرتط حصــول‬ ‫الطالــب عــى شــهادة جامعيــة؛‬ ‫دراســة املاجســتر يف بريطانيــا هــي عبــارة عــن‬ ‫برنامــج مــن ‪ 12‬شــهرا ً؛‬ ‫تتضمــن شــهادات املاجســتر املعتمــدة عــى‬ ‫البحــوث؛‬ ‫ ماجستر بحوث (‪)MRes‬‬‫ وماجستر فلسفة (‪)MPhil‬‬‫تتضمن شهادات املاجستر يف بريطانيا؛‬ ‫ ماجستر يف اآلداب (‪)MA‬‬‫ ماجستر يف العلوم (‪)MSc‬‬‫‪ -‬وماجستر يف إدارة األعامل (‪)MBA‬‬

‫شهادة الدكتوراه‪:‬‬

‫وهــي دكتــوراه يف الفلســفة ‪ Phd‬أو ‪،Dphil‬‬ ‫والقبــول لهــذه الدرجــة الدراســية يف بريطانيــا‬ ‫يشــرتط حصــول الطالــب عــى شــهادة املاجســتر‬ ‫أو يف بعــض األحيــان شــهادة بكالوريــوس فقــط‪.‬‬ ‫ويســتغرق الحصــول عــى درجــة الدكتــوراه كحــد‬ ‫أدىن ‪ 3‬ســنوات مــن الدراســة والبحــث‪ ،‬وتشــرتط‬ ‫برامــج الدكتــوراه عــى الطــاب تقديــم بحــث‬ ‫خــاص بهــم‪.‬‬ ‫وبخصــوص الطــاب الدوليــون أو األجانــب‪ ،‬فمــن‬ ‫أجــل الدراســة يف بريطانيــا‪ ،‬بــكل مراحلهــا وليــس‬ ‫درجــة الدكتــوراه فقــط‪ ،‬يتوجــب عــى الطــاب‬ ‫الدوليــن مــن الذيــن مل تكــن اللغــة اإلنجليزيــة‬ ‫لغتهــم األم‪ ،‬تقديــم دليــل عــى جدارتهــم يف اللغــة‬ ‫اإلنجليزيــة‪ .‬وتفضــل معظــم الجامعــات يف اململكــة‬ ‫املتحــدة شــهادة اللغــة اإلنجليزيــة بدرجــة جيــد‬ ‫يف اختبــار “أيلتــز”‪ ،‬واملعــدل املطلــوب يف اختبــار‬ ‫“أيلتــز” هــو ‪ 6‬فــام فــوق للدراســة الجامعيــة‬

‫كام�يدج‬ ‫جامعة ب‬

‫(بدرجــة البكالوريــوس) ودرجــة ‪ 6.5‬فــام فــوق‬ ‫للدراســات العليــا‪.‬‬

‫جامعة كامربيدج‬

‫إىل جانــب إثبــات التمكــن مــن اللغــة اإلنجليزيــة‪،‬‬ ‫عــى الطــاب الدوليــن التحقــق أيضــاً مــن أن‬ ‫مؤهاتهــم تتفــق مــع رشوط الدخــول‪ .‬وقــد يتعـ ّـن‬ ‫عــى الطــاب الدوليــن دراســة برنامــج تحضــري‬ ‫لشــهادة املاجســتر يف حــال مل تكــن مهاراتهــم يف‬ ‫اللغــة اإلنجليزيــة أو بعــض املــواد الدراســية‪ ،‬مــن‬ ‫أجــل رفــع مؤهاتهــم لتتوافــق مــع رشوط البــدء‬ ‫بربنامــج شــهادة املاجســتر أو الدكتــوراه‪.‬‬

‫جامعــة كامربيــدج تأسســت يف عــام ‪ ،1209‬وهــي‬ ‫ثــاين أقــدم جامعــة عــى مســتوى العــامل الناطــق‬ ‫باللغــة اإلنجليزيــة بعــد جامعــة أوكســفورد‪،‬‬ ‫وإحــدى الجامعــات الســبع العتيقــة يف الجــزر‬ ‫الربيطانيــة‪ .‬تقــع جامعــة كامربيــدج يف مدينــة‬ ‫كامربيــدج باململكــة املتحــدة‪ .‬ومــن حيــث‬ ‫التصنيــف‪ ،‬فــإن جامعــة كامربيــدج دامئــا مــا يـراوح‬ ‫ترتيبيهــا مــا بــن املركزيــن األول والثــاين بالتنــاوب‬ ‫مــع جامعــة أوكســفورد العريقــة‪ .‬وتعتــرب الجامعــة‬ ‫األعــرق عــى مســتوى العــامل يف مجــال العلــوم‬ ‫الطبيعيــة والرياضيــات والفيزيــاء‪.‬‬

‫تعتــرب الجامعــات يف بريطانيــا املحــور الرئيــيس‬ ‫عندمــا يبــدأ الحديــث عــن الدراســة يف بريطانيــا‪،‬‬ ‫ويذهــب تفكــر األشــخاص الذيــن يرغبــون‬ ‫بالتحصيــل الجامعــي يف خــارج بلدانهم مبــارشة إىل‬ ‫جامعــات بريطانيــا نظـرا ً لشــهرة الدراســة والتعليم‬ ‫يف بريطانيــا وأيضــاً نظــرا ً للشــهرة الكبــرة التــى‬ ‫تتمتــع بهــا الجامعــات يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬

‫حصلــت جامعــة كامربيــدج عــى ‪ 89‬جائــزة نوبــل‪،‬‬ ‫وذلــك أكــر مــن أيــة جامعــة أخــرى يف العــامل‪.‬‬ ‫وتخــرج مــن جامعــة كامربيــدج بعض ـاً مــن أهــم‬ ‫العلــامء يف القــرون املاضيــة مــن بينهــم العــامل‬ ‫إســحق نيوتــن (املشــهور بنظريــة الجاذبيــة)‪،‬‬ ‫والعــامل تشــارلز دارويــن (صاحــب نظريــة التطور)‪،‬‬ ‫والعــامل ويليــام هــاريف‪ ،‬والعــامل ديــراك‪ ،‬والعــامل‬ ‫جوزيــف طومســون (مكتشــف اإللكــرتون)‪ ،‬والعامل‬ ‫إرنســت رذرفــورد‪ ،‬والعــامل جيمــز ماكســويل‪،‬‬ ‫والعــامل جيمــس واطســون‪ ،‬والعــامل فرنســيس كريك‬ ‫(صاحــب تركيــب الحمــض النــووي)‪ ،‬والعــامل آالن‬ ‫تورينــغ‪ ،‬والعــامل جاكــوب برونوفســي وغرهــم‪.‬‬

‫أفضل ‪ 10‬جامعات بريطانية‬ ‫يف التصنيف عام ‪2016‬‬

‫طبقــا لتصنيــف “الغارديــان” ألفضــل ‪ 10‬جامعــات‬ ‫بريطانيــة لعــام ‪ ،2016‬فــإن أفضــل ‪ 10‬مــن أصــل‬ ‫‪ 126‬مــن الجامعــات الربيطانيــة هــي كاآليت‪:‬‬

‫)‪(Cambridge University‬‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 97‬‬

‫‪Britain’s prestigious Universities:‬‬ ‫‪a sight of bright civilization‬‬ ‫مقدمة‪:‬‬

‫منــذ بدايــة النهضــة األوروبيــة‪ ،‬والتــي كان‬ ‫لربيطانيــا دورا ً كبــرا ً فيهــا‪ ،‬أصبحــت بريطانيــا‬ ‫وكنتيجــة طبيعيــة لدورهــا الريــادي يف النهضــة‬ ‫واحــدة مــن أهــم دول العــامل إنتاجــاً للعلــامء‬ ‫واألكادمييــن عــى مســتوى العــامل ويف معظــم‬ ‫املجــاالت املختلفــة‪ .‬ومــن أهم األســباب التــي أدت‬ ‫إىل حصــول بريطانيــا عــى هــذه الســمعة وخولتهــا‬ ‫لتكــون أفضــل الخيــارات لتوجــه الطــاب من شــتى‬ ‫أصقــاع العــامل بحثـاً عــن أحــدث املناهــج العلميــة‬ ‫وأكرهــا تطــورا ً‪.‬‬

‫عندمــا نتحــدث عــن الجامعــات واملعاهــد واملراكــز‬ ‫التعليميــة الربيطانيــة‪ ،‬فإننــا نتحــدث عــن قامئــة‬ ‫طويلــة مــن املنــارات املرشقــة ىف تاريــخ العلــوم‬ ‫والفنــون واآلداب وكافــة الصناعــات مثــل‪ :‬جامعــة‬ ‫أكســفورد‪ ،‬وجامعــة كمربيــدج‪ ،‬وجامعــة يــورك‪،‬‬ ‫وجامعــة إدنــربة‪ ،‬وجامعــة لنــدن‪ ،‬وجامعــة ليــدز‪،‬‬ ‫ومئــات غرهــا مــن الجامعــات املتخصصــة‪ ،‬والتــى‬ ‫حققــت إنجــازات كبــرة للبرشيــة جمعــاء ىف‬ ‫مختلــف املجــاالت‪.‬‬ ‫ويــأيت هــذا التم ّيــز بســبب البيئــة التعليميــة‬ ‫اإلبداعيــة التــى توفرهــا نظــم التعليــم الربيطانيــة‬ ‫عــى مــدى عقــود متتاليــة حيــث تعمــل عــى‬ ‫تطويــر اإلمكانيــات العلميــة والفكريــة للطالــب‪،‬‬ ‫وجعلــه دامئــاً يف مواكبــة تطــورات الحــارض‬ ‫وتطلعــات املســتقبل‪ ،‬إىل جانــب معايــر الجــودة‬ ‫العاليــة للمؤسســات التعليميــة الربيطانيــة التــى‬ ‫تعتــرب مــن ضمــن األفضــل عــى مســتوى العــامل‪،‬‬ ‫األمــر الــذي جعــل العديــد مــن الجامعــات العاملية‬

‫املرموقــة تحــاول أن تســر عــى نهــج املؤسســات‬ ‫التعليميــة الربيطانيــة‪.‬‬ ‫وتتنــوع الدراســة ىف بريطانيــا عــى مجــال واســع‬ ‫وعريــض مــن التخصصــات املختلفة ونظــام التعليم‬ ‫املتعــددة والتــى تشــملها املنشــآت التعليميــة‬ ‫الربيطانيــة التــى ال يقــل عددهــا عن ‪ 3000‬منشــأة‬ ‫تتنــوع مابــن مــدراس‪ ،‬وكليــات وجامعــات تشــمل‬ ‫جميــع التخصصــات بــا اســتثناء‪ ،‬ســواء عــى‬ ‫مســتوى التعليــم املهنــي أو العــايل أو الجامعــي‬ ‫واألكادميــي والدراســات العليــا‪ ،‬وتســقبل أكــر مــن‬ ‫‪ 400‬ألــف طالــب ســنوياً مــن مختلــف دول العــامل‪،‬‬ ‫ولذلــك فهــي مهيــأة الســتيعاب الخدمــات الطابية‬ ‫املختلفــة ســواء ىف الجوانــب الدراســية أو الثقافيــة‬ ‫أو املعيشــية والســكنية وغرهــا‪.‬‬ ‫ويعــد املجتمــع الربيطــاين مــن أكــر املجتمعــات‬ ‫العامليــة انفتاحــاً عــى الثقافــات والخلفيــات‬ ‫واملعتقــدات‪ ،‬ويضــم أعراقــا متعــددة تعيــش عــى‬ ‫أرضــه ســواء عــى مســتوى املهاجريــن أو املقيمــن‪،‬‬ ‫أو عــى مســتوى آالف الطلبــة الوافديــن ســنوياً‪،‬‬ ‫وهــو األمــر الــذي يضفــى حيويــة أكــرب للتنــوع‬ ‫الثقــايف يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬ ‫وعــى املســتوى الــدرايس‪ ،‬فاملنشــآت التعليميــة‬ ‫الربيطانيــة تشــمل طابــاً غــر بريطانيــن مــن‬ ‫كل انحــاء العــامل‪ ،‬األمــر الــذي يقلــل مــن شــعور‬ ‫الطالــب العــريب بالغربــة‪ ،‬ويســاعده أكــر عــى‬ ‫االندمــاج باملجتمــع وثقافاتــه املتعــددة التــى‬ ‫يعايشــها‪ ،‬وهــو األمــر الــذي يعــد دراســة مضافــة‬ ‫إىل دراســته املتخصصــة‪ ،‬كونــه يتعايــش مــع‬ ‫مجموعــة عريضــة مــن الجنســيات والثقافــات‬

‫فيتشــبع مبفاهيــم التعايــش مــع األخريــن‪.‬‬

‫شهادة البكالوريوس‪:‬‬

‫شــهادة البكالوريــوس هــي عبــارة عــن برنامــج مــن‬ ‫‪ 3‬ســنوات يتــم يف إحــدى الجامعــات أو كليــات‬ ‫التعليــم العــايل‪ .‬يتقــدم الطــاب إىل الجامعــات‬ ‫الربيطانيــة مــن خــال خدمــة القبــول بالجامعــات‬ ‫والكليات “يــوكاس” وهــي وكالــة مركزيــة حكوميــة‬ ‫تقــوم بتنســيق الطلبــات لــكل جامعــة‪ .‬بإمــكان‬ ‫الطــاب وضــع خمســة خيــارات عــى الطلــب‬ ‫الذيــن يقدمونــه‪ ،‬حيــث تتوفــر مجموعــة كبــرة‬ ‫مــن االختصاصــات التــي تــزود الطــاب باملهــارات‬ ‫الازمــة للعديــد مــن الوظائــف أو للمزيــد مــن‬ ‫الدراســة‪.‬‬ ‫تقــوم الجامعــات بتقديــر عامــات الطــاب‬ ‫املتوقعــة للقبــول يف درجــة‪ ،‬إىل جانــب معايــر‬ ‫أخــرى أثنــاء عمليــة التقــدم والقبــول يف الجامعــة‪،‬‬ ‫وعــى الطــاب أن يختــاروا االختصــاص كجــزء مــن‬ ‫طلــب التقــدم الجامعــي‪.‬‬ ‫وتتنوع شهادة البكالوريرس كاآليت‪:‬‬ ‫* بكالوريوس يف اآلداب (‪)BA‬؛‬ ‫* وبكالوريوس يف العلوم (‪)BSc‬؛‬ ‫بينــام تكــون بعــض برامــج الشــهادات ألربعــة‬ ‫أعــوام وتتضمــن ســنة “تداخليــة” حــن يكتســب‬ ‫الطــاب خــربة عمليــة ذات صلــة مبوضوع الدراســة‬ ‫وذلــك لعــام واحــد‪.‬‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫وقــال كــوري مبيــل‪ ،‬مديــر مؤسســة كنــاري وارف‬ ‫ودوكانــدز‪ ،‬أن وكالــة (‪ )Chestertons‬توســطت يف‬ ‫إنهــاء صفقــة بيــع ‪ 11‬شــقة يف بــرج بروفيدانــس‬ ‫(‪ )Providence Tower‬يف رشق لنــدن ملســتثمر‬ ‫واحــد مايــو‪ .‬ومــن املقــرر أن يتـ ّم االنتهــاء مــن بناء‬ ‫الــربج يف العــام املقبــل‪.‬‬ ‫ويف منطقــة كنســينغتون يف لنــدن وتشــيليس‪ ،‬وهام‬ ‫مــن أغــى البليــات امللكيــة يف اململكــة املتحــدة‪،‬‬ ‫تــم إنهــاء صفقــات بيــع ‪ 137‬منــزالً يف شــهر نيســان‬ ‫(أبريــل) ‪ ،2015‬وهــو أدىن معــدل شــهري منــذ‬ ‫مــارس عــام ‪ ،2009‬وفقــا لبيانــات تســجيل األرايض‪.‬‬

‫عــدد الصفقــات املعقــودة يف بيــع ورشاء عقــارات‬ ‫لنــدن‪ ،‬تقــول أنــه لحـ ّد ‪ 23‬متــوز (يوليــو) ‪ 2015‬قــد‬ ‫قدمــت النصــح واالستشــارة بشــأن ‪ 25‬صفقــة رشاء‬ ‫عقــارات مبتوســط قيمــة بنحــو ‪ 1.5‬مليــون جنيــه‬ ‫إس ـرتايني مقابــل نحــو ‪ 12‬صفقــة عــى عقــارات‬ ‫مبتوســط قيمــة ‪ 3.54‬مليــون جنيــه إســرتليني يف‬ ‫الفــرتة نفســها مــن العــام املــايض‪ .‬وانخفضــت‬ ‫مبيعــات املنــازل الفاخــرة يف لنــدن التــي تتجــاوز‬ ‫قيمتهــا مببلــغ ‪ 2‬مليــون جنيــه إسـرتليني فــام فوق‪،‬‬ ‫انخفضــت إىل الثلــث يف الربــع الثــاين مــن العــام‬ ‫املــايض‪ ،‬هــذا وفق ـاً لخبــر البيانــات‬ ‫العقاريــة‪ ،‬الســيد ليونــرس‪ ،‬مديــر مؤسســة‬ ‫(‪ .)William Carrington‬وقــال ليونــرس عــن‬ ‫وضــع الســوق واملســترشين يف أفضــل املناطــق يف‬ ‫لنــدن بأنــه “ال أرى تحســناً يف ظــروف الســوق قبــل‬ ‫شــهر أيلــول (ســبتمرب) ‪.”2015‬‬ ‫أن الزيــادات الرضيبيــة تبــدأ يف صفقــات العقــارات‬ ‫بقيمــة مــن غايــة ‪ 937،000‬ألــف جنيــه إسـرتليني‪،‬‬ ‫وإن أولئــك الذيــن يشــرتون عقــارات بأقــل مــن‬ ‫هــذا يدفقــون اآلن رضيبــة أقــل‪ ،‬ويتــم دفــع نســبة‬ ‫‪ %12‬رضيبــة عــى العقــارات بقيمــة متــا فــوق ‪1.5‬‬ ‫مليــون جنيــه إســرتليني‪ .‬وأضافــت‪ :‬ان “املشــرتين‬ ‫ذاتهــم الذيــن كان أوزبــورن بصــدد مســاعدتهم‪،‬‬ ‫هــم ذاتهــم الذيــن وضعهــم أوزبــورن يف موقــع‬ ‫غــر جيــد أو “غــر يف صالحهــم‪ ،‬ويف الوقــت نفســه‪،‬‬ ‫قــد جمــدت املبيعــات األغــى ســعرا‪ ،‬مبيعــات‬ ‫العقــارات الفاخــرة‪ ،‬وهــذه خطــوات ســيئة جــدا ً‬ ‫جــدا ً”‪.‬‬

‫وقــال جــوين موريــس‪ ،‬رئيــس قســم األبحــاث‬ ‫ووســيط عقــارات‪ ،‬أن عــدد املســتثمرين الذيــن‬ ‫ســجلوا يف مؤسســة (‪)Hamptons International‬‬ ‫أو الذيــن أبــدوا رغبــة يف رشاء عقــارات فاخــرة يف‬ ‫وســط لنــدن‪ ،‬قــد انخفــض بنحــو ‪ %10‬يف النصــف‬ ‫األول مــن هــذا العــام مقارنــة مــع نفــس الفــرتة‬ ‫مــن العــام املــايض‪.‬‬ ‫وقــال موريــس أن املســتثمرين الذيــن يشــرتون‬ ‫الشــقق عــدة بقيمــة تـرتاوح بنحــو ‪ 500،000‬جنيــه‬ ‫إســرتليني يف لنــدن يحصلــون عــى عائــد أربــاح‬ ‫عنــد التأجــر بنســبة تـرتاوح مــا بــن ‪ ،%4-5‬مقارنة‬ ‫مــع حــوايل ‪ %2‬يف تأجــر مســاكن فخــم يف أفضــل‬ ‫املناطــق يف لنــدن‪.‬‬

‫وانخفضــت قيــم بعــض العقــارات يف بعــض مــن‬ ‫أفضــل أحيــاء مدينة لنــدن‪ ،‬والتــي تراجعت اســعار‬ ‫عقاراتهــا منــذ فــرض التغي ـرات الرضيبيــة األخــرة‬ ‫ورضيبــة الختــم الجديــدة‪ ،‬هــذا وفقــاً ‪Knight‬‬ ‫‪ Frank LLP‬الوســيط يف مؤسســة نايــت فرانــك‬ ‫(‪ .)Knightsbridge‬الــذي أكــد انخفــاض األســعار‬ ‫يف األشــهر الســبعة وشــهر متــوز بنســبة ‪ %2.3‬يف‬ ‫منطقــة نايتســربيدج‪ ،‬وبنســبة ‪ %0.6‬يف منطقــة‬ ‫نوتينــغ هيــل‪.‬‬ ‫وعــن تراجــع قيــم وأســعار العقــارات يف قلــب‬ ‫مدينــة لنــدن‪ ،‬قــال جايلــز حنــا‪ ،‬نائــب الرئيــس‬ ‫األول يف كريســتيز العامليــة العقاريــة (‪Christies‬‬ ‫‪“ )International Real Estate‬أن هــذا مــا هــو إال‬ ‫تصحيــح مؤقــت‪ ،‬ولكنــي أعتقــد أن ‪ PCL‬سيســتمر‬ ‫بالنمــو يف نهايــة املطــاف”‪ .‬وأكــد بــأن مثــل هــذا‬ ‫الوضــع مــر مــرت بــه املدينــة م ـرات عديــدة‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 99‬‬

‫‪Taxed out of mansions,‬‬ ‫‪London investors head down-market‬‬ ‫العقــارات الفاخــرة يف أحيــاء لنــدن مثــل‬ ‫نايتســربيدج ومنطقــة بلغرافيــا أصبحــت مــن‬ ‫املناطــق التــي اليفضلهــا حتــى أغنــى املســتثمرين‬ ‫العقاريــن‪ .‬أن املشــتثمرين العقاريــن األكــر‬ ‫غنــاءا يحاولــون االبتعــاد عــن االســتثامر ورشاء‬ ‫العقــارات الفاخــرة يف لنــدن‪ ،‬أو أنهــم قــد “طــردوا”‬ ‫منهــا وذلــك بعــد الرضائــب الجديــدة (رضائــب‬ ‫املبيعــات) التــي أدخلهــا وزيــر الخزانــة الربيطــاين‪،‬‬ ‫جــورج أوزبــورن‪ ،‬يف شــهر كانــون األول (ديســمرب)‬ ‫‪ ،2014‬والتــي ارتفعــت لتصــل إىل ‪ %12‬مــن تكلفــة‬ ‫املنــازل والعقــارات الفاخــرة يف بريطانيــا‪.‬‬ ‫تقــول املديــر الرشيــك يف رشكــة (‪Black Brick‬‬ ‫‪ )Property Solutions‬ووكيــل بيــع ورشاء‬ ‫العقــارات كاميــا ديــل بــأن زبائنهــا ينفقــون يف‬ ‫املتوســط ‪ 2‬مليــون جنيــه إســرتليني (أو مــا يعــادل‬ ‫‪ 3.1‬مليــون دوالر) أقــل عــى كل معاملــة رشاء‬ ‫عقــاري هــذا العــام‪ ،‬وأنهــم يبــدون اهتاممــا أكــرب‬ ‫يف املناطــق األرخــص مــن مدينــة لنــدن‪ ،‬مثــب‬ ‫منطقــة هاكنــي وشــورديتش‪ ،‬ذلــك ألن رشاء منــزل‬ ‫فاخــر بقيمــة ‪ 5‬مايــن جنيــه إســرتليني ودفــع‬ ‫نحــو ‪ 364،000‬ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني رضائــب‪.‬‬ ‫وبــدالً عــن هــذا يهــرول املســتثمرون األغنيــاء إىل‬ ‫رشاء ‪ 10‬شــقق كلفــة الواحــدة ال تتجــاوز ‪500،000‬‬ ‫ألــف جنيــه إســرتليني وعــدم دفــع الرضيبــة التــي‬ ‫فرضهــا أوزبــورن عــى رشاء العقــارات الفاخــرة‪ .‬أنه‬ ‫التهــرب الرضيبــي بعينــه‪.‬‬

‫ووصفــت ديــل هــذا التحــول بأنــه “خطــوة ســيئة‬ ‫جــدا” مــن قبــل أوزبــزرن‪ ،‬وإن بــدل أن يســتفاد‬ ‫النــاس الذيــن هــم بحاجــة مــن التخفبــض‬ ‫الرضيبــي‪ ،‬فهــو افــاد النــاس ليســوا بحاجــة‬ ‫للمســاعدة يف التحايــل الرضيبــي‪.‬‬ ‫وقــال ديــل مــع املســتثمرين يشــرتون اآلن املزيــد‬ ‫مــن املنــازل يف مناطــق أقــل تكلفــة‪ ،‬وأســعار أقــل‬ ‫مــن عتبــة أوزبــورن ترتفــع ومالــك املحتلــن‪ ،‬الذين‬

‫كان يجــب أن يســتفيد مــن التخفيضــات الرضيبية‪،‬‬ ‫ويتــم معاقبــة‪.‬‬ ‫وتقــول ديــل‪ ،‬أن أوزبــورن قــد ســاهم يف إدخــال‬ ‫عقــارات لنــدن الفاخــرة يف مرحلــة “الركــود”‪ ،‬وإن‬ ‫املســتثمرين “مســتمرون بإنفــاق نفــس املبالــغ‪،‬‬ ‫إال أنهــم يقســموها عــى العديــد مــن العقــارات‬ ‫األرخــص مثنـاً يف مناطــق أقــل مثنـاً‪ ،‬يف ســوق األقــل‬ ‫مــن ‪ 1‬مليــون جنيــه إســرتليني‪ .‬وحــول تراجــع‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫عي� والدكتور ستيفن ناب وحشد من الحضور‬ ‫الدكتورة أفنان الشُ ب ي‬

‫“كانــت إحــدى أهــم أولويــات جامعــة جــورج‬ ‫واشــنطن العمــل عــى رســم أفضــل ســبيل للوصول‬ ‫لخريجيهــا عــى مســتوى العــامل مســتخدمة طرق ـاً‬ ‫حديثــة‪ ،‬وكانــت “سلســة املقابــات العامليــة‬ ‫لجامعــة جــورج واشــنطن” إحــدى نتائــج هــذا‬ ‫العمــل”؛ قــال الســيد أرســتيد كولينــز نائــب رئيــس‬ ‫الجامعــة لشــؤون التطويــر وعاقــات الخريجــن‪.‬‬ ‫وأضــاف “يعمــل الربنامــج الــذي نســتخدمه عــى‬ ‫ربــط خريجــي الجامعــة الذيــن يصــل عددهــم إىل‬ ‫نحــو ‪ 270‬ألــف خريجـاً مــن ‪ 150‬بلــدا ً حــول العامل‪،‬‬ ‫بشــكل مســتمر ومتواصــل عــى مــدى الحيــاة ويف‬ ‫أيــة بقعــة مــن العــامل”‪.‬‬ ‫كأمــن عــام لغرفــة التجــارة العربيــة الربيطانيــة‬ ‫تعمــل الدكتــورة أفنــان الشُ ــعيبي عــى تطويــر‬ ‫وتشــجيع التجــارة بــن اململكــة املتحــدة والعــامل‬ ‫العــريب‪ ،‬وتــرشف عــى تقديــم الدعــم واملشــورة‬ ‫لقاعــدة عريضــة مــن أعضــاء الغرفــة الذيــن‬ ‫يتجــاوز عددهــم ‪ 1500‬عضــوا‪ .‬أوضحــت الدكتــورة‬ ‫الشُ ــعيبي أن خربتهــا املكتســبة كطالبــة دكتــوراه‬ ‫بكليــة التعليــم والتطويــر البــرشي قــد ســاعدتها‬ ‫منــذ ســن مبكــرة عــى الخــوض يف آفــاق أوســع‬ ‫والســعي لتقديــم مــا هــو فــوق املتوقــع‪ .‬كــام‬ ‫أن الخــربة العمليــة التــي اكتســبتها مــن برنامــج‬ ‫التدريــب املؤسســايت قــد أعطتهــا دفعــة لألمــام‬ ‫وهــي يف بدايــة مســرتها املهنيــة‪.‬‬ ‫الحقـاً وبعــد توليهــا منصــب األمــن العــام للغرفــة‪،‬‬ ‫أدخلــت الدكتــورة الشُ ــعيبي أول برنامــج للتدريــب‬ ‫الداخــي يف عمــل غرفــة التجاريــة العربيــة‬ ‫الربيطانيــة‪.‬‬

‫عي� للحضور‬ ‫الدكتور ستيفن ناب يقدم الدكتورة الشُ ب ي‬

‫علّقــت الدكتــورة قائلــة‪“ :‬مــا كان يل أن أكــون يف‬ ‫منصبــي هــذا لــوال مــا كتســبته مــن خــربة وتعليــم‬ ‫بجامعــة جــورج واشــنطن”‪ .‬وأضافــت قائلــة ‪“ :‬لقد‬ ‫كان خاصــة لربنامــج التدريــب الداخــي بجامعــة‬ ‫جــورج واشــنطن فائــدة عظيمــة يل‪ .‬وكطالبــة‬ ‫ســعودية يف الواليــات املتحــدة‪ ،‬مل تكــن لــدي فكــرة‬ ‫عــن التدريــب الداخــي أو عــن مفهــوم العمــل‬ ‫التطوعــي‪ .‬إال أن هــذا النمــط مــن العمــل قــد تـ ّم‬ ‫تبنيــه بشــكل أكــرب يف اململكــة العربيــة الســعودية‪،‬‬ ‫واآلن يتـ ّم تشــجيع الشــباب للمشــاركة واالنخـراط‬ ‫بــه‪ .‬لقــد بــدأت حيــايت العمليــة كمتدربــة وذلــك‬ ‫بتشــجيع ودعــم مــن القامئــن عــى إدارة جامعــة‬ ‫جــورج واشــنطن‪ .‬ينبغــي علينــا أن نعــرف بــأن‬ ‫املتدربــن أعضــاء مهمــن أليــة مؤسســة اذ أنهــم‬ ‫يقدمــون دامئــا أفــكارا ً جديــدة وطاقــات متجــددة‬ ‫وإبداعــات حديثــة‪ .‬لــذا فــا يجــب أبــدا ً اإلســتهانة‬ ‫باملتدربــن”‪.‬‬ ‫قبــل توليهــا منصبهــا الحــايل‪ ،‬عملــت الدكتــورة‬ ‫أفنــان الشُ ــعيبي مستشــار ًة لرئيــس مجلــس األعامل‬ ‫الســعودي األمريــي‪ .‬ويف عــام ‪ ،2011‬الدكتــورة‬ ‫الشُ ــعيبي جائــزة “وورلــد أوف ديفرنــس (‪World‬‬ ‫‪ )of Difference Awards‬التابعــة للتحالــف‬ ‫الــدويل للمــرأة (‪ .)TIAW‬وقــد تــ ّم اختيارهــا يف‬ ‫ذات الســنة كشــخصية دبلوماســية أوىل مــن الرشق‬ ‫األوســط لعــام ‪ ،2011‬اعرتاف ـاً بنجاحاتهــا املتميــزة‬ ‫كدبلوماســية أجنبيــة يف العاصمــة الربيطانيــة‪،‬‬ ‫لنــدن‪.‬‬ ‫“لقــد كان رشف لنــا التعــرف عــى خــربة قياديــة‬ ‫بــارزة جمعــت بن عاملــي األعــامل والدبلوماســية”؛‬

‫علــق قائــاً الســيد سيمبســون‪ .‬وأضــاف “يؤكــد‬ ‫هــذا عــى مــدى قــوة الجامعــة كمؤسســة تعمــل‬ ‫عــى رفــد األجيــال القادمــة بنخــب مــن القــادة‬ ‫األكفــاء القادريــن عــى اعتــاء املنصــات الدوليــة‬ ‫وتقديــم مــا لــه عظيــم األثــر ألوطانهــم وللعــامل‬ ‫بــأرسه”‪.‬‬ ‫أحدثــت قصــة الدكتــورة أفنــان الشُ ــعيبي‬ ‫الشــخصية صــدى عظيـامً لــدى جمهــور الحضــور‪٬‬‬ ‫الــذي كان مــن بينهــم الســيد مايــكل هوفــامن‬ ‫رئيــس مجلــس األوصيــاء وعــدد مــن الســفراء‬ ‫لــدى اململكــة املتحــدة مــن دول مجلــس التعــاون‬ ‫الخليجــي وقــارة آســيا‪.‬‬ ‫كــام كان ضمــن الحضــور الســيدة زوي بتكانــس‪،‬‬ ‫بكالوريــوس مــن جــورج واشــنطن بعــام ‪،2010‬‬ ‫املتحدثــة الســابقة بجامعــة جــورج واشــنطن‬ ‫لحفــات التخــرج‪ ،‬والتــي تــؤدي حاليــاً بحــث‬ ‫دكتــوراه بجامعــة كامربيــدح تتنــاول فيــه تحــدي‬ ‫األفــكار والقيــم النمطيــة الشــائعة بــن الجنســن‪،‬‬ ‫مــع الرتكيــز عــى إنجــازات املــرأة الربملانيــة يف‬ ‫الحيــاة السياســية يف دولــة تونــس‪.‬‬ ‫“كأول امــرأة ســعودية‪ ،‬وكأول ســيدة وأصغــر مــن‬ ‫تــوىل منصــب األمــن العــام والرئيــس التنفيــذي‬ ‫لغرفــة التجــارة العربيــة الربيطانيــة‪ ،‬فقــد قامــت‬ ‫الدكتــورة أفنــان الشُ ــعيبي بعمــل عظيــم متحديـ ًة‬ ‫مــا يُســاق مــن صــورة منطية يف الوســط العــريب عن‬ ‫دور املــرأة الســلبي والضعيــف”؛ تحدثــت الســيدة‬ ‫بتكانــس‪ .‬وأضافــت “إنهــن أي شــيئ إال عاجـزات أو‬ ‫ســلبيات”‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARAB-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 101‬‬

‫‪George Washington University Global Series in London‬‬ ‫‪features Dr Afnan Al Shuaiby on Strategic Leadership‬‬

‫ضمن سلسة املقابالت العاملية لجامعة جورج واشنطن‪ ،‬الدكتورة أفنان الشُ عيبي‬ ‫األمني العام لغرفة التجارة العربية الربيطانية والخريجة السابقة من جامعة جورج‬ ‫واشنطن تتحدث من لندن يف شؤون القيادة والدبلوماسية والتعليم‬ ‫الدكتــورة أفنــان الشــعيبي – وهــي الســيدة األوىل‬ ‫وكذلــك الســعودية التــي تتــوىل منصــب قيــادة‬ ‫غرفــة التجــارة العربيــة الربيطانيــة – الضــوء عــى‬ ‫حياتهــا األكادمييــة وخربتهــا أثنــاء إدارتهــا لتلــك‬ ‫املؤسســة الرائــدة‪.‬‬

‫الدكتورة أفنان الشُ عي�‪ ،‬أ‬ ‫ال ي ن‬ ‫ال�يطانية والدكتور ستيفن ناب رئيس‬ ‫م� العام والرئيس التنفيذي لغرفة التجارة العربية ب‬ ‫بي‬ ‫جامعة جورج واشنطن‬

‫تناولــت الســيدة أفنــان الشُ ــعيبي‪ ،‬األمــن العــام‬ ‫والرئيــس التنفيــذي لغرفــة التجــارة العربيــة‬ ‫الربيطانيــة – دكتــوراه يف الفلســفة مــن جامعــة‬ ‫جــورج واشــنطن ‪ ،2009‬يف حديــث ال تنقصــه‬ ‫الرصاحــة عــن تجــاوز كل الحواجــز االجتامعيــة‪،‬‬ ‫واســتعرضت جوانــب تتعلــق بشــؤون الريــادة‪،‬‬ ‫والدبلوماســية الدوليــة‪ ،‬والتعليــم وذلــك يف فعاليــة‬ ‫لجامعــة جــورج واشــنطن أقيمــت األســبوع املــايض‬ ‫يف العاصمــة الربيطانيــة‪ ،‬لنــدن‪ ،‬حرضهــا نخبــة‬

‫ضمــت أكــر مــن ‪ 80‬خريج ـاً مــن جامعــة جــورج‬ ‫واشــنطن إضافــة إىل أعضــاء ومنتســبن يف غرفــة‬ ‫التجــارة العربيــة الربيطانيــة‪.‬‬ ‫وضمــن وقائــع الفعاليــة التــي تحييهــا جامعــة‬ ‫جورج واشــنطن ســنوياً وباســتضافة رئيــس الجامعة‬ ‫– الدكتورســتيفن نــاب‪ ،‬ويف حديثهــا مــع رئيــس‬ ‫الجلســة‪ ،‬الســيد ســكوت سيمبســون – بكالوريوس‬ ‫‪ 1978‬والرشيــك يف مؤسســة (ســكادن)‪ ،‬عكســت‬

‫“كان هنــاك الكثــر مــن الضغوطــات‪ ،‬إال أننــى‬ ‫إعتــدت دامئــاً أالَّ أقــدم مــا هــو متوقــع منــي‬ ‫ولكــن أحــرص أن أتجــاوز تلــك التوقعــات”‪ .‬هــذا‬ ‫مــا قالتــه الدكتــورة أفنــان الشُ ــعيبي عــن تعيينهــا‬ ‫أمينــاً عامــاً لغرفــة التجــارة العربيــة الربيطانيــة‬ ‫عــام ‪ 2007‬حيــث كانــت أصغــر مــن تــوىل منصــب‬ ‫األمــن العــام للغرفــة يف خــال ‪ 40‬عامـاً مــن تاريــخ‬ ‫إنشــاءها‪.‬‬ ‫وتســعى سلســة املقابــات العامليــة لجامعــة جورج‬ ‫واشــنطن إىل إثــراء مجتمعهــا الجامعــي حــول‬ ‫العــامل مــن خــال دعــوة نخــب خريجيهــا مــن كبار‬ ‫الرؤوســاء التنفيذيــن وقيــادات أوســاط األعــامل‬ ‫وآخريــن مــن ضيوفهــا املميزيــن للحديــث عــن‬ ‫بعــض املواضيــع التــي تشــغل الســاحة العامليــة‪.‬‬ ‫وقــد كان مــن ضمــن لقــاءات ســابقة مناقشــات‬ ‫ركــزت عــى دور املــرأة يف مجــال التجــارة واألعامل‪،‬‬ ‫باســتضافة ســمو األمــرة رميــا بنــت بندر آل ســعود‬ ‫– بكالوريــوس مــن جامعة جــورج واشــنطن ‪.1999‬‬

‫العدد الثالث‪ ،‬املجلد ‪ ،10‬خريف ‪2015‬‬

‫‪ECONOMIC FOCUS CHAMBER NEWS‬‬

‫‪101‬‬

‫‪99‬‬

‫‪97‬‬

‫‪83‬‬

‫غرفة التجارة العربية الربيطانية‬ ‫‪Arab-British‬‬ ‫‪Chamber of Commerce‬‬ ‫‪43 Upper Grosvenor Street‬‬ ‫‪London W1K 2NJ‬‬ ‫‪Tel: +44 (0) 20 7235 4363‬‬ ‫‪Fax: +44 (0) 20 7245 6688‬‬ ‫‪economicfocus@abcc.org.uk‬‬ ‫‪www.abcc.org.uk‬‬

‫“أضواء عىل قضايا العالقات العربية‪-‬الربيطانية”‬ ‫مجلة اقتصادية من إصدارات غرفة التجارة‬ ‫العربية الربيطانية يف لندن‬

‫محتــــــــوياتالــــــعدد‬

‫تقارير خاصة‬ ‫التوسع يف السكك الحديدية وشبكات النقل يف منطقة الخليج ‬ ‫هيئة استثامر رأس الخيمة‪ :‬‬ ‫سنوات من العمل الناجح ‬ ‫والدة لصناعة جديدة تقدمها قطر يف تقنيات الطاقة الشمسية ‬ ‫أحدث التغيريات الرضيبية عىل نظام “غري املقيم” يف اململكة املتحدة ‬ ‫مؤسسة التعليم الدويل‪ :‬تقدم دورات يف املواطنة العاملية ‬ ‫كيف تتمكن املاركات التجارية العربية من الوصول للجودة الفاخرة ‬ ‫الخدمات األمنية الدولية ‬ ‫املسح االقتصادي الفصيل الربيطاين ‬ ‫مقابلة خاصة مع احد أعضاء الغرفة ‬

‫‪6‬‬ ‫‪10‬‬ ‫‪12‬‬ ‫‪14‬‬ ‫‪26‬‬ ‫‪30‬‬ ‫‪34‬‬ ‫‪48‬‬ ‫‪52‬‬ ‫‪66‬‬

‫أخبار الغرفة‬ ‫نشاطات الغرفة ‬ ‫أعضاء جدد ‬

‫‪70‬‬ ‫‪74‬‬

‫التقرير االقتصادي العريب‬ ‫“إزالة كل الحواجز” مع الدكتورة أفنان الشُ عيبي ‬ ‫رضائب العقارات الفاخرة‪ :‬املستثمرون يلجؤون ملناطق جديدة ‬ ‫جامعات بريطانيا العريقة‪ :‬وجه لحضارة مرشقة ‬ ‫ملخص املوازنة الربيطانية ‪ 2015‬‬ ‫اسرتداد رضيبة القيمة املضافة (‪ )VAT‬ملشرتياتك يف بريطانيا ‬

‫‪101‬‬ ‫‪99‬‬ ‫‪97‬‬ ‫‪88‬‬ ‫‪83‬‬

‫حقوق النرش‬ ‫تحتفظ غرفة التجارة العربية – الربيطانية بحقوق‬ ‫النرش للمعلومات التي تحتويها هذه املجلة‪ ،‬وال‬ ‫يحق ألي جهة أخرى إعادة أنتاجها أو إعادة‬ ‫صياغتها أو إعادة توزيعها الكيل أو الجزيئ بدون‬ ‫موافقة مبارشة من غرفة التجارة العربية‬ ‫الربيطانية‬ ‫فريق املحررين‬ ‫عبد السالم اإلدرييس‪ ،‬كليف لورانس‪ ،‬ديفيد‬ ‫موركان‪ ،‬د‪ .‬ياسمني حسني‬

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