Merck, the world’s oldest pharma and chemical company, has implemented several diversity and inclusion initiatives across the organisation aimed at helping women network and mentor each other. Merck first introduced mentoring and cross-cultural trainings in the year 2000, and over the following 10 years this led to a special focus on diversity and women in…
Collinson Group, as gold sponsor at the Fintech Summit MENA, would like to invite you to take part in their prize draw to win one of 3 annual memberships to Priority Pass, the world’s largest independent VIP airport lounge access programme. Win annual membership to Priority Pass Simply visit their meeting space at the summit and…
China based conglomerate AUX Group has announced plans to seek health services investments in the US and Britain, according to recent reports. The company has 8.2 billion USD in total assets and was named among China’s top 500 enterprises. The announcement comes after AUX Group’s planned 2.7 billion AUD investment into Healthscope, the second-largest operator…
Tech companies around the world are among the many businesses benefiting from the recent flood of Chinese overseas direct investment. Tsinghua Holdings, a Chinese state-owned company, has recently disclosed an investment in Marvell Technology Group, a chip maker based in Silicon Valley. Although the size of the investment has not been specified, Tsinghua reported the…
By Jan Bart Schober, Partner, Loyens & Loeff It’s 2016; at least, according to the Gregorian calendar. Recently, the Islamic world celebrated Al Hijra, the Islamic New Year. According to the Islamic calendar, it is the year 1437. If you are a CFO of a multinational enterprise (MNE), however, it is the year 1984. 1984…
When oil prices went into freefall in the winter of 2015, bringing a dramatic end to 18 months of gradual depreciation, few could have predicted the full impact it would have on economies around the GCC. Initial optimism saw governments around the region predicting an initial 6-month readjustment period before oil prices returned to higher…
The oil price crash has had long-lasting and in some cases severe effects on GCC economies, with consequences ranging from reduced public spending to shelved development plans. In the private sector, it has all too often manifested in dwindling profit margins, forcing businesses to take the difficult decision to downsize their staff. According to Nuno…
Mood swings have become the norm when it comes to the potential of the African continent. Pre 1990’s was described as the dark days of Africa. Post-1990 into the early decades of this 21st century saw an uproar and cheers all over the world for the continent as the next big thing to happen. After…