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A rousing applause for VAR COC 2016 winners

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The 2016 edition of the VAR COC (Choice of channel) Awards concluded on a grand note at a glittering awards ceremony held in the majestic St. Regis hotel in Dubai. This year also marked the 10th edition of the VAR COC Awards, the premier awards for the region’s ICT channel.

The awards gala was well attended by the industry’s who’s who. The winning brands received a rousing applause for their stellar performances over the past year.

The winners were chosen through an online poll that ran on www.varonline.com for nearly three weeks based on nominations received from the industry. The online polling process included voting from a wide channel database. Voters were instructed to vote on basis of the Brand’s channel commitment, product availability, pricing, market performance and mindshare.

The Brands that emerged with most votes from the survey were frontrunners to win in the respective categories because of the high percentage of weightage given to channel votes. However, besides the channel voting, the final leg of the polling process included votes from an esteemed jury panel of three which consisted of Mr. Krishnamurthy, former MD of Acer Middle east, Mr. Tarek Kuzbari, formed MD of Kaspersky Lab and Mr. Philip Hughes, formed GM of APC Middle East. This helped calibrate the overall voting and help adjudge the eventual winners across different categories.

Vivek Sharma, Founder CEO of VAR marketing LLC and JNS Media International MFZE said, “This year marked a major milestone for the awards which are the longest running in the ICT channel. We have put in place a very substantially comprehensive voting process that helps decide and applaud the deserving winners from among nominated brands in the survey.”

The voting has always seen an increase in the number of votes registered. Also adding to the increase is the fact that several of the nominated brands ensured that their reseller partners took part in the voting. More votes registered mean better validated verdicts.

The sponsors of the awards evening included Dell who was the Platinum sponsor of the event, Kaspersky Lab and Linksys, both Gold sponsors as well as Epson, Telelink, AOC and WD, the silver sponsors. Promise Technology was the gifts sponsors and Touchmate were the raffle sponsors.

The first awards presented in the evening was Projector Brand of the Year. Epson was the winner of the category yet again, proving its popularity with the ICT channel. Similarly, HP remains unstoppable in the printer category as it walked away with the second award of the day as the Printer Brand of the Year.

AOC sprung a surprise when it emerged the winner of the Display Brand of the Year, in all possibility winning approval from voters for its vast range of monitors with innovative technologies.

WD wrested the top honours in the Storage Devices Brand of the Year category, perhaps riding on the advantages of its commitment to stable regional presence along with an exhaustive product range and channel commitment.

Linksys, a consumer segment favorite emerged the inaugural SOHO Networking brand of the year winner while one of its leading competitors D-Link walked away with top honours in the SMB Networking brand of the year category.

QNAP, a leading manufacturer of NAS solutions emerged the NAS Brand of the Year. Kaspersky Lab was the winner of the PC Security Software Brand of the Year for the third straight year. The Mobile Security Software Brand of the year category saw Norton emerge as the winner among nominees in the category.

In the Laptop Brand of the Year category, which saw a close fight between the top nominees, Dell edged ahead to win the top honours. Lenovo was the winner of the category Convertible Tablet Brand of the Year, a category of devices that is driving a resurgence in the industry.

In the smartphone awards categories, LG G4 won the award for The Smartphone with Best Design while Sony Mobile Xperia Z5 Premium got the top honours for the category Smartphone with Best Features.

OPPO F1 received the top recognition for the Best New Smartphone among shortlisted nominees while the winner of the Emerging Smartphone Brand of the Year was Magnus, a brand from the regional business group Telelink.

In the recognitions for the retailer categories, Carrefour was winner of the Innovative ICT Retailer of the Year distinction while Souq.com was winner of the ICT E-tailer of the Year category.
In the distribution award categories, Redington Gulf was handed the Mobility Distributor of the Year award while the winner of the Networking Distributor of the Year category was Aptec, an Ingram Micro company

The Component Distributor of the Year recognition went to Musallam Trading, a distributor with a sizeable portfolio of leading component brands in its portfolio

Trigon walked away with the top honours in the AV Distributor of the Year category from a shortlist of companies with strong portfolios of Audio Video hardware products.

Asbis won the Retail Distributor of the Year recognition, a recognition of the retail friendly portfolio it holds as well as a good reach into the retailing segment. The Emerging Distributor of the Year award went to Prime Technology Middle East

In the Editor’s choice awards, TP-LINK was awarded the Networking Innovations Vendor of the Year recognition. The Storage Innovations Brand of the Year went to SanDisk whereas Ricoh was chosen as the Projector Innovations Brand of the year.

In categories that recognize regional businesses, Touchmate was awarded the Regional Brand of the Year, completing a hatrick of wins for the company in this category. Telelink was recognized as the Visionary ICT Business Group of the Year for its diversified growth.

In reseller awards categories, New Trend Computers LLC was recognized as the Networking Reseller of the Year, Computer Care was chosen as the Mobility Reseller of the Year and the Champion Reseller of the Year distinction went to Promise Technology LLC.

Kamran Khayal, AVP at Trigon walked away with The Channel Executive of the Year honours in the only individual award category of the day.

In the final award presented on the evening, Dell was awarded the Brand of the Year recognition for its continued success with go to market execution and enhanced brand visibility.

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Hospitality

UAE’s Mulk International and India’s Ajeenkya DY Patil Group forge a landmark Dh100m partnership to launch the region’s first large-scale virtual hospital

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partnership healthcare

In a landmark collaboration, Mulk International from the UAE and India’s Ajeenkya DY Patil Group have acquired stakes in Mulk Med Healthcare to become equal shareholders and launch what will be the region’s first large-scale virtual hospital of its kind with more than 20,000 doctors on board.  Both groups have further pledged an investment to the tune of AED 100 million to revolutionise healthcare in the MENA and Asia-Pacific regions. This strategic partnership is set to redefine healthcare delivery by leveraging virtual solutions to enhance access and provide comprehensive services to millions.

Dr. Nawab Shafi Ul Mulk, Founder & President of Mulk Med Healthcare, emphasized the transformative vision of this collaboration: “Our partnership and shared vision with the DY Patil Group is a major landmark agreement which signifies a shared dedication to rapidly evolving innovation and inclusivity in healthcare.”

The new Initiative introduces Mulk Med Virtual Hospitals ecosystem across the globe, one that has already been implemented in countries like Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea and is in advanced stages of implementation in other territories. The comprehensive healthcare platform is also aided by Mulk Med App and video conferencing system available in 170+ countries currently, offering multiple essential services including 24/7 telehealth with doorstep free delivery of discounted medicines, also facilitating lifesaving smart ambulances, mobile clinics, and round-the-clock home care.

Transforming Healthcare Delivery in the region

According to Dr. Ul Mulk, these innovations are designed to improve healthcare accessibility, providing unmatched convenience for both urban and remote patients. Patients will benefit from virtual 24/7 consultations from over 20,000 doctors on board globally along with more than 500 pharmacies and service providers. Additionally, non-insured patients and UAE visitors can avail huge discounts on laboratory, radiology, hospital admissions and surgeries besides doorstep medicines, wellness, and aesthetics using the newly launched Mulk Medicare Privilege Health Card for the most affordable services that also give users access to longevity & precision medicine centres and genomics labs.

Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman of Mulk International said: “Our global investments underscore Mulk Group’s long-standing commitment to driving impactful societal change.  We are dedicated to fostering partnerships with local communities and governments to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.”

The initiative is also set to redefine emergency response with lifesaving smart ambulances and will extend services to underserved communities through mobile clinics. For travellers, both in & out bound comprehensive tourist healthcare insurance will provide peace of mind with robust medical coverage, while cutting-edge ICU Pods, Mulk Vital signs devices and kiosks with advanced AI enhanced technology incorporated to continuously monitor patients with chronic diseases will optimise recovery, and enhance hospital efficiency.

Dr. Ajeenkya Patil, Chairman of DY Patil Group, highlighted the initiative’s significance: “We intent to facilitate medical tourism strong demand in India from Africa & other regions in our newly build world class Hospitals care in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Together, we aim to deliver a transformative, patient-centric healthcare ecosystem that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and quality.”

“Innovation is key to solving the world’s healthcare challenges and Mulk Med Healthcare is rightly poised to embark on the global expansion to bring affordability and top notch  equitable healthcare facilities to one and all. Mulk Medicare comprehensive hybrid model of  digital and onsite healthcare innovative solutions not only address immediate medical needs but also lay the foundation for a sustainable, scalable future in healthcare,” added Dr. Shafi Ul Mulk.

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Financial

Fujairah Digital Government and Torry Harris Business Solutions sign MoU to support digital transformation initiatives

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Fujairah Digital Government

Torry Harris Business Solutions Private Limited (THBS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fujairah Digital Government to accelerate the Emirate’s digital transformation efforts. This agreement underscores the collaboration in digital transformation in Fujairah, leveraging the latest technologies and innovations in alignment with the emirate’s vision to enhance government services and better serve its citizens.

The MoU was officially signed by Sheikh Engineer Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Director General of Fujairah Digital Government, and Shivdayal Charan, Director and Legal Representative of Torry Harris Business Solutions, in a move to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange in digital governance and best practices, aligning with the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in delivering digital government services.

Rabih Nasr, Vice President of Torry Harris Business Solutions in the Middle East, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: “We are honored to work alongside Fujairah Digital Government to achieve their strategic goals of enhancing digital services and citizen engagement. This MoU reflects our long-standing commitment to the UAE, where we have been operating since 2002, and demonstrates our shared vision of empowering government entities to better serve their citizens through integrated and seamless digital platforms.”

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UAE National Day: Women Choice applauds UAE’s diversity, leadership efforts

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women choice event in the UAE

As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prepares to celebrate its 53rd National Day, Women Choice proudly reaffirms its dedication to championing diversity, equality, and leadership across all sectors. In recognition of the UAE’s remarkable progress toward gender parity and inclusivity, Women Choice celebrates the pivotal role of women leaders in building a brighter, more equitable future.

With a strong presence in the region, Women Choice has hosted and participated in over 100 events across seven countries, half of which took place in the UAE. This milestone underscores the organization’s impactful efforts in promoting diversity and leadership, reflecting its alignment with the UAE’s vision of empowering women.

The UAE’s dedication to empowering women is evident, with women constituting 66% of public sector workers and 50% of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) members being women – one of the highest representations globally. Women Choice echoes this spirit, advocating for inclusive leadership and equal opportunities in workplaces, education, and entrepreneurship.

Nezha Alaoui, Founder and CEO of Women Choice, reflects on the UAE’s achievements:

As we celebrate the UAE’s National Day, we also honor its remarkable progress in diversity and equality. Women Choice stands aligned with this vision, empowering women to lead, innovate, and inspire. True leadership flourishes when opportunities are inclusive and diverse perspectives are embraced.”

Women Choice’s initiatives are grounded in actionable steps to drive change, including leadership training programs, mentoring opportunities, and advocacy campaigns. Ahead of National Day, Women Choice calls on organizations and individuals to strengthen their commitment to building a more inclusive society.

  • The UAE ranked 1st in the Arab world for gender equality (World Economic Forum, 2023).
  • Women contribute to 23.5% of the UAE’s GDP, a testament to their economic leadership.
  • Female participation in STEM fields has risen to 37%, demonstrating progress in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Through its global platform, Women Choice continues to spotlight stories of women leaders and changemakers, inspiring the next generation to break barriers and contribute to a more inclusive future.

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