Ideas Arabia 1st International Conference concludes

Under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al maktoum President of the Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group, the long awaited 1st annual Ideas Arabia International Conference on suggestion scheme was held at Al Bustan Rotana, Dubai on 22nd, 23rd and 24th of April 2006 attracting overseas delegates from US, UK, Australia, Germany and India, and international brilliant speakers. This initiative is supported and hosted by Ideas Arabia, a subgroup of Dubai Quality Group (DQG), and sponsored by Dubai Aluminum Company Limited (DUBAL) as a Main Sponsor

The conference included information sessions, workshops, and panel discussions led by international experts in the aim to bring the global knowledge in the area of suggestion schemes to the Middle East and create a unique platform for people in this region to share the most effective quality practices

Ideas Arabia is a forum of companies formed in 2003 under the umbrella of DQG to optimize and focus the effectiveness of Suggestion Scheme program and to initiate and assist member companies in establishing Suggestion Scheme within their organization. The main objective of the group is to create an awareness of the scheme, implementation, evaluation process, award structure, audit system, and benchmarking statistics which would effectively improve the business profits and quality of services

The "Idea of the Year" competition award recognizes the most significant ideas by members throughout the calendar year. Winners of this year's competition were announced and recognized at the Annual Award Presentation Dinner on 24th of April 2006.

The winners on the 2006 Idea of the year competition are:
Over all winner: Abdul Rasheed Rareed from DEWA
Environmental Suggestion: Jossy & Aknees from Dubai Municibality
Health & Safety Suggestion: V. Naryanan & R. L. Maybuenas from DUBAL
Technical Suggestion: N. Nagarajan from Ports, Customs & free Zone Authority
Productivity Suggestion: N. Sekhar, H. M. Nazim Mydeen from DUBAL & N. Nagarajan from Ports, Customs & free Zone Authority
Financial Suggestion; Madan Paul Wakheda from Emirates Airlines & A. F. G. Lobo & K. Pappuraj from DUBAL