DCCI announces new MRM Business Award features

The press conference was attended by Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al-Nuaimy, Director of Development Department, Ajman Free Zone, Yousef Bahzad, HR Director, Dubai International Airport Free Zone, Saeed Salim Bardan, Customer Relations Manager, Hamriyah Free Zone Authority of Sharjah, Atiq J. Naseeb, DCCI Director of Business Development Department, Sultan Lootah, DCCI Director of Business Promotion Department, as well as a number of representatives for organizations and press and media reporters.

Al Mutaiwee said "We have arranged for this special meeting session to make the official announcement on the extension of scope of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award 2006 to include all UAE Free Zones."

This decision was laid down taking into consideration the undeniable contribution of all UAE Free Zones companies to the economic prosperity of the UAE.

"Besides considering the great contributions of the UAE Free Zones companies to the UAE economy, it is also felt that these companies should also reap a number of benefits accorded to all companies that participate in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award. These benefits include an organizational learning experience gained through the process of preparing the Award application, an independent and neutral confidential feedback report on the organizational business performance, and a host of others. The value of these benefits is evident by the very positive feedback we have received from the participants of the Award 2005," he added.

Participants of the Award 2006 will also be given opportunities to attend advanced management seminars, which will be organized during the interim period of the submission of the Award applications and the announcement of the Award winning companies.

Al Mutaiwee strongly urged all UAE Free Zones companies to join all other eligible UAE companies to participate in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award 2006. The UAE Free Zones companies can participate in the Award under any of the following three Award categories.

The first is the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Manufacturing Award category for companies involved in the marketing, distribution and export of goods manufactured in the UAE.

The second is the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Re-export Award category for companies involved in the import and the subsequent export of goods to other countries without any value addition in the UAE.

The third category for the UAE Free Zones companies is the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Construction Award category for firms involved in the main contracting activities of the construction business sector.

The forth category, which is Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Finance category, is not applicable for the UAE Free Zones as the finance companies in Free Zones only perform branch operations and have their corporate offices outside the Free Zones. The financial services based companies like banks, insurance firms and exchange houses operating in the UAE can apply for the Award under the Finance category.

The submission date is expanded this year until 30th of September 2006 in order to allow more free zones and UAE companies to participate in the award.