Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Doing business in The Middle East Done by – Team 1: Cheryl Lam Grace Ong Clare Sim

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Summary Introduction Key industry factors in The Middle East Advantages & Disadvantages References on doing business in the Middle East Websites Information on doing business in the region History How businesses work in the region Business Law in the Middle East

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Summary (cont’d..) Case Studies SingTel BreadTalk Articles Newspapers Magazines Lexis-Nexis EBSCO host OPAC

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Introduction – The Middle East An excellent place to do business Developing into modern nations & seeking latest technology More than 300 million people living in 22 Arab League states Essential to know their business culture, language, etiquette, meeting protocol & negotiation techniques

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Key Industry Factors Oil and Gas Finance Engineering services Health care Infrastructure Transport Water Information Technology Building and construction Agriculture Food Retail Sector Automotive Education and training Mining

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Advantages VS Disadvantages AdvantagesDisadvantages Using Iraq as an example Plentiful water resources Main source of economic power – oil lay and farming A variety of agricultural resources – Dates, vegetables, wheat, poultry products, cattle and sheep will provide attractive business opportunities in the years to come. htm  No functioning legal system  No stable and recognized government  Grinding poverty  History of political instability  Grinding poverty  History of political instability tm Using Iran as an example Establishment of Free Trade Zones - Capital and profits gained from economic activities can freely enter and exit the Free Trade Zones. Labour and employment regulations are more flexible

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC References - Websites Information on doing business in the region Wise to bear in mind the great diversity in the region, common religion, language, culture shared among the Arab countries business-middleeast.html

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC History of the Middle East countries The Arab world came to prominence with the spread of Islam in the 7 th century AD. Arabic – the primary language for a large part of the world, as Islamic culture spread across the Middle East and Northern Africa. i_arabia/doing_business_saudi.html References - Websites

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC How business works in the Middle East Essential to develop personal relationships & ties Middle Easterns are very hospitable and warm They acquire the open-door tradition References - Websites

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Business Law in The Middle East Advisable and necessary to know the laws and politics in the country you want to invest in Often, new laws may affect certain industries / create business opportunities E.g.: United Arab Emirates – A new property law added dustries&page=Real%20Estate&l= References - Websites

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC SingTel Moves in on Mid-East region Signed agreement in May 2005 with UAE’s Emirates Telecom Corp To offer seamless private leased circuit solutions to link their customers’ offices Partnership will establish SingTel’s presence Facilitate capability of meeting growing int’l demand for communication links nexis.com/universe/document?_m=b6f7dc4be476d79d229b301dd180bf5 3&_docnum=4&wchp=dGLbVlz- zSkVb&_md5=55bcf42627d0598f16b7eb4335bff2ea References – Case Studies

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC BreadTalk Overseas expansion to Mid-East region in 2003 Franchising in 5 countries – Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia & UAE Intends to further expand in the Arab world References – Case Studies

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Newspaper/Magazine Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister, Singapore – “Rekindle Asia, Middle East ties for mutual benefit” The Business Times, 22 June Pamela Ann Smith – “Changing Fortunes ” The Middle East magazine, May References – Articles

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Lexis-Nexis database “Big in the Middle East” The Edge Malaysia, 30 May 2005 “Big in the Middle East” The Edge Malaysia, 30 May 2005 “Qatar blazes a trail through SA skies” Business Day (South Africa), 1 February 2005 “Qatar blazes a trail through SA skies” Business Day (South Africa), 1 February 2005 “Special Report: Allure of the Middle East” The Edge Singapore, 28 June 2004 “Special Report: Allure of the Middle East” The Edge Singapore, 28 June 2004 “Making the Middle East connection” Business Day (South Africa), 1 December 2003 “Making the Middle East connection” Business Day (South Africa), 1 December 2003 ESBCO host “Pakistan's Reforms, End of Sanctions, Bring Economic Gains ” Regional Business News, 13 may 2005 “Pakistan's Reforms, End of Sanctions, Bring Economic Gains ” Regional Business News, 13 may 2005 References – Articles

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC Lack of time given Insufficient information Not enough data provided Few websites related to our topic Have to be general as the region has 22 states Due to this, it was hard to find information for the region as a whole Difficulties encountered

Nanyang Polytechnic 2005 Teaching Enterprise Project – ARDC