Eminent economists to attend ICAI seminar BY A STAFF REPORTER 30 September 2004   ABU DHABI - The annual conference of the Abu Dhabi Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will focus on the theme 'Agile Business in Fragile Times' at its two-day annual international seminar beginning today in the capital. Eminent economists and captains of industry from Indiawill address the gathering that will be attended by delegates from the chapters of Institutes of Chartered Accountants of India from Al Ain, Bahrain, Muscatand Saudi Arabia. The speakers include F.C. Kohli, former deputy chairman of Tata Consultancy Services and widely regarded as the father of Indian IT, who will deliver the keynote address, Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Group and Rajesh Jain, management consultant. Among topics slated in the agenda are redefining accountancy profession, role of behavioural finance, stock exchange decisions, trends in management and role of IT and family firms —challenges and opportunities. K.S. Achar, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chapter of ICAI, that is a member of the Indian Business/Professional Group, said that the Institute, founded in 1984, today has 300 members on its rolls. The international seminar awards ten Continuous Professional Education (CPE) hours for participation which is mandatory for the annual renewal of membership, he said. As this year marks two decades of the founding of ICAI, a function has been arranged on the occasion to felicitate past chairmen of the Institute. Welcome relief from serious deliberations will come in the form of an entertainment programme; the highlights of which are magic and mimicry shows. Khaleej Times is the media sponsor of the event.

 

 

 

Abu Dhabi may constitute tourism board
BY N. SRINIVASAN

6 October 2004

 

ABU DHABI - The emirate of Abu Dhabi is likely to constitute a tourism board to explore ways and means of promoting tourism in the emirate, in pursuance of its multi-pronged strategy to fuel growth and development and generate income from the non-oil sector of the economy.

Addressing the annual conference of the Abu Dhabi Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in the capital, noted businessman Mohammed Abdul Jaleel Al Fahim said that conventional wisdom had all along prompted the authorities concerned in Abu Dhabi to pursue policies that ensured the welfare of the local population in various socio-economic spheres, such as health, education and housing.

"True, the government has been dependent on revenues accruing from oil, prudently steering clear of certain other engagements such as development of tourism, that is prone to invite the invasion of forms and styles not so compatible with the pristine culture of the land," he commented. "However, they seem to be changing their mind now," he said, referring to the initiative to form the tourism board, which will review certain proposals, including one to allow foreign investments to develop the sector," he said.

The stretch from the Abu Dhabi  International  Airport towards Umm Al Nar (Shaath Al Raha) may find favour in the initial scheme of the development project, he said.

Fahim traced the growth of Abu Dhabi, that in a span of just two decades can pride itself as a welfare state, ushered into contemporary times from the ages dating to centuries gone by, thanks to the vision of the leaders and their concern for the welfare of the masses.

Earlier, Dr. F.C. Kohli, who delivered the keynote address at the conference on the theme 'Agile business in fragile times', said rapid computerisation that is the order of the day in India, will lead to the expeditious eradication of illiteracy. The media sponsor of the event was Khaleej Times.