TECOM Investments announced that Consortium Dubai, UAE’s first executive networking club for international business leaders, was launched at an exclusive gala evening on 13 November, 2005. The event was attended by a host of high profile guests, including Piers Morgan, former editor of the UK’s Mirror newspaper.
Ahmad Bin Byat, Director General of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone and Chairman of Consortium Dubai, said, “Within Dubai’s growing business community, there has long been a need for a forum where senior management can interact to form new social or business alliances. Consortium will help fulfil these requirements as well as provide an avenue for leading international businesses to establish themselves in the business culture of Dubai. Consortium will also provide its members with access to high-quality lifestyle and business support services. “
Under the guiding principles of “Inspire, Inform, Interact”, Consortium will facilitate international business relationships by pro-actively fostering networking and providing a forum in which these relationships can be cultivated. All services such as business introductions to other members will be conducted through the club’s website, www.consortiumdubai.com.
In addition Consortium will host six key corporate events every year, giving members regular opportunities to interact with like-minded individuals and key business personalities. These include corporate evenings with international guest speakers, charity fundraiser galas, and networking receptions covering a range of industries across Dubai, London, Mumbai, and New York.
The club actively supports women executives in the Arab world and will offer women-only CEO networking retreats and specialised events.
Consortium’s International Partners include The Fairmont Dubai, an icon in the heart of Dubai’s business community, Motivate Publishing, publishers of Dubai’s leading business resources, Quintessentially, the global private members’ club and luxury concierge service, and Skywards, Emirates Airline’s award-winning frequent flyer program.
Membership to Consortium is strictly limited to C-suite executives of multinational companies who are either based in or have a corporate affinity with Dubai, and membership can be applied for through the club’s website,
To qualify for membership, applicants should currently hold one of the following designations or its equivalent such as Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, Managing Director, President, Vice President or Executive Director
Members should be a registered Business Partner of a Dubai Holding entity, have established business relationships with Dubai-based companies and /or TECOM or its Business Partners, or have a demonstrated affinity with and a desire to do business in Dubai.
Consortium strives to support international social causes and promote corporate social responsibility among its global members. On December 16th, Consortium will host the Middle East’s first ever benefit dinner in honour of global initiatives dedicated to fighting poverty in Africa, with a special focus on how Arab businesses can respond to this international social crisis. The event is being held in association with the Dubai International Film Festival, and proceeds will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Confirmed speakers include Sir Bob Geldof of Make Poverty History, Sundeep Waslekar of Strategic Foresight and the International Centre for Peace Initiatives, and Adel Imam, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Corporate table bookings for this event are now open, and as availability is strictly limited, priority will be given to Consortium members. To register your interest in securing tables at this unprecedented event, please email your company details to [email protected].
About TECOM INVESTMENTS
The Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone (TECOM) is a tax-free commercial zone set up to support the development of knowledge-based industries. It was initially established in 2000, to support and develop three separate clusters, one for the ICT sector, one for the media sector and a third for companies the create and disseminate knowledge including education and training institutions. TECOM”S first band, Dubai Internet City, was launched in October 2000 followed by Dubai Media City (DMC) in January, 2001 followed by Dubai Knowledge Village (KV) in October, 2003.
Later, TECOM announced the International Media Production Zone (iMPZ), the region’s first free zone dedicated to media production, Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ), the world’s first free zone dedicated to film, broadcast and music production. These initiatives are part of Dubai’s long-term vision of diversifying its economy to reduce oil dependency and developing its knowledge-based industries.
A subsidiary of Dubai Holding, TECOM also manages the annual Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AL Maktoum IT Education Project (ITEP), an initiative that seeks to raise IT literacy in the UAE, Tamkeen, a training centre for the visually impaired, and the UAE’s leading radio networks, Arabian Radio Network (ARN) and Dubai Radio Network (DRN). In a join venture with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the TECOM also operates Empower, an energy efficiency company that currently provides district cooling services
