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W H A T ' S I N S I D E T H I S I S S U ETête-a-Tête | New Year Greetings | Shipping World | Potpourri

Kuwait through the Looking Glass | Throwback 2019 | Iraq Musings | Riddle Me!! | Footnotes

D E C 2 0 1 9

The Monthly Newsletter of Al-Rashed International Shipping Co., Kuwait

How did you get affiliated with Al-Rashed International Shipping?My journey of more than 4 decades from a junior clerk to the Chief Executive Officer of Al-Rashed International Shipping Co.,Kuwait was not an easy ride. In 1977, at the tender age of 19, I followed my uncle’s footsteps and landed up in Kuwait to pursue my dreams as many otherIndians did. As a college dropout, inexperienced in a strangers land with a different language, diverse culture, and extremeweather it was a task to find a job. I was wandering on the streets, knocking umpteen doors but my search was ended onlywhen Mr. V P Prasad, a family friend introduced me to Al-Rashed Group.42 years ago, I started my career as a junior clerk, I was always determined, eager to learn, and never bogged down by anyshortcomings. I believe that’s what took me forward even in unfavourable circumstances.Mr Ghassan Zein, the GM then, spotted the fire in me and allowed me to lead. Soon I began communicating with the ownersand principals directly. His work ethic, personality had a great influence on which unknowingly groomed me too. I am thankful to the Al-Rashed family to have had me here for over 4 decades and instilling their belief in me which has grownover the years in leaps and bounds. What made you join the shipping industry but not any other field?For a 19-year-old inexperienced kid, choices were limited especially in a foreign land. The luxury of choosing a career pathwas never the option so I took whatever came my way, to evaluate an industry, its future potential never crossed my mind.With each opportunity I got and the exposure I received, my interest in the shipping industry grew incessantly. And to this day,I have never lost that passion. As the years passed by, I saw the crucial impact this industry has had on the development ofnot only Kuwait but the regional and global economy. What are the 3 biggest accomplishments of your career?I think the biggest accomplishment one could achieve in any career is the ability to adapt to the work environment. I have builtmy personality, character and self-confidence from this industry. I gained wisdom by taking part in all activities without thinkingit as a burden rather an opportunity. The ability to take calculated risks helped the company to grow from a small to amultinational company. Our headcount grew exponentially, it helped in creating value to the company and the staff’s personallives. A risk well paid off made me confident to take more calculated risks. Began with 2 KD gradually increased to 200 KD,2000 KD so on and forth. Each risk improved my own awareness about the business settings and the industry. What were the 2 challenges that you believe had shaped up your life?The Gulf war in 1991, made me look up to the people whom I trusted and found that many could not be trusted at all. Afterreturning to India during the war, I used to meet Mr. Pradeep (current CFO) and umpteen other colleagues to help them, in away that alleviate my tensions and fears of crisis. I was in constant touch with Al-Rashed Family. I was ceaselessly listening toBBC news and believed that Kuwait will regain its freedom and normalcy. During the same phase, I went through manypersonal crises, returning home with only a bag of clothes, with no financial stability, challenged my life to the core and thefaith I had in God. Though, I never gave up and continued to cultivate positive thoughts and soon realized if you believe inspirituality and God, it changes your fortune and with it, your future. The post-war recovery, the aftermath of the war was devastating. We had to build the company and the service industryfrom scratch. I have spent countless nights in the office trying to recover and rebuild the business with very few staffmembers. It was a life-changing challenge completely. That circumstances made me a stronger person mentally and affirmthe belief that “nothing is impossible” if you put your mind to it. From whom do you drive your inspiration?The first person that comes to my mind is Mr. Ghassan Zein whom I had worked with very closely, gained infinite experienceabout the industry. In fact, I was closely in touch with him until he passed away.

TÊTE-A-TÊTE

MR. RAVI VARRIER- CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The support from my mentors Mr. Saad Al Rashed, Mr. Bassim Al Rashed, and every member of Al Rashed Family, whom Ibelieve are the best professional owners and who consider me as a part of their family. A well supported trusted colleagues,my principals and all of my well-wishers. Last but not least, my Late Aunt and her family who gave me the opportunity to cometo Kuwait, which transformed my life.These visionaries inspired me to take up new challenges, explore countless possibilities that brought success to the company.They continue to do so and motivates me to go beyond the comfort zone to scale the insurmountable mountains.In turn, I give the opportunity to everyone in this company to grow, take additional responsibility and challenge themselves toachieve new heights. I want to inspire all youngsters and give equal opportunity to them to go forward, and learn about whatthis company stands for and its strengths. If you can go back in time, what would be the one thing that you would like to change about your professional life?I never thought of changing any aspect of my professional life and I don’t think I ever will. I come to work each day with apassion to achieve something new. With my efforts, I have taken this company through a metamorphosis- like a caterpillartransforming itself from grub to a creation of beauty that is admired by the world. The career path I took wasn’t premeditatedchoices, I learned to adapt to the changes and embrace what I do with passion. I cultivated an observing nature that hashelped me to improvise situations in life. I was never interested in accolades- it was the path that was more rewarding,eventually, the awards and rewards followed.One should have an open mind to take in what is significant and leave the rest. Through experience, I learned to identifypotential and put it whenever needed. Recently I was in a critical situation where I had to communicate with a client in aspecific dialect of Arabic language. Coincidentally, my car wash guy from many years is from the same region and I used himto converse with the client to resolve the matter- thus gaining financial benefit to the company. This is the power of harnessingthe potential of people around you. And for that, one needs to have the right human touch and the awareness of surroundings. 5 years down the line, where do you see Al Rashed International Shipping?We have come a long way in being one of the largest shipping companies in Kuwait. Well, from where my vision started, thereis still a long way to go in every aspect of this company. The brand value should have consistency in terms of performance,quality and customer satisfaction. A brand is not just about a name, it is about what that brand stands for in the market and thelevel of satisfaction the customer experiences. For this, commitment and teamwork must coexist with accurate communication, which allows us to provide quality customersatisfaction. We are in an era where information plays a key role in the service industry regardless of its size or servicecapacity. Changes are taking place at a faster rate, a clear vision, coherent strategies and cloudless direction is a need tooutperform the rest. This is the vision which I am striving to achieve, and take this company to the next level as a globalplayer. What advice would you like to give to the young and senior employees of Al Rashed?A banyan tree takes years to grow. It slowly spreads its roots and establishes its foundation and then the sapling grows up.Even as it grows, it continues to deepen its roots making the foundation stronger than ever. Its dense foliage busting outand about. Once it grows, it spreads its branches, drops air-roots, develops secondary trunks and covers the land. I want youto take lessons from the banyan tree. At the start of your career, emulate a banyan tree and grow with your knowledge baseintact and with the thirst to learn more. Learn and take up more responsibilities. Once you have established, only follow thebanyan tree’s principle of deepening your foundation as, under a banyan tree, nothing else can grow. Be a leader whoinspires. “You are strong when you know your weakness;You are beautiful when you appreciate your flawsYou are wise when you learn from your mistakes.Life itself is a question and nobody can answer it;Death is an answer but nobody can question it.Enjoy the question until you get the answer."

-Interviewed by: Naseema KhanSandeeptha Kumara

The completion of 2019 is close at hand as we prepare for 2020 with new expectationsand resolutions. Each passing moment is a lost opportunity. Shedding tears overmissed opportunities of the year gone by might cloud your vision and may cause youto miss opportunities of the present.Wish you all a healthy, joyful and a peaceful New Year and let us all work together tomake year 2020 a significant one.

R A V I V A R R I E RC E O

As the New Year approaches, give a moment of thought to the achievements and thefailures of past, so you know to set the right course.Another year, set of challenges ahead and it is obvious that you cannot build a prosperousbusiness without faithful colleagues, partners and clients as supporting pillars all the waythrough.My wishes for you is to be surrounded by faithful, loyal and competent people duringyour journey to great success.  Keep working hard and persevere to achieve your desired success

K . R A M E S H K U M A RV P ( I N T E R N A T I O N A L

M A R K E T I N G )

Wishing the very best for everybody, professionally and personally, scale moreheights and grow

B A S S I M A L R A S H E DC H A I R M A N

Very seldom, we actually keep  our  New Year’s resolutions. What we need to do  - takesmall little steps, steps towards the dreams we want to achieve and towards the personwe want to be, steps that can change the whole of  you. If you want to run a 5kmarathon, start with a 100m run and slowly push yourself to betterment. Wishing you all a Happy New Year! 

P R A D E E P M E N O NC F O

AL-RASHED SENIOR/MIDDLE MANAGEMENT SHARES THEIR GREETINGS/PLANS/RESOLUTIONS

THE NEW YEAR MONOLOGUE

New Year out forth new roads to success and provide us with opportunities to give wingsto our unfulfilled desires. Make your dreams come true with the rise of another Beautiful Year.For the New year I wish that we will achieve all our personal and professional goals.

V A L T O R

G O N Z A L V E Z S R . S H I P P I N G M A N A G E R

On the eve of the New Year, like the genie from the magic lamp, let me grant all of youthree important wishes for your life: -May you have the courage to be adventurous and make mistakes -May you have the wisdom to learn and adapt from them -May you taste the sweetness of success with utmost humility. Wishing all of you a Happy and Prosperous New year

C P R A J I V M E N O NV P , C O R P O R A T E A F F A I R S

Time has come to gear up for new experiences, new challenges, new opportunities…. Iwish the coming year brings you more and more chances to learn new things and growinto a better professional…. Wishing you a successful and prosperous New Year my dear.

R A J E S H G U P T AV P , P R O J E C T L O G I S T I C S

AL-RASHED SENIOR/MIDDLE MANAGEMENT SHARES THEIR GREETINGS/PLANS/RESOLUTIONS

THE NEW YEAR MONOLOGUE

V E N U G O P A L

T H A D A T T H I LS E N I O R P R O J E C T

A N A L Y S T

As New Year is approaching, I want to take this as an opportunity to extend my heartfeltgreetings for the season and appreciate you all for your accomplishments and achievementsfor last year. Last year has been a great year as far as achieving our targets are concerned. I thank all for your support and dedication and for the extra hours that you worked toachieve the goals and complete our projects. Keep up the enthusiasm and team work duringthe coming year too, to meet the challenges thrown at you, and to convert the challengesinto opportunities.

The New Year is the new beginning of new ventures and new projects. Let’s continue to seesuccess as we did this year. Wishing all a Happy New Year!

N A R E N D R A N

M E N O NV P , C L A I M S & L E G A L

A F F A I R S

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things,learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You are doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doingSomething. Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shallform an invincible host against difficulties.Wishing you a Happy New Year!

C N

B A L A S U B R A M A N Y A MV P , O I L & G A S

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. 2019 has been a tough year in terms ofworldwide economic slowdown which has led to negative growth. Even during the toughtimes, we have worked relentlessly led by our dynamic management, overcame obstacles tocome out with positive growth. I urge you to continue the great work ahead and wish thebest for the New Year!

A S H O K K U M A R S R . M A R K E T I N G

M A N A G E R

As 2020 is approaching, I want to take this as an opportunity to thank one and all for yoursupport and the dedication in your work.  Your hard work is greatly appreciated. Sending you good wishes for a Happy New Year

R I Y A Z A H M E DS R .   M A N A G E R ,

F I N A N C I A L A C C O U N T S

Survival befits those bold enough to take the road less traveled, Prepared to diversify, to innovate, to command, to conquer. With no substitute for hard work, dedication and determination,We march on to triumph the world. A mind without fear and heads held high, Driven by an irrefutable passion & unparalleled vision. With able hands of unflinching loyalty at the helm, Omnipresent are we, at all endeavors. March on my friends, dear Al-Rashedians, With an insatiable hunger, to conquer and dominate year 2020.

S Y A M P I L L A IS R . M A N A G E R , M G M T .

A C C O U N T S

My New Years' resolution is to be more understanding of the issues being faced by family,friends and colleagues. To try and have a more open dialogue with them, so that not only Isee things from their view point but they see from mine.Wishing you all a great year ahead and may all your dreams come true.

S I K A N D E R S I N G H

M A I N IS H I P P I N G M A N A G E R

SPIKE IN HOLIDAY RETURNS HIGHLIGHTS WASTE,INEFFICIENCY IN REVERSE LOGISTICSAmericans will return up to $41.6 billion in online holiday merchandise this year, according to a forecast from real estateservices giant CBRE Services Inc. The figure highlights what has become a year-round problem with returns, namely that retailers forfeit about $50 billion a yearin profit because they are so inefficient in handling them, the companies said. Each year there are more than 10 billioninstances of unnecessary shipments and warehouse touches due to the retail industry’s inability to manage the problem, thecompanies said in the report, which was published late Dec. 19.Last year’s holiday returns forecast was $37 billion, CBRE said. Compounding retail’s dilemma is that consumers, already conditioned to expect deliveries without directly paying for them,now demand the same entitlement for returns. Amazon.com , for example, is offering free shipping on holiday returns via18,000 access points, including pickups by delivery partner UPS and drop-offs — with no bag required — at UPS Store retaillocations. UPS, for its part, said in November that it expected to handle 1.6 million daily returns during the per-Christmas week, whichended Dec. 20. The company declined to confirm its estimate on Dec. 20 ahead of releasing its fourth-quarter results nextmonth. UPS said it stands by its estimate that return volumes will peak Jan. 2 at 1.9 million items, a 28% increase over its2018 holiday peak. The online return rate is much higher due in part to the “free shipping” enticement, which allows consumers to order multipleversions of the same item and return as many as they choose without any cost consequences. Unlike store-boughtmerchandise, merchandise ordered online cannot be sampled before its purchased. In addition, while store-bought items that are typically returned to where they were bought, online orders generally do notreturn to the warehouse from where they were picked and packed. Goods can be returned anywhere in the retailer’s system.A product may be restocked in a store, sold to discounters, donated to charity or simply thrown away. In any case, productdepreciation plays a role in a retailer’s strategy. High-value electronics depreciate at a much faster clip than wearing apparel. Companies are trying to combat the problem in a myriad of ways. One of the more popular approaches is to allow consumersto return parcels to a retail location even if they didn’t buy the merchandise there. Amazon customers can return parcels forfree to any store operated by retailer Kohl’s Corp. This strategy, known as “buy online return in store (BORIS),” consolidatesreturns in one location and eliminates the need for Amazon to dispatch a driver and vehicle to pick up parcels at residences. Italso provides Kohl’s with additional foot traffic that it might not otherwise get. The ability to effectively handle returns can yield large benefits. Research by Optoro showed that 97% of customers are morelikely to shop again at a retailer where they had a positive returns experience.

Source: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/spike-in-holiday-returns-highlights-waste-inefficiency-in-reverse-logistics

SHIPPING WORLD

SHIPPING NEWS$5BN FUND UNVEILED FOR CLIMATE-FRIENDLY SHIPPINGA group of ship owners have announced plans for a $5bn (£3.8bn) fund to designzero-emissions vessels.They says $2 (£1.50) should be levied on every tonne ofships' fuel - to support research into clean engines.Shipping creates about 3% of theemissions that are over-heating the climate - equivalent to all of Germany's CO2.Environmentalists welcomed the proposal but also described it as too little, toolate.They say it's outrageous that international shipping pays no fuel taxes, unlikelorry owners.Green groups argue that if ships were taxed at the same level aslorries, 70 times more cash for developing clean engines would be raised in Europealone.Around 250m tonnes of fuel a year are burned by ships. The InternationalChamber of Shipping (ICS) says that 90% of owners globally are behind the $2 levyon fuel.

Source: FASTCOMPANY.COM, BBC.COM

SHIPPING WORLD

FREE SHIPPING IS QUIETLY CHANGING THEDESIGN OF YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCTSThe rise of e-commerce has not only rewritten the rules of shipping and delivery; ithas also changed how packaging and products themselves are designed. Onceupon a time, products were designed to stand out from the competition on shelves.Now, they’re being optimized for shipping, whether they’re shrunk down to fit intosmaller, cheaper packaging or they forgo packaging altogether.Shipping goods directly to consumers is more expensive than shipping in bulk tostores, and businesses obviously want to keep costs down. TINY PRODUCTS, JUST ADD WATER: In their conventional form, manyhousehold products are mostly composed of water—something that comes out offaucets in every household. Encouraging consumers to add that water at homedrastically decreases the shipping volume and weight of many household products.Some examples of this innovative approach on the mass market todayare Drinkfinity, a Pepsi brand that sells flavored water pods; Blueland, which sellscleaning supplies in tablet form; and various Unilever products. PACKAGING-LESS PACKAGING: Not every product can be recycled using widelyavailable recycling methods. Companies are stepping up by shipping used productsor packaging back to the supplier to have them take care of it, which howeverincreases number of shipping movements. Some companies are trying to do awaywith single-use packaging altogether by using reusable materials for packaging. A SINGLE PACKAGE TO RULE THEM ALL: Many boxes are packed in other,standard-sized shipping boxes, often because companies like Amazon has specificdemands for its highly automated logistics system. WHAT’S NEXT: Products and their packaging have been adapted for home deliveryby the consumer-packaged-goods industries because they managed to design theirway around the problem of weight and volume, driven by the incentive of spendingless money on shipping. In 10 years, many of the products you use today will surelybe completely unrecognizable and the ways you get it, will blow your mind.

WHY? DRESS CODEMany workplaces have dress codes, particularly workplaces in industries in which image is highly valued and workplaces in whichemployees have regular face-to-face contact with customers. Employees dressed in business casual attire while meeting with clients can give a less professional impression than your companymight desire. Executives and employees alike often are resistant to a less professional look, afraid that they won't be taken itseriously. Also, some employees prefer having to make fewer choices when dressing for work and appreciate the simplicity of astricter dress code. Employees often are confused about what clothing is acceptable with a business casual dress code, asstandards usually vary among industries and are not well-defined. One of the biggest problems with a business casual dress code is that it has no universal definition. Falling anywhere on thespectrum between suits and jeans, what constitutes business casual is open to interpretation. If you decide to go with a businesscasual dress code, provide clear examples to employees of what is and is not appropriate. Examples of widely accepted businesscasual attire include shirts with collars for men and tailored slacks for women. Conversely, Hawaiian shirts for men and Capri pantsfor women often are frowned upon. Appropriate dress, along with basic protocol, is one of the most common associations made to professionalism. We form firstimpressions and overall judgments about people by the way they dress. If the way someone dresses affects the perception of yourcompany's customers or business partners, it is important to maintain a standard of dress that creates a positive impression. Nostandard or casual dress standards may make employees comfortable, but the point of professionalism and etiquette is to makeothers comfortable. Corporate DressTraditionally, corporate dress is required of those in specific positions, such as company executives, sales representatives andthose in direct contact with customers and the public. For men, corporate dress involves a suit, tie and dress shoes. Personalappearance and grooming habits should also meet the standards of those in a professional position. Long-sleeved shirts are moreprofessional-looking than short sleeves, so stick with those even in the summer. You can always wear a lighter-weight cloth. Untilyou get a feel for your office culture, wear white or light blue shirts, or those with muted stripes. Coordinating clothing is essential to create a professional business appearance. Avoid a suit jacket and pants in different colors ora shirt color that clashes with the suit color. Even your socks are a factor when it comes to how well your outfit matches. Light-colored socks with a dark suit stand out when you sit down, making your outfit look mismatched. Your shoes also need tocoordinate with the suit color, preferably in either black or dark brown. PROSA business casual dress code offers employees flexibility and the opportunity to express a personal style. It can boost morale,which in turn aids productivity and creativity. Business casual attire often makes the differences between upper management andrank-and-file employees less obvious, which many employees appreciate. Employee Ease: no worries about whether they are dressed too casually or too formally.Employee Productivity: feel professional and are more apt to conduct themselves in a different manner

POTPOURRI

Sibi Alex MathewDy. Manager ( Sales & Marketing)

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/weighing-pros-cons-business-casual-dress-code-39360.html

POTPOURRI

THROWBACK- 2019

Chairman Bassim Al Rashed, CEO Ravi Varrier, CFO Pradeep Menon,Finance Managers Riyaz Ahmed and Syam Pillai at renovated

Accounts Dept. Inauguration- Jun 2019

Al-Rashed Iraq 's Stall at ADIPEC Abu Dhabi Nov 2019

Agents for movement of Helideck and OSF- Feb 2019OSF- Weight: 1472.2 Tons - Dimensions: 31 x 20  x 39 m

Helideck- Weight: 155.00 Tons: Dimensions: 26 x 30 x 6 m

Chairman Bassim Al Rashed, CEO Ravi Varrier, CFO Pradeep Menon, at Renovated Clearance Dept. Inauguration- Nov 2019

FAR Module Movement- 4th Lot- TSH JV- Mar20195 units with biggest unit measuring 34.13 x 9.18 x 4 m & weight ofapprox. 142 tons

Random Clicks 

KUWAIT NEWSKuwait achieves ‘Emerging Market’ statusMarking a momentous milestone in its transformation into a world-class financialand commercial center, Kuwait has been officially upgraded to Emerging Marketstatus by leading index compiler MSCI Inc. Effective May 2020, the country’s MSCIindexes will be reclassified to Emerging Markets status.Paving the way forincreased participation from foreign investors in Kuwait’s capital market and drivingsignificant capital inflows to the country, the inclusion will take place in one phasewith the addition of nine blue chips to the benchmark. Kuwait’s addition addsfurther diversification to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index with an estimatedweight of 0.69 percent.The reclassification of Kuwait from its previous ‘Frontier Market’ status comes asan emphatic endorsement for the sweeping market development reformsundertaken by the tri-lateral task force of Boursa Kuwait, the Capital MarketsAuthority (CMA) and Kuwait Clearing Company’s (KCC). Kuwait Oil Company marks 85th anniversary of establishmentKuwait Oil Company (KOC) celebrates the 85th anniversary of being granted oildrilling concession right in the country under the agreement signed by the late AmirSheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on December 23, 1934. Theagreement was the most prominent event in the history of the Kuwait Oil Company,which was then called ‘Kuwait Oil Company Limited’. Some believe that the date ofsigning of the agreement is the same date of the company’s establishment;however, the company was established in February 1934. It was expected thenthat the agreement would have contributed to increase the wealth of Kuwait and itsinternational importance through oil exploration concession, but the outbreak ofWorld War II was one of the reasons for the delay in oil exploitation, and with theend of the war, Kuwait had turned from resource-poor desert country into a modernrich state. ‘Commemorative coin’ highlights Kuwait’s humanitarian workKuwait continues its humanitarian efforts and activities in different parts of theworld, met by applauds from senior officials and organizations. Kuwait’shumanitarian stance stemmed from the directives of His Highness the Amir SheikhSabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, a figure recognized as a world humanitarianleader by the UN. The Kuwait Central Bank (CBK) issued a gold commemorativecoin bearing a portrait of His Highness the Amir for his immense contributiontowards humanitarian causes, CBK governor Dr Mohammad Al-Hashel said in astatement. The front of the coin bears the image of His Highness the Amir, whilethe back features a picture of Kuwait City, he added. Meanwhile, Kuwait Fund forArab Economic Development (KFAED) signed with UNICEF to donate KD 850,000($2.8 million) to finance anti-measles vaccines for Lebanese and Syrian children inLebanon. In same week, KFAED signed with UNICEF another deal to secure cleanwater for Gaza and cooperation memo for expertise exchange. GCC to weaken, Kuwait to rebound – Oil mutedEconomic growth in the GCC countries is expected to “significantly weakened” thisyear due to “muted oil prices and exceeds oil supply,” the World Bank said, whichalso forecasted Kuwait’s growth rate to rebound in 2020.Economic growth in theGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was “significantly weakened” this year due to“muted oil prices and excess oil supply,” a WB report indicated.

Source: Arab Times, Kuwaiit Times

KUWAIT THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

DID YOU KNOW?No piece of square paper can be foldedmore than 7 times in half. There's an American town with apopulation of one…Monowi, Nebraska, isthe only town in the United States withan official population of one person. Yes,she owes taxes… To herself! She's inher 80s, and she's employed as thevillage's mayor, librarian, and bartender. Lego is the largest tire manufacturer inthe world.

IRAQ NEWSCabinet to Support Projects in Health, Oil sectorsThe Iraqi Cabinet held its regular weekly meeting in Baghdad on Tuesday under thechairmanship of Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi.The Prime Minister told theCabinet that the current government will continue to discharge its duties until theformation of the next Iraqi government.The Prime Minister then outlined some of thekey achievements of this government which will be detailed in a comprehensivereport to be published soon.The Cabinet discussed several policies and approvedadministrative measures to support projects in the health sector, including buildinggeneral hospitals in Iraqi provinces with a capacity of 400 beds each.The Cabinetapproved recommendations submitted by the Ministerial Council for Energy toallow Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) to borrow 265,000,000 US dollars fromthe Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) for the purpose of implementing a project to expand theproduction at Al-Nasiriyah oil field by an additional 100,000 barrels per day. Norway contributes $2m to end GBV in IraqThe Government of Norway contributed to NOK 17 million (US$ 1,872,452 million)to UNFPA interventions aiming at mitigating, preventing and responding to gender-based violence in humanitarian crisis.This contribution is part of the Government ofNorway's agreement to provide funding against the appeals in different countriesincluding Iraq for a total amount of (approximately US$ 12,344,685 million) NOK111.5 Million and (approximately US$ 2,7 million) NOK 25 million to theHumanitarian Thematic Fund. Norway is the top donor to UNFPA core resources in2019. Alliant wins $38m Iraqi Defense DealAlliant Techsystems Inc. , Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $37,788,519firm-fixed-price modification (P00052) to previously awarded contract FA8106-16-C-0004 for contractor logistic support for the Iraqi Air Force's Cessna 208 and 172fleet.Work will be performed in Iraq and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31,2020. Kurdistan Could Soon Start Shipping 250,000 Bpd Of Crude To BaghdadAlliant Techsystems Inc. , Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $37,788,519firm-fixed-price modification (P00052) to previously awarded contract FA8106-16-C-0004 for contractor logistic support for the Iraqi Air Force's Cessna 208 and 172fleet.Work will be performed in Iraq and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31,2020.

Source: menafn.com

IRAQ MUSINGS

"THE PESSIMISTCOMPLAINS ABOUTTHE WIND. THEOPTIMIST EXPECTS ITTO CHANGE. THELEADER ADJUSTS THESAILS." -JOHN MAXWELL

CONTACT US

Al-Rashed International Shipping Co.(KSCC)

9th Floor, Al Rashed Complex, Fahad Al Salem Street,

P.O. Box 20241, Safat-13063Kuwait.

S/Board : + 965 22912800 / 2801E-mail: kuwait@al-rashedgroup.com Visit us at: www.al-rashedgroup.com

Write to us with your thoughts,comments and feedbacks: editor@al-rashedgroup.com

RIDDLE ME! !How many sides does a circle have?

Answers in next month's editionSend in your answers to editor@al-rashedgroup.comOne lucky winner gets a shout-out in the next edition

November Riddle

Ans: Darkness.Winner: Mr. Vignesh Deenadayalan

FOOTNOTESIt is that time of the year where we gear up for celebrations as well for resolutions–hard and fast rules that we say we will abide (wink, wink). We do take up our resolutions basis where, how and what we want ourselves to be.The gym gets packed, junk food makes way for avocados and kale, but maybe after aweek or a month, we lose the morale. Smokes make way for nicotine patches.Youenroll in courses and academies to learn a new trade or language. Our tenacity for sticking to our cycle of life often gets astray if we were to add a stepto it– a step that will mould the self into betterment. Digging into pies and pastries, huffing an puff and they say, “ Cometh the next NewYear, things are going to change. ” Will it? It is up to you and only you to make a difference. Wish you an amazing 2020! Anand K V

Editor

From Retro to Futuristic- the evolution of Al-RashedAl-Rashed buiding under renovation- Dec 2019