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PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY GULF NEWS Gulf News Sponsored Supplement SUSTAINABLE business ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS MIDDLE EAST: Addressing Unmet Healthcare Needs PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL BASF: CREATING CHEMISTRY for a sustainable future GREEN SHEIKH: LEADING BY EXAMPLE du: EMPOWERING A SMART SOCIETY through digital services 4 5 6 7

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Sustainable Business 2014 special report presents the most prominent and leading innovative and sustainable companies in the Middle East. The publication covers the latest topics in sustainability, energy and clean technology in the United Arab Emirates and GCC countries, and gives interesting insight into business, innovation and leadership within the region. Some of the leading experts presented in the publication include His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Masdar as well as His Highness Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi known as the “Green Sheikh”, Environmental Advisor to the Ajman Government, and the CEO of Al Ihsan Charity Centre. This English language publication appeared as a theme insert distributed with GULF NEWS .

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Page 1: Sustainable Business

PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY GULF NEWS

Gulf News Sponsored Supplement

SUSTAINABLEbusiness

ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS MIDDLE EAST:

Addressing Unmet Healthcare Needs

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL

BASF:CREATING CHEMISTRY for a sustainable future

GREEN SHEIKH:LEADING BY

EXAMPLE

du:EMPOWERING A SMART SOCIETY through digital services

4

5

6

7

Page 2: Sustainable Business

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COMSUSTAINABLE business2 Produced by calcus Middle east • www.calcus.coM36 report 2013 nordic

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Page 3: Sustainable Business

SUSTAINABLE business 3PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COMProduced by calcus Middle east • www.calcus.coM36 report 2013 nordic

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NordicInnovationDubai_layout.indd 36 12/7/12 8:41 AM

S ustainable development of a country entails addressing

the present socio-economic needs in manner that does not

jeopardize the future. This is a message staunchly advocated by

visionary proponents of sustainability. In the UAE, an exceptional

torchbearer of sustainable development and renewable energy

initiatives is Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber – Minister of State of the

UAE, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Masdar

A visionary leader who spearheaded the establishment of Masdar –

one of the most sustainable communities and cleantech cluster on

the planet, Dr. Jaber has consistently emphasized the importance of

investing significantly in the clean energy sector.

In an article for the Huffington Post, he writes: “In Abu Dhabi - in the

capital of the United Arab Emirates - one of our flagship ventures is

the investment in the future of energy. Devoting billions of dollars

for research and development, we see renewable energy and clean

technologies like solar, wind and energy-efficient desalination as

vehicles for economic growth and diversification. But we also see

them as tools to build capacity, develop human capital and find real

solutions to the pressing energy and climate challenge.”

With visionaries like Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, it is only a matter

of time that such initiatives of positive change will translate into a

strong and cohesive society. ■

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber: Agent of Positive Change

Content:

Editor-in-chief : Kalle Salmi

CEO, Content Group International: Johan Ehrström

Managing Director, Calcus Group: Kalle Salmi

Country Manager, UAE: Humair Siddiqi

Project Manager: Nina Harjulin

Art Director/Layout: Lina Hurmerinta

Art Director Assistant: Pieta Piiroinen

Journalists: Sabin Muzaffar and Criselda Diala-McBride

Photographer: Mansoor Mughal

Publisher: Calcus Middle East Boulevard Plaza Tower One Emaar Square, Downtown Dubai P.O. Box 334155, Dubai, UAE

www.contentgroupinternational.com

Leading by Example .....................................›› 4

Creating chemistry for a sustainable future ......................................›› 5

Empowering a Smart society through digital services ................................›› 6

Roche Diagnostics Middle East: Addressing Unmet Healthcare Needs ............›› 7

Paving way to sustainable healthcare ............................... ›› 8

Sadita: Ensuring Sustainable Profits ............. ›› 9

ANIB: Promoting Economic Activity ......›› 10

Choithram’s: Amplifying the tenor of life .............›› 11

Kone: Making inroads to sustainability ....›› 12

PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY GULF NEWS

Gulf News Sponsored Supplement

SUSTAINABLEbusiness

ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS MIDDLE EAST:

Addressing Unmet

Healthcare Needs

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL

BASF:

CREATING

CHEMISTRY

for a sustainable

future

GREEN SHEIKH:

LEADING BY

EXAMPLEDU:EMPOWERING

A SMART

SOCIETY through digital services

4

5

6

7

Page 4: Sustainable Business

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COMSUSTAINABLE business4

A visionary leader with a passion to

serve humanity, His Highness Sheikh

Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi is a

trailblazing advocate of sustainable living

and respecting the environment. Also known

to the world as the “Green Sheikh,” he is

currently serving as Environmental Advisor

to the Ajman Government, and the CEO of Al

Ihsan Charity Centre. In addition to being a

Goodwill Ambassador of World Green Citizen

Foundation, since 2012, he is also Chairman

of the International Steering Committee for

the Global Initiative towards a sustainable

Iraq and honorable President of Zayed

Environmental Impact Network (ZEIN) at

Zayed University UAE.

With a deep sense of responsibility

as a human being and a strong belief in

giving back to the planet, the Green Sheikh

famously left a very lucrative career in

petroleum in order to pursue a mission to

vociferously defend the climate. “This earth

with its beauty, riches and plenty was given

to us to love and protect. Every one of us is

responsible for it, and can make a difference

- regardless of faith, skin color or gender,”

says the enlightened leader.

A GUIDING LIGHT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

An inspirational environmentalist, the Green

Sheikh’s philosophy is to tap into the talent and

potential of today’s youth. the Green Sheikh

truly believes in providing guidance to future

generations so that they could be transformed

into progressive leaders of tomorrow.

According to His Highness the Green

Sheikh: “Young people have the power to

imagine a world, well beyond what we can

see. They are the powerful leaders of the

future, and the guardians of this planet. I am

honored and humbled by the young attention

to my words, and by their love. My goal is to

help them discover their powers, to step into

leadership roles.”

The Green Sheikh travels all around the

world engaging the masses with highly

informative discussions and meaningful

presentations pertaining to the benefits of

holistic living and emphasizing the urgent

need of restricting environmental damage.

Recipient of numerous awards and

accolades, the Green Sheikh has distinguished

himself as an illustrious thinker of his time

who successfully leads his people by his own

example. ■

Leading by Example

His Highness Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi.

Young people have the power to imagine a world,

well beyond what we can see. They are the

powerful leaders of the future, and the guardians

of this planet.

Page 5: Sustainable Business

SUSTAINABLE business 5PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COM

W hat according to BASF is

sustainability?

BASF’s corporate purpose

is to create chemistry for a sustainable

future. Sustainability is the combination

of long-term oriented economic success

with environmental protection and social

responsibility.

Can environmental sustainability and

viable economic growth be aligned? How?

Viable economic growth must be based on

the principles of sustainability. Any economic

activity that disregards environment is short-

sighted at best because resource degradation

will prove far costlier to us in the long run.

Huge commercial enterprises must lead

by example on this front by factoring in

sustainability at all levels of their operations.

BASF, in fact, was one of the first companies in

the world to produce an integrated financial

and environmental annual report and has

been doing so since 2007.

Comment on how the accelerated rate of

environmental degradation be restrained?

To generate a sense of green living

around the globe, multiple methods can be

exercised. Mass education and discipline are

the keys. Awareness and knowledge about

sustainability are the first steps.

Talking about your corporate vision, how

can chemistry lead to sustainability?

BASF constantly works to harness the power

of chemistry so that it solves some of our

most pressing sustainability problems. For

example, BASF has added an extraordinary

product to its plastic product line: ecovio®,

which is being used to manufacture

completely biodegradable shopping and

waste bags. BASF has also developed ’Life

Cycle Analyzer’ which enables us to improve

concrete characteristics. The special

software offers solutions in major concrete

improvement areas like process efficiency,

energy reduction, material optimization,

and enhanced quality specifications for

manufacturers and users of concrete. BASF

has also used chemistry to develop innovative

water solutions such as Inge® which can

make water pre-treatment processes in

desalination plants less energy intensive and

cost effective.

Reducing specific greenhouse gas

emissions by 2020, increasing energy

efficiency and contributing to climate

protection are some of BASF’s goals. How do

you envision achieving these goals/targets?

Our climate protection activities are based

on comprehensive emissions controlling. By

2020, we aim to reduce our greenhouse gas

emissions per metric ton of sales product by

40% compared with baseline 2002. Since 1990,

we have been able to lower our greenhouse gas

emissions from BASF operations (excluding Oil

& Gas) by 45% and reduce specific emissions by

73% overall. By 2020, we want to improve the

energy efficiency of our production processes

by 35% compared with 2002. ■

Florian Krueck.

Creating chemistry for a sustainable future

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BASF FZE & BASF KANOO GULF LLC, U.A.E., FLORIAN KRUECKL, TALK ABOUT ALIGNING VIABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

Page 6: Sustainable Business

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COMSUSTAINABLE business6

W hen it comes to sustainability

leadership, I do not believe that

any country is more passionate

about ensuring its success than the UAE.

There is a true desire amongst the leadership

to encourage sustainable habits that will

lead to a brighter tomorrow for the nation, its

people, and our planet. This is an absolutely

vital mindset to foster and we, as du, fully

advocate it; a sustainable future is about

creating long-term value that our children’s

children and the generations to come can

enjoy for many years.

Businesses must become responsible in

adopting sustainable practices. Despite being

a relatively new term in the UAE’s business

lexicon, sustainability is not a passing fad.

It is an exceptionally viable concept that

is essential to the longevity of commercial

capability, as well as to the development of

the community and the protection of our

environment. Together, they represent the

triple bottom line of People, Planet and Profit

– a triptych of values that must be satisfied in

any sustainable approach.

Expo 2020 demonstrates the UAE

leadership’s commitment to sustainability.

It will bring billions of dirhams worth of

investment, opening limitless possibilities

for entrepreneurs, local businesses and more.

Infrastructure and initiatives such as Smart City

and Smart Government are being developed to

boost convenience. Innovative solutions will

see 50% of Expo 2020 powered by renewable

energy. If it is possible on such a massive scale

to adopt substantial sustainability initiatives,

then it should absolutely be possible for

businesses to recognise the viability of

sustainability within their own operations.

We are proud to uphold the vision of the

UAE leadership, by leading the way with

our corporate sustainability commitment.

We embrace innovation, and have set new

standards for the UAE, the region and the

industry – such as with our green Shop,

the first in the UAE to be LEED Platinum

Certified, or with our Fujairah Call Centre, the

nation’s first to be 100% managed and run by

Emiratis.

We are facilitating the shift towards Dubai’s

Smart City future particularly through

supporting the Smart Government initiative.

We have partnered with several government

bodies, assisting them to develop mobile

apps that make their services more easily

accessible. In a move to make connectivity

possible anywhere in the country absolutely

free, our WiFi UAE initiative will see free WiFi

rolled out nationwide.

Our third Sustainability Report is yet another

example of how we raise the regional benchmark

– we are the first company in the region, and the

world’s first telecommunications company to

adopt the new Global Reporting Initiative G4

Comprehensive guidelines.

It is our responsibility to continue to uphold

our dedication to supporting the vision of the

UAE leadership, by being advocates of the

sustainability movement. We can only aspire

to be as inspirational through our actions as

the leaders of the UAE are through theirs. ■

Empowering a Smart society through digital services

Hala Badri, EVP, Brand and Communications, du.

Expo 2020 demonstrates the UAE leadership’s

commitment to sustainability.

Page 7: Sustainable Business

SUSTAINABLE business 7PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COM

W ith separate divisions in

pharmaceuticals and diagnostics,

Swiss biotech company Roche

has the unique privilege of providing the

healthcare sector combined expertise in

medicine and diagnosis. Recognizing the

region’s rapid healthcare development, Roche

Diagnostics Middle East established a Dubai-

based Management Center in 2012. Boasting

a state-of-the-art warehouse in Jebel Ali, the

company’s primary objective is not only to

centrally store region-focused healthcare

products, but also offer fast and reliable access

to cutting-edge diagnostic solutions for a wide

array of lifestyle ailments and chronic diseases

prevalent across the MENA region.

A broad network of collaborative

partnerships, with private and public sectors,

is Roche’s key strategy to addressed the

community’s unmet health needs. “At Roche

Diagnostics Middle East, we have a team of

vastly experienced specialists, consistently

providing a wide-range of services to 20

countries in the region. Our direct presence in

the Middle East allows us to serve and assist

healthcare professionals, while bringing

global standards and know-how to the

industry. In addition to this, being the first

In Vitro diagnostic company in the region,

we have established a robust supply chain

hub, facilitating faster responses to regional

needs,” explained Hartmann.

With the ever changing healthcare

landscape, there is a growing demand

for diagnostic tools that improve our

understanding of disease diversity; treating all

patients of a certain disease with one approach

disregards those disease differences. For

this reason, Roche’s Personalized Healthcare

strives to tailor treatment to specific groups

of patients, who will best respond to the

medicine. Commenting on the company’s

advanced tests and individualized therapeutic

solutions, the General Manager said: “Our

advanced expertise in numerous disease

areas enables Roche to provide innovative

tests that help deliver customized treatments,

thereby improving the patient’s outcome

and quality of life. With technological

advancements, patients receive personalized

treatments customized for their needs.”

RAISING THE BAR IN DIAGNOSTICS

Roche Diagnostics Middle East has indeed

played a pioneering role in assisting the

healthcare sector by improving accessibility,

delivering innovation and most importantly

strengthening infrastructure. “On a global

scale, our company is the largest provider of

in vitro diagnostics solutions. We also provide

more than 200 diagnostic tests, in areas such

as cancer, women’s health and cardiovascular

diseases, and are continuously increasing

our portfolio with increasingly innovative

solutions for conditions which have not been

met with before,” commented Hartmann.

As an industry leader in the Middle East and

globally, Roche Diagnostics strives to achieve

sustainability and has consistently contributed

to the community by building a better future

through patient safety, business integrity and

addressing global healthcare challenges. ■

Roche Diagnostics Middle East: Addressing Unmet Healthcare Needs

GENERAL MANAGER OF ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS MIDDLE EAST MORITZ HARTMANN SPEAKS ABOUT INNOVATION IN DIAGNOSTICS AND HOW THE ORGANIZATION IS EFFECTIVELY

STRIVING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PATIENTS.

Moritz Hartmann.

Page 8: Sustainable Business

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COMSUSTAINABLE business8

O ver the past decade, the Middle

East and North African (MENA)

region has seen a tremendous

amount of growth in the health sector. In the

UAE, Anglo Arabian Healthcare has greatly

contributed to the advancement of an

effective health system by offering solutions

that cater to the needs of each and every

member of society.

Anglo Arabian Healthcare began its

journey over two years ago and currently

boasts a very strong portfolio of high caliber

management teams. The organization strives

to set an extraordinary example of excellence

in healthcare management through effective,

environmental-friendly processes. “We are

building new hospitals, clinics and energy

efficiency is very much part of procurement

and design. We are looking towards obtaining

various quality accreditations such as JCI and

are therefore constantly striving to achieve

the highest standards of excellence. Energy

conservation, disposals, chemicals, all the

things that will actually make a difference, are

integral to our objectives,” commented Anglo

Arabian Healthcare founder and CEO, Mark

Adams.

In addition, Anglo Arabian has been

instrumental in providing access to healthcare

on an individual and corporate level through

various key initiatives. Collaborating with

First Gulf Bank through groundbreaking

health screening programs, the organization

has effectively supported the bank’s pledge to

invest in the wellbeing of its employees. “The

collaboration greatly benefitted both the

employees and the bank. Individuals not only

had access to quality assured services, they

now have a clearer picture of their potential

health risks. And from the bank’s perspective,

they now have a better understanding of their

potential future healthcare costs,” revealed

Paul Firth, Director Occupational Health &

Corporate Wellness.

LINKING SUSTAINABILITY TO HEALTHCARE

The framework of sustainability is all about

managing the triple bottom line. “I think we

all know prevention and education are better

than cure so there are lots of parallels with

sustainability. You need to invest now and

modify your behavior in order to actually have

a better future,” Mr. Adams opined. Adding,

he said: “Even the slightest energy saving

measure can save you millions of dollars in

the long term. Even in terms of CSR, it is really

about giving back to the community and not

just chasing profits.”

Linking sustainability with the Expo 2020,

the CEO concluded: “The Expo 2020 win will

usher an influx of people and business in

the country. We are hoping to become one

of the market leaders in terms of serving the

needs of an increasing population by building

clinics and hospitals. It was an attractive

market even before this victory and it has now

amplified optimism.” ■

Paving way to SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE

ANGLO ARABIAN HEALTHCARE IS A RAPIDLY

GROWING HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND COMPRISES OF 18 ASSETS INCLUDING TWO HOSPITALS, CLINICS, LABORATORIES AND A NETWORK OF PHARMACIES ACROSS THE UAE.

Anglo Arabian Healthcare founder and CEO, Mark Adams.

Page 9: Sustainable Business

SUSTAINABLE business 9PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COM

T ell us about SADITA Holding?

SADITA’s journey began back

in 1982 with the food distribution

business. We established Kuwait Proteins

Company in partnership with the Late

Hajj Khalil el Khatib. The company has

experienced remarkable growth over the years

and is now one of the most well-established

FMCG distributors in Kuwait. Sadita was

incorporated in 2006 and boasts a diversified

portfolio of businesses across the globe.

What are SADITA’s major activities?

As of 2014, SADITA controls stakes in

22 companies across 10 industries and

15 countries. These industries are food

distribution, kitchenware and disposables,

IT accessories, cleaning services, medical

services, IT services, power system supplies,

construction, engineering contracting and

lastly food production. Through its corporate

head office in Kuwait City, SADITA provides

supportive functions to its subsidiaries’

in finance, IT, HR, legal and business

development areas.

What is your role in the organization?

Being the chairman of the board, I oversee

the performance of management. Additionally,

I participate in conceiving and designing

business strategies, examining investments,

identifying business growth opportunities and

managing group risk profile.

What has changed throughout 30 years of

operations?

Historically, operational growth and

geographical expansion has been supported

by acquiring new distribution rights. At

present, this practice is complemented

with the enforcement of strong corporate

governance on both existing and newly

established subsidiaries. Upholding our core

values of transparency, commitment and

forward thinking has been a long time belief

since inception.

What has been the driving force behind

SADITA’s success?

It is our confidence in people. People not

industries direct our investments and hence

the Group’s motto ‘We invest with people’.

A key person who needs to be acknowledged

when discussing SADITA’s success is CEO

Mr. Zaher el Khatib, who has played an

instrumental role in the group’s expansion

and is now a partner in most subsidiaries.

What is your outlook for the group?

SADITA has been able to maintain

consistent profitability since its inception,

particularly in the past three years. It has

reported a double-digit growth in revenues

and profitability along a turnover that has

exceeded $300m in 2013. I expect a double-

digit top line growth for the next five years as

the group continues to expand its operations

and market penetrations. ■

SADITA: Ensuring Sustainable Profits

FOZAN AL FOZAN, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF SADITA HOLDING, TALKS ABOUT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LONGEVITY THROUGH INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL.

I expect a double-digit top line growth for the next five years as the

group continues to expand its operations and

market penetrations.

Fozan Al Fozan founder and Chairman.

Page 10: Sustainable Business

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COMSUSTAINABLE business10

AL NABOODA INSURANCE BROKERS (ANIB) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2007 WITH A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYEES. THE COMPANY HAS STEADILY GROWN IN THE PAST SIX YEARS AND CURRENTLY

POSSESSES A FORMIDABLE PORTFOLIO OF 15000+ INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS AND MORE THAN 400 CORPORATE HOUSES.

T he importance of the insurance sector

in the national economy of a country

cannot be emphasized enough. In

emerging markets such as the Middle East,

insurance can help achieve growth targets

and accelerate economic development,

by providing coverage to businesses and

more importantly through effective risk

management.

According to ANIB’s Managing Director,

S. Rajagopal: “Banking and insurance is the

backbone of a sustainable national economy.

A company will most certainly achieve

success if it is supported by an insurance

entity, offering businesses incentives for risk

mitigation.” Adding: “Without the protection

from insurance companies, business losses are

bound to also affect the economy of a country.”

Headquartered in Dubai, the company

started operation a year before the downturn.

“Every company hopes to start at a positive

time, but fate had other plans for ANIB. Our

initial growth was in fact during those tough

times primarily because our skills were put

to test during the recession,” opined the

managing director.

Boasting a team of highly skilled individuals,

ANIB is not just about selling premiums.

“What sets us apart is that we not only

understand the nuances of underwriting, but

offer in-depth expertise on the brokerage side,

thereby putting the client in an advantageous

position,” said Mr. Rajagopal. “As a brand too,

we stand out and have positioned ourselves

as refreshing, reliable and colourful. The ANIB

experience is something that is very human.

We listen first to the requirements of our

clients and transparently share every detail

of the insurances we tailor for them” said the

MD. The company offers individual as well

as corporate solutions, which are tailored to

satisfy customer needs.

THE SPILLOVER AFFECT

Although the insurance industry was not

directly affected by the downturn and actually

experienced a spillover effect, it has enabled

the sector to be better equipped for any future

crises. “There was an oversupply of insurance

companies at a time when there was little or no

demand. As a consequence, there was a price

loss. But as it turns out, presently clients are

benefitting due to competition and are getting

the cheapest rates,” he remarked.

Indeed insurance can play a critical role

in achieving an accelerated rate of growth

and productivity across the MENA region. A

catalyst for positive economic development,

Al Nabooda Insurance not only protects

businesses and individuals from adverse

events, it contributes towards national

sustainability by facilitating trade and

efficient capital accumulation. ■

ANIB: Promoting Economic Activity

ANIB’s Managing Director, S. Rajagopal.

Banking and insurance is the backbone of a sustainable national

economy.

Page 11: Sustainable Business

SUSTAINABLE business 11PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COM

I n 1943, a visionary trailblazer, Thakurdas

Choithram Pagarani, established a small

grocery store in Sierra Leone. This was

the humble beginning of T.Choithram and

Sons which has now grown into a prestigious

network of companies across Europe, North

America, Africa and the Gulf region.

“It is a starlight story of a free-spirited

young man who set out to explore the world,

settled in Sierra Leone and established a

business which has witnessed immense

progress in a span of 71 years,” remarked

Choithram’s contemplative Chairman, L.T

Pagarani. The company rapidly grew and

expanded operations initially in Germany,

Hong Kong, UK, Spain and other countries in

Africa. “It was in the mid-70s, when we came

to the UAE and curiously our last outpost

was India where we established our business

presence in 2008,” he added.

T. Choithram and Sons is more than just

a large chain of supermarkets. Contrary to

common perception, the company is also

a major distributor of premium brands

“Elsewhere we also have substantial presence

in pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing,

education as well as the health sector,”

revealed Mr. Pagarani.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

As far as the CEO is concerned, it is not just

about doing business and making profits.

Considerably contributing to socio-economic

growth of communities, Choithram’s has

proactively initiated programs and activities

for the benefit of society and environmental

sustainability. “In our UK branch, all sales

personnel use electric cars and even though

it was quite a challenge in the beginning, we

have successfully championed the cause. By

doing so, the company has become a role

model not only to its competitors, but to its

peers in the global community at large,” the

CEO opined. The organization also possesses

the world’s largest solar powered spice plant

in Buckinghamshire UK

The secret to Choithram’s immense

accomplishments as an innovative company

is not merely about sticking to numbers,

spreadsheets and efficient ERP solutions.

Interpersonal relations in the workplace

as well as with customers is what sets the

company apart. “I cannot but over-emphasize

the importance of interpersonal relations

especially in a corporate environment.

Companies can certainly have a smart

business plan, but if you cannot win over

your colleagues and have full membership of

your staff, your business is bound to flounder

or will definitely take longer to progress,”

observed Mr. Pagarani.

Indeed, it has been a journey like none other

– beginning from the humble grocery store in

a small West African country to becoming a

prestigious conglomerate with presence in 20

countries. A name synonymous with success,

T. Choithram and Sons is truly a social

minded company that has significantly made

an impact on the global society. ■

Choithram’s: Amplifying the tenor of life

T. CHOITHRAM AND SONS’ CHAIRMAN, L.T. PAGARANI

TALKS ABOUT THE COMPANY’S JOURNEY TO SUCCESS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WORKPLACE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS.

L.T Pagarani, contemplative Chairman.

Page 12: Sustainable Business

PRODUCED BY CONTENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL • WWW.CONTENTGROUPINTERNATIONAL.COMSUSTAINABLE business12

K one Middle East offers wide array

of products including escalators

and autowalks that are not only

customizable, but also set a superior standard

for eco-efficiency, safety and spectacular

visual design. “Since our headquarters is

based in Northern Europe where the cost of

energy is very high, we have adopted a number

of methods for decreasing its usage. We were

the first to launch a breakthrough technology

– the Machine Room Less elevator. Until

recently, elevators used to have a machine

room at the top floor, things are different now.

This technology has been adopted by many

other similar entities,” said Environmental

Director Kone, Hanna Uusitalo who joined

the company in 2008 at a time when energy

excellence was adopted as one of its strategic

imperatives.

It was in 2008 that Kone decided to further

decrease its energy consumption and has

achieved an astonishing 75% reduction,

positioning it on the same level as the

lighting industry. The company addresses

energy efficiency challenge through its smart

elevators which is innovatively optimized for

traffic through eco-friendly motor technology

with regenerative drives to capture the break

energy or any unbalanced situation which

arises from the elevator movement.

CREATING AN IMPACT

Kone has made a deep impact on society by

incorporating sustainability in the product

line. “We have studied and assessed the

environmental lifecycle impact of our

products at different platform levels,” opines

the environment director. The company

successfully organized a compact drive

system to achieve new levels in energy

efficiency, space saving, reliability, and

aesthetics,” remarked Hanna Uusitalo.

Adding, “Cutting down your escalator or

autowalk energy consumption is also possible

using efficient LED lights.”

The company has indeed played a

critical role in aiming to decrease carbon

footprint. Being smart, green and safe entails

delivering solutions that enable people

to move smoothly – efficiently and cost

effectively. Kone is indeed making inroads to

sustainable development through its world

class fundamental eco-initiatives within the

company. ■

KONE: Making inroads to sustainability

MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD, KONE IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN THE ESCALATOR AND ELEVATOR INDUSTRY AND IS A NAME SYNONYMOUS WITH INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.

CONTINUOUSLY STRIVING TO UNDERSTAND AND MEET CUSTOMER NEEDS, THE FIRM FOCUSES ON DELIVERY OF HIGH PERFORMANCE-BASED SOLUTIONS.

Environmental Director Hanna Uusitalo.

Page 13: Sustainable Business

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