250 Fils Issue No 678 Established 1996 16 - 22 February, 2014www.timeskuwait.com

KUWAIT’S PREMIER WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

THE DIPLOMAT

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Kuwaiti investors can collaborate with local businesses in Lesotho to fully realize the vast opportunities and huge growth potential

of various sectors of our economy, says Ambassador Khasipe. He adds that the country’s macro-economic and political stability, along with its investor- and business-friendly laws, continue to attract investors from around the world to its manufacturing, mining, agriculture and tourism industries among others.

Kuwait awards $12 billion ‘Clean-Fuel’ project

The much anticipated new branch of Lu&Lu Hypermarket in Dajeej was inaugurated on the

morning of Saturday, 15 February, by Sheikh Abdullah Humoud Faisal Al Sabah and Sheikh Nimer fahad Al Sabah , Secretary Financial and Commerce in the presence of Ambassadors from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Sri Lanka, dignitaries and top officials of LuLu Group.

Billed as the biggest hypermarket in Kuwait, the 230,000 sq. ft. store, located in Dajeej area just off the 6th Ring Road, is spread across two levels with

the food and grocery section on the ground floor and department and lifestyle products on the first floor.

Commenting on the new store launch Yusuffali MA, Managing Director of LuLu Group said, “This is our 4th branch in Kuwait and we are extremely happy with the support and patronage we have been receiving from the residents of this great nation.”

“We know that the Kuwaitis are among the most discerning shoppers in the world and that’s why we have brought the best technology and facilities from all

Continued on Page 7

Lu&Lu Hypermarketopens in Dajeej

See Page 10 & 11

Bids worth a total of $12 billion have been awarded to three consortia, made up of local and international companies, for

work on upgrading Kuwait’s two major refineries, announced Ahmad Al-Kuleib, chairman of the country’s Central Tenders Committee, to the media recently.

Spokesman for the state-run Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), Khaled al-Assousi, confirmed that the consortium led by Japan’s JGC Corp had been awarded the tender for the ‘Clean Fuels’ project work at the 460,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Mina Ahmadi refinery for $4.8 billion.

The spokesman added that the Mina Abdullah I project was awarded to a consortium led by Britain’s Petrofac at $3.8 billion and Mina Abdullah II to US Flour-led consortium for $3.4 billion. Assousi said the contracts were expected to be signed within the next six weeks, and for the three-part project would commence work in April and be completed within five years.

In late 2012, Kuwait had awarded the management and service contract for the projects to the US-based Foster Wheeler company for $500 million. Foster Wheeler said at the time that the project would increase the 730,000 bpd

current capacity of the two refineries, to reach a daily throughput of around 800,000 and be ready in 2018. Industry analysts believe awarding of the much-awaited Clean Fuels project, which involves specification upgrade and expansions to reduce the amount of sulfur and carbon pollutants from the refining process, was a sign that Kuwait was moving ahead with its large infrastructure projects.

The ‘Clean Fuel’ project, which form part of the Gulf state’s $100 billion mega economic development plan, along with other infrastructure and foreign investment plans have frequently faced delays due to political instability and bureaucratic hurdles.

Apart from the Clean Fuels Project, Kuwait also wants to build the region’s largest refinery, with state-of-art capabilities and a capacity of 615,000 bpd at an estimated cost of $12 billion, at Al Zour in the south of the country, and then eventually shut its oldest 200,000 bpd refinery at Shuaiba. The project to build a new refinery was scrapped by the government around five years ago, months after five Japanese and South Korean companies were awarded contracts, following protests from opposition lawmakers who complained of a lack of transparency in the tendering process.

Wooing the high-spending GCC tourist

Attracted by the high-spending disposition of GCC tourists, many countries are taking multi-pronged strategies to entice them in ever-increasing numbers.

Currently holders of GCC passports may enter more than 70 countries in different continents, but mostly in Asia, visa free or by obtaining a visa on arrival. Now European countries are getting in on the act, with many hassle-free entry conveniences being offered, or in the pipeline, for GCC citizens, including visa waivers and vise-free travel throughout the Schengen area.

The likes of UK and Switzerland have never hid their intentions to lure more GCC visitors. According to VisitBritain, the country’s national tourism agency, the UK received some 452,000 visitors from the GCC between January and September 2013, up 10 percent from the corresponding period in 2012. It is forecast that their number could increase to 700,000 by 2016 following the

easing of visa processes for GCC nationals planning a trip to the UK. From January, passport holders of the UAE, Qatar and Oman can benefit from an electronic visa waiver (EVW) scheme. Under the plan, nationals need to submit documents online detailing their arrival details 48 hours prior to travelling in order to benefit from EVW. As part of the deal, the visa is valid for up to six months for those planning a visit, be it for leisure, business or study. Citizens of Kuwait could join the EVW scheme this 2014. Of the GCC states, only holders of Saudi and Bahraini passports would be required to obtain prior visa for entering the UK.

Continued on Page 8

3 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com Diplomat

Staff Report

Articulate and urbane, His Excellency Thabo Khasipe, Ambassador of the Kingdom of

Lesotho to the State of Kuwait, has years of vast ranging experience on his young shoulders. Having served at the top-level in various private and government enterprises in Lesotho, the ambassador has a broad and in-depth knowledge on different facets of his country and its functioning, which he shared with The Times during a recent exclusive interview.

A professional economist, with a Masters in Economics from the University of Nairobi in Kenya, the ambassador began his career in the 1990s as a lecturer in the Economics Department of the National University of Lesotho. “I seem to have an affinity for new organizations and setting up things from start,” said the diplomat, adding, “because, after two years of lecturing and a brief stint at the Central Bank of Lesotho, I joined the newly formed Lesotho Telecommunications Authority as Director of Strategic Planning. Two years later, I was again looking for fresh challenges and this time found it in another new institution, the Revenue Authority of Lesotho.”

Starting out as Commissioner of Customs and Excise, he worked at the Revenue Authority for nearly six years, during half of which he was Deputy CEO of the organization. He then shifted to the Standard Bank of Lesotho, one of the largest commercial banks in the country, as Managing Director of its Investment Banking Division. “Then, in 2008, a totally new career prospect opened up before me, when I was appointed by my government as Ambassador to the Republic of Egypt. From Cairo, I was also in charge of a large part of the entire Middle-East region, including Lebanon and the Gulf Cooperation Council states. But I soon realized that this was not a very efficient process, as one could not fully represent such a large, diverse and strategically important region while sitting in Cairo. I then made a recommendation to my government to open a regional presence in the Gulf region. Luckily, the authorities in Lesotho agreed to my suggestion and I was assigned to set up our mission here.”

“I arrived in Kuwait in mid-2010 and was immediately faced with the prospect of preparing for a state-visit to the country by our monarch, His Majesty King Letsie III. During the visit and in discussions with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber

Al-Sabah, the decision to set up the embassy was formalized, and having been accredited on a none-resident basis in 2008, I was then accredited as the first resident Ambassador of Lesotho to the State of Kuwait. This embassy was officially inaugurated in August 2010, and shortly thereafter hosted our then Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili during his official visit to Kuwait in October 2010. But these relatively recent formalizing of diplomatic relations belie the long and cherished relations the two countries have had since the 1970s,” said Ambassador Khasipe.

“Starting in the late 70s, Kuwait has always been very supportive of various development projects in Lesotho. The state’s Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, has been providing technical assistance and financing on very concessional terms to numerous infrastructure projects across the country, including construction of our International Airport, road networks and sanitation schemes. Most recently, in 2012, the Fund approved nearly $3 million, adding to the $4 million it had already sanctioned in 2007, for construction of the Metolong Dam on the Phuthiatsana River. With multi-lateral finance mechanism, the dam project aims to meet the increased demand for drinking and industrial water in the capital and surrounding areas.”

“Positive bilateral relations on the political level between our two countries were, and continue to be, defined mainly by shared similarities, including in size and in population, as well as in the many similar challenges we face. Both nations have come to realize that we need to collaborate and cooperate in different domains so as to present a strong and unified front at international forums. This was highlighted in 1990, when Lesotho, through its representative at the United Nations, condemned in no uncertain terms the Iraqi aggression on Kuwait and unequivocally demanded the immediate withdrawal of all Iraqi troops from Kuwait soil. Our two countries also share parallel viewpoints on a number of international social and political issues, including self-determination for

the Palestinian people, protection of human-rights and in the ongoing fight against terrorism,” noted the envoy.

The ambassador added, “As I mentioned, high-level visits, including the state visit in February 2010 by His Majesty the King of Lesotho helped further cement the long and cordial relations between our two countries. During the follow-up visit in October 2010 by the then prime minister, the two countries drew up an agenda for the way forward and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation that set the tone for promoting bilateral trade and investment. Since arriving in the country, one of my main priorities has been to resuscitate bilateral trade and to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between individuals and entities in the private sector. We have set up different mechanisms to examine the potential and identify opportunities for joint ventures between entrepreneurs and businesses in both countries.”

Pointing to some of the economic sectors in Lesotho that enterprising Kuwaiti investors could lucratively leverage, the ambassador said, “Currently manufactured textiles are the mainstay of exports from Lesotho. We are the largest exporter of apparels to the United States in the whole sub-Saharan Africa, seizing the opportunity presented by the US Government’s ‘African Growth and Opportunity Act’ (AGOA), which allows for duty- and quota-free exports to the US. International brands and retailers sourcing from Lesotho include, among others, Wal-Mart, Sears, and JCPenny, as well as brands such as Gap, Levi Strauss and Timberland.”

“Another area for potential investment is the diamond mining sector. Some of the largest and finest diamonds in recent history have been mined from Lesotho and, on an average price per carat basis, some Lesotho mines are among the richest in the world. Also, with its abundance of water and natural springs, Lesotho could easily be transformed into a hub for bottling and exporting mineral water across the region and beyond. Kuwaiti investors can collaborate with local businesses in Lesotho to fully

realize the vast opportunities and huge growth potential of various sectors of the economy.”

Tourism in Lesotho, is also a fast-growing sector with immense possibilities, both as an attractive destination for tourists, as well as an investment option in various tourism infrastructure projects such as hotels, resorts and ski lodges. Yes, a ski resort in an African country might appear as an anomaly to many of your readers, but it is true that in many parts of the country we enjoy weather conditions similar to Europe during our winter season. And, given the fact that we have winters when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, there are skiers moving from Europe to ski on our slopes when it is summer over there. Besides ski slopes, the fact that we are the only country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters gives us breathtaking mountainous surrounds and the unique title of having the highest lowest point on earth.”

“The government has also recently passed several business and investor-friendly laws that help promote trade and investments in the country, including tax concessions on exports and a ‘single- window’ clearance for business licenses, tax payments and connections to utilities. A new law also allows for foreign entities to own land in Lesotho, subject to certain conditions, so as to fully exploit and unlock the many opportunities in the country.”

“Besides the trade opportunities presented by AGOA, Lesotho is also a member of several regional economic organizations, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which groups together over a dozen regional countries to form a free-trade zone, with a combined market of over 230 million people.

Additionally, Lesotho, which is

landlocked within South Africa, is a member of the Rand Monetary Area (RMA). This monetary linkage of Loti, the Lesotho currency, to the South African rand, which is legal tender in our country, allows us to have a fixed exchange rate policy with the internationally recognized rand. This takes out worries that potential investors might have regarding foreign-exchange risks, currency fluctuations and its implications on their investments in the country,” clarified Ambassador Khasipe.

He added, “Along with macro-economic stability, Lesotho has enjoyed political stability through its rather unique proportional electoral system that guarantees seats in the National Assembly for members of different opposition parties. This ensures everyone has a stake in peaceful governance of the country and has resulted in the current government being formed by a coalition of three parties, which is quite rare among African states.”

Saying that he was happy to be in this land of peace and tranquility, the ambassador appreciated the hospitality of Kuwait and warmth of its friendly people. He added that Lesotho genuinely appreciates and is grateful to Kuwait for its generosity, as revealed during the recent African Arab Summit held in Kuwait, when His Highness the Amir pledged $2 billion in loans and infrastructure investment for the African continent.

Concluding on a congratulatory note, Ambassador Khasipe said, “On behalf of the people and government of Lesotho, I would like to offer congratulations to the leadership, government and people of Kuwait on the upcoming celebrations of National and Liberation Days and the eighth anniversary of His Highness the Amir’s accession to power.

His Excellency Thabo Khasipe

LesothoAfrica’s kingdom in the sky

4 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com

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Corporatism will rule Indian election

The Communist Party of India’s (CPI) Member in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, MLA V.S. Sunil Kumar, predicts the Congress Party will have to support a third-front after the forthcoming Indian Lok Sabha election. “Earlier the left parties supported Congress

against Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP).

Staff Report

The reverse will happen this time,” said the MLA who is in Kuwait for a 3-day visit to take part in Kerala Association anniversary. He also cautioned that large corporation and their policies will have a direct say in the election scheduled in May this year.

Clash of ideologies: America’s war against religious terrorism, particularly its stand against Narendra Modi in the past decade has been proved as hypocrisy after it broke its Modi taboo, said the MLA. Everyone knows Modi’s ideology. Considering the US love and support for secularism, one can only be suspicious about its welcoming of a leader who is the face of Fascism in India, the MLA said.

The MLA was also critical of the new Aam Admi Party (AAP). “It lacks ideology. For any party ideology is important. India has an ideology. Its ideology is Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu (May the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all). AAP victory in Delhi is a safety-valve phenomenon. People’s pent up feelings against policies like globalization have resulted in the temporary victory of AAP. For AAP to sustain and stabilize in the Indian political scenario it will have to form an ideology which they have not made clear so far, the MLA said.

Self-criticism: The Communist Party MLA confessed ideology alone cannot save a political party. The left parties have self-questioned where they’ve gone wrong practically and why we cannot reach the common folks. The Communist party has admitted that it has failed in applying its ideology in the socio-cultural context of India. A structural reconstruction may be needed in the left parties. Our Marxist scholars — Harindranath Chattopadhyay, Sunil Mukhopadhyay et al — have studied Indian philosophy in depth in order to learn the possibilities of applying Marxism in the Indian context. But practically we have not achieved our goal.

The BJP has diverted Indian philosophy as Hindu philosophy. Upanishads and darsanas are not Hindu philosophy. Gandhi and Nehru studied and wrote about Indian philosophy. Since Rajiv Gandhi that chain is broken and wrong decisions have resulted in chaos as we know, the MLA who is a philosophy graduate said. Media bias: On the other hand, the MLA said, the leftist parties have been facing media disregard. The Posco strike in Odisha against privatization led by CPI leaders, for example, is not getting enough media attention. Trade unions – 120 million workers - have raised voice against the government’s economic policies, privatization, communalism and corruption. About a million people marched to the parliament in protest. But this does not come in the media. Instead the media celebrates Kejriwals or Hassares even if there are a few thousand followers.

Corporate interests in May elections: Corporate companies have upper hand in India. They dominate our agricultural products, natural resources including minerals. They even rule our service sector. Earlier the large corporations were trying to reach their hands to areas that were fundamental at the government level. Now they have these basics in their hands and the 2014 election will see the desperate attempts by these corporate entities to cling on to what they have controlled.

Congress or BJP may not be the only option in some states like AP, Bihar, UP, Chattisgarh and Odisha. The rise and strengthening of third front in many states will be another interesting spectacle in May, 2014, the MLA said.

His Excellency So Chang Sik, the

Ambassador of DPR of Korea to Kuwait, held a reception at his residence to mark the occasion of the 72nd Birth Anniversary of the Eternal leader H.E. Kim Jong IL. The reception was attended by media and businessmen.

Ambassador of North Korea hosts reception to mark special occasion

5 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com Local

By K Abraham

‘It appears very likely that after 2014 elections, there will be a BJP-led government at the center with Modi as its prime Minister,’ said

Sinha, India’s former External Affairs Minister, Finance Minister and the current member of Parliament.

Sinha was addressing a small gathering at the Indian Educational School, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh on the sidelines of the school’s annual day celebration.

Striking a cautious note, Sinha however said, “One thing that I have learned from my experience is that it is really hard to predict the outcome of an election because people in India are too clever for us,” he said.

Sinha said the results of recent opinion polls and pre-election surveys point to an NDA victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. “It looks certain that the BJP-led NDA will be able to reach the magical number required to form the government. We will also be able to attract partners post-election who will support an NDA government,” he said.

“One thing is absolutely certain. This present dispensation will not come back to power,” Sinha said referring to the UPA government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“I’m not saying this out of any prejudice. If you look at the election results of the four states that went to the polls recently, you could see that the Congress party was totally decimated in Rajasthan and Delhi. The anti-incumbency sentiment was very strong in these states,” he pointed out.

Fading resonance: Sinha, however, sought to underplay the challenge posed by the

Aam Admi Party led by Aravind Kejriwal to mainstream political parties. Though the BJP managed to win 32 seats in the Delhi Assembly, it failed to secure simple majority to form the government. AAP won 28 seats — the second largest number — and formed the government with the support of Congress party.

“Many people initially thought AAP was a real challenge at the national level. But it was flawed from the beginning,” he claimed.

“When Anna Hazare commenced his

movement against corruption, there was a resonance all across the country. Unfortunately, Kejriwal chose to give it a political color and take benefit out of Hazare’s movement. Today, a couple of months down the line, the situation in AAP is not as bright as it appeared in the beginning,” Sinha said.

“On the contrary, Narendra Modi has gained a certain degree of popularity among the masses. He is connecting with the people wherever he goes. This is now creating a situation where

BJP is likely to win even in unlikely places,” he claimed.

Sinha harped on his charge that India has been ruled by surrogacy. According to Sinha the fundamental mistake was made in 2004 when the UPA took power.

“The UPA government led by Manmohan singh failed to deliver. It has created a dichotomy of political system where power does not rest with the prime minister. The power is elsewhere. So, we have responsibility without power and power without responsibility. Because the country is ruled by surrogacy,” he said.

AP turmoil: Referring to the turmoil in the state of Andhra Pradesh, he said, the developments in the state are distressing.

“Already more than 1,400 people have lost their lives in Telengana and another 100 in Seemandhra region,” he said urging the authorities to sit with both parties and work out an amicable solution to the problem.

“How can you have an arrangement where the capital of Seemandhra will continue to be Hyderabad when the region is more than 350km away from there?” he asked.

Sinha also spoke at length about criminalization of politics.

“We allowed politics to be taken over by anti-social elements, uneducated, illiterate, unscrupulous and corrupt people. That is what made the issue of criminalization of politics so urgent in our system,” he said.

He said that politics should not be left to the scoundrels. “Politics should have more and more professionally qualified people. It should consist of people who have rich experience in various fields. Fortunately, things are now changing for the better,” he added.

Modi certain to become new Indian PM after pollSenior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha said on his visit to Kuwait that BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is currently riding the wave of an unstoppable momentum to become the next prime minister of India.

Kuwait Cycling Group is set to hold a 250 km bicycle tour of Kuwait on February 15, the

Group announced in a recent press conference . The tour, entitled ‘Tour of Kuwait’ , is to celebrate the National Day and Liberation Day, as well as mark the eighth anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s sovereignty. The tour is divided into five phases, with 15-minute breaks, and will begin 6am and end at 4pm.

Speaking at the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), the tour’s main sponsor, General Supervisor Anas Al-Humedani

announced that the Scientific Center on the Gulf Road will be the ride’s starting and ending points. The tour will allow participants to pass the most prominent landmarks of Kuwait, such as the Kuwait Towers and Shuwaikh Port, including shopping centers and numerous state institutions and public facilities.

Kuwait Cycling Group founder Captain Mazen Shatah, who is also the chairman of the organizing committee, added that the ‘Tour of Kuwait’ can be regarded as a challenge that requires effort and perseverance on the part of participants in order to accomplish the tour. He

said that Kuwaitis, as well as Arab and Western expatriates make up the 150 registered participants who wish to express their love for Kuwait and celebrate the national occasions in February.

The Group expressed its appreciation to the Public Authority for Civil Information for its sponsorship and support. The authority will provide participants with the Kuwait Finder application, which will guide them to the landmarks of Kuwait, and its headquarters will host the second 15-minute break of the tour.

Kuwait Cycling Group is a youth volunteer

group focused on spreading a bicycle sport culture and the dissemination of health awareness in Kuwait among the youth. The group believes that bicycle sport is the best means to help the youth with weight-loss. The number of bicycle hobbyists and athletes registered with the group is currently 250, most of whom are keen to take part in all of the Group’s regular activities.

The group further thanked all its sponsors and supporters, which includes Wawan Protein, Extreme Sports and Rauch Juice, as well as the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health.

Kuwait Cycling Group Organizes 250 km Bicycle Tour of Kuwait

6 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com

Punjabi wife, Keralite husband

Henna Shalbin, a Hindu girl from Punjab met her partner in Kochi where she was living with her family because of

her father’s job. Languagewas not a barrier as she had spent a couple of years in the

south Indian state and Shalbin, her Kochi-based husband speaks Hindi very well. Now in Kuwait for the last 10 years, their only child Simran has picked up her 4th mother tongue after Hindi, Malayalam and English.

“We live happily as we don’t get to meet our frustrated relatives on a regular basis”, Shalbin and Henna told Times at their Riggae flat. Except the immediate family members of both Henna and Shalbin, some of their hardcore conservative relatives still have not digested their marriage. Henna had converted to Christianity in order to marry Shalbin at the church. “Even if we go back”, said an optimistic Henna, “We’ll live a similar life in Kochi in a flat we recently bought.”

Local

Christian wife, Brahmin husband

Kolhapur-born Dr Dhiraj Shedabale met his future wife in the form of a nurse at a

hospital where he was practicing as a doctor. By that time Jaya, the nurse had picked up some Marathi and spoke Hindi fluently. Other than their religious differences, there were culinary divergences too. Jaya ate and cooked chicken dishes and her vegetarian

husband did not raise any red flag. When they came to Kuwait after their marriage Jaya brought her Bible with her. “What’s more, Dhiraj has no problem going to the churches in Kuwait”, said a thoroughly jovial Jaya.

Jaya Dhiraj, popular to Kuwait’s expat association’s cultural programs as a vibrant anchor and versatile singer is happy with what life has offered her - an understanding husband and an adorable daughter.

‘Continental’ love

Augie Aziz Tchantcho married Sarah Charlesworth, now Sarah Tchantcho, in

Kuwait last month. Australian Sarah, in Kuwait only for the last six months, met her man of dreams in Kuwait at a musical. African-westerner Augie had been in Kuwait for some time. He studied at Dasman Model School and joined a private company in Kuwait after

his studies at Liverpool. A drama and theatre enthusiast, he fell in love with Sarah, a talented singer at first sight. Race, religion, color and continent did not matter in their union. It still does not matter as the honeymooning couple is counting down for their most colorful Valentine.

My other-colored Valentine!Okay, this Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s arrow has gone high-tech in the US; a Valentine app (NoWait) can now tell you which restaurant is booked, which seat is available and the time you can hang around the restaurant with your partner. With another app (ProFlowers) you can order, if you are in the US, flowers for your heart to your heart’s content.

In Kuwait, restaurants have arranged special candle-lit banquets under the shadow of specially arranged bouquets. Lookalike couples either matching by same design or by contrast can be spotted this weekend across Kuwait. Are these couples all lookalike? Times has spotted three couples who married their partners who belong to other religion, state or country or in one case other continent. They are all in Kuwait contributing to the beautiful diversity of this country.

Times introduces3 inter-cultural couples in Kuwait

Staff Report

7 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com Local

Lu&Lu Hypermarket opens in DajeejContinued from Page 1

over the world to make this hypermarket the best in the country,” added Mr. Yusuffali. Shoppers can look forward to the best range of not just grocery and food products but also the

biggest range of lifestyle and fashion brands at most affordable prices. Another highlight would be the huge collection of latest electronics and IT gadgets which is sure to be a big hit with tech savvy shoppers of Kuwait.

“As part of our inaugural offer, there are many

promotions being carried out in all sections of the hypermarket, from food to grocery to electronics and lifestyle products, which will surely be attractive to all sections of the society,” said Mohammed Haris, Regional Director of Lu&Lu Hypermarkets-Kuwait. The new hypermarket also

has other world-class brands and stores such as Malabar Gold, Damas Jewelers, Lulu Exchange, Costa Coffee, Dunkin Doughnuts, Chiking, Saravana Bhavan, Lens n frames optical and many others, to make shopping at the new Lu&Lu Hypermarket an exciting experience.

LuLu Exchange, one of the leading global remittance and foreign exchange brands,

commenced the operation of its 10th outlet in the newly opened Lu&Lu Hypermarket premises at Dajeej area on Saturday, 15 February, 2014. The new branch will further strengthen LuLu Exchange’s strong network of branches across the State of Kuwait.

The branch was jointly inaugurated by Sheikh Abdullah Humoud Faisal Al Sabah and Yusuffali M.A., Managing Director – LuLu Group International in the presence of senior management of LuLu Exchange and other dignitaries.

On the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Adeeb Ahamed, Director - LuLu Exchange said, “We are pleased to open this new outlet in Dajeej area. By opening up more branches in both commercial and residential areas, LuLu Exchange is able to serve people who do not have easy access to these facilities. LuLu Exchange is keen on building a strategic network across Kuwait, considering the needs of customers as well as by reacting immediately to changing market dynamics. Our expansion is based on extensive market research, and our

confidence in long- and short-term economic indicators in the State of Kuwait.”

“At LuLu Exchange, we facilitate financial transaction services that are secure, instant and compliant through state-of-the-art systems that deliver flexibility, reliability, and transparency. With the opening of this new branch, LuLu

Exchange will cater to a large number of the expatriates of this fast growing country. We dedicate this branch to the service of our valued customers, with a commitment to bring them only the best, be it service offerings, accessibility, and technology or customer experience in the bargain,” added Mr. Ahamed.

Apart from opening the branch in Dajeej, the company also has initiated a Lucky Draw contest as a part of their 2nd anniversary promotions, which runs from 15th February, 2014 to 15th May, 2014. The lucky customers can win electronic gadgets such as Three Samsung Smart TV, four Samsung Tablets and Five 32” Samsung LED TVs every month for the next three months. Each and every customer walking into any of LuLu Exchange’s ten branches in Kuwait is eligible for a coupon after every transaction.

Mr. Ahamed said, “This is the third such promotion that we are holding since our inception. Every transaction with us can bring fortune to our customers. We understand our customers well at LuLu Exchange and it is with this intention we work hard to make their dreams come true. This promotion is yet another token of our appreciation for the customers who have bestowed their trust on us. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our customers for all the inspiration.”

Currently, LuLu Exchange has branches each in Al Rai, Fahaheel, Mahaboula, Mangaf and Mirqab while it has two branches in Farwaniya and Abbasiya regions.

LuLu Exchange opens 10th branch in Kuwait

8 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.comLocal

Amazing Sand Sculpture park recreates fantasy

Delayne Corbett, award-winning sculptor and stone mason from Canada, is one of the well-known participants of the newly erected

sand sculpture park in Kuwait. Special Report

Along with an international team comprised of 80 sculptures from 25 different countries, Corbett

created the world’s largest sand sculpture park for the Remal International Sand and Light Sculpture Festival at P2BK 2014. Responsible for the project is Dhari al Wazzan, founder of P2BK (Proud to be Kuwaiti), a popular local exhibition and local businesses trade fair that happens annually on the Mishref Fairgrounds.

The sculptures were modeled on at least 40 different scenes from the famous book, Elf layla wa Layla (1001 Nights), and they occupy around 28,000

square meters of land, that is roughly the size of four soccer fields. Some of the sculptures are built 15 meters tall. Aside from the impressive sculptures, there is a sand café, a maze for children to explore and a performance amphitheater for visitors to appreciate. Lights arranged in imaginative patterns contribute to the sand park’s artistic appearance. The highlight of the sand park is a 10,000 ton central sculpture more than 50 feet tall and 10-foot walls of 2,500 linear feet constructed of carved sand.

The budget assigned to this endeavor had to be huge; the park cost about KD 1 million and used around 28,000 tons of sand. The sand park is open from January to April.

Continued from Page 1

Switzerland is exerting efforts to attract more GCC visitors. Recently, a delegation from Switzerland Tourism, including representatives from Swiss hotels, started a marketing tour of numerous GCC cities. Swiss tour operators are building on impressive numbers related to GCC visitors, which stood at 205,736 in the first 11 months of 2013. In turn, this resulted in 593,374 overnight stays at the many Swiss hotels.

France attracted a little over 725,000 tourists from the Middle East and Near East, and expects to maintain the momentum going forward, while focusing on wooing more high-spending tourists. Our strategy is long-term and we want to create awareness about the immense tourist potential of France and its new destinations in Rhone Alps and Bordeaux,” said Karim Mekachera, Director of Atout France, Near and Middle East, the state-owned French tourism body. Saudi Arabia and the UAE account for a major share of the outbound tourists to France from the region.UAE citizens are en route to being exempted from obtaining visas for entering the unified visa zone of Schengen. This is to be implemented following a bilateral agreement between the two sides. This is clearly a recognition of the UAE and the wider GCC entity. Meanwhile, growth of Gulf airlines such as, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have also contributed to the appetite for travel among GCC nationals, allowing them to travel more places, more

often and stay longer at their destinations; in the process these airlines with their fleet of modern long-haul jets have emerged as global players, grabbing travelers from other established airlines.

The US in particular is steadily emerging as a key destination of choice for GCC carries, with direct flights linking Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha to numerous American cities. Emirates is due to start non-stop flights to Boston starting March, thereby raising the number of cities served in US to eight. Qatar Airways also plans to start non-stop flights to Philadelphia in April. Undoubtedly, it is the spending habit of GCC visitors that distinguish them from many others. It is suggested that Saudi citizens represents one of the top five high spenders in the UK, with an average spent of $3,875 per visit.

GCC nationals splurge on an average $664 per head when they travel to the country, according to a survey conducted by VisitBritain,. “Gulf tourists are providing a much needed boost for the UK economy by spending significant amounts of money on shopping during trips to Britain,” the agency said in a statement.

The survey found that the majority of the shopping done by tourists in Britain – amounting to $3.5 billion – was on clothes with spending on souvenirs, gifts and household goods, accounting for around $2.4 billion. A survey by Heathrow airport found that visitors from Saudi Arabia spent more than $15.3 million, while UAE travelers spent $1.8 million in airport’s retail section in 2011.

Wooing the high-spending GCC tourist

9 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com Local

Ricky LaxaStaff Writer

Students rejected by colleges and schools they had applied does not necessarily mean

that they are not good enough in academics. Several are qualified and have the right to be in good educational institutions, they just did not have a chance to be involved in a review process, which we offer,” commented Vice President of Princeton review Michael Garmel.

The event held at the Marina Hotel was an education and test preparation and admission counseling session organized by ‘Score Plus’ with the Cultural and Education department of the US Embassy in Kuwait. In a presentation, Mr. Garmel explained that the thrust of the review is to afford students the chance to be accepted in their top choices of Universities and Colleges. However since many applicants are similarly qualified, it is the job of the director

of admission to evaluate the students based on test scores and records of academic grades. Adequate and proper presentation definitely helps the applicants.

US Embassy Charges D’ Affaires Michael Adler in his opening remarks highlighted the importance of acquiring a good education and that US has one of the best educational

systems in the world. He added that the country takes pride in being affiliated to several colleges and universities in the region. He further endorsed ‘Princeton Review’ as an

exemplary institution that prepares students for college and university admissions.

Score Plus Education is an education holding group headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company was established in 2002 with the mission to bring to the region high quality education programs. Score Plus Education has partnership with The Princeton Review, a pioneer and leader in helping students achieve their higher education goals, and inlingua International to offer high-quality language training and intercultural services in many languages Each year 15,000 students take courses at Score Plus training centers in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaima), Qatar, Kuwait and Western India (Mumbai and Pune). Its areas of operations are the following: college admissions test preparation, university admission services, language courses, IT courses, and management training.

Princeton Review holds US school admission advisory

Ricky LaxaStaff Writer

The ‘After Eight’ lounge of the Radisson Blu Hotel opened its doors to the public on Thursday night with music, food and fashion. The three-decks venue presents a remarkable and breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea and impressive art structures.

Philippine Pelaud, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel said in an interview that the “After Eight Lounge” as the names states is the latest place to be after a day’s tough work. It is a haven of music and good food where one can simply relax, unwind and recharge. Mr. Pelaud added that the venue is available for the public after eight and it intends to accommodate private as well as corporate and promotional functions.

Aside from the relaxed and fun ambience the place offered during

the opening night, Tory Burch collection by Habchi and Chalhoub also showcased bags and chic dresses worn by select women in the crowd.

A private elevator from the lobby of the hotel transports clients directly to the venue, where a glascovered hall with about sixty seating capacity provides a striking view of the vicinity. It’s carefully furbished with neo-classic design further adds to the ambience of the place as a true handiwork of masters. Its outdoor affords a split-level deck, where another sixty seats; a mix of sofas and chairs are laid out for guests to enjoy a cool breeze as they bask in the serenity of the sea.

Mr. Pelaud invites everyone to try the ‘After Eight’ Lounge and urges streamline news and social media to help create the element of fun, entertainment and leisure through Radisson Blu’s newest venture.

Radisson Blu opens‘After Eight’ hot spot

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11 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com

Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading jewelry retailer opened its 109th outlet in Lu&Lu

Hypermarket, Dajeej, Kuwait on 15 February, 2014.

The outlet features a fabulous array of traditional, contemporary and international designs in gold, platinum, diamonds and precious stones to suit all tastes and budgets. The new branch also displays a range of their classy and trendy collection of branded jewelry; Era- Uncut Diamond Collection, Mine-Diamonds-Unlimited, Diva-The Youth Collection, Ethnix- Hand Crafted Designer Jewelry , Divine-Heritage Jewelry Collection, Starlet- Kids Jewelry and Precia-Precious Gem Jewelry.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds is offering amazing gifts on every purchase to celebrate this occasion. The customers can avail a 1 gram gold coin absolutely free with every purchase of diamond jewelry worth KD 400. Adding to customer’s delight, they can also obtain a free gold coin with every purchase of gold jewelry worth KD 250. All these offers are valid till 1st March 2014 at their outlet in Lu&Lu Hypermarket, Dajeej.

At Malabar Gold and Diamonds, experienced and dedicated staff have a wealth of experience in the jewelry trade and are dedicated in assisting their customers on a one to one basis, helping them choose the perfect pieces from their wide collection of exquisite fine jewelry. In Kuwait, the group already has outlets in Al Rai and Souk Al Watya.

Malabar Gold & Diamondslaunches 109th outlet in

Dajeej with fabulous offers

Local

12 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.comIndia

In far too many quarters, the reforms adopted during the 1991 economic calamity are regarded as the modern equivalent of the

British East India Company, something imposed on the country by overwhelming external forces. Thus, no political leader of any note embraces reform as a concept and when it occurs nonetheless, it is usually the product of technocratic subterfuge.

This lack of focus on economic and institutional reform accounts for a number of paradoxes: India has made a name for itself as a mainstay of the global technology sector, yet remains one of the world’s least globalized economies. A new study ranks it 123rd out of 139 countries – and 8th out of 12 in the South and Central Asia region – when it comes to various dimensions of global connectedness. Likewise, India ranks 100th out of 132 countries on the World Economic Forum’s global enabling trade index.

Another paradox: As finance minister back then, Manmohan Singh famously inaugurated the 1991 reform era, yet as the incumbent prime minister he was all but mute when the 20th anniversary of these reforms came around.

Singh, who is ending his time in office in a few months, has received much criticism; but the real source of India’s travails is much more entrenched. The Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty running Singh’s Congress Party has a long history of anti-business sentiment. The 1991 reforms created great dissension within Congress, with the party’s own newspaper lambasting them as doing little more than giving “the middle-class Indian crispier corn flakes or fizzier aerated drinks.” And the party has devoted much of its time in power over the past decade instituting expensive, market-distorting social welfare schemes instead of productivity-enhancing measures.

Back when the growth rate was flying high a few years ago, the party’s ideological fixations resulted in many squandered opportunities. But now that the economy is in the doldrums, they are a genuine impediment to recovery. New Delhi has just reported an official growth rate of 4.5 percent in the 2012-13 fiscal year, half the tempo in 2010. In the 2000-2012 period, job creation grew at the abysmal rate of 2.2 percent per year. And Crisil, the independent credit ratings agency last month announced that this sluggish pace will slow further in the next few years, trapping many rural young people in a life of poverty.

Yet in the face of these trends, the party’s prescription is to mandate private-sector hiring quotas benefiting socially disadvantaged communities. This is despite all of the evidence that anarchic laws governing labor markets have stifled the growth of labor-intensive manufacturing, something which should be a huge comparative advantage for India. Congress was also behind legislation that passed

last summer requiring corporate spending on social welfare, further burdening companies in a country where the government has a notoriously lousy record of providing public goods.

The Aam Aadmi P arty, which six weeks ago assumed control of the Delhi regional government, is a thorn in the side of Congress on the corruption issue but happy to reinforce its bad economic instincts.

One of AAP’s leading lights has declared that globalization and profit-making are the main drivers of government corruption. India has quite the history of crony capitalism and the Singh government’s shenanigans have made this scourge even more obvious. But the proper response to economic cronyism is not to scale

back the country’s engagement with the global economy, especially given its pronounced dependence on foreign capital, technology and expertise. The remedy lies in the hard task of creating honest and transparent regulatory mechanisms to which all businesses, domestic and foreign, are subject in like measure. Yet so far, the AAP is more interested in striking heroic poses than doing the serious spadework of good governance.

Even worse than the irresponsible rhetoric are the costly populist handouts the AAP instituted once in office. Delhi faces serious energy and water shortages amid a plethora of other staggering infrastructure challenges. Yet the party has cut power tariffs in half and allotted

20,000 liters of free water to households per month. The giveaways will further aggravate the strained finances of the private power companies supplying the city as well as the local water authority, both of which instead should be given incentives to upgrade and expand capacity.

Moreover, the AAP reversed the previous local government’s decision allowing foreign retailers like Walmart and Tesco to set up supermarket chains in Delhi. The party argues that opening up the country’s vast retail sector to foreign businesses might benefit consumers but would also force millions of mom-and-pop shops to go under. This view overlooks the long-term transformative effects, however. A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group and the Confederation of Indian Industry concludes that the liberalization of the multi-brand retail sector would create 3-4 million jobs directly and another 4-6 million through its indirect effects. It would also save consumers $25-30 billion a year and increase government tax revenues by a similar amount. Just as important, retail liberalization would go far in rectifying the country’s grossly inefficient and corruption-riddled food procurement, storage and distribution system. This, in turn, would give solace to consumers, especially the poor, who have for years been plagued by the world’s worst food inflation.

Corporate leaders are now pinning their hopes on Narendra Modi’s elevation to the prime ministership. The business-friendly chief minister of Gujarat has made his state a magnet for foreign investment. And his decisive, hard-charging persona is a vivid contrast to Singh’s taciturnity and ineffectualness. But he and his Bharatiya Janata Party – supposedly the pro-business party in India – have vigorously opposed retail liberalization. Indeed, just like the AAP in Delhi, the newly elected BJP government in Rajasthan state has overturned its predecessor’s decision to permit the greater presence of foreign companies in the retail sector. What is more, the BJP has its own record of supporting costly welfare programs, including a far-reaching food security bill last year that will only widen the country’s high fiscal deficit. Now it is pushing an expensive health security program in an attempt to garner votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Following last summer’s currency crisis that prompted comparison to the 1991 economic debacle, it is telling that no political leader used the opportunity to commit to a new round of economic reforms. Granted, it is a tall order in a cacophonous democracy to air remedies promising long-run rewards only after a period of pain, all the more so as the electoral season gears up. But until a political party emerges genuinely committed to the reform agenda, India will remain the proverbial ‘country of the future’ – full of vast potential but never coming close to achieving it.

India Where reforms are a dirty wordIndia’s difficulty in advancing serious economic reforms is ultimately due to the lack of a home-grown intellectual tradition that can underpin them. The Congress Party, long a bastion of statist thinking, is proof of this proposition. But fresh evidence comes courtesy of the Aam Aadmi (‘Common Man’) Party, the rising anti-establishment movement that oddly combines an

emphasis on clean government with backward economic views.

The newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal , tendered the resignation

of his Aam Aadmi Party cabinet, following inability to push through an anti-corruption bill from lack of support by opposition politicians.

The 45-year old Chief Minister, who spent 49 days in power, had been threatening to resign if the anti-corruption bill was blocked.

The bill, which would have created an independent body with the power to investigate politicians and civil servants suspected of corruption, was doomed to fail from the onset, as his local administration did not have the constitutional right to pass the bill without approval from the Central Government.

The Aam Aadmi Party, or party of the common man, which campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, made a spectacular debut in recent Delhi Assembly elections, winning 22-seats to emerge as the second largest party. They went on to form the government with support outside from the Congress Party, which had suffered a drubbing at the elections. The Chief Minister had earlier written to India’s Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde asking him to withdraw a 2002 order making federal consent compulsory for laws introduced into Delhi’s assembly.

Addressing hundreds of supporters outside his party headquarters, Mr. Kejriwal said his attempt to fight corruption by bringing in new legislation had been blocked by India’s two leading parties, the Congress and the

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Later, as politicians tried to shout him down

in the parliament, he said: “We need to look within us. People don’t like politicians. I have read the constitution; nowhere does it say we need the centre’s permission to table bills.

“I will consider myself fortunate if I have to sacrifice the chief minister’s post and my life to eradicate corruption.”

Mr. Kejriwal, who has described himself

as an anarchist, brought an unusual style to government, including shunning police security, accepting complaints directly from public and ultimately spending two nights in the open to press the federal government to grant him greater control over the city police.

Sadly, he failed to transform from an activist against the state into a leader capable of governing a state. He is now expected to launch his party’s campaign for the national elections due in the summer.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigns

13 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com Regional

The Gulf aviation market will soon reach choking point, preventing further growth, if authorities do not address regional air traffic control issues “very, very quickly”, the secretary-general of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO)

has warned.

“Air traffic management needs to go beyond international boundaries to start looking at possibly establishing a joint air traffic management body to manage the issue of air space,” Abdul Wahab Teffaha said in Beirut, at the headquarters of AACO, which represents 31 airlines in the region.

“The governments need to pay particular attention to air space management in the region and they have to do it collectively.

“They need to address that very, very quickly and treat it as a highest priority, considering the plans for expansion.”Regional air traffic control has been a concern for years but authorities from different Gulf states have been unable to

agree on how to solve congestion issues as the industry expands at a rapid rate, particularly in the UAE, Qatar and soon Saudi Arabia.

The Middle East has recorded the highest passenger growth rates each quarter for some time, according to the International Air Transport

Association. It was more than 12 percent during 2013.

A year ago, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority director general Mohammed Abdulla Ahli said the region absolutely needed to implement a Europe-style centralized air traffic control system to avoid constraining growth in the aviation sector.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths also has implored civil aviation authorities to urgently address the issue.

Meanwhile, Emirates Group president Gary Chapman said during the Arabian Hotels Investment Conference in May that “archaic” air traffic rules caused airlines to waste up to 10 percent of fuel on each flight.

Taffaha said he did not know what was preventing Gulf authorities from reaching an agreement. “I understand this is a very, very sensitive issue – air space is part of the sovereignty of nations,” Taffaha said.

“But priorities numbers one to 10 should be the air traffic management systems because everything that’s being done may reach capacity point if the air traffic management system isn’t fixed.” He said the region had no other pressing issues, with a modern taxation environment and airport expansion plans already being dealt with “efficiently”.

Air traffic in Gulf reaching ‘choking point’

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise places

$1billion order for 40 ATRsDubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), the largest aviation leasing firm

in the Middle-East, ordered 40 turboprop commercial aircraft, including an option for 20 planes, from French-Italian manufacturer ATR.

The order for the purchase of 40 ATR 72-600s is estimated at $988 million in value and will add to DAE’s portfolio of approximately $ 3.3 billion comprised of B737s, B777s, A320s and A330s. The deal represents DAE’s first order for regional aircraft. The 20 firm aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2018, the Dubai company said.

ATR said the contract was a major milestone in its recent history and underlines the increasing interest of leasing firms in the ATR aircraft family. Khalifa Al Daboos, managing director of DAE, said at the Singapore Air show that the leasing company was seeking to diversify its portfolio and expand into regional aircraft to meet an increasing demand from airlines that are developing regional air connectivity.

“ATRs are today operated by some 190 carriers all over the world, and this is clearly providing us with many potential opportunities to place this new fleet of regional aircraft,” he said.

The low operating cost of the ATR 72-600 makes it a compelling choice for operators that need to offer a differentiated product on short-haul sectors, he said.

Filippo Bagnato, chief executive officer of ATR, said his company’s partnership with DAE would further enhance the visibility of the brand and products in the Middle East, where the aircraft manufacturer expects to continue developing presence in the very next years.

“Thanks to the contribution of leasers, many more airlines can today benefit from the advantages of the newest ATR ‘-600 series’ aircraft, namely in terms of reduced fuel costs, most updated technologies, operating performance and world-class interior designs for passengers,” he said.

Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based Strategic Aero Research, said that DAE’s order brings diversification of its Airbus/Boeing dominated backlog and the first foray into regional jets. He said the ATR family is a robust seller and would be placed into customer hands quite easily by DAE. “Customers in Africa or Europe would be prime candidates — DAE will not be short on takers, especially since this is their first order as far as I can tell since the 2007 Dubai Air Show.

Cherie Blair, the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has aired her views on the issue of female

entrepreneurship in the Middle East.Quoted in a recently published online article, the

prominent barrister cites Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and Sheikha Lubna al Qasimi as beacons for the region’s women, claiming that significant advances are taking place across the Arab world.

Blair singles out Sheikha Fatima as having spearheaded education for women in the UAE since the 1970s and for having pushed in 2004 for the appointment of the UAE’s first female cabinet minister, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi. Today Sheikha Lubna is minister of development and international cooperation.

Blair notes that the UAE has the best ranking out of 136 countries for the ratio of girls to boys in education, according to a report by the World Economic Forum, and that the country has implemented various reforms to encourage greater lending for both men and women.

On the back of such information, she adds that

figures indicate more than 20,000 companies in the UAE are owned by Emirati women, and this number continues to grow by five to ten percent each year.

Blair says women entrepreneurs in the region need the right kind of support and network to launch and run their own businesses, calling for assistance not only with start-up capital, but mentoring and training.

Discussing the social and business advancements of women, she says that one main factor is that more women hold positions of authority in the region than ever before, naming Jodan’s Queen Rania and Queen Noor, and Qatar’s Sheikha Moza.

Despite her positivity towards the trend for females in the Arab world, Blair also explains the gap in economic equality still remains wide, and the full potential of local, regional and global economies remains unachievable when half the population is not engaged and contributing.

But she adds that women in the region have found fertile ground for SMEs, with many overcoming barriers to capital. Concluding, she says the signs are positive for Arab and Muslim women, and while the necessary changes will not come overnight, the arc is bending in the right direction towards gender equality.

Female entrepreneurship on the rise in the region

14 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.comAfrica

His commitment to adding

value to Morocco has become more famous than his equally commendable work as CEO of his company OCP, a stalwart of the Moroccan economy

through its extraction, marketing and selling of phosphates. An environmentally aware and astute business leader, he has used his skill and depth of experience to diversify his business activities. But more than a CEO, Terrab is a visionary who has strongly advocated South-South co-operation and is currently pushing through his pet project to launch Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, a world-class institution of higher-learning that is coming up in Benguerir, about 80km north of the capital Marrakech.

Not even in her teens and

yet Oduwole has already made a significant impact on the global stage. This 12-year-old documentary filmmaker

has produced two highly acclaimed documentaries that focus on Africa’s political and developmental trajectory. She is also the brainchild of the popular, ‘Dream Up, Speak Up and Stand Up’ mentorship program for the African girl-child. She has already interviewed eight African heads of state, quizzing them on their leadership style. She is quoted as saying that when failure comes your way, just stand, stand and stand again until your dreams become a reality.

He is the closest Africa has

come to a silicon Valley whiz kid. Shuttleworth made his money when he sold his internet certification company to VeriSign in 1999,

since then he has continued to innovate and try his hand at various projects. In 2002, he gained fame as the first African to go into space, when he self-funded his trip to space aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. One of Africa’s foremost innovators, in 2012, he managed to raise over $12 million, the largest sum ever on a crowd-funding platform, for his Ubuntu Edge smartphone. Recently he purchased an island off Sao Tome & Principe to develop an eco-resort.

Influential women in Africa are not only

found in business and politics, they have made inroads into religion too as shown by the Reverend Wamukoya. The first-ever female

Anglican bishop to be consecrated on African soil, the Reverend had to overcome serious obstacles as she sought influential leadership in the, until then, only male dominated area of priesthood. Saying that the church should lead by example, and be democratic first, before telling the world to be democratic, Wamukoya’s appointment in 2012, heralded a significant turning point not only for the Anglican Church, but more so in the largely conservative Kingdom of Swaziland.

Mostafa Terrab(Businessman – Morocco)

Zuriel Oduwole(Filmmaker and activist - Nigeria)

Mark Shuttleworth(Innovator – South Africa)

Reverend Ellinah Wamukoya(Bishop – Swaziland)

Africans molding Africa Every week we feature four Africans who we believe are transforming lives and helping shape the continent’s future.

Other than a struggling factory, which produces a negligible amount of alumina, the first stage in the production chain that converts bauxite into aluminum, nearly all of the bauxite mined in Guinea has its greatest value added in Russia, Germany, Ukraine and the United States, among others.

The same fate awaits Guinean iron ore, located in the deep forest region. Within the next few years it will start leaving the country, unprocessed.

By contrast, agriculture, the sector that can create employment on a massive scale has been ignored. Out of a total workforce of 4.5 million, fully 4 million are employed in subsistence farming, hunting and fishing.

Subsistence farmers, lacking any real stimulus to produce rice, the staple diet, do not serve the domestic market. That job is done by rich and influential traders, who import rice from South East Asia. in 2013 Guinea imported 300,000 tons of rice to feed its people.

Mining contributes 15 percent of the gross domestic product but employs only a few thousand people. By contrast, agriculture employs the bulk of the active population while contributing less than 20 percent of GDP, the same figure as in 1997.This has resulted in a skewed and unsustainable economy that provides very few real jobs.

But, mining, a capital-intensive industry that creates minimal employment for Guineans, has been at the heart of government concerns for four decades.

Ahmed Sékou Touré, the first post-independence president of Guinea who ruled until 1984, was full of anti-imperialist rhetoric but steered clear of interfering with the operations of Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée, when it started exporting bauxite from Guinea. The situation persisted throughout the Lansana Conté presidency (1984 to 2008) and beyond: representatives from the extractive industries had free and direct access to power at the highest level.

When Guinea held a presidential election in 2010, both candidates campaigned for a new start after decades of corrupt rule. The winner, Alpha Condé, a veteran politician who had spent decades opposing the previous regimes, wants a strong and transparent mining sector; he wants to put in place policies that would ensure food self-sufficiency.

The only way the economy can be made to

deliver better employment on a significant scale - and quickly - is by developing agriculture. Luckily, the Condé government has been allocating more resources to support agriculture. This is encouraging, but more is needed to exploit the full potential. Guinea has more than 7 million hectares of arable land; less than a third

is currently in production; figures that have not changed in the past two decades.

A well-run and productive agriculture sector will not only help solve Guinea’s unemployment it would also reduce the cost of living. Food accounts for more than half of every family’s budget, mainly because rice is imported. A

50kg bag of imported rice takes away at least half of an average salary. Locally produced food will be cheaper. But this requires breaking the stranglehold of well-connected businessmen. However, this really is a small price to pay to create a situation in which everybody else wins Resistance to creating a thriving agricultural sector can be dealt with in a time-honored way, by offering politicians and politically connected traders lucrative alternatives.

The Kankan region, in the heart of the vast savannah that covers the north-eastern part of Guinea, had an abundance of mangos. So many, in fact, that most of the fruit rots under the trees. A mango juice factory would be an excellent investment opportunity. Less fruit would go to waste, the owners of the trees would see their income increase, youngsters would be employed in the factory.

But for this to be realized a few ambitious politicians would need to get their share. For investors in this venture, having business ethics would likely be an obstacle. Nonetheless, if politicians and their business supporters need to forgo one source of profit, it should not be difficult to offer another, for instance by connecting government plans to add value to Guinea’s agricultural output by creating ‘units of transformation’. Say, a mango juice factory.

Future of Guinea: in mangoes, not miningFrom the interior to the coast, modern railways cut across the green landscape of Guinea. Freight trains transport 20 million tons of red earth from big mining sites in the interior of the country to seaports on its coast. This is unprocessed bauxite, the raw material for aluminum. Guinea has the largest proven reserves in the world and it has

been leaving the country in its raw form for almost half a century.

Last week, the world’s rich and influential once again gathered in Davos, Switzerland,

for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) - an event ‘committed to improving the state of the world,’ as the WEF slogan goes.

Discussions covered everything from youth unemployment, new technology and banking to the environment and politics. Among the high-profile speeches that hit the headlines were those by President Hassan Rouhani from Iran and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But it is essentially a business-driven event; quite rightly so, one could argue, since the CEOs of the huge global corporations who met in Davos more or less rule the world.

On the eve of the summit, a report by Oxfam stated that the planet’s 85 richest people have as much wealth as a staggering 3.5 billion of its poorest. This may have cast something of a

shadow over the event at the Swiss ski resort, where inequality is often talked about but just as easily forgotten.

Though representing only a fraction of world GDP, Africa was certainly invited to Davos; and not only because Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s and Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s colorful outfits provided a respite in a gathering dominated by suits and ties. There is a growing realization that Africa is the continent of the 21st century.

Unfortunately for Africa, however, inasmuch as business is booming and its growth rates are of the highest in the world, politics and conflict still pose a major obstacle to ensuring everyone on the continent prospers.

In her speech at the Executive Council of the 22nd African Union (AU) summit, which was held in Addis Ababa recently, the outgoing AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-

Zuma spoke of the conflicts on the continent: ‘If we want to silence all the guns by 2020, we must build inclusive and tolerant societies, manage our diversity, ensure forgiveness and reconciliation and respect for human rights.’

Many, of course, ask whether the AU is able to do anything about these crises. The continental organization has failed so often in the past to prevent conflicts from escalating and to ensure effective peacekeeping.

From Davos to Addis

15 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com International

A list of high-net-worth individuals from around the world have reportedly expressed interest in obtaining a Maltese passport as part of a controversial new scheme due to be rolled out this month.

The scheme in question is the Malta Individual Investor Programme, which was announced and signed into law by the Maltese government in November last year. Applicants are required to make a one-time, lump sum contribution amounting to at least $885,000. Assuming they pass all necessary security checks, they will then be handed a Maltese passport.

So why are the rich flocking to sign up for the scheme to get citizenship of a small island state 80km south of Sicily and 333km north of Libya? The answer lies in the fact that Malta joined the European Union in 2004, so holders of Maltese passports get to enjoy visa-free access to more than 145 countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and all 28 EU-Schengen countries. Yann Mrazek, managing partner of Dubai-based law firm M Associates of Law, which is offering the scheme to high net worth individuals in the Middle East., said, “We anticipate the $885,000 for one application, but I also anticipate for the country to request a real estate investment of no less than $475,000... So roughly a total of around $1.3 million for due diligence and processing. It is not small change but... it looks like a good proposal.”

Applicants can also apply for their spouses and family to be part of the scheme, with an additional cost of $34,000 per spouse and child under 18 years old and $68,000 for children aged 18 to 25 years old or parents aged over 55. The Programme has drawn criticism, especially from many European Commission leaders.

“Member states should only award citizenship to persons where there is a ‘genuine link’ or ‘genuine connection’ to the country in question. Citizenship must not be up for sale. It is legitimate to question whether EU citizenship rights should merely depend on the size of someone’s wallet or bank account,” Viviane Reding, vice president of the European Commission and the EU’s justice commissioner, said in a speech debating the scheme in the European Commission.

In a damning resolution, the European Parliament also heavily criticized the scheme, claiming “EU citizenship should never become a tradable commodity”. It urged Malta to “bring its current citizenship scheme in line with the EU’s values” and demanded changes be made “in order to prevent such schemes from undermining the values that the EU has been built upon”.

Maltese opposition political parties have also campaigned against the scheme. “Citizenship is not something which is to be treated lightly... We oppose the selling of citizenship outright and think it is demeaning that a discrimination has been created between rich and normal people,”

says Arnold Cassola, chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika, the Maltese Green Party.

The country’s opposition party — the Nationalist Party — has even gone as far as to say it will revoke passports from those who take part in the scheme if it manages to oust the sitting Labor government which is promoting the idea.

The scheme was due to be rolled out this month, but last-minute meetings between the European Commission and the Maltese government in late January saw some amendments agreed by both sides. In a joint statement issued by the European Commission and the Maltese government, it was decided that some form of residency would be added into the terms and conditions for the scheme. “The amendments include genuine links to Malta through the introduction of an effective residence status in Malta prior to the possibility to acquire Maltese naturalization. No certificate of naturalization will be issued unless the applicant provides proof that he/she has resided in Malta for a period of at least 12 months immediately preceding the day of issuing of the certificate of naturalization.” It is currently unclear how the

new residency criteria will impact demand for the scheme, but Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat has come out and said the new one-year residency clause is just “a minor change” and has vowed to push on with the implementation of the scheme.Of course, Malta isn’t the only country that offers such schemes to entice wealthy investors to pump much needed funds into their treasuries. Cyprus has had a similar scheme in place for some time and Austria offers citizenship provision to those who invest in the arts. And, investors who spend at least $680,000 on property in Spain or Portugal can obtain a permit that lets them travel freely within EU-Schengen countries without restriction.

Others are going to wait and see what happens in Malta. Greece and Spain, both in desperate need of cash, are also going to be looking closely at the Maltese scheme to see how it plays out politically. If the scheme proves to be successful, don’t be surprised if you suddenly see a spike in private jets winging their way to Malta, while local Gulf carriers start looking to boost their operations to the capital city Valletta.

Citizenship

for Sale

Car production in Australia to end by 2017

Toyota is to end its vehicle and engine production in Australia by the end of 2017, effectively marking the end of the country’s car making industry.

The company said it might scale down the operations of its development and technical centre in Australia as well. Last year, Ford and General Motors’ Holden unit also announced plans to stop producing cars in Australia.

About 2,500 jobs are set to be lost as a result of Toyota’s decision, which it attributed to high manufacturing costs. “We believed that we should continue producing vehicles in Australia, and Toyota and its workforce here made every effort,” said Toyota president Akio Toyoda. “However, various negative factors such as an extremely competitive market and a strong Australian dollar, together with forecasts of a reduction in the total scale of vehicle production in Australia, have forced us to make this painful decision.” The Japanese auto giant, which first began making cars in Australia in 1963, said it “intends to provide the best support it can, including employment assistance” to those affected by the decision.

Vivek Vaidya, an automotive analyst at consultancy Frost & Sullivan, said he was not surprised by Toyota’s decision. “Toyota was the last producer in Australia after exit of Mitsubishi, Ford and Holden,” he said. “Labor cost in Australia is too high to be price competitive in production.” Mr. Vaidya also said rival car-producing countries such as Thailand and the US were more attractive in terms of manufacturing costs. Toyota’s decision comes despite appeals from Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who has been looking to keep the car maker operating in the country.

Car manufacturers have been pulling out of Australia as the rising cost of doing business in the country has hit profits. Last May, Ford said it would close its car lines in Australia in October 2016 with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs. General Motors’ Holden unit has also announced plans to stop production in 2017, affecting nearly 3,000 jobs.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors sold its last Australian-made car in 2010.Australia’s car making industry has traditionally received billions of dollars

in subsidies from the government. However, a national commission recently recommended that the financial support should be ended and that car companies should cut costs instead.

A new video released by aerospace giant BAE shows a bat-shaped

drone zipping down a runway, taking off smoothly, and then coasting over an empty expanse of mountains and valleys before landing back at the empty airstrip. The next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle is outfitted with stealth technology and designed to fly — and theoretically fire at targets on the ground — without a human controller. The Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, is being built for the British army, and it showcases a remarkable high-tech achievement. If all goes well, it is expected to come into usage in 2030.

But there is a catch. The Taranis, whose development costs are estimated at roughly $300 million, will soon have competition from similar

models built by companies around the world.

The Taranis is fast, some say supersonic, and stealthy, sacrificing time in the air for speed. Unlike the Predator and other widely used medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAVs, Taranis can fly quickly through enemy air defenses from distant airfields, a ‘penetrating strike’ role in military parlance. This is an aircraft built for bombing. But when it would be capable of doing so, though, is an open question.

The Taranis prototype is impressive, but the development program is so pricey that falling budgets and the delays routine to complex aerospace projects, it is unclear if it will be ready even by 2030. Stealthy MALE UAVs have become high-technology

flagships of a sort, and as the United States and other countries move forward with operational programs, the Taranis remains in the prototype stage. The US is said to be nearing operational capability with a much larger classified Northrop Grumman UAV, and the X-47B demonstrator is making autonomous flights from aircraft carriers, which are among the most demanding flying environments. Notably, China has a leg up with its Lijian (‘Sharp Sword’) aircraft, which made its first flight around the same time; Russia has the Skat, France the Neuron, Germany the Barracuda, etc. Several other countries have plans to build similar aircraft capable of varying degrees of autonomous flight.

BAE describes the Taranis as the “inspiration for a nation.” Britain looks like it could use a lot more.

Taranis — Britain’s Stealthy Super-Drone

16 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.comTaste of Travel

Pans and Variations

n Paella is almost literally synonymous with the broad, shallow steel pans that are used to cook it

— the word ‘paella’ derives from the Latin Patella, meaning ‘pan’. Paella-loving Spanish households always have stoves with an extra-large burner on top to accommodate a paella pan.

n In Barcelona, the dish called arròs (literally, ‘rice’) is virtually identical to paella. Its many variations include arròs a banda (made with shelled seafood) and arròs negre (‘black rice’, dyed black by squid ink). Another dish, fideuà is made with vermicelli noodles instead of rice, and also cooked in squid ink.

n Valencian purists never add sausage to paella. But the dish has largely escaped Valencian control, and entire autonomous communities on the Iberian peninsula would never touch a paella if it did not include some spicy chorizo sausage.

n A fast-food version of paella, called Paellador, is often offered in tourist traps. It cannot compare with a proper home-or restaurant–cooked paella.

Eating is part of what makes travel so exhilarating. When one thinks of a place, one of the memorable experiences recalled is either because of the food eaten or the people one has shared it with. A meal abroad is more than an intake of calories, it is an exercise in cultural immersion. What people eat, when they eat , where and how they source their food, what gastronomic rituals they observe – all offer telling insights into a place and its people. Celebrating a unique relationship between food and travel, between place and plate, this endlessly fascinating adventure will be regularly featured in our pages.

SPAIN

Food Journeys

of a Life Time

Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe

People in Valencia have strong opinions about their relationship with Barcelona and Catalonia to the north, their

language (which many refuse to call Catalan), and paella. First made by Moorish peasants in the days of Muslim rule in the Iberian peninsula, paella started life as poor man’s fare, using short-grain rice cooked with olive oil, saffron, vegetables, and anything else at hand, usually chicken, rabbit, duck, or snails. Short-grain rice is still the key ingredient, which in a perfectly cooked paella should be soft on top, while the layer beneath is crunchy and caramelized this lower layer, called the socarrat,

is considered the best part. There are two basic versions: paella valenciana, made with meat, and its seafood rival, paella marinera. Purists in Valencia do their best to enforce paella-making commandments thou shalt not add sausage, mix seafood with meat, fail to add green peas, omit broad beans but in the end, the best thing is just to enjoy the dish. Well-known emporiums in Valencia include Casa Roberto, El Forcat, La Pepica, La Marcelina, and El Rall. The city’s Michelin-starred chefs, meanwhile, are busy creating inventive versions of paellas at restaurants such as Ca Sento and La Sucursal.

Originally created by Zen monks, the sumptuous Japanese treat known as kaiseki has only recently come to the

attention of the outside world. In medieval times, it was a humble repast of Buddhist monks, accompanying the tea ceremony, but over the centuries it has evolved into a 14-course feast incorporating dishes that change with the seasons. Even today the spread is rarely found outside Japan because of a painstaking reliance on fresh ingredients that can be found only in and around the Japanese archipelago. Most of the courses are either based on vegetables or seafood, although in modern times some of the more leading-edge chefs have

started including meat as well. “I try to create a work of art in my dishes,” says Yoshihiro Murata, one of Japan’s most renowned kaiseki chefs. And indeed, each dish is a miniature work of art, almost too precious to eat if not for the fact that incredible (and often unusual) flavors and textures await the palate. Although the meal can be found at top restaurants around Japan, Kyoto is home to the very best kaiseki eateries. Here diners are treated to an enviable experience in elegant establishments Murata’s Kikunoi restaurant among them where the exquisitely presented courses are served in private tatami dining suites by geisha-like hostesses wearing silk kimonos.

When to go: Paella is popular year-round. March 15-19 are five days of annual madness when Valencia celebrates the fiesta of Las Fallas, famous for the huge papier-maché and plaster ninots (puppets) that are paraded through the streets. Needless to say, paella-eating is involved.

Planning: Sights in Valencia include the ancient Barrio del Carmen and the ultramodern Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), designed by Valencian-born architect Santiago Calatrava. Feeling hungry? Browse in the lovely Mercado de Colón (Columbus Market)..Websites: www.gotovalencia.com, www.valencia-on-line.com, www.whatvalencia.com, www.lapepica.com

When to Go: Kaiseki ingredients change according to the season, so there is no best time of year to enjoy the Japanese feast. However, weather conditions might influence your decision. Japan’s winters are cold and often snowy; summers are hot and humid. Spring (cherry blossoms) and fall (autumn colors) are the best seasons.Planning: Get ready for ‘sticker shock’ — the best kaiseki restarants charge around $250 for a seven-course lunch and as much as twice that for a full-blown 14-course dinner. Reservations are highly recommended at Kikunoi and other kaiseki icons. Most restaurants include both Western-style dining areas with tables and Japanese, tatami-style dining suites, where patrons recline on traditional floor mats.Websites: www. jnto.go.jp, www.kikunoi.jp

Paella in Valencia

Kaiseki Feasting

The city of Valencia on Spain’s Mediterranean coast is the undisputed capital of the country’s most famous dish.

This feast has been described as ‘perfection on a plate’, and Kyoto is one of the best places to try it.

Kaiseki at Kikunoin Kaiseki incorporates hundreds of unique and often restaurant-specific menus. Each menu consists of different types of food, including appetizers, sashimi, simmered, grilled and steamed dishes, and others decided on by the chef. Here are a few classic dishes from the Kikunoi restaurant in Kyoto:

n Hassun (an appetizer that sets the seasonal theme of the meal): Three houzuki (strawberry tomatoes) stuffed with sea cucumber, mountain

peach, and a small freshwater fish called ayu from streams in the Japanese Alps.

n Mukozuke (sashimi, or sliced fish): Thinly sliced onaga (red snapper) and hamo (conger eel) sashimi served on a lotus leaf with ume (sour plum sauce) and wasabi mustard.

n Noka-choko course (a palate-cleanser): Ichijiku (boiled fig) in white miso, served cold.

n Shiizakana (a substantial dish): Hotpot with boiled eggs, roasted eggplant, and fish seasoned with mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley) and sansho (pepper powder).

n Tome-wan (a palate-cleanser): Steamed rice with hamo wrapped in a lotus leaf, pea soup with sesame jelly, and pickled cucumber with eggplant.

n Mizumono (dessert): Green-tea shaved ice with red beans and jellied rice balls.

JAPAN

17 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com Travel

We all know about how some awesome online sites have revolutionized travel. But there’s a new crew of travel startups taking flight and shaking up the industry even more. These startups help you book flights, find the right hotel room, assemble an itinerary and save money. Here we list, from A to Z, with a lot of blanks in between, of sites that will help you land amazing vacations

at better prices than ever.

Adioso: A startup that lets cost-conscious travelers who have a flexible idea of what they want to do on vacation see if there are deals available. If you search for something like, ‘New York to Bangkok in September for 11 days’, the results will provide a few itineraries and prices. If it’s too high, you can save your search and receive email alerts when prices drop. If you’re not dead-set on going to a specific place, Adioso could help you find a great deal on a unique vacation.

Bag2go: Fewer things are more dreaded than arriving at your destination after a long flight only to have your baggage lost or left behind. But Airbus recently unveiled the ‘Bag2Go’, a ‘smart bag’ equipped with GPS, RFID and 2G mobile data capabilities. Bag2Go lets you track your bag’s progress, so you can ensure it made it into the aircraft’s belly. The device turns off for the flight, so you won’t be breaking any rules pertaining to electronic devices.

BlackJet: Filling the space between private jets and flying commercial, Blackjet with its ‘Uber for private jets’ business model has jets with anywhere from six to fourteen seats onboard. With flights available in and out of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Florida and Seattle, looking to book your trip on the fly is no worry as there is an iPhone app for that.

Find My Itin: Travel planning is a major pain point for 49 percent of travelers, and travelers spend on about 29 days visiting 20+ websites during the research and planning phase. It is a time-consuming process and often difficult to find a fully baked itinerary that connects the dots. The new site integrates hashtags into travel planning to help you craft itineraries based on three pillars: inspiration, itinerary creation and sharing. With hashtags penetrating mainstream culture, this could make for an interesting way to discover new places to go.

HotelTonight: Launched in 2011, HotelTonight helps people find last-minute hotel deals. But the company recently went one better with its price guarantee — if you find a better rate for the same hotel on a given night, HotelTonight will match that price. And to piggyback off the rise of the visual web, HotelTonight has a ‘Snap Your Stay’ feature that offers money to guests who take photos of various hotel features in their hotel and brings more compelling imagery within the app.

Peek: Ruzwana Bashir is revolutionizing travel planning with Peek.com , which is part travel agent, part tour guide. Peek curates high-quality activities, displays them in a visually

beautifully interface and makes them easily bookable on whatever device you’re using. You can look for activities based on a number of categories — romantic, under $100, adventures, off-the-beaten-path, tours and more, or you can see what local celebs, chefs, musicians and travel editors note as must-sees in Peek’s “My Perfect Day” section of itineraries.

Routehappy: Launched last spring Routehappy helps you book the best flights based on the whole in-flight experience, and each route has an expert. The startup’s data team has compiled a comprehensive database to find out seat layouts, plane types, travel time and amenities for any flight in the world, combining them all into an overall ‘happiness score’.

TheSuitest: There are hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world, so it can be hard to find the right one for your trip. TheSuitest helps you find the one through a vast array of filters — Indicate the dates you’re traveling, the amenities you’re seeking, your budget and more, and TheSuitest will give you a list of eligible and swanky rooms, enabling you to compare easily.

Tingo: When you’re planning a trip and trying to stick to a budget, there’s no worse feeling than finding out the hotel you booked for $220 a night is now running for $180 a night. Tingo, which lets you book most of the hotels found on established travel sites, will automatically rebook your room at the lower rate and give you a refund if the price drops. The difference will be refunded to your credit card shortly after your stay, and there is no limit to the refund.

Triposo: Ditch the Lonely Planet guides, Triposo’s Android and iOS apps serve up custom, dynamic recommendations for things to do and places to go — museums, shopping, parks, beaches, restaurants, clubs and more — based on your location, the time, the weather and your personal preferences, helping people experience destinations in a new way. Triposo has up-to-date information, detailed maps and data-driven recommendations for more than 15,000 destinations in 200 countries.

Triptease: Amazing photography is a central component of daily life, and along with it, travel. With that in mind, Triptease is setting out to revamp the travel review and discovery system with lust-worthy imagery. People have emotional reactions to stunning photos, and when you’re planning an itinerary, seeing a glimpse of someone else’s breathtaking experience in a place can be the difference between a destination being a ‘must-see’ and an ‘if we have time’.

Zaptravel: A digital travel agent, Zaptravel uses a semantic search engine to scull through its database (10 million flight routes, 2,000 destinations, 10,000 trip inspirations, 15,000 events, 400,000 hotels and 10 million hotel reviews), then sources the best price from several providers. Because so much travel planning time is spent comparison shopping — and time is money — Zaptravel scores every deal against prices for alternate weekends, similar hotels, favorable guest reviews, events at the destination during your visit, directness of flights and other criteria.

A Z in new online travel sites

to

18 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.comBeauty

While there are many ways to make makeup look amazing on you; here are some of the methods employed by

professional makeup artists.

Tap on mascara: To amp up your lashes, start by tapping deep at the base of the lashes, working outwards to the tips. That way you’re creating depth — the roots are dark and rich and the ends are soft, not clumpy.

Soften pencils: Dip your lip liner in sheer balm before applying; it glides on much smoother, making it easier to accurately fill your lips. Warm the tip of a stubborn eyeliner pencil between your thumb and forefinger for a similar effect.

Art of stippling: Stippling is an artist’s word for shading with dots instead of solid strokes. Stippling your foundation creates the most natural finish, and the technique also works for blush — build color at the apple of your cheeks, dotting back towards your hairline.

Fight grease with gel: Finish the face with a dab of mattifying gel along the T-Zone and under the eyes. This ensures you’re not shiny in photos later.

Perfect pout with middle finger: Put a dab of lipstick on your middle finger and place it in the center of your upper lip, sweeping outwards to the left. Repeat towards the right, to creates that perfect lipstick line.

Re-purposed lipstick: A tiny amount of peach or coral lipstick blended in with your concealer is an unexpected antidote to dark under eye circles. The orange-red shade brightens and diffuses the darkness. This way, there’s a continuity of color on the face.

Line your lashes: A steady stroke of ultra-thin gel liner along the base of your lash line is key to creating the illusion of extra lashes. Fill that spot between your lashes and your lid. Only when that line looks solid should you start applying mascara.

Clean up with foundation: For simple smudges of liner or errant swipes of mascara, a foundation dipped Q-Tip will wipe away the mistake — use a tapping motion to get the best results.

Contour with highlighter: Smooth luminizing highlighter in a C-shape starting at your temples and extending along the bone just below your eyes. A slim line of highlighter down the center of your nose can also create the illusion of straighter bone structure.

Applying makeup the smart way

Daytimeeye makeup

When it comes to eye makeup, it is a fine line between what is suitable and what is overkill for the office. Below are a few suggestions on

how to get it right every time.

Avoid black and glitter: First, makeup should be fun and highlight your beauty. However, if you work in a corporate or conservative setting, ‘too-much’ eye makeup is not work appropriate. For example, a dark smoky eye is a no-go for everyday wear at the office. Avoid using colors like black, dark blue or anything glittery.

Master subtle liner: If you love liner, but don’t want to look overly done, here are two great techniques for subtle liner. Dash the eyeliner pencil into the lash line — it will make the lashes look fuller, or use a cake eyeliner (a water activated, usually potted liner) with a stiff, flat brush. Apply the eyeliner under the lash line for a ‘non-eyeliner’ look.

Lighten up your smoky eye: By opting for more subtle tones like plums, greys or browns you can create a lovely daytime smoky look. Apply the darkest tone close to the lash line then blend upward toward the crease. You want to create a sunset effect. Then finish it off with a couple of coats of black mascara.

Keep it simple: First, apply a skin tone eye base to brighten your eye. Second, apply eyeliner under the lash line to make your lashes look fuller. Third, fill in your eyebrows. The eyebrows frame your eyes, so never forget to define them. Lastly, apply several coats of mascara. It’s a clean, fresh look for everyday.

Wear what you love: Makeup should bring out our inner confidence. If you love bright shadows go for it, but be sure all colors suit your skin tone and compliment your eye color.

Get misty: The easiest way to give tired skin an instant pick me up in the daytime is with a facial mist. A quick spritz will refresh your face and leave you looking dewy and radiant, instead of tired and irritable.

Skip the foundation: The general rule is that lighter is better during the day — heavy eye makeup can melt or even dry out and cake around the edges. Instead, moisturize thoroughly the night before so your skin is well hydrated and in the morning use a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream as your foundation before applying the light eye makeup.

Invisible lip liners Many women have fallen in love with the nifty little treasure known as the invisible lip liner. If you’re still one of those people who think lip liner is so 1992, invisible lip liner is the lip liner for you. Besides being clear and smudge-proof here are other reasons why

the invisible lip liner is so adorable.

Reversible: Invisible lip liner can be worn two different ways. One, prolong the wear of lipstick by using it as a primer to line and fill in your lips. Two, you can also use it to line the outer perimeter of lips just outside the natural lip line. This creates a barrier effect to prevent bleeding and also fills in fine lines around the mouth.

Lip liner for dummies: One unexpected smear with the hot pink liner and your perfect cupids bow is shot. One slip with invisible lip liner and no one will be the wiser. It is the kind of lip liner you can apply in your car.

Lock in the look: When applying your color lacquer, press it into your lips with your finger and then add the invisible lip liner to the outer edges. This lipstick-locking move will keep the lacquer in place for the long haul. For extra assurance, dust

with a powder over your lipstick and then reapply the color. The layering affect will keep your loud mouth going strong for a couple of extra hours.

Make red your signature color: With a pretty invisible lip liner, you can make red a classic, sophisticated everyday shade that lets you get away with wearing almost no other makeup (save for a swipe of mascara). Instead of focusing on your skin tone, use your eye color as a guide. For light brown and hazel eyes try a red-orange tone, and a true blue-red works great for brown eyes. Finish off your lips with a swipe of an invisible lip liner for a fantastic look.

Create the perfect Cupids bow: Full, shapely lips always start with a solid foundation–lip liner. From vampy red lips to a bright pink pout, invisible lip liner lays the groundwork for whatever look you’re trying to achieve. You may think applying liner is a no-brainer, but if you haven’t been employing a solid technique, you’re lips probably end up looking weepy and misshapen. With the help of an invisible lip liner, you’ll get an undeniably even application and a cupids bow every time.

Beauty TipsApply a shimmery gloss to the center of your lips, top and bottom – this will attract light to your lips, making them look pouty.

Use hydrating masks in place of moisturizer – and go to bed with them on instead of washing them off. You can use coconut oil (yes, the solid one you cook with) as a body moisturizer – it smells like Fiji.

If your hair is fine and prone to looking slightly limp or devoid of texture on a night out try coiling strands into a chignon, taking it out just before show time to add movement. Do the same just before you leave the house.

19 The Times 16 - 22 February, 2014 timeskuwait.com Food

Raisins: Cholesterol-free, low in sodium, high in fiber and totally fat-free, raisins are one of the richest sources of boron, a mineral known to reduce bone loss in post-menopausal women. Sprinkle a handful into calcium-rich yoghurt for optimum bone-benefits and add pecans, another food rich in boron.

Dates: A great alternative to sugary craves, dates have a relatively low glycaemic index (GI), which means they release their sugars slowly and keep energy levels steady, despite their intense sweetness. Eat with protein, say from a handful of walnuts, to keep you feeling full.

Dried Apples: Recognized for its ability to lower blood fat levels significantly, dried apples with their flavonoids act as antioxidants to target free radicals that damage DNA.

Dried Cherries: The anthoycyanins in cherries, particularly the sour, or tart, type that are found in most health stores, may be beneficial for a range of inflammatory-related conditions,

including arthritis, gout and post-exercise muscle soreness.

Dried Apricots: Weighing in with more than three

times the potassium content of bananas and containing only a trace of salt, dried apricots are good for keeping down blood pressure. Potassium in apricots counter the water-

retaining properties of sodium, keeping blood volume lower.

Dried Mangos: Another rich source of potassium, dried mangoes are also rich in iron. People who suffer from anaemia can take dried mangoes throughout the year knowing that they also have the ability to prevent or stop certain colon and breast cancer cells for proliferating.

Dried Cranberries: If you’re prone to bladder infections then snacking on dried cranberries is bound to bring you relief. Proanthocyanidins, the active ingredient in cranberries provide an anti-adherence effect that reduces urinary infections because the bacteria cannot attach to the bladder wall.

Figs: Four dried figs supply a quarter of the recommended daily allowance of anaemia-protective iron. To get the full advantage, eat as part of orange juice-steeped compote ‒ vitamin C helps improve the iron your body absorbs from plant sources.

Health benefits of dried fruits

Apples: The pectin found in apples help bind with water and limits the amount of fat your cells can absorb. Apples are also high in fiber, which makes you feel full.

Recent research suggests other benefits of eating apples, including preventing metabolic syndrome, the combination of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and pre-diabetes that tends to accompany thickening around the waist.

Oats: A whole grain, oats are high in soluble fiber, so they cut cholesterol and blood fat. Oats, because they digest slowly in the body, will not raise your blood sugar, and they keep you feeling filled up. Oatmeal is, oddly enough, one of the best foods to help you sleep, as well. Old-fashioned steel-cut and rolled oats, with up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, are best, but even instant oatmeal has 3 to 4 grams of fiber per serving.

Cinnamon: According to a recent study cinnamon appears to have the power to help your body metabolize sugar. Eating as little as 1/4 to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon a day was found to reduce blood sugar levels and cut cholesterol from 10 to 25 percent.

Pine nuts: Rich in heart-healthy fatty acids, particularly pinolenic acid, pine nuts have been found to boost levels of ghrelin, a hormone which signals your brain that you are full. When ghrelin levels are high, not only do you not feel hungry, you’re more able to resist cravings.

Eggs: A nutritional powerhouse, eggs are the perfect way to start your day. Dietary studies have repeatedly found that when people eat an egg every morning in addition to toast or cereal, they lose twice as much weight as those who eat a breakfast that is dominated by carbs.

Preventing gum disease

Gum disease among women is a surprisingly common condition, fortunately, there are many foods that help

prevent or improve gum disease; here are a few:

Lean beef: Containing vitamin B6, and high in zinc, a mineral with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunity-boosting properties, lean beef can help fight gum disease. l

Sweet potatoes: Loaded with beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant that helps the body fills its vitamin A needs, sweet potatoes help fight inflammation that accompanies gum disease. Sweet potatoes also provide an excellent substitute to make fries, mashed potatoes, or roast potatoes.

Cottage Cheese: With plenty of calcium and vitamin D, cottage cheese provides some of the most essential vitamins and minerals that are needed for keeping your teeth and jawbone strong and healthy. Strong and healthy teeth are less susceptible to gum disease, as bacteria are less likely to seep into your gums.

Aloe Vera juice: This juice with its antibacterial properties will help fight off and kill bacteria in the mouth that can cause gum disease. It can also help to relieve and heal mouth ulcers and canker sores while also repairing gum tissue. Since it also acts as natural laxative, aloe vera juice is best used as as a mouthwash rather than as a drink.

Limes: Lime juice can help towards preventing and treating gum disease, because it slows down and kills the harmful bacteria that can cause the condition, and it also prevents plaque buildup. At the same time, limes are also rich in vitamin C, which helps to keep gum tissue strong and healthy and prevent tooth decay.

Dehydrated and dried fruits such as those mentioned below are packed with anti-oxidants that make a valuable addition to the diet of people with busy lifestyle.

Fat burning foods

All foods are not bad in your battle against the bulge; certain foods, such as those listed below, actually stimulate your metabolism, boosting the body’s ability to burn fat.

Chef tip

Cook once, prepare many ways. And make extra. This is a strategy many chefs use because it’s so much more efficient to make two-for-one meals. Long-cook items like roast chicken are for weekends, but leftover chicken can make quick chili with canned beans, chicken salad or chicken for salads, quesadillas and other easy, fast weeknight meals. Roast two chickens in that oven when you have the time! Serve one, carve and use the leftovers for easy weeknight meals and lunches. Plus, the two carcasses will let you make twice the stock for soups in one go as well!