Ali Bin Ali Medical achieves new heights, receives Mecomed TPI Certificate

Taking its business credibility to new heights, Ali Bin Ali Medical passed the Mecomed assessment on March 23, 2022. With this, ABA Medical became the first medical company in Qatar to receive the Mecomed TPI (Third – party intermediaries) Certificate, which is valid for two years.

Established in 2009, Mecomed is the medical devices, imaging and diagnostics trade association, serving as the voice of international medical technology manufacturers and their partners across the Middle East & Africa.

Mecomed spearheads initiatives to work closely with healthcare officials in MEA countries and coordinates efforts, helping set credible healthcare standards for the region. In addition to this, Mecomed uses the core competencies of its constituent members to formulate, evolve and sustain ethical business practices.

The medical industry is gradually heading towards a stricter healthcare compliance. All big and multinational suppliers are now looking for compliant partners and setting some standards, rules and regulations to regulate the relationship and activities with customers, government officials and HCPs (healthcare professionals). Mecomed is the body that manages and oversees the compliance process.

Application to the Mecomed Certification processes is a tool to allow stakeholders voluntarily to demonstrate their commitment to the ethical standards included in the Mecomed Code of Ethical Business Practice to the industry partners.

Having this certificate (same as the ISO) adds value to ABA Medical’s already impressive portfolio. It shows ABA Medical as a compliant company, which is the primary criterion suppliers are looking for when assigning new distributors. Being a certified member also adds value with new and current principles and customers as well.

Speaking about the latest recognition, General Manager of Ali Bin Ali Medical Mr. Monzer Abdel Samad said: “ABA Medical has always maintained high standards in all aspects of the business and it is always great to be recognized and officially certified by a credible authority.

This certificate will elevate our position and image in the market and help in building long-term partnerships with both customers and suppliers, old and new.”

ABATS and ABA IT Department enjoy an exciting football match night

Taking a break from their busy schedules, Ali Bin Ali Technology Solutions (ABATS) and Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Information Technology Department enjoyed a friendly football match night on March 24, 2022.

The event took place at Muaither Sports Club in the presence of excited members from both the divisions. Also present at the event were General Manager of ABATS Mr. Rami Majed Ammari and Chief Operating Officer – ICT Mr. Mohamad A. Ebrik. While Mr. Ebrik was the referee for the game, Mr. Rami joined in to play a couple of matches.

The games started off at 6pm with a total of 50 participating players. Four teams were created, and each team played two rounds – elimination and finals. After an exciting series of games, the Blue Team emerged the final winners. The fun evening concluded with a cozy dinner.

This football event was a part of ABA Holding’s endeavor to promote employee engagement and encourage healthy lifestyles to guarantee wellbeing of the employees.

Speaking about the evening, Mr Ebrik said: “It was a fun and exciting evening and all of us enjoyed a lot. Employee wellbeing is one of our top priorities. Such activities not only support good health but also help in building teamwork skills.”

Reiterating similar thoughts, Mr. Rami said: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships! It is this teamwork that we want to encourage and support our staff with. This was a great opportunity for team-building and fun outside the work environment.”

 

Dohatna Signs Exclusive Distribution Agreement with Anker Innovations

Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Dohatna Innovative Distribution, one of the region’s largest distributors, On March 16, 2022 announced that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Anker Innovations, a global leader in charging technology and consumer technology products. This Partnership expands Ali Bin Ali’s existing extensive portfolio and increases Anker’s existing footprint in the Region.

This collaboration was announced during a two-day-long event that took place in Doha on March 15 and 16, March 2022. The event was attended by 300 delegates from the organized and independent retailers, as well as the local and regional media outlets representatives in Qatar.

Additionally, a delegation from Ali Bin Ali’s Dohatna and Anker Innovations were present at the event including Mohammad Imran, General Manager of Dohatna, Deepak Jayaram, Sales Manager of Dohatna and Faraz Mehdi, General Manager – Sales at Anker Innovations MEA. Guests attending both events received an introduction about the brand, the new products and got a chance to experience the Anker Exhibit Corner, where selected Anker Innovations products from the brands Anker Charging, eufy Appliances & Security, Soundcore and Nebula were on display, allowing attendees to get first-hand experience of the products.

“We have always tried to get the best and latest technology for the people in Qatar and I am sure that Anker Innovations products will be a valuable addition to that. With Anker’s innovative smart devices for entertainment, travel and smart homes combined with Dohatna’s market knowledge and reach, we look forward to a successful and long-term collaboration,” said Mohammad Imran, General Manager of Dohatna Innovative Distribution.

“We are very excited to expand our presence in the Middle East Region, to enable more people to experience Anker Innovations products. We are confident that Dohatna’s strong regional presence and distribution expertise will contribute immense value to our business and growth ambitions for 2022 and beyond,” said Faraz Mehdi, General Manager – Sales at Anker Innovations MEA

Anker and Dohatna’s offering in the Qatar market includes four brands:

  • Anker Charging: Anker’s core focus is to develop products that leverage new technologies such as GaN and its own PowerIQ smart chips to bring efficient and safe charging solutions. This includes wireless chargers, portable chargers, car chargers and wall chargers, as well as cables and hubs.
  • eufy Appliances & Security: eufy is a smart home brand by Anker Innovations. eufy was founded in 2016 with the objective of bringing the latest smart home technology and home security devices to households across the country at attainable prices.
  • Soundcore: Soundcore is part of the Anker Innovations family of consumer brands providing premium audio solutions (true wireless headphones, speakers and more). These include true wireless ear buds endorsed by Grammy-winning audio engineers and musicians, as well as over-ear headphones and indoor and outdoor Bluetooth speakers designed to amplify the party.
  • Nebula Projectors: Nebula is a smart and portable home projector brand. Nebula represents a new and exciting class of smart, portable entertainment devices, combining smart capability with immersive audio and visuals.

Ali Bin Ali Holding expands base, opens office in India

Widening the Group’s operation base and making it more dynamic, Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Holding opened its first Offshore Support Functions office in India. ABA Holding’s FMCG stream opened the state-of the-art office in Bengaluru through a service provider, Gazelle Information Technologies Ltd.  The office, which is administratively managed by Gazelle at its Bengaluru branch, is exclusive for Ali Bin Ali Holding’s back office operations.

The grand opening ceremony was held on 15th March, 2022, in the presence of the senior management of ABA Holding and Gazelle Information Technologies Ltd. The event was attended by Mr. Wadih Kazan, COO, ABA FMCG; Mr. Vincent Emmanuel, Head of Supply Chain & Logistics, ABA FMCG; and Mr. Utpal Das & Mr. Kirit Goyal, Managing Directors of Gazelle Information Technologies Ltd.

The new ABA Holding office in Bengaluru has been fully operational since January 2022 with world-class offices and IT infrastructure supported by the ABA IT Department. The IT setup is similar to any ABA office connecting to the ABA Network. .

The total seating capacity of the office is 35 and is currently occupied by the FMCG Supply Chain team of 15 members, while other functions within ABA Holding are working to occupy further seats. The location of the office is perfect for attracting a pool of talents across many sectors of industry while the technology infrastructure is an ideal fit for the ABA back office setup.

“The pandemic has posed us many challenges and at the same time provided us with opportunities to explore new ideas. Remote working via offshoring is one such initiative which was under discussion prior to the pandemic but is now time-tested for our operations,” said Mr. Emmanuel.

Mr. Kazan, presiding over the ceremony, said: “We are proud and glad to have embarked on a new journey that is reliable and economical to our FMCG stream. This project brings tangible cost reduction and efficiency to the current operations that we do locally. We offshored it to India very successfully while the operations remain same as when it was in Doha. Thanks to Gazelle and the ABA IT Department who made this a workable solution. I am also happy to say that this operation can cater to many other divisions/companies of the Group and maybe later to 3rd parties, bringing efficiency in costs and high level of effectiveness that you will only see when you try these services.”

This is an opportunity for ABA divisions/functions to take advantage of this initiative and benefit from cost efficiency by offshoring the required staff to India with full control on deliverables, while the administration is managed by the 3rd party, headed by an ABA employee. The offices can accommodate further 20 staff on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

21 High st, in association with Samovar Carpets, hosts an exclusive Rug Show for designer Jan Kath

Offering its esteemed clients with an experience of a lifetime, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s 21 High st at Katara Cultural Village Doha is hosting an exclusive luxury Rug Show presented by Samovar Carpets. For the first time, globally renowned rug designer Jan Kath will present his work in Qatar from March 15 to 29, 2022.

The pop-up Rug Show titled, ‘The stars, the moon and the sun – Carpet couture of the present’, is a gallery of vibrant handmade works of art, made of the most exclusive highland wool and the finest Chinese silk.

The showroom was ceremoniously inaugurated on March 15 in the presence of Chairman & President of ABA Holding Mr. Adel Ali Bin Ali, honorable Charge’ d’Affaires of the Embassy of Nepal in Qatar, Mr. Lakshuman Khanal, other VIP guests and members of the local media.

The designer himself was present at the event and offered a warm welcome to the guests. He took the patrons on a journey into the Jan Kath universe, a journey into the world of luxury handmade carpets, where lush paradise gardens, dreamlike starry worlds and fascinating spheres of light can be experienced haptically.

At the Jan Kath Rug Show, he presents his latest abstracts of the collections Spectrum, Savonnerie Surprise, Spacecrafted and many more. The inspiration for the hand-knotted collections are the mystical Northern Lights, the intoxicating starry skies over the desert and magnificent ornaments as loved by the Sun King, Louis XIV.

Speaking about this exclusive venture at 21 High st, Jan Kath said: “This exclusive luxury Rug Show is very special to me as it for the first time I am presenting my vision and art to the people of Qatar, and what better place to do it than 21 High st, where retail meets culture. Each of my collections purposefully breaks with conventional styles and throws strict design rules overboard while combining classic elements from oriental carpets with contemporary, minimalist design.”

The German designer is considered as the vanguard of the modern carpet. With his interpretation, he has developed an unmistakable style-defining signature. His concepts have earned numerous accolades and have been shown in art and design museums, such as the Frankfurt Museum of Applied Art, the Art Museum Riga Bourse, the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich and also at the Beijing International Design Triennial.

Ali Bin Ali Medical enjoys a family day out

The Ali Bin Ali Medical team took time out of their busy schedules to enjoy a day of fun with their families. The event was organized on March 12, 2022, at Retaj Salwa Resort.

All ABA Medical staff members and their families attended the event, where a full range of fun activities were arranged for their entertainment. The organizers ensured that there were activities for all age groups and all guests enjoyed the day.

Fun and entertainment activities included game stations, trivia competition, talent shows, kids’ activities and karaoke. An exciting raffle draw added excitement to the already eventful day. ABA Medical also took this opportunity to recognize the contribution of its employees. Awards, certificates and trophies were handed out for long service and outstanding & excellent performances.

The elaborate lunch menu was a crowd-pleaser and everybody enjoyed it.

Speaking about the gathering, General Manager of ABA Medical Mr. Monzer Abdel Samad said: “It was a well-deserved break for the entire ABA Medical team. It was good to see everyone enjoying with their family and colleagues. This was also an ideal occasion to casually socialize with the team members away from the work pressure and deadlines. Overall, it was a different kind of a productive day.”