QAMAR is the brand name for Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), produced by the Eastern Petrochemical Company in Saudi Arabia known as 'SHARQ'. The SHARQ project was established in 1981 as a fifty-fifty joint venture between Saudi Basic Industrial Corporation (SABIC) and SPDC, a Japanese consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation (MC).
LLDPE is excellent for film applications where puncture and anti-tear properties are important. For example, stretch film for packaging has use in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, tiles and ceramics, paper and agricultural sectors. QAMAR is a core product for our chemical division and utilising our unique market knowledge and sales network we sell approximately 50,000 metric tonnes per annum. We have created a robust and resilient market position and we enjoy sales to customers in UK, France, Benelux, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary.
With the expansion of the European Union, the population now numbers 500 million in the region and the market for LLDPE is predicted to grow at a rate of 6% per year. The SHARQ plant has a planned expansion due for completion in early 2008 which will double the existing capacity. In conjunction with our Tokyo office, the QAMAR team is developing a dual strategy to increase our market share in Northwest Europe and to align for strong growth in the Central Eastern European region. It is a very exciting time for London's QAMAR team and we are looking forward to growing our business.
England and Australia are linked by a common history and culture like no two other countries so far apart geographically. This results in fierce rivalries when it comes to sports, made even worse because the Aussies have often proved to be almost impossible to beat—especially in "the Ashes"— the series of cricket test matches played between England and Australia every 2 or 3 years.
But that all changed last year when England finally won the Ashes after 19 long years. It wasn't just the fact that England won, having to overcome an Australian team who were effectively world champions, but also the manner of the victory that captured the public's imagination. All around the country, people who had no previous interest in cricket suddenly became obsessed partisans.
This winter, the English team departs for Australia to try to retain the Ashes. It will be hard to succeed so many miles from home, but my feeling is that the Australians are no longer the invincible force they once were!
NOTE:Unfortunately, England lost the Ashes in Australia after three matches.
The UK has not had the best reputation in the past for the quality of its cuisine. Meat pies and fish and chips are appreciated by locals, but don't always impress tourists. But a noticeable change has been taking place over the last decades—British consumers have found a taste for free-range, fair-trade and organic food!
Newspapers claim that consumers are set to spend more than 2 billion pounds this year on free-range, fair-trade and organic products. British shoppers are choosing to buy food that is sourced "ethically": such as eggs from free-range hens, or coffee that guarantees growers a fair price for their product. Celebrity television chefs have contributed to the change, as they urge people to look for the best quality foodstuffs. And, as people worry more about the health risks of pollution, they are opting for products grown organically, without chemical fertilisers or pesticides.
"The food in England is terrible." While many people still believe this to be true, Is killed chefs can now be found all over London, serving up delicious dishes from all over the world.
One symbol of this culinary shift is the popularity of chefs these days. In fact, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver now enjoys the kind of popularity usually reserved for movie stars. Indeed, Oliver has garnered worldwide acclaim—as an English chef (!), highlighting just how far English cuisine has come in recent years.
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