Zamil Steel Inaugurates a New Galvanizing Facility

13 July 2010

Zamil Steel Towers & Galvanizing (T&G) Division, a sector business of Zamil Industrial Investment Company "Zamil Industrial", announced that it has begun production trials at the company’s new galvanizing plant in Dammam Second Industrial City. The new plant is expected to reach a production capacity of 50 thousand tons per year, enhancing the annual galvanizing capacity of Zamil Steel to 75 thousand tons.

The beginning of operations at this factory represents the company's efforts to expand manufacturing capabilities and to keep pace with the increasing local and international demand for galvanized steel products.

The new plant has been designed with particular attention to safety and environmental concerns. All issues regarding gases, vapors and other types of pollution resulting from the process of galvanization have been resolved in the planning stages using state of the art technological solutions and built into the facility to ensure non-contamination of the land, air and water in close proximity to the plant.

Saudi Youth Team Wins Best Scientific Robot Project Award

05 July 2010

The Dhahran Ahlyia Schools (DAS) student robot team representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and sponsored by Zamil Industrial Investment Company, won the Best Scientific Project Award for Robots at the 'First Lego League Open European Championships 2010', held in Istanbul in June 2010. The Saudi team came second in the overall ranking in this championship. 54 teams from as many countries competed in various competitions under 'Children of the World Meet in Istanbul' theme

The 'First Lego Robot' championship is considered the most prestigious amongst robot educational competitions. Students between aged 9 – 16 years compete to execute special tasks by robots they have designed, fabricated and programmed on their own. Male and female students from all over the kingdom participated in the elimination championship that took place in Al Khobar last February.

Zamil Offshore Launches new Vessel "Duba 1"

23 June 2010

Zamil Offshore Services celebrated last Sunday June 20, the launching of M/V Duba-1 harbor service tug for the Saudi Sea Ports Authority and the keel laying of M/V Zamil-63 & Zamil-64 Multi Purpose Offshore Vessels for own account to join Zamil Fleet serving Saudi Aramco.

The celebration was attended by His Excellency Dr. Gibara Bin Eid the Minister of Transport, Dr. Khaled Bobsheat the Chairman of the Saudi Sea Ports Authority and prominent persons from the Saudi government.

Zamil Offshore Exhibited at POSIDONIA 2010 in Greece

16 June 2010

Looking for wider recognition and exposure, Zamil Offshore Services continues its strategic path into the global maritime scene. Zamil Offshore participated in the 22nd edition of Posidonia, the world's largest maritime industry event for four decades of existence, held in June 2010 in Athens, Greece. Almost 1855 organizations and companies from 87 countries participated at this year's Posidonia. Over twenty seven thousands visitors from around the globe's maritime and shipping industries visited the seven halls housing the exhibitors' stands.

Zamil offshore successive exhibitions in the USA and Greece aim to project a positive image of Saudi and its own offshore and marine capabilities.

Zamil Group holds 'Scenario Planning Program' for Senior Management

13 June 2010

Zamil Group just concluded a two-day management development program entitled "Scenario Planning: Developing Functional Strategies," held on 8 and 9 June at the Movenpick Hotel in Al Khobar. Over 50 senior managers representing a cross section of industries and businesses under Zamil Group participated in the program facilitated by Dr. Ian Mann, of Gateways Consulting, who a few years back has conducted strategy-related courses for the Group. It complements last year's senior leaders' course on 'Leading and Managing in Turbulent Times'. This is consistent with the Group's continuous learning culture organization.

The program challenged the usual approach where an organization's long-term plan is practically hinged on the unfolding of a single scenario. Through a mix of lectures and guided small-group discussions, the course helped participants identify and/or validate, for their respective companies, a functional strategy that remains consistent across a range of varying and sometimes extremely contrasting scenarios.

The course illustrated that a functional strategy is premised in effectively defining both controllable (transactional) factors and uncontrollable (contextual) factors and defining the likely scenarios that a business is likely to face based on the occurrence of various combinations of transactional and contextual factors.

Historically, scenario planning is a methodology developed by Shell in the 1970s and has since been refined over time, and is acknowledged as being a very practical approach to dealing with an unknowable future. It has proved its worth in business, government, the public service and is applicable as a take-off point for developing functional strategies for a company, a department or work unit.

Zamil Group: Continuous Dialogue between Generations

06 June 2010

The Talent Committee at Zamil Group met with all members of the Zamil family third generation at a workshop held at the Movenpick hotel in Al Khobar on 2 June 2010. The Talent Committee's mission as mandated by the Family Board is to prepare third generation members to take leadership of the Group, hence the name Zamil Future Leaders 'ZFL'.

The seven-member Talent Committee, made up of four senior family executives and three non family independent members, is responsible for facilitating training to all ZFL members, as well as coaching and mentoring junior members and monitoring their progress through their assigned rotation. The Talent Committee meets regularly with ZFL to communicate the family’s vision, to reinforce the family's values, to explain business strategy and the latest developments at the corporate center. Other critical governance issues are discussed in these forums where ZFL may express freely their opinion.

Core Values Work Series begins in the Corporate Center

01 June 2010

With a view of helping to reinforce the company’s corporate culture, a series of Core Values Workshops has started in the Corporate Center, May 30, 2010.

The program is in line with a strategic organizational development initiative currently pursued as a Balanced Score Card objective, that aims to contribute to the Group’s continued success by raising employee awareness of the Group’s core values, building a shared mindset on the relevance of core values on how Zamil companies do business, and encourage employees to practice and advocate the Group’s core values.

The workshop series is planned to escalate into a Group-wide program which all employees are required to attend. Employees representing a cross section of Departments in the Corporate Center attended the pilot workshop facilitated by Corporate HR and Communications.

Core Values Workshops are scheduled for Corporate Center staff every Sunday, starting May 30, 2010 until July 4. The course then goes on the road for Riyadh-based and Jubail-based employees. For the rest of 2010 and thereafter, similar workshops will roll out for Group affiliates starting with train-the-trainer sessions for local HR teams and line managers.

Zamil Group Launches Succession Planning Program

19 May 2010

Corporate HR conducted a briefing on the Zamil Group Succession Planning program for Group companies on 15 May 2010 at the Mövenpick Hotel in Al Khobar. In attendance were senior executives, heads of companies representing offshore marine operations, shipbuilding, architectural industries, plastics, steel, chemicals, pipes, cranes, Foods, the commercial division and HR functions.

Tawfiq Al Zamil, leader and sponsor of the BSC (Balanced Scorecard) objective on group succession, provided a session overview, emphasizing the commitment of the Group to employee career progression while citing illustrative success stories of individual promotions and career growth in Zamil companies. He also pointed out the importance of effectively managed succession particularly in terms of ensuring leadership continuity in key positions and encouraging individual advancements.

Elmore M. Francisco, Corporate HR Manager, gave a presentation on how succession planning fits in the Group’s talent management agenda and its importance to operating companies in particular, and the Zamil Group in general; the process of leadership needs assessment, succession candidate identification and development, and program tracking and measurement; and, to identify the commitments required and provide guidance to companies who will start adapting the program.

The briefing covered the philosophy, definition of roles and general implementing rules of succession planning as outlined in the recently released Group policy on the subject. The policy not only allows, but encourages inter-company promotional movements as a way of optimizing the use of talent.

Zamil Offshore Exhibits in Houston, Texas, USA

05 May 2010

Zamil Offshore Services goes international and exhibit at OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) 2010 to brand the company name and to explore the international market. This is the world's largest offshore oil industry event which kicked off on Monday 3 May 2010 with the participation of over 2,000 companies from more than 100 countries.

'Zamil Pipes' Awarded API Certification

03 May 2010

The Saudi Seamless Pipes Factory Company Limited "Zamil Pipes" received the American Petroleum Institute (API) Specification 5CT for Casing and Tubing on 3 May 2010 for compliance to industry standards, following the ISO 9001 certification in November 2009. This certification is equivalent to ISO 11960. It is a quality assurance requirement by oil majors. It would allow "Zamil Pipes" to commence selling and stamping the API monogram on its products.

The API certification is a confirmation to local and international oil companies of Zamil Pipes' particular capability and compliance integrity. It is mandatory requirement that Zamil Pipes maintains a culture of discipline and production excellence as per API standards and also maintains continuous audits and checks on operational and HR procedures to sustain superior performance.

Zamil Group Inaugurated Seamless Pipes Factory in Dammam

19 April 2010

Zamil Group Holds Balanced Scorecard Review Workshop

19 April 2010

Zamil Group held its Balanced Scorecard workshop on Saturday 17 April 2010 to review the progress of all strategic objectives and initiatives. Heads of Corporate Functions briefed the audience, executives and senior management, about the various activities achieved and the challenges they are facing. Participants were very engaged in the three hour session which also involved representatives from Zamil Future Leaders.

Inauguration of 'Al Musawkaf Souk' in Onaizah, Al Qassim

13 April 2010

HRH Faisal Bin Bandar Prince of the Qassim Region, inaugurated on Tuesday 13 April 2010 ‘Al Musawkaf’ popular souk in the town of Onaizah, which was completely rebuilt back to its old architecture and preserving its local heritage, through financial support from Zamil Group. This non-profit project features stores and artisan shops, a museum, halls, sitting lounge for the elderly and restaurants. The new souk has created over 100 jobs for craftsmen and other citizens as a social responsible action to support needy persons and productive families.

Zamil Group Honored for Wining National Competitive Contest

27 March 2010

HRH Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, honored winning companies and sponsors of the second national Competitive Contest for developing feasibility plans for small enterprises, in a special ceremony held at Prince Sultan Center (Scitec) on Tuesday, 23 March 2010 and attended by a large group of dignitaries.

Zamil Group was among the winners of this prestigious contest, and Engineer Zamil A. Al Zamil, President of Zamil Offshore Co., was on hand to accept the award on behalf of the company. In addition, Engineer Khalid Abdullah Al Zamil, Chairman of Middle East Battery Co. (MEBCO) and Managing Director, Zamil Group, received the award on behalf of MEBCO, also a winner in the same contest.

Zamil Group Launches Strategy Management System

10 March 2010

Zamil Group Senior Executives, Corporate Function Heads and Senior Management from operating companies, met in a workshop at the Intercontinental hotel in Al Khobar on Monday 8 March to review the Group's strategic themes and initiatives to achieve sustainable diversification, prominence and maintain global presence. Vice Presidents of Corporate Functions presented their strategic objectives and engaged with the audience in a lively discussion on implementation programs and how such initiatives impact operating companies. The workshop aims also at creating awareness among Zamil Group operating companies and communicating strategies to be cascaded throughout the entire organization.

Zamil Offshore Services Launches 'Zamil 57'

28 February 2010

Zamil Offshore Services celebrated on Wednesday 24 February 2010 the launching of its vessel 'Zamil 57' at its shipyard at King Abdulaziz port in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, under the patronage of Dr. Khalid Ahmed Bobshait, Director General of the Ports Authority. 'Zamil 57' is the sixth vessel built by Zamil Offshore services under license agreement from Rolls Royce Marine, Norway to ABS class (American Bureau of Shipping).

Riyadh Air Force Exhibition

21 February 2010

Zamil Group participated as golden sponsor in the Royal Saudi Armed Forces exhibition held in Riyadh from 13 to 17 February 2010 and inaugurated by HH Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The exhibition was an invitation to national industry to exhibit products and replacement parts to support RSAF needs and requirements. Zamil Group, represented by the majority of operating companies, showcased their impressive array of products over a 400 m² area which created a tremendous impact with visiting dignitaries. HRH Prince Sultan and the Chief Commanders of the naval, air and land forces visited Zamil Group’s exhibition to discuss their requirements and provided guidance about their vision to strengthen relations with the private industrial sector.

Zamil Group Annual Strategy Conference

25 January 2010

The Office of Strategy Management (OSM) at Zamil Group organized the annual TAWASUL conference at the Mövenpick hotel on Wednesday 20 January 2010. Over 115 delegates representing Zamil Group Executive and Senior Management from affiliate operating companies as well as the Corporate Center participated in the one day event.

The Group Strategy towards 2015 and the process to establish the strategy management system for the Group were explained and communicated. An overview of the methodology and interim results of the research initiative started by OSM to scan economic sectors to shortlist the most attractive ones for diversifying the Group’s core industries was presented.

Dr. Saeed Al Shaikh, Senior Vice President, National Commercial Bank, was guest speaker of the event. He presented key economic indicators for 2010.

Canadian Ambassador visits Zamil Group HQ

23 January 2010

HE David Chatterson, Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Mr. Richard Dubuc, Commercial Counselor, visited Zamil Group Head Office on Monday 18 January 2010. They were greeted on arrival by Messrs. Hamad Al Zamil and Tawfiq Al Zamil who introduced them to Vice Presidents and General Managers from the Group who attended the brief introduction and meeting.

Representatives from joint ventures with Canadian partners introduced their companies and products. Canadian nationals working at Zamil Group were also present at the meeting.

The Ambassador expressed his satisfaction and promised to visit some of the factories on his next visit to Zamil Group.

Family Business Forum Organized by Zamil Group

16 January 2010

Zamil Group organized a major forum for business leaders in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Tuesday 12 January 2010. More than 120 leaders of prominent family businesses participated in the all day event held at the Mövenpick hotel in Al Kohbar.

Many families were represented by two generations at the forum which was purposely designed to focus on family values, succession planning, transferring ownership, managing expectations, and most important governance for the sake of business sustainability. Other topics pertaining to wealth management, separation of family from business, internal conflict resolution were discussed. The audience engaged in many debates with Peter Leach who cited many live cases from around the world.

Peter Leach of Loedstar, Geneva, Switzerland author of 'Family Businesses: The Essentials' and a reputed adviser, researcher and speaker on family business, facilitated the forum and lectured the audience on the importance of governance in business. Drawing from his vast experience he presented a number of case studies on family businesses in different countries and cultures in Asia and the West.