logo
ASUS Accelerates Smarter Technology Adoption with AI-Powered Innovations

ASUS Accelerates Smarter Technology Adoption with AI-Powered Innovations

Web Release2 days ago
ASUS, alongside its partner, Suhail Bahwan Group, successfully hosted the 'Innovating with the Future: Transforming Business with IT Solutions' event in Oman. Over 100 delegates from the education, business and public sectors attended the event to gain insight into ASUS's latest solutions.
The event had an exceptional turnout and is a testament to ASUS's passion for innovation with the highest quality, making them a trusted name in their target industries. Attendees had the chance to see ASUS's lineup of award-winning devices that include the ExpertBook P & B, Chromebook and All-in-One (AiO) series. ASUS demonstrated its commitment to the country, supporting Oman Vision 2040, which intends to transform Oman into a developed nation that offers an enhanced quality of life.
'The event is a platform for us to engage with customers to understand their evolving needs and innovate our products and services to benefit them,' said Mohit Bector, Commercial Head – UAE & GCC, ASUS Business. 'We would like to thank Suhail Bahwan Group for their continued partnership and support in Oman, an important market that plays a key role in our regional growth strategy. Together, we are working towards a common vision of delivering cutting-edge technologies to government, business and educational institutions across the country. As a trusted technology enabler, ASUS continues to drive a smarter and more efficient business and learning environment with our industry-leading products and solutions.'
The ASUS ExpertBook series gives users the right balance of portability, performance and reliability. Long-term durability and enterprise-grade security make the ExpertBook series capable of handling demanding workloads. The ASUS Chromebook offers fast and streamlined performance for students thanks to regular Chrome OS updates and all-day battery life. The ASUS ExpertCentre AiO PCs are the perfect companion for any business, delivering sturdy construction, quality components and strong security features.
Having 71,192 awards under its name, ASUS continues to create the best products and solutions designed for everyone. It also reinforced its sustainability pledge by increasing the use of environment-friendly materials and embracing 100% renewable energy in its Taiwan operation centers. With the event's resounding success, ASUS aims to carry the momentum forward with more activities in Oman and the wider GCC region.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UAE: Dh2 million prize offered for Emirati F&B talents in Ras Al Khaimah
UAE: Dh2 million prize offered for Emirati F&B talents in Ras Al Khaimah

Khaleej Times

time5 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

UAE: Dh2 million prize offered for Emirati F&B talents in Ras Al Khaimah

An initiative is set to reshape the entrepreneurial landscape in Ras al-Khaimah. The RAK Creativity Award is offering an unprecedented prize package valued at over Dh2 million to support and launch exceptional Emirati talent in the food and beverage (F&B) sector. The competition invites UAE nationals with original and innovative food and beverage (F&B) concepts to bring their dreams to life. The grand prize includes a fully equipped storefront in Manar Mall, one of RAK's shopping destinations, rent-free for up to three years, alongside comprehensive support in operations, marketing, and business development. Supported by the RAK Chamber of Commerce and organised in partnership with the Saud bin Saqr Foundation for Youth Projects Development and the RAK Exhibition Centre, this award also receives notable support from Al Hamra Group and Manar Mall. Key competition highlights Eligibility: Open exclusively to UAE nationals with unique F&B business concepts. Deadline: Applications, including a sample menu and initial financial plan, must be submitted by October 10, 2025. Live cooking and public showcase: Finalists will participate in a live cooking event, engaging with the public and judges, followed by a public pitch during a major festival attended by thousands. Expert jury panel: Entries will be evaluated by leading experts from the retail, hospitality, and commercial sectors in collaboration with the RAK Chamber of Commerce. Evaluation criteria: Innovation, feasibility, execution plan, growth potential, and economic viability. Post-award support: In addition to the rent-free shop, the winner will receive mentorship, marketing exposure, potential incubation by investment entities, and media visibility. Strategic step The award aligns closely with Ras Al Khaimah's vision of economic diversification, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship development particularly within sectors demonstrating sustainable growth, such as food and hospitality. Mohammed Musabah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the RAK Chamber, emphasised the national impact of the award. 'The award reflects our commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship and ensuring their active participation in the national economy,' said Al Nuaimi. The success of this first edition is expected to pave the way for expansion into other high-potential sectors such as tech, creative industries, and hospitality. The RAK Creativity Award is set to spotlight the next wave of Emirati culinary entrepreneurs and help launch their success from Ras Al Khaimah to the region and beyond.

B Hive by BurJuman Mall: Dubai's new free co-working and Chill Space for the modern remote professionals
B Hive by BurJuman Mall: Dubai's new free co-working and Chill Space for the modern remote professionals

Zawya

time9 hours ago

  • Zawya

B Hive by BurJuman Mall: Dubai's new free co-working and Chill Space for the modern remote professionals

RELATED TOPICS UAE RELATED COMPANIES BurJuman Al Ghurair Real Dubai, UAE – BurJuman Mall, part of the Saif Al Ghurair Real Estate Group, launched B Hive early 2025, a much-loved and fast-growing lifestyle that combines a co-working space for professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs with a chill-and-play zone designed for professionals and young adults aged 14+. Located on Level 3, B Hive reflects the mall's evolving vision to cater to Dubai's growing need for accessible, inclusive, and experience-led urban spaces. Following the successful launch of B Hub in 2024, which offered collaborative and learning engagements to the community, B Hive is the latest addition to the mall's third-floor transformation into a lifestyle-led destination. A go-to place for productivity and fun, the space hosts collaborative workdays as well as serves as a creative escape, reimagining the traditional mall environment. Since opening earlier this year, the space has attracted an average of 6,000 visitors per month, quickly becoming a favourite among students, freelancers, and young professionals. The co-working zone spans approximately 4,027 sq ft with seating for up to 90 people, offering free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and workspaces, all complimentary for members who register through the mall's official website and receive a personal QR code. Adjacent to this is the chill-and-play zone, covering around 3,194 sq ft with a capacity for 70 people, where young adults can relax, play games, create content, or simply unwind in a safe and welcoming environment. Adding to the vibrancy of B Hive is the arrival of Bo's Coffee, a coffee kiosk renowned for its handcrafted brews made from beans sourced in the Philippines. Widely appreciated by coffee enthusiasts, Bo's Coffee enhances the B Hive offering by providing a high-quality café experience that uplifts focused work, informal meetings, and social interactions, aligning seamlessly with the mall's vision of delivering lifestyle-driven, purpose-built spaces. The integration of Bo's Coffee into B Hive reinforces BurJuman Mall's commitment to creating spaces that serve practical needs as well as inspiring creativity, connection, and collaboration. B Hive represents another milestone in BurJuman Mall's mission to stay attuned to the evolving needs of its diverse visitors, blending retail, and customer interaction under one roof. About BurJuman Mall BurJuman Mall is one of Dubai's most iconic and longstanding shopping and lifestyle destinations, located in the heart of Al Mankhool, Bur Dubai. Since opening in 1991, the mall has evolved into a vibrant hub that blends heritage with modernity, offering a dynamic mix of retail, dining, and entertainment. Spanning over 75,000 SQM, the mall features more than 200 stores, anchored by leading international and regional brands including Home Box, Off/Price, Centrepoint, Max Fashion, R&B, Brands for Less, Sharaf DG, Emax and LC Waikiki. It also houses VOX Cinemas, Magic Planet, a hypermarket, and an eclectic range of culinary offerings. Key attractions like the Food Pavilion, B Hub, and B Hive serve as vibrant spaces for the customers. Centrally located with direct connectivity to Dubai Metro and major highways, BurJuman Mall enjoys a high footfall from a densely populated and diverse catchment area. Beyond retail, the development includes a business tower and residences, making it a truly integrated urban destination. As a landmark deeply rooted in the city's culture, BurJuman Mall continues to be a place where community thrives, celebrating connection, diversity, and shared experiences.

South Africa: Understanding B-BBEE, costs, benefits, and economic growth
South Africa: Understanding B-BBEE, costs, benefits, and economic growth

Zawya

timea day ago

  • Zawya

South Africa: Understanding B-BBEE, costs, benefits, and economic growth

The current media debate around Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) has brought fresh attention to the policy's impact on the economy – raising important questions about its effectiveness, costs and outcomes. As this conversation grows louder, it's worth taking a closer look at some of the arguments being made. This article engages critically with aspects of the debate, not to dismiss concerns, but to consider them alongside broader economic realities, the policy's longer-term contributions and the context in which B-BBEE was designed to operate. An example from the debate is a recent study released by Solidarity and the Free Market Foundation (FMF), which arguably overlooks certain key economic implications of B-BBEE. Titled The Costs of B-BBEE Compliance, the report estimates that B-BBEE may reduce South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) growth by as much as 1.5 to 3% annually, potentially resulting in 96,000 to 192,000 fewer jobs each year. It further contends that the policy disproportionately benefits a narrow elite while imposing undue compliance costs on the broader economy. While such figures demand scrutiny, they also warrant a critical examination of the underlying assumptions, methodology, and, crucially, the broader socioeconomic context in which B-BBEE operates. Causality and complexity: What the report overlooks One of the most significant concerns with the FMF/Solidarity report is its presentation of correlation as causation. The paper attributes specific percentages of GDP loss and job losses directly to B-BBEE but does not demonstrate how these impacts were isolated from South Africa's myriad economic challenges. South Africa's macroeconomic environment remains deeply constrained by structural impediments such as: - chronic electricity and water shortages, including load shedding; - global economic headwinds; - endemic corruption; and - policy uncertainty and governance deficits. Attributing complex macroeconomic trends solely to B-BBEE risks simplifies a nuanced reality and underestimates the multifactorial nature of South Africa's growth constraints. The neglected side of the ledger: B-BBEE's economic contributions Equally important is the report's limited treatment of the potential benefits of B-BBEE. Many of which manifest over the medium to long term and are difficult to quantify through conventional compliance cost frameworks alone. Equity equivalent programmes (EEPs) EEPs enable multinational corporations, constrained by global ownership structures, to achieve ownership points through local investments in enterprise development, skills transfer, and innovation. Far from being passive mechanisms, EEPs represent substantial, targeted injections into the domestic economy. IBM, for example, committed R700m over 10 years to enterprise development, research, and education. This included support for 74 black-owned businesses and fully funded bursaries for dozens of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in critical ICT fields. Samsung also made a substantial commitment, launching a R280m EEIP in May 2019, projected to contribute nearly R1bn to the South African economy over its 10-year duration. This programme aimed for a measurable impact on job creation, specifically targeting the creation of 262 direct jobs and supporting 13 black-owned and women-owned businesses. A notable focus of Samsung's EEIP is on Black Industrialisation through e-waste recycling and beneficiation research and development, including the establishment of the first black-owned and operated e-waste beneficiation plant in Africa. These company-specific statistics, alongside broader programme impacts such as JP Morgan's Abadali EEIP, which aims for an additional 1,000 permanent jobs and R2bn in financing transactions, underscore the crucial role of EEPs in boosting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly black-owned businesses, by providing essential funding, business support, and mentorship. Furthermore, these programmes significantly advance skills development, with more than 2,500 beneficiaries receiving critical skills training, and facilitating technology transfer, aligning with South Africa's national development goals and fostering a more inclusive and skilled workforce. Such initiatives illustrate how EEPs catalyse skills development, promote black industrialisation, and build competitive black-owned enterprises that contribute to both GDP growth and employment. Youth employment service (YES) The YES programme directly targets South Africa's intractable youth unemployment crisis. Since its inception in 2018, YES has facilitated over 186,000 quality work experiences for young people, injecting nearly R11bn in salaries into the economy. Approximately 45% of participants secure permanent employment after placement, and 17% establish their own businesses, multiplying the long-term economic benefit. The initiative also incentivises private sector participation by offering measurable B-BBEE recognition for companies that create these opportunities. Enterprise and supplier development (ESD) ESD remains a cornerstone of the B-BBEE framework, driving significant investment into the SMME sector. South African corporates reportedly channel R20-30bn annually into ESD programmes, helping integrate black-owned businesses into supply chains and enabling sustainable growth. For instance, the Shoprite Group's CredX programme has provided R10bn in working capital to suppliers, while its Next Capital initiative has invested R20m to support new black-owned enterprises. Collectively, such interventions empower black entrepreneurs, expand the tax base, and generate employment in communities historically excluded from meaningful economic participation. The enduring shadow of apartheid: Why B-BBEE still matters Perhaps the most profound omission in the Solidarity and FMF report is its decontextualised approach to B-BBEE's rationale. Apartheid was not merely a political system; it was an economic design that systematically dispossessed black South Africans of land, capital, skills, and opportunities. This entrenched economic disenfranchisement cannot be dismantled simply by repealing discriminatory laws. B-BBEE emerged as a policy instrument to facilitate redress, promote equitable economic participation, and mitigate the persistent structural inequality that threatens social cohesion and long-term stability. Any analysis that fails to account for this historical imperative and the potential socioeconomic cost of neglecting it, is incomplete. Towards a more constructive conversation There is little doubt that B-BBEE can and should be improved. Calls for greater transparency, genuine empowerment outcomes, and tighter controls to prevent fronting and inefficiency are well-founded. However, presenting a one-sided narrative that focuses exclusively on compliance costs while disregarding significant economic and social returns undermines the opportunity for a more balanced, evidence-based debate. Balancing costs, benefits, and context As South Africa grapples with the challenges of inclusive growth, any meaningful conversation about the future of B-BBEE must extend beyond a narrow cost-benefit calculus. It must weigh the policy's role in addressing historical injustices, its measurable and often intangible benefits, and the opportunity costs of not transforming the economy. A policy of this nature should not be romanticised or demonised without context. Instead, it demands honest, nuanced engagement, one that prioritises national development, social cohesion, and sustainable, broad-based participation in the economy. Moving forward, the question should not be whether B-BBEE has costs but rather whether we are collectively doing enough to ensure that its benefits are fully realised and that it continues to evolve to serve the South Africa we aspire to build. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store