Afa Press partner on Aruba, published within USA Today

Being in the Caribbean region implies a huge challenge in order of competition in the tourism sector. But still Aruba has been able to find its gap and become a well known destination in the area. But the island is not only about tourism. So discovered a multinational team sent to Aruba by United World, one of AFA Press partner agencies. The team spent several months in the country understanding the reality of the country, its business and its economy, thanks to first hand information. After having compiled enough data and interviewed the most relevant personalities of the country, the agency elaborated a special country report on Aruba which was published in the USA Today on Thursday, February 28, 2013, and which can alse be read at Worldfolio, the AFA Press on-line content platform.

One of these personalities was Roland Croes, Director of SETAR, a telecommunication company which is putting all its efforts in modernizing the industry of this Caribbean island. According to Mr. Croes, they “look at what is happening in Europe and the U.S. and try to structure it to apply to the realities in Aruba.” As a matter of fact, Aruba is always one of the first countries in the region to implement new technologies.

Special report on Kuwait published within the USA Today, by AFA Press partner agency

When most of the population listen the name Kuwait, the first word that comes up to their mind is oil. Petroleum, if you prefer. Well, the country has been putting all its recent efforts on diversifying its economy, focusing on structural key areas as education. One of AFA Press partner agencies, United World, was there to check on site the evolution of this process, to gather real information on the country’s economy and business and to interview some of the most relevant personalities and businessmen in Kuwait. As a result, the agency produced a special country report based on its on-the-field experience and conclusions and showing a portrait of the current situation and evolution of the country. This special report was published within the USA Today on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 and can be read on-line at Worldfolio.

As defended by Bayan Investment founder Faisal Ali Al-Mutawa, “Kuwait is a country with about 1 million citizens, 2 million expatriates and less than 9,000 square miles floating on 10% of the world’s proven oil reserves. […]It is one of the world’s richest countries with a third of a trillion dollars in assets, producing about 3 million barrels of oil a day which translates into a daily income of $300 million.” But during the last years oil is not enough for this Western-oriented emirate. In order to guarantee and propel its future in the current century, it is taking big efforts in developing proper health and education systems, modifying its political structure, promoting and adapting development plans or focusing on wealth management, among other relevant measures.

Julio Luis Martínez, ICAI-ICADE Rector, talks with AFA Press

AFA Press had the chance to interview Rector of Universidad Pontificia Comillas ICAI-ICADE Julio Luis Martínez. The institution is a Jesuit-administered Catholic institution located in the middle of Madrid which has more than seven thousand collaborative agreements with international and Spanish companies, apart from 240 universities, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Shanghai International Studies University and King’s College London included.

In the last times ICAI-ICADE has signed collaborative agreements with four top Chinese Universities. According to Martínez, “These agreements are working very well; however we would like to extend them. Initially, the Chinese government only wished to sign agreements with public universities, although they now want to give their students the option to come and study here. A representative from the Chinese Embassy came to Comillas to visit the university and find out more about it, with a view to bringing us on board. This is the first step for us: once we are authorized by the Chinese government to receive graduate-level exchanges, we will be able to work with more universities”.

He explains there are two main key factors for the success of his University (ranked 4th in industrial engineering in all Europe). These are high academic standards and employability. These two factors are well sided by an individual attention to all students, business contacts, professors with experience in companies and a tough selection process in order to full the university with the best students.

Bangladesh, by AFA Press partner United World

United World, an AFA Press partner agency with a special agreement with USA Today, published a special country report on Bangladesh within the North-American daily newspaper on Monday, November 19, 2012. This report was elaborated by one of the agency’s teams, which traveled to the country in order to imbibe the cultural, economical and business uses and realities. During their stay, they had the chance to inquire the reality of the country and to interview some of its most relevant personalities. These interviews, along with other key pieces of news, can be read on-line at Worldfolio, as well as the whole report on Bangladesh.

Among the different leaders AFA Press partners interviewed in the country it was Chairman of Pacific Jeans, Nasir Uddin. His company is a leader in the exporting sector, specifically in the ready-made garment (RMG), and a Bangladeshi pioneering premium jeans manufacturer. According to his words, Bangladesh is capable of accommodating the needs of the top-tier international premium brands. In fact, up-market retailers are already sourcing from Bangladesh.”

In the same line, he defends “Made in Bangladesh” as a synonym of quality and efficiency and, as many other manufacturers, fight against the general image of a low-priced garment production associated with some Asian markets. He defines his country as an upscale, quality high-street manufacturing hub.