www.bahrainthismonth.com business bites 40 April 2021 International express and logistics service provider, DHL Express MENA, has signed a partnership with FODEL, the first Pick-up and Drop-off (PUDO) network provider in the GCC that, through an advanced PUDO technology platform, signs up and manages local merchants from across the region as alternative pick-up locations to home delivery. The partnership with FODEL consolidates last-mile logistics and provides a more convenient delivery solution for DHL MENA’s customers. Commenting on the partnership, CEO of DHL Express MENA, Nour Suliman said: “eCommerce in the MENA is on an upward trend and we anticipate that it will continue on its double-digit trajectory in the foreseeable future. Our partnership with FODEL will enable us to overcome any delivery challenges, particularly last mile, by building on its extensive network of PUDO locations for both collections and eventually returns.”The partnership will drive operational and cost efficiencies for DHL, as well as consumer convenience and choice, while also tackling a range of environmental and operational challenges associated with online shopping and failed deliveries. ENHANCED LOGISTICS Four new Arab countries, namely Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine and Yemen, have joined the Arab ICT Union (AICTU) which is headquartered in Bahrain. They join the existing five members: Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon and Bahrain, bringing the total number of members to nine. AICTU Secretary-General, Ahmed Al Hujairy, said: “The ICT sector has a tremendous ability to contribute to all fields of development, and make people’s lives easier by facilitating rapid access to services. We are confident that our cooperation will produce tangible successes in the region and bring about the largest possible integration between Arab countries in the field of manufacturing and producing ICT solutions.” AICTU was launched by the Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH) and continues its efforts to attract all Arab countries to its membership, in a way that leads to boosting the contribution of Arab technology companies in the ICT industry worldwide. The Umatter campaign for mental health and well-being in the Kingdom of Bahrain has launched an integrated package of support and counseling services for the mental health of employees of companies and institutions. The services were launched with the aim of contributing to a safe return to work for employees while increasing productivity, and avoiding any negative repercussions inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Umatter Founder and Strategic Leadership & Human Development Adviser, Wael Zaki, said: “Following the pandemic, there will be a need to invest in the mental health of workers and employees in the private sector, as human capital is the most important asset of any company or institution.” Umatter uses the latest scientific approach in the field of employees’ and workers’ mental health, having recently developed the methodology to cope with the change in business performance in light of the pandemic, including remote work or working in an environment that follows precautionary measures. Umatter co-founder and Talent Management and Life Skills Adviser, Rula Husseini, said: “The International Labour Organization (ILO) statistics indicate that for every one dollar invested in providing treatment for common mental disorders, a return of four dollars is achieved in terms of improvement of health and productivity.” “On the other hand, depression and anxiety have serious effects on the economy, in terms of lost productivity to the global economy estimated at one trillion US dollars annually,’ she concluded. COPING WITH CHANGE LEADING THE WAY
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