Gulftainer signs sponsorship agreement with Al Mina'a Basrah Football Club, Iraq

Sport plays an important role in maintaining community spirit and fostering cooperation

Sharjah, 16 September 2009, As part of its ongoing commitment to upholding the ideals of corporate social responsibility (CSR), leading international port management and logistics firm Gulftainer has signed an agreement to sponsor the Al Mina'a Football Club (Port Club) in Basrah, Iraq.

The agreement was signed in Basrah on Thursday 10 September by Mr Keith Nuttall, Gulftainer Group Commercial Manager, and Captain Hadi Ahmed, Team Manager of Al Mina'a Football Club, in the presence of Mr Aziz Shniwer, Deputy Director General of the Iraqi Ports Authority, Mr Ibrahim Serhan, Gulftainer Business Development Manager (Projects), and other senior officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Gulftainer Group Commercial Manager Keith Nuttall said, "We are delighted to be here, and to be able to show our support for the people of Iraq in ways going beyond our day-to-day operations. Since Gulftainer is a port management firm, it seemed only fitting that we focus on Basrah and sponsor the Al Mina'a team. The football season begins in October, and all of us at Gulftainer look forward to supporting our team throughout the coming season."

"The signing of this sponsorship agreement is an indication of Gulftainer's commitment to the country and to the region in general, and our desire not only to contribute to development projects and infrastructure growth, but to support all aspects of the lives of the people in the communities in which we operate. We consider soccer to be a social sport that brings people and societies together, and it is our hope that the Al Mina'a Football Club will continue to achieve great things in the future, as it has in the past."

Gulftainer Business Development Manager (Projects) Mr Ibrahim Serhan said on the occasion:
"Gulftainer's commitment to sponsoring local community activities and sports stems from the deep conviction that a balanced mind needs a healthy body, and that sports in general - and soccer in particular - play a very important role in maintaining community spirit and fostering cooperation between its members to achieve a common goal. In times like these, this spirit that brings unity is much needed in Iraq."

Captain Hadi Ahmed, Team Manager of Al Mina'a Football Club, said, "We are delighted to be entering into such a partnership with Gulftainer, and we look forward to a very successful League season."

The Al Mina'a Football Club (www.alminaa-sc.com) is part of the Iraqi Premier League, and was the first team from outside Baghdad to win the Iraqi Premier League in 1978.

Gulftainer has operations and is involved in projects throughout the region, including the UAE, Kuwait, Turkey and Pakistan, and the firm is currently progressing initiatives in Iraq as well.

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Note to the editor
Gulftainer Company Limited was established in 1976 in the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The company's prime role is to manage and operate the container terminals in Port Khalid and also Khorfakkan on behalf of Sharjah Port Authority.

Complimenting this work, Gulftainer also owns one of the largest heavy transport fleets in the United Arab Emirates, a container repair company, a shipping agency which undertakes local ship/cargo agency work and actively pursues international port management opportunities.

As part of a broad based, privately owned group, Gulftainer Co. Ltd. is able to meet all the requirements of shipping lines in the UAE and also serve the transport needs of UAE based traders and manufacturers. Whilst the company has grown over the years, the management firmly believes in hands-on-control. The lines of communication are deliberately kept short to speed up decision making and maintain momentum.

For further information, please contact:
Robyn Grimsley
SAHARA Communications
Tel: +971 4 329 8996
+971 50 848 5487
Email: robyn@saharagcc.com