5-year partnership to create an integrated ground transport services company


Doha, Qatar, April 5 2004:  Targeting to provide integrated transport solutions to Qatar and the region, a new company – the Qatar Transport Company - has been floated by the Qatari Government with a mission to become a regional player in the provision of integrated ground transport services, supporting the development of Qatar and the GCC region.
 
Announcing the launch of the new venture in partnership with world’s leading ERP vendor, SAP and business transformation consultancy major, Axon, a senior official of the Qatar Taxi Company said that the company will be operational by the summer of 2004.
 
Mr. Al Meer CEO of Qatar Taxi Company said: “This programme will build on our previous successes in delivering infrastructure programmes and will also assist in the promotion of Qatarization – providing long-term quality jobs to local Qatari people.”
 
“We chose Axon and SAP because of the depth and breadth of their capability in the business transformation market.  In the long-term we hope not just to serve the local Qatari market but also to become a regional player establishing us as a Centre of Excellence, providing transport services to other countries in the Gulf region and beyond,” he said.
 
The transport company will operate a taxi and limousine fleet of approximately 1,500 vehicles together with mass transit services supporting public transport, and corporate sectors. In addition the company will design and implement transport solutions for significant events. – for instance, the 15th Asian Games in Doha in 2006.
 
Axon has been engaged by the Qatar Taxi Company to assist in the set-up and management of all aspects of this venture, from establishing offices, organisational design, process design, to recruiting and training staff and delivery of all supporting technology.  The implementation of ISO best practice processes will be the foundation for this sustainable profitable business.  
 
The Qatar Taxi Company, apart from serving the local Qatari market will also become a regional player establishing itself as a Centre of Excellence, providing transport services to other countries in the Gulf region and beyond.
 
Mr. Essam Enany , President, SAP Arabia said: “This programme is the foundation upon which the transport organisation can be built with eyes set on the future. It will set the standard for best practice in integrated business processes within the transport sector in the Middle East. It is also one of the first Middle East implementations of our most advanced mySAP business suite.”
 
Mr. Mark Hunter, CEO, Axon said; “This programme represents a major part of Qatar’s wider world-class transport and tourism strategy. The completion of this programme will enable the staff of Qatar Taxi Company to enjoy maximum productivity and offer the highest possible standards of customer service to meet the needs of this rapidly growing Emirate.”

-Ends-
 
Notes to the Editor:About Axon
Axon is a business transformation consultancy that designs, implements and supports solutions to complex business issues faced by multinational companies who have selected SAP as their strategic enterprise platform.   Founded in 1994, the company built its reputation by employing the best consultants and partnering with leading business and technology companies to deliver complete business solutions. Axon has built upon this track record and it now offers end-to-end solutions, from business consultancy through to the integration, support and evolution of systems. Axon operates from 4 offices across the globe, employs over 400 people and its client list includes BP, Centrica and Xerox.
 
About SAP Arabia
SAP Arabia is the exclusive regional distributor for SAP AG, Germany.  SAP AG is recognised as the leader in providing collaborative e-business solutions for all types of industries for nearly three decades. SAP Arabia, established in 1994 in Jeddah and Dubai, has been offering SAP solutions in 19 countries in the Middle East and North Africa including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The market leader in the region, SAP Arabia provides support and services covering e-business, finance, logistics and human resources processes to diverse companies in the Middle East, 25 per cent of which belong to the oil and gas sector. SAP Arabia has offices and training facilities in Jeddah, Dubai and Cairo dedicated to bringing support services closer to customers and partners across the Middle East and North Africa. 
 
For Further Information visit   www.saparabia.com
 
For more information, contact:
Sandra Alkhatib,
SAP Arabia – 971 4 3301777
sandra.khatib@saparabia.com
 
Darren Cherry,
Axon Solutions Ltd.
971 4 391 0820
darren.cherry@axonglobal.com
 
Issued by:
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© Press Release 2004