| NPC EXPORTS 500 TONS ANNUALLY TO EGYPT
National Prawn Co. has started a new agreement to export Saudi shrimp to Egypt which is considered one of the largest shrimp consumers in the ME. The Egyptian market is particularly a promising market as it is close by making shipment easier which plays an important part in preserving the quality and value of the product.
This comes as part of the company’s efforts to expand on its range of operations in the ME. During the past few months, a number of agreements with ME countries have been already initiated. National Prawn Co. assures its commitment to providing the highest grade of this National product through its renowned experience and QC.
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NATIONAL PRAWN COMPANY SIGNS JOINT COOPERATION MEMORANDUM WITH KING ABDUL AZIZ UNIVERSITY
National Prawn Company (NPC) signed a Joint Cooperation Memorandum covering scientific research and training with King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU) represented by it’s faculty of Marine Sciences. The ceremony was attended by Al Laith Mayor Mr. Abdulrahman Nawar Al Harbi, representatives from Governmental departments and academics and researchers from the University. The agreement was signed by his Excellency Dr. Osama Sadiq Tayeb, director of KAAU and Sheikh Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al Rajhi, Chairman of the Board of Directors at National Prawn Company (NPC). During the signing ceremony, Sheikh Al Rajhi said that the objective of the mutual cooperation memorandum with KAAU is to achieve sustainable development utilizing operational policies that take environment, feasibility and social responsibility factors into consideration.
Dr. Tayeb, on other hand, said that the agreement comes as a direct result of the Royal directions to encourage partnerships between Saudi universities and the private sector for the benefit of future development plans in the Kingdom. The most important aspect in the agreement is that it focuses on specialization and providing qualified Saudi talents from the faculty of Marine Sciences in KAAU. |
| "NATIONAL PRAWN COMPANY" GOLD SPONSOR AT OMAN 2006 SEAFOOD EXHIBITION
National Prawn Company recently sponsored the Oman 2006 seafood exhibition and conference. The company presented its experience and success case study in shrimp aquaculture and applying the fundamentals of Sustainable Development which has reflected on the quality and safety of its products at a time when global demand for seafood aquaculture products is rising due to it not being affected by recent bio-security issues and also due to the inability of sea-catch products to meet the increasing demand of a rising global population. |
| "PINAR" FROM TURKI AND NPC SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
National Prawn Company signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with Pinar from Turkey, producer of food products with the aim of paving the way for future commercial cooperation between the two companies.
The MOU was signed by Engr. Ahmad Al Balla -General Manager of NPC and Mr. Sedat Otles –Business Development & Sales Director from Pinar at NPC’s head office in Al Lith. The MOU comes as part of NPC’s direction to increase its local and international customers in alignment with the large expansions currently being carried out on its shrimp farms. |
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NPC TRAINS AND QUALIFIES 60 SAUDI YOUNG MEN
As part of its Saudization plan, NPC completed training and employment program for 60 Saudi young men in various job openings available in the Company. In a graduation ceremony organized by NPC, GM Eng. Ahmad Al-Balla awarded the graduates their certificates, wishing them all the best in their future careers. The program is part of an agreement signed with the Human Resources Development Fund for training and employing Saudi youth, who will join the shrimp farming industry. The training was conducted at the Training and Qualifying Center in the Company’s premises. The upcoming period will be a real opportunity for the graduates to apply their knowledge in the shrimp farming industry, which is considered to be a new and promising field in the Kingdom.
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| WORLD EXPERT IN BIO-SECURITY COMMENDS NPC SYSTEMS
Professor Tim Flegel, from the Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CENTEX) in Thailand, who specializes in shrimp bio-security, said that the NPC is a source pride for the Kingdom in shrimp cultivation. Thanks to the company’s care for bio-security, taking into consideration that bio-security is increasingly becoming a priority for consumers. He said that NCP is one of the rare projects in the world that strictly adheres to bio-security. That is why no disease or viral infections have ever been recorded since production initiation. GM Eng. Ahmed Al-Balla said that spread of diseases and viral infections could be a threat that may negatively affect the shrimp cultivation industry. He added that NPC has always applyed creative procedures to detect and prevent any disease through developing regulations and procedures of bio-security. |
| NINE TRUCKS TO SUPPORT NPC’S FLEET FOR THE INITIATION OF THE 2ND PHASE
NPC signed a contract to purchase nine trucks, capacity of each is 36 tons, at an amount of SR 25 million. The new trucks will be utilized in implementation of the second phase of NPC’s project. GM Eng. Ahmad Al-Balla announced that the second phase will increase the project area to 6,000 acres of production aquariums, and the production will rise to 30000 tons of cultured shrimps per year. NPC’s production will fully cover the local demand, while export products to international markets will also increase. |
| DELEGATION FROM ICBA VISITS NPC
September -A delegation form the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) headed by Prof. Dr. Faisal Taha –Director of Technical Programs visited NPC to review the progress stage of the joint biosaline project that is currently being piloted on location. Dr. Taha explained that the objective of the effort is to develop a model program that benefits from farm returned sea water by purifying it from organic matter and using it in planting trees, shrubs and grasses which in turn will help preserve the desert environment by stabilizing the soil thus attracting residents and in the long term creating a basses for developing new residential areas in the kingdom. This cooperation comes under an agreement signed between ICBA and NPC. |
| SAUDI EMPLOYEE MEETING
Aug- NPC held its second Saudi employee meeting headed by our GM Eng. Ahmad Al-Balla. The meeting is intended to address the concerns and career paths of the local Saudi workforce. This is part of NPC’s drive to retain and develop its staff. |
| NPC BOARD MEETING ENDORSES SR 35 MILLION FOR NEW EQUIPMENT
July- Headed by Sh. Sulaiman Al Rajhi and attended by board members; Mr. Mohammad Al Balla, Mr. Naser Al Subaiei, Engr. Ahmad Al Balla and Mr. Khaled Al Rajhi the quarterly meeting reviewed the company’s mid year results and plans for the coming period leading up to the second phase. During the meeting an endorsement of 35 million SR was approved for purchasing new equipment that will be used to construct phase two. |
| EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION VISITS NPC
July- An Egyptian delegation, lead by the Director of the General Council for the Development of Fish Resources -Dr. Ezzat Ibrahim accompanied by Mr. Jaber Al Shihri Director of the Ministry of Agriculture office in the Makkah area recently visited the headquarters of National Prawn Co. to view the Kingdom’s experiment in shrimp farming. Dr. Ezzat Ibrahim considered the kingdoms experience in shrimp farming a successful example of the countries achievement in developing a fully integrated production system which has made the project the only one of its kind in the world. |
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ROYAL INAUGURATION
HRH Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz inaugurated Phase-1 of NPC’s Project site at Al-Lith on the 12th of March, 2003 and simultaneously laid the foundation stone for Phase-2 of the Project. |
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SHRIMP EXPORT TO EU
NPC shall start export of white farmed shrimp and shrimp products to the European markets.
The Saudi Government has been notified that its application concerning the export of Saudi farmed shrimp to EU has been approved on January 2005. |
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HATCHERY DEPARTMENT INSTALLS ROBOTIC FEEDER IN NURSERY UNIT
In its newest nursery unit capable of producing 120 million fry per month. NPC has installed a feeding robot from Arvo-Tec Oy, Finland. Whilst a common site in advanced fish hatcheries, this is the first time that this kind of robot feeding unit has been used for shrimp fry production. With the robot feeding 15 times daily, feed is always available for fry to eat and so growth, survival and quality is superior. In addition, lower feed and labor costs ensure a short payback period. |
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BIOSALINE AGRICULTURE PROJECT
On july 2004, NPC signed agreement with the international center for Biosaline agriculture (ICBA), UAE to establish research and development activities leading to a large-scale utilization of return seawater from shrimp farms, seawater and underground saline water for the production of halophytes. |
| ESTABLISHMENT OF KOREA & UAE MARKETS
As part of NPC's on going marketing strategy to extend its wings into various international markets, NPC has in July 2004 penetrated into Korea and UAE. NPC has also started to establish its brand name in Korean markets in a very short time span due to its quality and consistency in supply. |
NPC PRODUCTS IS NOW AVAILABLE AT LOCAL SUPERMARKETS
NPC extended its presence in the local market by launching new products through Hypermarkets and A Class Supermarket chains in the Kingdom. |
NEW PRODUCTS LAUNCHED
In its drive towards diversification of products, NPC has launched new value added products such as Peeled D-veined Tail-On IQF (PDTO IQF) and Head-On Shell-On SIQF (HOSO SIQF) in different sizes. |
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