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Alstom aims high in Middle East By Manoj Nair Staff Reporter Dubai: French utility and transportation company Alstom is targeting the Middle East and Africa (MEA), South Asia and Latin America as offering significant opportunities in the medium term.
During the six-month period ended September the order book was up a healthy 50 per cent compared with the same period in 2003.
There have been contracts worth 1.4 billion euros (Dh6.92 billion) from China, which is considered a major contributor.
In the Middle East and Africa, Alstom has been buoyed by transportation related contracts, such as electrification of the Algerian subway. It has also deals in Amman and Kuwait. The MEA territory accounted for 14 per cent in terms of orders during its recent financials.
"The last two years have seen the financial restructuring of the company, through refinance and selling off some businesses to reduce debt," said Patrick Kron, chairman and chief executive officer during a visit to Dubai.
"We have completed what had to be done, and there has also been a significant increase in equity with the full support of shareholders. Customers on their part have started to place trust again in what we have to offer."
The 2003-04 numbers also show Alstom - which has supplied over 20 per cent of the world's installed capacity in power generation with 14.4 billion euros (Dh71.14 billion) in sales. The order backlog is placed at 25.3 billion euros (Dh125 billion).
Europe still accounts for 50 per cent of orders, while the rest is shared more or less equally between the Americas, Asia-Pacific and MEA.
While sales of new gas and coal fired equipment have been slow, there has been a significant improvement in services and transportation contracts.
In MEA, a revitalised Alstom, in which the French Government has a more than 20 per cent stake, is aiming to land some big-ticket transportation projects.
It is a bidder for Dubai's metro rail project, which Kron said is right at the centre of the company's radar. The official added that their offer is "very competitive".
"Over the recent past, we have not had a number of large projects on the transportation side from this region," said Kron.
"But that is changing with the Algerian project and others in the Gulf and Maghreb.
"We believe our two core areas - power and transportation - can have a big role in the growth and development works in the region."
Alstom maintains a base in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, which services most of the other regional markets, as well as Iran and Pakistan, mostly on the power side.
On the strong euro, Kron said: "Obviously, the euro's evolution is not helping European companies in their expenses. But our job is to adapt to specific situations.
"To address the currency, we have re-assessed our procurement chain. It has also helped us to have a strong local presence in over 60 countries to add to the base in Europe.
"We have hedged the currency, and fixed the various price components. These steps have ensured the euro has no immediate impact."
Prospects are also emerging in certain markets because of the high cost of energy.
"In the US, the gas market is slow because of the high prices. This has resulted in significant movement towards coal-based utilities.
"Here, I foresee a number of opportunities as Alstom has 50 per cent of the coal-based utilities in the US."
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