Company sole distributor for 4 brands from US, Italy and Norway in GCC

Dubai, March 16th, 2006: Western Marine LLC, an independent arm of Western Auto, launched in Dubai, to bring internationally renowned luxury yacht brands to the GCC has been honored to be a part of the brilliant Dubai International Boat Show. Western Marine LLC is showcasing a fleet of four brands from US, Italy and Norway at the 14th Dubai International Boat Show being held at the Dubai International Marine Club, Mina Seyahi from March 14 - 18, 2006. Western Auto is an independent venture backed by the highly respected ETA-Ascon group of UAE. 

The company is showcasing a fleet of yachts at the 14th Dubai International Boat Show. The fleet includes two CARVER Yachts (38' Super Sport and 43' Motor Yacht) and a MARQUIS 65' Yacht manufactured by the Carver Boat Corporation, LLC, USA, an AICON 56' Yacht manufactured by AICON YACHTS, Italy and a WINDY 42' Grand Bora Yacht manufactured by Windy Boats A/S, Norway. The yachts available in the GCC will range from USD 300,000 to USD 2,500,000.

"With the growth of Waterfront properties and marinas in the Middle East and Dubai in particular, and a distinct change in lifestyle in the region, there is an exponential growth in demand for leisure yachts. The next few years will see a steady growth in demand for marina berths as more and more individuals from the region will invest in this form of  luxury. We would like to be a part of all aspects of growth in Dubai and this is just another step towards that direction," said Mr. Syed M Salahuddin, Managing Director, ETA Group.

This new venture draws from the vast knowledge domain of several industry verticals within the ETA group. Gauging the pulse of the tourism and hospitality industry in the GCC, Western Marine has brought these brands to make the luxury living feasible and practical for the patrons and clients.   

"This entity has been set-up to take forward the vision of Mr. Syed M Salahuddin, Managing Director, ETA Group. It is his foresight for the industrial boom in Dubai and the Middle East, that we are fortunate to carry forward," said Mr. A.J. Kamal, General Manager, Western Marine LLC.

Western Marine operates from the KNOTIKA Mega Store in Dubai and as an authorized distributor, would provide the whole range of after sales services, including warranties etc. The company expects to sell the yachts to High Net-Worth Individuals in the region, initially. As a sole distributor for all the four brands, the company plans to start leasing and rental at a later stage after establishing its brand equity in the market.    

Western Marine has signed a MoU with partners M/s Falcon Al Wadi Trading in Oman and M/s Al Dorani Trading Est. in Qatar. It is negotiating with other potential partners for markets in other GCC Countries. The company is also identifying suitable area distributors to represent its brands in their respective markets.

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About ETA Ascon:
Emirates Trading Agency-Associated Constructions and Investments (ETA ASCON) Co. L.L.C. is a multinational and diversified Group established in 1973 as a joint venture under UAE's Abdulla Al Ghurair Group and Amana Investments Ltd., Hong Kong. ETA-ASCON has built an enviable reputation for quality, service and cost-effective technological capability. Headquartered in Dubai, the Group network undertakes construction, contracting and infrastructure project work in several countries, having over 23 branches and associate offices worldwide. Areas of expertise include Engineering, Contracting, Construction, Manufacturing, Trading, Shipping, Transportation, Jewellery, Travel, Consumer Electronics, Recycling, Automobiles, Building Maintenance, Information Technology, Human Resources Management and Real Estate. The Group's consolidated sales for the year ending 2004 were in excess of USD 2.0 billion. For more information, please visit www.etaascon.com.

About Western Auto:
WESTERN AUTO is a division of ETA-ASCON and a member of AL-GHURAIR group based in Dubai, UAE, since 1973. Western Auto deals with Import & Export of automobile of renowned brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, Lexus, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Hyundai, etc. in U.A.E. and exporting to all major destinations in Middle East, Far East, Africa, Europe & America. These products include passenger cars (both left-hand and right-hand drive) in the economy, mid-range and luxury segments, 4 wheel-drives, sports utility vehicles, pick-up trucks and light commercial vehicles and heavy trucks and tractor heads. Western Auto enables customers to obtain vehicles with a rare or unique mix of features and accessories. Newly launched and premium cars can be located and supplied as per requirement, at reasonable prices. We also have supplied vehicles to subcontractors of UN and various aid agencies as well. For more information, please visit www.westernautodubai.com.

For further information, please contact:
Prem Ramachandran/ Upasna Swain
ASDA'A Public Relations,
Exclusive Affiliate of Edelman PR Worldwide in Middle East and North Africa,
PO Box 28063, Dubai,
UAE,
Tel: +971-4-3344550,
Fax: +971-4-3344556,
E-mail: info@asdaa.com,
Web: www.asdaa.com

© Press Release 2006