Dec. 22--BAHRAIN MAY HOST FOOD SAFETY LAB: At a meeting of Gulf port food officials, it was discussed that Bahrain may soon host a regional laboratory aimed at improving food safety across the Gulf. The meeting reviewed allocating different ports in the Gulf for specific food tests across the region. Health Ministry' food hygiene head Abdulla Baqer said the food lab in Bahrain is ideal for microbiological tests on meat, chicken and fish.

UAE SLOWDOWN TO BE LESS THAN INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES: The UAE will not be affected by the current global slowdown as much as industrial countries, Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor, Chairman of Al Habtoor Group, said in a new report by The Oxford Group. In 'The Report: Dubai 2009', Al Habtoor said the UAE still has companies growing at rates of between 45 percent and 60 percent and the overall economy has a growth rate in excess of 6.5 percent. 'However, growth in certain sectors may have been exaggerated in recent years. This disease that is infecting the economies of the rest of the world will slow our pace, but business will continue,' he added.

LEVITON SETS UP IN JEBEL ALI: Wiring device manufacturer Leviton Manufacturing Company has opened its Middle East regional office in Jebel Ali Free Zone. The company is investing $2m to ramp up its business in the Middle East. The US-based company is also a producer of electrical and electronic products.

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