General Electric (NYSE: GE) has won the US Secretary of State’s global 2016 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) for its inclusive hiring practices in Saudi Arabia underlined by the All-Women Business Process & IT Services Center in Riyadh.
The annual ACE is presented to US firms that uphold the highest standards of responsible business conduct in their global operations. ACE nominations are focused on the exemplary operations of a company in a specific country with the nominations made by US embassies and consulates. Tony Blinken, Deputy Secretary of State, presented the award to GE at a ceremony held in Washington DC.
Announced in September 2013, the groundbreaking all-women center is a partnership between GE, Saudi Aramco and TCS. The center celebrated the milestone of employing 1,000 women last March, with a target of hiring 3,000 women in the coming years. GE and Saudi Aramco are anchor clients of the center, with services now extended to include Saudi Telecom Company and the Saudi Ministry of Economy & Planning.
A round 600 employees work exclusively on projects for GE as part of Global Operations, GE’s multi-functional shared services organization. At the core of the GE Store, Global Operations is a critical enabler of the company’s simplification efforts. A very diverse team, Global Operations has more than 8,000 employees around the world, comprising 99 nationalities, 62 percent of whom are women. The all-women team in Saudi Arabia delivers 23 shared services operations such as Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology and Enterprise Data Management, for more than 50 GE locations world-wide.
The center in Riyadh is working on expanding its scale, by exploring opportunities with potential customers in the government and private sectors. This directly supports Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to increase the female workforce participation from 22 to 30 percent in the coming years.
Hisham Albahkali, GE’s President & CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said: “We are exceptionally proud of our Saudi female talent who are engaged in diverse career paths — from engineers to lawyers to roles in our all-women shared services center. Focused on localization and Saudi talent development, we work with our partners to support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by accelerating the participation of Saudi women in the workforce. Inclusive hiring is part of our corporate commitment and the all-women center is a vital component of our talent ecosystem.”
GE wins award for inclusive hiring practices in Saudi Arabia
GE wins award for inclusive hiring practices in Saudi Arabia
iCAUR V27 Saudi media test drive ignites excitement, conquering the Edge of the World!
iCAUR held a V27 media test drive event in Riyadh on Jan. 22.
Twelve local journalists and KOLs took four V27s to Saudi Arabia's famous natural landmark, the Edge of the World.
They got a hands-on experience of the Boxy Styled SUV’s classic style and advanced technology on challenging real-world roads.
In the morning, journalists and KOLs gathered in downtown Riyadh.
Through product briefings and interactive sessions, guests got an up-close look at the V27’s core technologies and design philosophy while enjoying a relaxed brunch, introducing iCAUR in detail.
Afterward, the test drive convoy left the city and drove roughly 200 km northwest to the Edge of the World.
During the drive, participants praised the V27’s smooth and quiet ride.
They also appreciated the 15.4-inch 3K HD touchscreen and the smart infotainment system powered by the 8155 chip.
Voice control for navigation, climate, and music was also highly appreciated.
The test drive destination, the Edge of the World, is located north of the Tuwaik Mountains, which stretches upto 1,000 km.
It is a steep cliff with a drop of about 300 meters and is one of Saudi Arabia’s most iconic natural wonders.
The nearly two-hour journey passes vast plains with almost no signal and few clear road signs. The desert is full of faint tire tracks and gullies eroded by rain.
In this environment, the V27’s power and off-road capability are fully showcased.
As iCAUR’s first mass-production model equipped with Golden REEV (Range-Extended Electric Vehicle), the V27 uses a 1.5T engine dedicated to range extension, with a thermal efficiency of 45.79% and the ability to generate 3.71kWh per liter of fuel.
This gives the V27 a combined range of over 1,000km, allowing it to handle long distances even in deserts and rugged terrains with limited refueling options.
The front and rear dual motors deliver a combined 455hp, enabling 0–100km/h acceleration in around 5 seconds, providing consistent and strong power on complex roads.
Tuned by the world-class Prodrive racing team and paired with the i-AWD (intelligent All-Wheel Drive) system, the V27 stays stable at high speeds.
It also delivers precise, controlled handling on gravel and uneven surfaces, delivering an exceptional driving feel for a 5-meter vehicle. This balance of performance and efficiency has been repeatedly highlighted by the media and KOLs during the event.
The first batch of iCAUR V27s has now been officially shipped to six Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
The Middle East will serve as the global debut region for the V27, with launches in the UAE and Bahrain in February, followed by Saudi Arabia in March.
Before the official launch, iCAUR will roll out a series of activities in Saudi Arabia, including mall displays and showroom openings, allowing media and users to get up close with this new energy classic.
The showrooms will also feature the AiMOGA humanoid robot, powered by Chery Group’s latest AI technology. Stay tuned!
