Dubai: One of the leading global suppliers for the oil, gas and power industry, Tyco, says it is intensifying its investment and footprint in the Middle East region after having expanded its regional headquarters in Dubai. Gulf News asked Patrick Decker, President of Tyco Flow Control, about the company's plans.
GULF NEWS: Could you please outline the growth plans of Tyco in the Middle East?
PATRICK DECKER: Tyco has designated the Middle East as a strategic growth area and we are committed to our customers in this region moving forward. We've maintained a steady beat of expansion of our Middle East operations since 2007, which have grown at an annual rate of more than 40 per cent. We continue to strengthen our presence in other markets in the region, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait. Tyco will continue to bring in the right products and services to the region.
What is the portfolio of Tyco in the region?
Tyco provides a full range of security and safety products and services as well as flow management, water management and heat management solutions that are central to the key industries in the Middle East, including oil and gas, refining, power, water and transportation. Tyco's business divisions work collaboratively to leverage the total strength of Tyco to meet the Middle East's critical infrastructure development needs and ensure customers' operations run more safely, securely and efficiently.
Any plans of expanding the regional headquarters in Dubai further? What is the staff size?
We expanded our headquarters in Dubai last year. We are committed to employing and developing local talent, and currently employ more than 700 team members in the region, many of whom fill highly technical roles in engineering, operations, finance and other skills key to the region's growth.
What are the biggest companies you are supporting in the region? Which of them are from the UAE?
Tyco has worked with leading companies in the region, including Adnoc, Petrofac, Qatar Petroleum, Sabic, Enoc, CB&I, NPCC, PDO, KOC, SEC, Dewa, Adwea and Dubai Municipality. Tyco has also been involved in a variety of projects, including the Emirates Palace Hotel, Dubai Metro, Dubai Airport, Palm Tunnel, Adia HQ, Masdar, King Abdullah Economic City, Burj Khalifa, Dolphin and Emal.
Are there any regional production facilities of Tyco in the GCC?
Tyco will continue to bring in the right products and services to the region. In addition, we are committed to providing our customers in the region with customised products and services tailored for their special needs. We understand that the ultimate commitment is to invest in local manufacturing, and we are actively exploring the opportunities for local content, local manufacturing and R&D capabilities. Our people are our best assets — as I said, we are committed to employing and developing local talent.
How has the economic downturn affected the sectors Tyco is engaged in?
Tyco's commitment to, and its continued investment, in the region is long term. Most of our involvements in the region are also long-term, heavy infrastructure projects, and we are not involved in real estate development. By partnering with our customers and the UAE government to provide valued solutions, and by continuing to invest in local talent, we are actively helping to get the economy back on track.
According to the 2010 forecast of Tyco International, the flow control sector is weak as orders were down from the prior quarter. Is this a cyclical low? When do you expect the sector to recover?
On a global level, we believe that we have neared or are nearing the "cyclical low"; order patterns have "stabilised" over the past few quarters. Although it is difficult to determine how long the cycle will "trough", we continue to see increased bid activity that leads us to believe that increase order activity will be forthcoming. For Tyco, our growth rate in the region in 2009 was nearly 80 per cent. We hope that this trend will continue.
