Committees tackle professional liability issues
[full item: 72Pr]
In a collaborative initiative agreed in 2006, FIDIC and European Federation of Consultancy Association (EFCA) committees are working together on identifying a way forward in the increasingly obstructive and corrosive world of unreasonable (and uninsurable) professional liabilities. EFCA is looking closely at the market in Europe, and will share information with FIDIC as it consults with members firms and the insurance industry. Initial results indicated a need for an improved understanding of how to manage risk, both within the consulting industry and client bodies. Examples of best practice for tackling the worst aspects of professional liability are also being sought. They will also form the basis for a workshop at the FIDIC 2007 Singapore conference (www.fidic2007.org).
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FIDIC PSM seminars in Brussels and New Delhi
[full item: 52De]
A well-attended gathering of European association executives in mid-January 2007 found a specially prepared presentation on FIDIC's trademarked Project Sustainability Management (PSM) to be of considerable value. Dr John Boyd, FIDIC President-Elect and the main presenter, outlined the increasingly popular PSM approach, and demonstrated its practical commercial application for consulting engineering firms. It is clear that PSM adds value to the services available to member firms. Several associations, in addition to ACEA-Australia, ACEC-Canada, CEAI-India (see News item) and ACEI-Ireland that have organized PSM seminars, have expressed interest in learning more about the application of PSM and how it can be embedded within company structures.
The CEAI-India PSM seminar took place immediately following a FIDIC Executive Committee meeting in New Delhi at the end of January 2007. Consulting engineers were provided with clear evidence of how PSM could enhance their capabilities, particularly in view of recent changes to Indian building regulations requiring a more robust approach to sustainability. John Boyd also explained the background to PSM and, through case studies, showed how PSM indicators could make a real difference in the assessment of project options.
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New Delhi seminar promotes capacity development
[full item: 53De]
Although India has a strong reputation for engineering, most new graduates focus on information technology to the detriment of consulting engineering. Through several new activities, CEAI-India is seeking to expand membership and increase representation in the years leading up to the FIDIC 2010 conference in New Delhi. In conjunction with the FIDIC Executive Committee January 2007 meeting in New Delhi, committee members played a major role in a FIDIC-CEAI capacity development seminar that gave local consultants an overview of FIDIC best practice, and its importance in meeting the needs of a rapidly expanding economy and in improving opportunities for collaboration with foreign firms. Dr Jorge Diaz Padilla, FIDIC President, and Enrico Vink, FIDIC Managing Director, set out FIDIC policies; Gregs Thomopulos, Stanley Consultants, USA, and Geoff French, Scott Wilson, UK, highlighted with case studies how capacity development initiatives provided a win-win situation; Bayo Adeola, CPMS, Nigeria, summarised FIDIC recommendations.
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FIDIC to engage with standards association to promote business integrity
[full item: 32Et]
Following initial contacts with Wayne Bowes, FIDIC Past-President, and preliminary discussions with the FIDIC Secretariat, representatives of the Canadian Standards Association's Quality Management Institute met Dr Jorge Diaz Padilla, FIDIC President, and Dr Felipe Ochoa, FIDIC Integrity Management Committee chair, in Mexico City on 21 February 2007, to discuss ways in which QMI and FIDIC could work together to promote FIDIC's Business Integrity Management System. An memorandum of understanding is being drafted to outline the commitments and actions needed to reach defined objectives. It is envisaged that are series of agreements will evolve as the partners work together in the areas of marketing, incentive programmes, training, auditing, per review and registration.
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Agreements
Online course
Jun07
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Local hosts ACES-Singapore, together with FIDIC, will be welcoming participants from all FIDIC member countries and beyond, together with many whose business and professional interests link back to the consulting engineering industry. Lying at the heart of a thriving and resurgent Asia, Singapore promises to attract both the hearts and minds of participants. The success story of Singapore and its amazing rise from rags to riches was greatly influenced by consulting engineers, and the recognition that robust and efficient infrastructure fosters economic growth. The setting provides an ideal background to the conference, which focuses on business growth through strategic collaboration. The consulting engineering industry is a leader in developing the opportunities from cross-border trade in a truly global market. A number of workshops will focus on the key aspects of collaboration to maximize potential and to realize the growing opportunities around the world. The old adage of think global, act local has never been truer.
FIDIC regional conferences in the lead up to the FIDIC 2007 Singapore Conference 
Timely support from FIDIC has led to the consolidation of training activities in the Gulf region, where considerable construction and infrastructure development has led to much interest in FIDIC contracts and procedures by both public and private clients. A programme of regular training courses in English on Module 1 (practical use) and Module 2 (claims and dispute resolution) of the FIDIC Contracts Manual got underway in the UAE in February 2007 with the first FIDIC course organized jointly with the UAE Society of Engineers (UAESoE). The UAESoE Vice-Chair, Dr Khalil Al-Hosani, is shown on the left in the photo, with Enrico Vink, FIDIC Managing Director, during a recent visit. Further courses are planned for Dubai in June and November 2007, in addition to a high-level FIDIC-Cornerstone training seminar on 16-17 May 2007 in Abu Dhabi and training courses (in English by Arabic-speaking experts) focussing on local issues organized by the UAESoE. The first FIDIC training courses (in English by Arabic speaking experts) in the programme organized jointly with Jordanian associations (see News 
With the expansion of the European Union (EU) that has reduced considerably EU structural funding, vigorous competition in Angola from China and other Asia-Pacific countries, and continuing difficulties in gaining a ready access to the Brazilian market, APPC-Portugal has launched a series of initiatives to help improve the capacity of member firms in international markets. A key aspect will be a survey of support for firms working overseas led by Antonio Antunes Moreira of SNEDE (snede@snede.pt) and Jose Rayagra, a former President of the European federation EFCA. Initiatives to improve the understanding of FIDIC works contracts and consultancy agreements are also envisaged. During a visit to the APPC (the central Lisbon building that houses APPC is shown in the photo) in February 2006 by Dr Peter Boswell, FIDIC General Manager, to meet Fernando Silveira Ramos, APPC President, and Victor Carneiro, APPC Director, APPC agreed to establish a task force to prepare Portuguese translations of the 1999 suite of FIDIC contracts in time for a seminar in late-2007 announcing their availability. Translations will be harmonized with the Portuguese version (available