Intercoil managing director Hassan Al Hazeem details the company's support of local manufacturers and the benefits of buying UAE products.
How does Intercoil support local manufacturers?
Intercoil has a procurement policy of giving preference to UAE-based manufacturers. We believe that by supporting local business we are contributing to the growth of the UAE economy.
Currently 9% of Intercoil’s purchases are made from UAE-based manufacturers and our target is to increase this by 3-5% every year.
Why do you think it is so important to support local businesses?
As a successful UAE-based manufacturer of premium products, we are committed to positioning and promoting local products and the superior manufacturing capability of the UAE. We consider it part of our social responsibility to demonstrate UAE’s vision to become a world-class centre for manufacturing and proudly promote the “MADE in the UAE” mark. When we participate in exhibitions around the world, we always make a point of demonstrating the success of local manufacture.
| Advertisement |
How do you explain to hotels the benefits of buying products made in the UAE?
The hospitality industry is an increasingly competitive field and the past decade has seen growing awareness of sustainability issues and the environmental impact of their operations and development. Buying locally manufactured products helps the industry to save costs as well as to keep their carbon footprint in check. Additionally, having a local provider enables them to more easily monitor each stage of the production process.
The fact that we are an exclusive licensee for the Middle East and manufacture locally some of the most well-known international bedding brands such as Simmons and Therapedic, is a great endorsement for Intercoil and a testament to our standards. We are a trusted business partner and are committed to developing long lasting mutually profitable relationships.
How much awareness do consumers and hotel guests have about sustainability?
In fact consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious (industry surveys reveal that 90% of them would rather stay in a “green” hotel) and so are hotels. To address this growing interest for sustainability, innovative technologies in the bedding industry have provided hotels with new ways of offering comfort and customization while reducing the number of hotel mattresses that are discarded annually.
What other CSR efforts support this sustainability work?
Corporate social responsibility and sustainable practices are intrinsic elements of the Intercoil brand and are applied by every member of our team. Some initiatives are small, others big enough to warrant global recognition, but all are done with the purpose of serving our customers, the community, the environment and our nation. Our R&D department has introduced an eco-friendly mattress called ‘Green Mattress’, and has implemented environmental-friendly initiatives such as using recyclable paper, ink cartridges, changing to water-based glue and other waste management processes.
In our sustained efforts to add value to its customers’ lives, Intercoil has launched Sleep Matters, a community initiative to help educate, inform and encourage health and wellbeing for UAE residents.
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
