Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN6143
2005-08-01 12:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
APPLICATION FOR OPIC FINANCE: MIDDLE EAST FROZEN
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006143
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
PASS TO OPIC FOR S. LEMPRES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV IZ JO
SUBJECT: APPLICATION FOR OPIC FINANCE: MIDDLE EAST FROZEN
FOODS - JORDAN
REF: STATE 136058
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PROTECT PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006143
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
PASS TO OPIC FOR S. LEMPRES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV IZ JO
SUBJECT: APPLICATION FOR OPIC FINANCE: MIDDLE EAST FROZEN
FOODS - JORDAN
REF: STATE 136058
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PROTECT PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION.
1. (SBU) As requested reftel, Embassy Amman provides the
following information on H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co.
(HMBS):
HMBS is active in Jordan and throughout the region. Mustafa
Bunnia, who we understand will be running the frozen food
operation being considered by OPIC, is based in Jordan.
HMBS is one of the largest private companies in Iraq. Haj
Mahmood Al-Bunnia established the company in 1910. Today,
HMBS employs more than 6500 employees working in 29
different companies. The main office of the company is in
Baghdad with two regional offices, one in Jordan, which is
the operating office for the group now, and the other in
Dubai, U.A.E.
HMBS is the exclusive agent in Iraq for Procter and Gamble,
Rockwell Automation and NewHoland Tractors. HMBS and the
Turkish company EFES recently signed an exclusive agreement
with Coca Cola to manufacture and distribute inside Iraq.
HMBS has two joint ventures:
- Levant Food and Grain Co. with Rice Land from the U.S.
and Al-Bushra Investment and Trade Co. from Jordan
- Middle East Frozen Foods Co. with Al-Bushra Investment
and Trade Co. from Jordan and with U.S. and U.K. companies.
Contact information in Jordan:
Mustafa Al-Bunnia - Managing Director
P.O. Box 962395 Amman 11196
Tel: +962 6 593-8850
Fax: +962 6 593-8860
E-mail: Mustafa.al-bunnia@al-bunnia.com
www.al-bunnia.com
2. (SBU) Embassy has received no derogatory financial
information on H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co. (COMMENT:
The Bunnia family has a reputation for bringing their own
people from outside to service contracts in Iraqi
localities, rather than employing local subcontractors. An
American business source in Jordan told us that he canceled
an Iraq-based contract with the Bunnias due to what he
termed was "local resentment" of the Bunnia's business
practices. To the extent possible, it would be helpful if
financing mechanisms could require that Middle East Frozen
Foods show use of local subcontractors and a local
development component in Iraq. END COMMENT.)
3. (SBU) Following is information on Al-Bushra Investment
and Trade Co.:
Al-Bushra Investment and Trade Co. was established in 1995
with capital of 30,000 JD and is registered at the Ministry
of Industry and Trade (registration number 3843) and Amman
Chamber of Commerce. The owners are Mohammad Abu-Hassan
(90%) and his daughter (10%). The Abu-Hassans are a
prominent business family in Jordan.
The company does the following:
- Handles the investment profile of Mohammad Abu-Hassan
- Deals in the stock market
- Agent for the U.S. company Lindsay Agricultural
Sprinklers
- Partner in Levant Food and Grain Co. with 33%. Other
partners are H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co. from Iraq
and Rice Land from the U.S.
- Partner in Middle East Frozen Foods Co. with 5%. Other
partners are H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co. and
companies from the U.S. and U.K.
Mohammad Abu-Hassan is the chairman and CEO of ICA Holding
Group (www.ica-jo.com),which consists of the following
companies:
- Al-Intaj Organic and Agricultural Products (under
formation)
- Al-Intaj Marketing and Distribution
- Al-Hussein Industrial Complex:
o Consolidated Sulphochemical Industries
o Al-Intaj Personal Care Products Manufacturing
o Al-Intaj Plastic Manufacturing
o Al-Intaj Household Products Manufacturing
o Al-Intaj Packing and Printing
o United Soap Industry.
- Al-Intaj Chemical Production, Storage and Distribution
(under formation)
- Al-Intaj Property Development (under formation)
Contact information:
Mohammad Abu-Hassan - Chairman and CEO
P.O. Box 182024 Amman - Jordan
Tel: +962 6 461-6271/461-6248
Fax: +962 6 461-6748
E-mail: albushra@go.com.jo
Their bankers are: a) Arab Bank, and b) Jordan Investment
and Finance Bank. Both banks attest to the company's
financial bona fides in its dealings with them.
4. SBU) Embassy has received no derogatory information on al-
Bushra Investment and Trade Co.
HALE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
PASS TO OPIC FOR S. LEMPRES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV IZ JO
SUBJECT: APPLICATION FOR OPIC FINANCE: MIDDLE EAST FROZEN
FOODS - JORDAN
REF: STATE 136058
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PROTECT PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION.
1. (SBU) As requested reftel, Embassy Amman provides the
following information on H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co.
(HMBS):
HMBS is active in Jordan and throughout the region. Mustafa
Bunnia, who we understand will be running the frozen food
operation being considered by OPIC, is based in Jordan.
HMBS is one of the largest private companies in Iraq. Haj
Mahmood Al-Bunnia established the company in 1910. Today,
HMBS employs more than 6500 employees working in 29
different companies. The main office of the company is in
Baghdad with two regional offices, one in Jordan, which is
the operating office for the group now, and the other in
Dubai, U.A.E.
HMBS is the exclusive agent in Iraq for Procter and Gamble,
Rockwell Automation and NewHoland Tractors. HMBS and the
Turkish company EFES recently signed an exclusive agreement
with Coca Cola to manufacture and distribute inside Iraq.
HMBS has two joint ventures:
- Levant Food and Grain Co. with Rice Land from the U.S.
and Al-Bushra Investment and Trade Co. from Jordan
- Middle East Frozen Foods Co. with Al-Bushra Investment
and Trade Co. from Jordan and with U.S. and U.K. companies.
Contact information in Jordan:
Mustafa Al-Bunnia - Managing Director
P.O. Box 962395 Amman 11196
Tel: +962 6 593-8850
Fax: +962 6 593-8860
E-mail: Mustafa.al-bunnia@al-bunnia.com
www.al-bunnia.com
2. (SBU) Embassy has received no derogatory financial
information on H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co. (COMMENT:
The Bunnia family has a reputation for bringing their own
people from outside to service contracts in Iraqi
localities, rather than employing local subcontractors. An
American business source in Jordan told us that he canceled
an Iraq-based contract with the Bunnias due to what he
termed was "local resentment" of the Bunnia's business
practices. To the extent possible, it would be helpful if
financing mechanisms could require that Middle East Frozen
Foods show use of local subcontractors and a local
development component in Iraq. END COMMENT.)
3. (SBU) Following is information on Al-Bushra Investment
and Trade Co.:
Al-Bushra Investment and Trade Co. was established in 1995
with capital of 30,000 JD and is registered at the Ministry
of Industry and Trade (registration number 3843) and Amman
Chamber of Commerce. The owners are Mohammad Abu-Hassan
(90%) and his daughter (10%). The Abu-Hassans are a
prominent business family in Jordan.
The company does the following:
- Handles the investment profile of Mohammad Abu-Hassan
- Deals in the stock market
- Agent for the U.S. company Lindsay Agricultural
Sprinklers
- Partner in Levant Food and Grain Co. with 33%. Other
partners are H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co. from Iraq
and Rice Land from the U.S.
- Partner in Middle East Frozen Foods Co. with 5%. Other
partners are H. Mahmood J. Al-Bunnia & Sons Co. and
companies from the U.S. and U.K.
Mohammad Abu-Hassan is the chairman and CEO of ICA Holding
Group (www.ica-jo.com),which consists of the following
companies:
- Al-Intaj Organic and Agricultural Products (under
formation)
- Al-Intaj Marketing and Distribution
- Al-Hussein Industrial Complex:
o Consolidated Sulphochemical Industries
o Al-Intaj Personal Care Products Manufacturing
o Al-Intaj Plastic Manufacturing
o Al-Intaj Household Products Manufacturing
o Al-Intaj Packing and Printing
o United Soap Industry.
- Al-Intaj Chemical Production, Storage and Distribution
(under formation)
- Al-Intaj Property Development (under formation)
Contact information:
Mohammad Abu-Hassan - Chairman and CEO
P.O. Box 182024 Amman - Jordan
Tel: +962 6 461-6271/461-6248
Fax: +962 6 461-6748
E-mail: albushra@go.com.jo
Their bankers are: a) Arab Bank, and b) Jordan Investment
and Finance Bank. Both banks attest to the company's
financial bona fides in its dealings with them.
4. SBU) Embassy has received no derogatory information on al-
Bushra Investment and Trade Co.
HALE