DANZAS CONSOLIDATES IN LEBANON

DANZAS CONSOLIDATES IN LEBANON       Danzas, based in Basel, Switzerland, has taken full control of its AEI Lebanon SAL joint venture. The company will be renamed Danzas AEI Lebanon SAL (DAEI).
   “Taking full control of the joint venture is an important step forward in Lebanon,” said Enver Moretti, senior vice president of Danzas for North Africa/Mideast. “It will enable us to make the necessary investments to improve our presence and play an even more decisive role in this important market.”
   Since the civil war, Beirut is making a comeback in the region as a trade center to the Mideast. “Its central location and proximity to waterborne commerce make Beirut a highly desirable base of operations for expansion-minded multinationals,” DAEI said.
   DAEI’s headquarters in Beirut’s downtown Achrafieh area is a 10-minute drive from the harbor and the airport. Clients in Lebanon include 3M, Sony, Dell, Cartier, Ford, and IBM.
   The takeover is part of the integration of Air Express International (AEI) into Danzas, according to a company statement. The present staff of managers, headed by managing director Paul Lattouf, will remain unchanged.