18 January 2016
Ras Al Khaimah: Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ), the investment home of more than 8,600 international companies, has announced the winners of its 2015 Business Excellence Awards, which celebrates the remarkable achievements of the free zone's most outstanding clients. The awarding ceremony was held at Rixos Bab Al Bahr, Al Marjan Island, on 14 January 2016.

Organised for the second year, the coveted awards programme provides distinction to companies that inspire innovation, exceed expectations, introduce new technology, demonstrate corporate social responsibility, and contribute to the development of Ras Al Khaimah's (RAK) economy.

"On behalf of RAK FTZ, I would like to congratulate all the winners of the 2nd Annual RAK FTZ Business Excellence Awards. Each of them deserves respect and recognition for setting the bar of excellence in their respective fields," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK FTZ. "We are very proud to have played an instrumental role in shaping exceptional companies within the business-friendly environment of RAK FTZ. We will continue organising the Business Excellence Awards Programme annually to help inspire excellence across all business communities in the emirate."

The recipients of the 2015 RAK FTZ Business Excellence Awards are as follows:

·         BEST NEW STARTUP winner is Notus Composites, the first pre-preg (fabric reinforcement) manufacturing facility in the Middle East.

·         BEST NEW TECHNOLOGY winner is Kibele PIMS, an industrial automation and IT based company that creates turn-key solutions using machine vision technology for modern facilities.

·         BEST CORPORATE WEBSITE winner is International Armoured Group, a quality conscious armored vehicle manufacturer with unparalleled safety and performance record.

·         BEST SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESS winner is Biri Industries, a leading manufacturer and supplier of pipes and hoses for home, agriculture, oil and gas, marine and industrial uses.

·         FASTEST GROWING COMPANY winner is Abiya Building Material Trading, a recognised brand for mashrabiya, fretwork, jali and decorative screens.

·         BEST CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY and BEST CONTRIBUTOR TO RAS AL KHAIMAH DEVELOPMENT winner is Utico, the largest full-service private utility in the Middle East.

Ramy Jallad, Acting CEO, RAK FTZ, noted that the applications for the awards programme have increased by almost 100 per cent from the previous year, which made the selection of 2015 winners tougher and more interesting than ever.

"The independent judges from IPE underwent a difficult selection process as there are a lot of worthy candidates to choose from. The winning organisations are the ones that truly worked to the best of their ability to achieve excellence. They serve as inspirations to the many businesses that are striving to make a difference in the emirate and the communities they do business in. We wish them the best and may they continue to scale greater heights in the years to come," said Mr Jallad.

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About Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone:
Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) provides award-winning services and world-class facilities, enabling clients to quickly and efficiently set up and grow profitable companies in the United Arab Emirates. Home to more than 8,600 active companies from over 100 countries and over 50 industry sectors, RAK FTZ offers a completely tax-free status to its clients, allows for 100 per cent foreign ownership and unrestricted repatriation of profits, in addition to a host of other business-friendly incentives.

Less than an hour's drive from Dubai, RAK FTZ offers significant geographical advantages for clients to easily access markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. It caters to the unique requirements of small, medium and large businesses with four free zone parks including business centre facilities, offices, warehouses and land for development, as well as facilities for educational institutions. Since its inception 15 years ago, RAK FTZ has diversified from its traditional focus on industrial manufacturing to also support trading, sales and marketing activities, a wide range of service sectors, as well as logistics and distribution platforms. To learn more about RAK FTZ, please visit www.rakftz.com.

Media Contact:
Cleo Eleazar                                                           
Senior Manager - Public Relations & Events
Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority (RAK FTZ)
Phone: +971-7-2077173
E-mail: c.eleazar@rakftz.com

© Press Release 2016