By Staff Report - Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times has bagged the Middle East Business Leadership Award for the Media Sector at the second edition of the Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards Ceremony held on Sunday night.
Khaled Soliman, Group Chief Executive Officer of Galadari Brothers Co. LLC, received the prestigious award on behalf of the first English language newspaper of the UAE at the ceremony held at Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa.
Abdulrahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary-General of the Federation of GCC Chambers, and Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the event.
Other prominent business leaders who were honoured include Rami Makhzoumi of Future Pipe Industries, who received the Masterclass CEO of the Year award; Dr Khatar Massad of RAK Ceramics, who was bestowed with the Global CEO of the year award; and Rajeev Peshawaria of the ICLIF Leadership & Governance Centre, who received the Emerging CEO of the? year award.
Shahul Hameed, Chief Executive Officer of My Events International, organisers of the function, said the event was designed to honour the region's top business icons and leaders in recognition of "the significant contributions they have made in attracting more growth and development into their respective economies and helping package the Middle East as a leading business and investment destination."
The theme for the Middle East Business Leaders Summit, or MEBLSA 2011, was "Thriving Leadership and Sustainability of Business in the Middle East."
Organisers said the awards cover a threefold objective: to recognise the need to create a culture of interaction between the members of business community; provide a strategic platform for the region's corporate leaders to meet and share their experiences; and to act as a catalyst of growth and development.
Other award winners include Tan Sri Dato' Sri Hamad Kama Piah bin Che Othman, Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Malaysia (International Business Leadership Award -- National Investment); Datuk Wira Hj. SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, NAZA Group of Companies, Malaysia (International Business Leadership Award -- Automotive Sector); Prabissh Thomas, PTL Solar, (Masterclass Visionary CEO Of The Year) and. Rana Al Emam, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, UAE (Middle East Business Leadership Award --Islamic Banking Sector).
"The Middle East region has strategically positioned itself as a key hub for growth and development," said Hameed. "The continuous move towards progress and development is made possible by significant contributions and achievements made by the region's top business leaders and icons," he said. He hoped that the awards would serve as a model and inspiration for the members of the region's thriving business community.
The opening ceremony also recognised the outstanding contributions of Shahzad Shahbaz, QInvest, Qatar (Middle East Business Leadership Award -- Investment Sector); Prof. P. Ramaness, Return 2 Green, Malaysia (International Business Leadership Award -- Green Energy Innovation Sector); RAK Ceramics (Corporate Social Responsibility Award); Essa Al Dossary, Road Transport Authority Dubai (Middle East Business Leadership Award -- Public Transportation Sector); Tony Fernandes, Air Asia Berhad, Malaysia (International Best Brand Award - Aviation Sector) and Farshila Emran, Pharmaniaga Berhad, Malaysia, (International Business Leadership Award -- Woman CEO of The Year).
"MEBLSA remains steadfast in its commitment to train and develop the region's new breed of leaders; providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to attract more progress and development. We look forward to seeing an increased participation in this year's MEBSLA and help bring us closer to developing a stronger business community for the Middle East region," said Hameed.