Financial Times

The 'Queen's Award for Enterprise 2006' has been awarded to an Egyptian-born entrepreneur in the UK for exports of diesel and gas generators to Sri Lanka and many other countries.

Assem Allam's business is Allam Marine on the banks of the River Hull, on the north east coast of England which assembles and exports diesel and gas generators.

The Queen's Award for Enterprise 2006 has been awarded to family-run Allam Marine for their export sales growth, currently representing around 90% of the company's turnover.

With an average year-on-year growth rate of 30%, turnover exceeded sterling 40 million in 2004 and is forecast at over sterling 70 million for 2006, operations director Ehab Allam has attributed the company's success to their unique product packaging and branding strategy that has enabled the company to increase market share in existing territories as well as successfully penetrating new markets. Assem Allam, Ehab Allam and Kevin Gee, production manager, were invited to a special reception at Buckingham Palace.

for award-winners to meet the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other m0embers of the Royal Family.