One on One - Fadi Ghandour - 08 Mar 08 Pt. 2

This week on One on One, Riz Khan meets with leading Jordanian businessman and the founder of Aramex, Fadi Ghandour. Challenging the global domination of international corporations such as Fedex and DHL, this Arab entrepreneur created a brand that has become a household name in the Middle East and beyond - and became the first Arab company listed on the NASDAQ. Crossing borders in the Middle East presents a challenge at the best of times, but for Fadi Ghandour, the added complication of couriering packages from country to country posed a potential logistical nightmare. Nevertheless, he persevered with his company, showing that Aramex could compete with the big boys - and often do far better, due to local knowledge in the Arab world. Even when the competition tried to pull the rug out from under him by acquiring his main partner, Airborne Express, Ghandour persisted, and his determination took Aramex to the American stock market - an historic move for an Arab company. Above all, he has quickly made a name for himself as a humanitarian of extraordinary capacity, supporting major philanthropic projects both at home and abroad. He has become one of the region's most respected businessmen, and his philosophy of creating a caring corporate culture has paid off, judging by the growth and reach of Aramex.

AlJazeera | March 9, 2008

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