Ali Baghdadi

'In the first six months of the year we have seen a 102 per cent rise in net income,' he says. 'And we have not seen the recent slowdown in regional orders that have impacted on other companies'.

Why is that? Dr Baghdadi whose long career in the industry began in the UK almost 30 years' ago, is quite clear about the reason.

'It is true that large projects have been delayed in the current political climate,' he says. 'That means big oil, banking, airport and airline IT projects. But what we have experienced is an uptake by smaller local companies which want to improve their IT standards, and by new companies moving into the region. Even now there are more companies moving in than moving out'.

Dr Baghdadi started life as an academic with a doctorate in computer science, and turned to the private sector for a business career in 1980. He has sold seven companies in the course of his career, and established 14 different IT companies.

Aptec Holdings was set up in 1985 and is focused on the emerging markets of the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.

'Our USP is local knowledge of business culture, complex customs and local currency procedures,' says Dr Baghdadi. 'We are a lean and mean, fast moving company and provide service and back-up for our many regional partners'.

Indeed, the list of Aptec brands is like a who's who of IT, and includes Acer, HP, Epson, Fujitsu, IBM, Intel, Philips, Xerox, BenQ, Ericsson, MobilNil, Nokia, 3Com, US Robotics, Computer Associates, Lotus, Microsoft, Network Associates, Novell, Symantec, and many other less well known names.

'We see Saudi Arabia as an area of tremendous growth potential, and also Jordan,' says Dr Baghdadi, who holds dual English and Egyptian nationality. 'And we are very keen to localise our staff to serve these markets. We will also be investing in the education of users with networking and seminar events.'