IT systems and communications distributor Aptec has been named as the 2004 Symantec Distributor of the Year for Middle East. Aptec has now received this award three years in a row from Symantec.

The award was presented to Bahaa Salah, Regional General Manager, Aptec Gulf, Levant & Africa by Guiseppe Verrini, Vice President, EMEA, at the recent Symantec EMEA Distributors Conference in Rome.

Prajit Arakkal, Business Unit Manager Aptec, attributes the award to Aptec's ability to add value for its channel partners and the Symantec brand.

"We are extremely honored to have received an accolade of this magnitude. It underscores the strength of our relationship with Symantec, which we have nurtured over the years and this translated into real benefits for our customers," he says. "This has been a great year for Symantec business in Aptec and I would like to thank all our reseller partners for the support and trust that they have shown in my team to deliver the best services and support for the region”

Thierry Chamayou, General Manager, Aptec Saudi Arabia, Navin Tikoo, Sales & Operations Manager, Aptec Africa, Yasser El Dawy, Product Manager, Aptec Egypt & Ryad Samrani, Business Development Manager, Aptec Lebanon, formed the delegates.

Speaking of Aptec's continuous success in the Internet Security business, Arakkal said "There is a great need for partners to scale up their security and technical know-how to counter the ever-evolving threats on the Internet. Our partners look to us to get guidance on the process of certifications, training and project designs and we ensure that we protect the interest of these partners to give them return on investment (ROI)."

"This is an important initiative, as security becomes an ever-increasing priority within organizations," he adds. “Aptec will continue to work with our partners to enhance their sales & margins by offering our value-add services & business development activities.”

Kevin Isaac, Regional Director, Middle East and Africa at Symantec, says that their proactive and driven approach has been a continued factor in the success Aptec has demonstrated in the distribution of Symantec products across the Middle East.

“We offer our congratulations to the Aptec team from all over the Middle East, and look forward to developing the relationship and taking it to new heights in the coming year” he commented. “The strength of partnership we enjoy with the Aptec team gives me great confidence that the coming year will bring even greater results.”