My name is Lehyan Rakez. I founded Qantara for a simple reason: European manufacturers have strong products for the Gulf, but too few people on the ground to sell them. I currently support several companies through this process, with a distributor network already active in 13 countries across the Middle East and Africa and a partner law firm specialising in Saudi corporate law.
For over 8 years I have sold complex B2B solutions internationally. I started in France, then worked for British and American companies with clients across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
For a British industrial equipment manufacturer, I built and managed a distributor network across Western Europe. For a British group, I grew regional revenue by 60% in 9 months. For a US non-destructive testing group, I led sales strategy for the Middle East and Africa: key industrial accounts, tenders and negotiations with senior management.
Qantara means “the bridge” in Arabic. The word travelled into Spanish as Alcántara, and that is exactly the route I offer, in the other direction: bringing European industry to the Gulf.