Foreseeing a bright future

Manama : “Achieve more development despite economic challenges”. That motto has certainly rung true for Khalil bin Ebrahim Kanoo Company (K.E.K) and International Motor Trading Agency (IMTA). The company continues to achieve development and expand business even though it faces rising challenges in the global economy.

This year has been challenging for many businesses in the Bahraini market, considering the tumbling and unstable oil prices in international markets. However according to Susan Kanoo, the head of one of the leading establishments in the Kingdom, the company was able to witness a huge market share growth this year.

She  shared with DT News some of the highlights, main achievements and challenges her company witnessed in the past twelve months.

“Market share growth is our main achievement in 2016. It is tremendous at such a difficult period. I would also say sustaining, thriving and achieving more growth in the company is also among our key accomplishments this year.”

“This would be our strategy for the next year, to achieve more growth. We’re concentrating on the infrastructure growth of the company and its expansion too,” she told.

“Our year was good, despite it has been a tough one economically. Our market share has recorded a rise. However, I am predicting a tough year ahead. But we are hoping for the best and that oil prices would increase,” she added.

Keeping up With Technology

While speaking about the company’s marketing strategies, Kanoo emphasised on utilising the latest technologies to serve the business. She underlined the rapidly growing social media networks and its impact on individuals and establishments.

The president revealed that K.E.Kanoo, which is the authorised dealer of several international automobiles such as Mazda, Geely and Proton, has been among the first in Bahrain to launch official pages on social media networks.

“We were the first to launch an Instagram page for car dealers in Bahrain. We must utilise the technology. This is a new future and we have to think differently now. Social networking is preferred nowadays. It’s easily accessible. Our campaigns, news and new model launches could all be seen on mobile phones worldwide,” she informed.

“Taking this step and being one of the first to do so in the Kingdom, took our marketing strategies to the next level. We have to move with technology, because this is the future and if we don’t keep up with it we’ll be behind,” she added

Emphasis On Bahrainisation

Kanoo affirmed that K.E.K depends on a fleet of skilled Bahraini employees, who are the backbone of the establishment.

“My sales staff and service advisers are all Bahrainis. Bahrainis are a big segment of our workforce and I’m very proud of them. They’re capable, efficient and reliable” she commented. At the same time, Kanoo underlined the important role played by expat employees in the growth of the company.  “We all work as a team here. What you see now is the outcome of collective efforts,” she said.

Tracing the history

“The Kanoo family has been in business since the 1890s. We owe where we are now to the insight and efforts of our ancestors, who passed the legacy of hard work and commitment onto us. My grandfather was a grand entrepreneur in the automotive business. He was an adviser to the ruler of Bahrain at that time,”Kanoo narrated.

Through the years, Kanoo also has been actively taking part in charity works. She works under the banner of the UN and takes the effort to visit refugee camps around the world. She had helped refugees and people in need here, and from Palestine, Syria, India, Iraq and other countries.

Kanoo says helping people who are less fortunate, witnessing their struggle and observing how they survive motivated her and helped her become a better person.