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Preface and Historical Background
The Osman Ahmed Osman & Co. was established in 1940 by its founders Eng. Osman and his brothers. It started its activities in the field of contracting and engineering. The expanding work volume, entrusted to the company, led to the formation of the "Industrial and General Enterprises Engineering Company (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.)", later named "The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.)".
In the early sixties, "The Arab Contractors" was nationalized. However, it kept the name of "Osman A. Osman & Co." and remained under the chairmanship of Eng. Osman until he was appointed Minister of Housing and Reconstruction in 1973.
His brother Eng. Hussein took over the chairmanship and the company continued to expand. The turnover surpassed one billion US dollars and the permanent employees amounted to more than 56 thousand.
In 1974, the private sector was allowed to reestablish itself in Egypt after witnessing a stand-still due to nationalization process experienced in the early sixties. This led to the formation of three private sector groups carrying the Osman name:
- Arab Contractors (Osman A. Osman & Co.) associated companies, i.e. private companies where the Arab Contractors have invested in the capital.
- Arab Contractors (Osman A. Osman & Co.) share-holding companies, i.e. the employees of the company have set up private companies by being shareholders.
- The OSMAN GROUP (Osman A. Osman Group of Companies), i.e. privately owned ventures by members of the Osman Family.
The Osman Group was founded in the early seventies and is considered to be one of the largest and best established private groups in Egypt. It is composed of several companies specializing in engineering industries, construction and real estate, information technology, agriculture and animal products, trading and services and tourism with numerous offices in Egypt, Arab countries and all over the world. This is in addition to our multinational. In the last few years, the labor force of the Osman Group has surpassed more than four thousand employees and is still growing.