1st December 2022

 

Mr Samer Al Diqs
Cadrex Overseas Ltd.

Welcome to the PaperOne™ customer feature, where we interview our customers to learn more about them, their company, their thoughts about the industry, and their partnership with APRIL Group.

This December, we feature Mr Samer Al Diqs, CEO of Cadrex Overseas Ltd.

PaperOne™: Good day to you, Mr Samer Al Diqs! Thank you for being here today. To begin, could you tell us more about yourself and the company?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: Hello, I am the director and CEO of Cadrex Overseas Ltd. I am in charge of the offices in Cyprus, the U.A.E., and Vietnam. I also oversee the sales managers in various parts of the Gulf States. Since the paper and board industry has always been a part of my life growing up, I decided to join the company upon graduation in February 1998.

PaperOne™: You have come quite a long way, Mr Samer! Could you share more about the history of your company?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: Sure, Cadrex Overseas Ltd. was founded on 2nd May 1997, in Cyprus by my father, Mr Zakaria Al Diqs, who began his career in the paper and board industry back in 1982. After several years of building strong social and business connections, he ventured out and started his own business.

In 2012, we participated in our first DRUPA exhibition in Germany which opened the door to many partnership and networking opportunities. However, in 2014, the founding CEO's sudden passing had a tremendous impact on the company as he was the backbone that had held the company together for the past many years. Following his death, I took on the challenge of continuing what he had established, and guided the company through that difficult transition. From 2015 onwards, we started to organise seminars and participated in more exhibitions that helped strengthen our connections with customers and clients. In 2019, our efforts paid off and the company expanded into Saudi Arabia with a sales division. This advancement gave us more boots on the ground, allowing us to adopt a more hands-on approach in meeting the needs of our customers in those areas.

In 2021, we continued to expand and established offices in the U.A.E. and Vietnam to cater to the different needs of our customers in the Middle East, Gulf States, Asia, and beyond.

PaperOne™: That’s impressive, thank you for sharing. With your father's passing and the transitions that needed to take place, it must have been a very difficult time for you. However, despite all these, both you and the company seemed to have come out stronger. What would you say makes Cadrex different from your competitors?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: Our company’s motto, "Professional and timely service to our customers and our principals,” guides our business. Our clients have always been our top most priority and it is our duty to provide them with the best level of service possible. At the same time, we must also consider our suppliers and strive to help them meet their targets and goals. I think the ability to strike this balance is what distinguishes us from the rest.

PaperOne™: What a great effort, reaching out to balance and meet the needs of your different stakeholders. Could you also share if your company is involved in any corporate social responsibility initiatives?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: As we pride ourselves on being conscientious about the environment and sustainability, we are currently working on obtaining FSC and PEFC certifications. We also regularly donate part of our revenue to non-profit organisations in Cyprus and abroad.

PaperOne™: That’s great to hear! You mentioned PEFC certification, something our paper products have as well. We’re glad that your company and APRIL Group both place an equally important emphasis on sustainability. How long has your company been partnering with APRIL?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: We’ve been a partner with APRIL Group now for about eight years and counting. APRIL Group’s staff tend to deliver a professional attitude, effective marketing policies, and quality products. Working with them has been smooth and pleasant thus far.

PaperOne™: We are glad the partnership is still going strong. Could you also share some PaperOne products that you are currently selling?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: Currently, we sell the PaperOne range, Aria, and Pre-print in folio, sheets, and cut-sized. Our customers prefer APRIL Group’s paper brands as the products are high in quality and have good printability.

PaperOne™: We are glad to hear that. However, the recent years have seen a significant shift from traditional print to the digital medium, be it in the form of e-magazines, e-books, or e-statements. How do you think this has impacted the pulp and paper industry?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: There is no doubt that the rise of the e-industry has affected paper demand. However, despite the rapid advancements, I believe that there will still be demand for paper especially in A4 products and book printing. In fact, the preference for e-commerce has also resulted in a higher demand for the packaging industry. This is where we come in.

PaperOne™: We could not agree more. In light of your response to the previous question, which direction do you see your company moving toward in the next 5-10 years?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: We are moving toward improving packaging qualities, especially board products such as Folding Box Boards and Duplex Boards. We are also going to participate in the DRUPA exhibition in Germany again, in 2024.

PaperOne™: That’s promising! We wish you all the best! Before we wrap up this session, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Mr Samer Al Diqs: I believe paper is a product that will never die. Since the beginning of civilisation, people have always searched for innovative and creative tools to facilitate communication, and paper is a key medium. I believe that people will continue to use paper even in the long run.

PaperOne™: We are with you on this. Thank you so much for speaking with us today, Mr Samer Al Diqs. It has been a pleasure to hear your insights.

To find the most suitable PaperOne™ products for your business, contact us at customer_service@aprilasia.com.