DAMMAM, 6 January 2008 — Rafeek Younus, general manager of Saihati Group and president of Soorya Sargam in Saudi Arabia, has been named winner of this year’s Muhammad Rafi Award in appreciation of his efforts to promote Saudi and Indian cultures in both countries.
A panel, chaired by Dr. M.K. Muneer, a former minister, selected Younus for the prestigious award. Federal Minister of State for Law & Justice K. Venkatapathy will present the award to Younus during a colorful function at Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvanandapuram on Jan. 25.
Younus, who is the CEO of Saudi Engineering India Pvt, and chairman of Orion Sargam, a group of NRK investors, hails from Kilimanoor near Thiruvananthapuram. His wife is Rahana and they have two daughters: Alisha and Anaina.
The Indo-Saudi Tourism Mart, which was held in Dammam in 2005 was the brainchild of Younus. He also took a Saudi folklore troupe for a tour of Kerala last month as part of efforts to strengthen Saudi-Indian cultural relations.
