Youssef Allam

Youssef Allam (1923 - 2008) is the name of an Egyptian businessman. Youssef Allam & Co. was established in 1948, and grew to become the largest paper supplier in Egypt. Allam died in Bern, Switzerland after a long struggle with disease.

Early life and education
Youssef Allam was born in 1923, in Sharkia, Egypt. He graduated from the faculty of Commerce.

Business career and interests
In 1948, he established Youssef Allam Company for paper trading, and subsequently,he expanded into many lines of business.

Youssef Allam's first opportunity to establish a domestic paper industry in Egypt came in the late 1940s. For decades European importers had dominated the Egyptian paper industry. With the hope of asserting himself in the market, he travelled to Europe and secured a deal with a Finnish paper supplier, becoming the first Egyptian to import paper from Europe into his own country. Egypt's political climate would intensify in 1948 and a mass exodus of foreigners left a gap in the market that Youssef Allam would fill. The same year, Youssef Allam & Co. was founded, the first-ever paper trading company in the Middle East.

He exerted tremendous efforts to improve the Egyptian paper product. He contributed greatly to save newspapers from stoping publication for running out of balance during the global crisis and the rising price of paper and inks.

This ability to sidestep the lines of political affiliation would become particularly important as both Youssef Allam and his son, Adel Allam, moved into the printing press industry. They first imported a number of printing presses from East Germany in the mid-1960, to start working with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. In 1968, they managed not only to import two Heidelberg press machines but were able to supply the two presses to the Egyptian government. By the end of the year, the first Heidelberg press machine imported to the Egyptian private sector was installed at the Dar el Elem el Araby printing house.

Personality
He enjoyed good communication skills with clients and staff alike. He cared a lot for his staff, knowing about their conditions, and keen on their development. He also managed to face the dangers and the economic problems experienced by the country. He always found ways to address problems without affecting the company's position in the market.

The bond between Heidelberg and the Allam family became so strong that after Youssef Allam's death in August 2009, Heidelberg released a statement saying that "with Youssef Allam passing away our loss is not only of a business partner but of a great partner and a good friend".

Youssef Allam Group Website

 * Official website of his company