By Vinod Raghavan*
Muscat: Naushad Sulaiman, who came to Oman from Kerala, like all other Malayalees landed in the Middle East to earn a decent livelihood, and started his career in a local cargo firm, where his role was to visit industrial areas and offices to get cargo and courier orders.
Thereafter, he set up his own firm, ATS Global Express – providing logistic solutions to trade and commerce. Today, it has come a long way in nearly the last three decades in the Sultanate of Oman.
Recalling his earlier days, the founder-chairman of ATS, Naushad says, “I was disheartened and was totally rejected, as people were happy dealing with reputed brands like DHL and FEDEX providing them logistic services, and they didn’t want to shift their loyalty to a new firm, but I vowed myself that I will not lose my hope and will improve to learn and work honestly.”
With a humble beginning, in the year 1996, ATS has grown leaps and bounds and has spread its wings in the length and breadth of Oman, from a single branch to 22 branches (17 branches have been finalized and will be operating in the coming next 3-6 months).
Today, ATS has become a household name in Oman due to his sheer determination, hard work and sincerity.
Being modest, Naushad gives due credit to his expanded family of staff members both Omanis and expatriates, for his success. Besides, his own blood relatives’ active support in the day-to-day operations is tremendous.
Recalling the dreaded pandemic days of 2020, looming all over the world as people were confined to their homes, Naushad says with a sparkle in his eyes, the ATS team were the only ones on the deserted roads, rushing to deliver the parcels at the doorsteps, of the eagerly waiting people. “Thanks to the Oman government, for giving Special Passes to our team and we utilized it for the best to serve the people,” he told Global Bihari.
Naushad has a lot of plans to give back to society. A firm believer in the almighty, he says, students are the backbone of any country. So to encourage them to pursue higher studies, he is now introducing ‘Students Express’ – which will help students to send their documents to any part of the globe especially to the USA or Europe for their admissions, on 50 per cent concessions.
He is also introducing ‘Sentimental Express’, wherein a precious gift parcel of up to 5 kilograms can be sent to their beloved which is delivered in 3 working days. “ATS believes in personal and human bond in any relationship,” he says and informs that initially this scheme will be implemented for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
ATS has had an active team headed by Naushad for years. The country manager for Oman, Khan Parvez, is associated for the last nearly two decades. Ably supported by his son Anas, who heads the network and logistic support, his son-in-law, Renu Ibrahim, who takes care of Finances and his 5 brothers, he calls them his main pillars.
Naushad is all set to fly higher with his dreams to take ATS at the top level in the logistics sector in Oman.
*Senior Journalist
