GRI, Al Dobowi Group partner in the Middle East, Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Specialty tire manufacturer Global Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd. has formed a business partnership with Al Dobowi Group that covers the Middle East and Africa.

A global systems and solutions provider for tire management, power storage, industrial rubber, material handling and fluid management industries, Al Dobowi Group was founded in 1976. It has a presence in more than 60 countries, focusing on manufacturing and distribution. The companies will work together on shared synergies.

Representatives of GRI and Al Dobowi marked the collaboration during a gala dinner at the Atlantis, the Palm Hotel in Dubai.

Surender Kandhari, chairman and founder of Al Dobowi Group, said the partnership was born out of successful business relations over the last 15 years.

"Al Dobowi and GRI share the same business principle based on providing high quality products to its customers," Kandhari said. "GRI, being one of the largest specialty tire manufacturers in Sri Lanka, has become the trusted and reliable manufacturer of construction, agricultural and material-handling tires. I am confident that working together, we can achieve success in the Middle East and African market with the GRI brand."

GRI Managing Director Prabhash Subasinghe called Kandhari a "personal friend" and "truly a pleasure" to do business with.

"Al Dobowi is a leading robust and quality-oriented company that provides exceptional customer satisfaction and unparalleled levels of service," Subasinghe said. "We find that these values complement and are coherent with GRI's values of purposeful action and relentless drive."

Mahesha Ranasoma and Rohit Raina, CEOs of GRI and Al Dobowi, respectively, also were present at the event.

As part of the ceremony, GRI unveiled its Grip Ex R400 tire, developed for the construction industry. GRI called it "ideal" for difficult working conditions in construction or other industrial applications.

Earlier this year, GRI celebrated the one-year anniversary of the commissioning of its specialty tire plant in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as well as the release of 100 unique tire sizes during that period.

Al Dobowi handles 20 other tire brands in the Middle East, including Alliance, Continental, General, Hankook, Kumho and Trelleborg, along with its own brand, Eternity.