LINK Development, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a growing regional software export powerhouse, has been named Microsoft Solutions Partner of the Year for 2007.

The software development subsidiary of LINKdotNET, received the award in recognition of its delivery of business-critical and revenue generating solutions to leading multinationals, regional companies and leading governments in Europe, Middle East and Africa, out of its base in Egypt.

Karim Ramadan, Microsoft's Egypt General Manager said that the delivery of solutions are always a key focus for Microsoft Egypt and that LINK Development has, over ten years, demonstrated a focus on end-to-end solutions

"LINK Development has consistently demonstrated expertise in many areas of technology competencies, always guaranteeing a team of certified professionals with high proficiency, solid knowledge and early adoption of Microsoft technologies," he said.

Ali Faramawy, Microsoft Area Vice President Middle East and Africa added that LINK Development's drive towards excellence over the last decade and the growing strategic partnership that has developed over the last decade has made a significant contribution to the Egyptian community and the wider region.

"We are delighted to acknowledge the achievements of LINK Development through this Solutions Partner Award," he said. "It is important to note that delivering solutions is different than just delivering technology and it requires more engagement and interaction with clients. LINK Development has demonstrated that they intimately know and understand their clients' needs and have subsequently delivered meaningful business solutions."

Hanan Abdel Meguid, CEO of LINK Development said that the company is extremely honoured to receive this recognition from Microsoft.

"This award is further testament from Microsoft to our long term and highly successful partnership and we are proud of the value that we bring to our clients and how much we are able to harness leading technology to enable their business reach its full potential," she said.

"This has been an exciting period for us," she added. "We continue to provide a wide range of solutions that deliver competitive business advantages to many companies and organisations across the region from Saudi Postal, ENSTINET, EgyptAir, Arab Media Group- the largest media organization in the UAE to Tellas and WIND in Europe.

LINK Development is currently celebrating a decade in partnership with Microsoft that has contributed significantly to LINK Development's successes across the region and increasingly into Africa and Europe. Last week the company's first European sales office was opened in Rome Italy.

"We have been avaricious consumers of Microsoft's technology internally and for our customers during the last ten years," adds Meguid. "Based on Microsoft technologies we offer, professional services, software development for various lines of business which we are expanding, with new specializations based on Microsoft platforms such as Unified Communication."