Ceramica Al-Amir, ranks third amongst ceramic tile producers in Egypt (and fourth in the MENA region) in terms of capacity and sales revenues. The company started in the early 1980''s by establishing a distribution network for Egyptian and imported ceramic tile and sanitary ware in and around Cairo and Alexandria; by 2001 this network grew to 28 showrooms and sales distribution centers throughout Egypt. In 1996, the partners established a facility to produce ceramic wall and floor tile with an capacity of 2 million square meters; it will reach a capacity of 28,000 square meters daily by the end of 2001 (a 5 fold growth over 6 years). Its tile production is sold predominantly in the local Egyptian market, with 7% of total sales revenues derived from exports to neighboring countries (United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain, West Bank and Gaza and Sudan) during the first nine months of 2000. In addition to production and sale of ceramic tiles, the Sponsors currently market sanitaryware, produced by two Egyptian producers (Lecico-Egypt and Ideal Standard), through their existing distribution network of more than 28 sales and distribution centers. Such an extensive distribution network in the industry is unique in Egypt as well as the MENA region.