Abu Issa Holding Company Chairman Ashraf Abu Issa has been named as the winner of the Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award 2011. He was chosen among seven finalists representing six leading corporate players in Qatar, a release said.The winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards 2011 (EOY 2011) was recently announced at a gala dinner hosted by Enterprise Qatar and Ernst & Young at The Ritz-Carlton.The EOY Awards 2011 were held for the very first time in Qatar under the patronage of HE the Minister of Business and Trade, Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz al-Thani.Issa won the “highly esteemed” award for establishing one of Qatar’s key retail empires and setting up a unique example for businesses in this industry.The award was presented to Ashraf Abu Issa by Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, head of Enterprise Qatar Executive Committee and board member of Qatar’s SME Authority; Noora al-Mannai, CEO of EQ; Abdulaziz al-Sowailim, chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young (Mena) and Firas Qoussous, managing partner of Ernst & Young Qatar. Issa thanked Enterprise Qatar (EQ) and Ernst & Young and expressed his pride and honour in representing Qatar at the upcoming global awards ceremony in Monte Carlo in June.Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” recognises “outstanding” entrepreneurs for their vision, innovation, courage, and leadership in building and growing successful businesses that influence the way we live, the products and services we depend on, and the economic vibrancy of our local communities and global markets. Sheikh Mohamed said, “First of all, we would like to congratulate Ashraf Abu Issa on a brilliant job done with Abu Issa Holding and thank Ernst &Young for bringing this opportunity to Qatar and recognising the great achievement of the entrepreneurs and their contribution to the growth of the economy.”