A visionary entrepreneur’s journey from Kerala’s heartland to building one of the Middle East’s most dynamic power technology brands
In a world driven by innovation and the constant pursuit of progress, few leaders manage to balance business success with human purpose quite like Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman and Managing Director of ERAM Holdings. From a modest beginning in Kerala, India to leading a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate with over 40+ businesses across 9 verticals and operating in 16 countries, Dr. Siddeek’s story is not just about corporate growth — it’s about vision, resilience, and the power of believing that technology and humanity can progress hand in hand. He is also a passionate philanthropist, treating this facet of his life with the same dedication and drive that fuel his business pursuits.
At the heart of this empire lies one of his most remarkable achievements – ERAM Power Electronics Company (EPEC) – a name that has quietly, yet powerfully, revolutionised the energy landscape across the Middle East, Africa & South Asia.
The Genesis of a Powerhouse
It all began with a conviction. When Dr. Siddeek blended entrepreneurial foresight and industrial excellence to establish ERAM Group in 1990’s, he wasn’t merely building another conglomerate; he was laying the foundation for a group that would merge innovation with impact. Over the years, the Group diversified into sectors such as Human Capital Management, Travel & Tourism, Automotive Dealerships, Manufacturing Research & Development, Healthcare Services, Industrial Support Services, Real Estate & Investments, Information Technology and Training & Skills Development; each contributing to his larger vision of localised excellence and global reach. Today, this legacy has evolved into ERAM Holdings, a globally respected organization driven by purpose, progress and transformative vision becoming a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.
However, 2011 marked a pivotal year. Driven by the desire to reduce dependency on imported technology and strengthen the Middle East’s self-reliance, Dr. Siddeek founded ERAM Power Electronics Company (EPEC) in Saudi Arabia, a company formerly known as, Arabian Power Electronics Company.
What began as a regional initiative soon became a symbol of reliability and engineering mastery. “Our goal was clear – to create capability, not dependency,” he often says. “EPEC represents our belief that the future of energy lies in designing smarter, more resilient solutions for an evolving world.”
Today, EPEC is not just a company, it’s an ecosystem of innovation. Its technologies power key sectors, including oil and gas facilities, airports, telecom networks, and utility services. EPEC’s products stand the test of time and terrain.
ERAM Power Electronics: Engineering the Future (KSA & India)
Amongst several success stories, ERAM Power Electronics Company (EPEC) stands out as a symbol of reliability and engineering mastery. Founded in 2011 in Saudi Arabia, EPEC was born from Dr. Siddeek’s vision to reduce dependence on imported technologies and enhance regional self-reliance.
From industrial battery chargers and UPS systems to frequency converters and lithium batteries, EPEC’s products power vital infrastructure – oil and gas facilities, airports, telecoms, defense bases, and utilities – across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. EPEC is the first ‘Made in Saudi’ brand in power electronics with full localization capabilities, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s industrial landscape.
Saudi Arabia remains its strategic hub, where the company’s rugged, outdoor-rated chargers have set industry benchmarks. Meanwhile, EPEC’s CellWatt Lithium Batteries power more than 40,000 traffic cameras across Saudi Arabia, ensuring uninterrupted surveillance and safety.
EPEC’s India operations in Pune serves as the Manufacturing Hub; and Bengaluru functioning as the Research & Development Center, continue to drive research, innovation, and advanced production. The Indian operations of EPEC are built on fully indigenous technology and the use of locally sourced materials. This ensures that every product delivered by EPEC India is a genuine and proud representation of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The Center of Excellence is formally certified to the EN 9100:2018 aerospace quality standard (equivalent to AS9100D), as evidenced & certified by TÜV Rheinland, Germany. This recognition reflects an unwavering commitment to world-class quality, safety, and reliability across all processes.
The certification demonstrates full compliance with internationally established best practices in the design, development, manufacture, installation, and commissioning of power electronics solutions for commercial, industrial, defence, military, and aerospace applications. This prestigious benchmark further strengthens EPEC’s global credibility and reinforces the trust placed by customers and partners worldwide.
EPEC collaborates with ISRO, DRDO, and RRCAT to develop mission-critical systems for space, nuclear, and defense applications. Recent breakthroughs include AI-integrated power systems and next-generation converters using SiC and Gallium Nitride semiconductors, reinforcing its global leadership in power technology.
Automotive Excellence: ERAM Motors (India)
In Kerala, ERAM Motors reflects Dr. Siddeek’s dynamic vision for the automotive industry. As Kerala’s No.1 Mahindra & Mahindra vehicle dealer, ERAM Motors operates 32 touch points across North Kerala—from Thrissur to Kasaragod—employing over 1,500 professionals. The brand stands out for its strong market presence, customer-centric approach, and commitment to delivering industry-leading service standards.
Driving Skill Development and Women Empowerment
Complementing his contributions to the automotive sector, Dr. Siddeek has championed several impactful skill development initiatives aimed at empowering youth and women across Kerala.
A notable example is the ‘Naari Chakra’ program, launched in collaboration with ASAP Kerala, ERAM Technologies, and Mahindra & Mahindra. This pioneering 60-day training initiative, inaugurated by Kerala’s Higher Education Minister Dr. R. Bindu, equips women aged 18–35 with specialized automotive skills and ensures 100% placement. The program represents a major step forward in fostering gender inclusion and creating new opportunities in the auto industry.
Healing Lives: Dar As Sihha Medical Center (KSA)
Under the leadership of Dr. Siddeek’s son, Rizwan Ahamed, Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of ERAM Holdings, Dar As Sihha Medical Center stands as one of the region’s largest healthcare networks. With clinics in Dammam & Al Khobar, it caters to over 1,500 – 2,000 outpatients daily, supported by 350 – 400 health care professionals. Dar As Sihha is an approved training center accredited by the Saudi Heart Association and the American Heart Association to provide First Aid/Heart Saver training and Basic Life Support training. What sets Dar As Sihha apart is its specialised license to operate remote site medical units in critical oil & gas zones – a privilege held by very few institutions, including those approved by Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare accredited medical centres. These units include doctors, paramedics, ambulances, pharmacies, medical equipment and supplies, medical waste disposal services, and remote area clinic audit services, ensuring comprehensive on-site healthcare for industrial sectors across Saudi Arabia.
Engineering Trust: A Legacy of Quality
Every EPEC product is a promise – designed to deliver uninterrupted power, tested to withstand real-world extremes, and certified to international standards. The company’s ISO 17025-accredited laboratory ensures each system meets rigorous performance criteria before it ever reaches a client site.
Whether it’s a UPS in a hospital or a converter in a fighter jet hangar, failure is not an option. ‘Reliability is our DNA,’ says Jacob Thomas, CEO of ERAM Power Electronics. “At EPEC, we engineer not just power systems, but trust. Every circuit, every wire, every weld reflects a commitment to perfection. Our vision is to redefine what uninterrupted power means, empowering industries, defense, and infrastructure to operate without limits.”
That commitment has earned EPEC partnerships and projects across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, India and Africa, firmly establishing it as a global name in intelligent power solutions.
A Global Vision Anchored in Local Values
Beyond business success, what makes ERAM Holdings truly extraordinary is its commitment to people – a principle that Dr. Siddeek carries deeply.
Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, and the UAE’s National ICV Programme, ERAM Holdings’ core philosophy is simple yet powerful – “localisation with global excellence.”
This vision has led to the creation of over 12,000 jobs across 20 nationalities and established manufacturing and training facilities that strengthen local economies. ERAM’s ventures are not just profit-driven, they are purpose-driven.
Empowering Minds: The ERAM Skill Academy (India)
Back in his home state of Kerala, Dr. Siddeek’s vision takes a more human form through the ERAM Skill Academy – a world-class technical training institution designed to bridge the gap between education and employability.
Recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE) and accredited by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), ERAM Skill Academy is a premier institution in advanced technical training, further strengthened by certifications from the STED Council and CPD (UK) that ensure global standards in vocational education.
Situated on a 50,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art campus, the Academy features cutting-edge simulation labs, industry-grade machinery, specialised safety training zones, and modern, technology-enabled classrooms that replicate real industrial environments – providing students with immersive, hands-on learning and equipping them to excel confidently in the global workforce from day one.
It is also aligned with Saudi Arabia’s approved Skill Verification Program (SVP), offering internationally recognised certifications that strengthen employability and support career advancement. The Academy’s social impact is profound—reaching communities that need support the most. Through government partnerships, it provides free and subsidised training programs, helping underprivileged youth build sustainable livelihoods.
For Dr. Siddeek, this initiative is all about empowerment. “Empowerment starts with opportunity,” he says. “When one person gains a skill, a family gains stability. When communities gain skills, nations thrive.”
The WHO Collaboration: Saving Lives through Skills
Furthering his mission of empowerment, Dr. Siddeek has expanded his charitable initiatives into the field of health education. Through the ERAM Educational & Welfare Trust, in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency & Trauma Care (WHO CCET) at AIIMS, New Delhi, the Trust launched SATYAM (Student Augmented Training for Youth Amplification)—a transformative programme designed to equip students with essential first aid, CPR, and emergency response skills. By enabling young people to act confidently during time-critical situations, SATYAM plays a key role in building safer, more resilient communities.
The pilot programme conducted in Kanjikode, Palakkad, successfully trained over 200 students from tribal and local schools, all of whom received certificates bearing the WHO logo. This initiative strengthens community health and emergency preparedness across Kerala, while directly contributing to global development priorities. It supports SDG 3 by helping reduce preventable deaths through timely first response, reinforces SDG 11 by fostering emergency-ready and safer communities, and advances SDG 17 through strong local partnerships that enable sustainable impact. In simple words, we empower citizens to save lives.
Making Each Journey A Memorable Experience : ITL World
ERAM’s Travel Division ITL World is among the top rated & award winning travel management companies in the GCC, offering a diverse portfolio across its parent and sub-brands. Established in the early 1990s on the Indian Subcontinent, ITL World expanded into the GCC with its first office in Dubai in 2006 and later into Saudi Arabia in 2008 with rapid growth across various verticals including business travel, holidays, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions). Today ITL World manages a strong client network across various industries along with its global partner – CTM (Corporate Travel Management) whom ITL World represents across the GCC for the last decade. In June 2024, the company entered a collaboration with Explora Journeys to offer luxury cruise experiences. Its educational travel brand, EduVoyage, conducts expeditions to NASA and other international global centres of excellence, inspiring young minds through global exposure and experiential learning.
Foodco Delicacies India Pvt. Ltd.: Whetting the Palate
Established in 2005 in Kerala, Foodco Delicacies India Pvt. Ltd., a venture of ERAM Holdings, is a multifaceted exporter of frozen foods, vegetables & seafood, and ready-toeat Indian ethnic delicacies. With coveted certifications – including FDA, and European Union licenses – the company exports premium products to markets in America, Europe and Asia, aiming at becoming one of India’s most trusted food exporters.
Healing the Earth: The Water Warrior of Palakkad
Beyond boardrooms and factories, Dr. Siddeek’s compassion flows into the rivers and wells of his homeland. In Palakkad, Kerala, he has led large-scale water conservation projects that have transformed thousands of lives.
When the Bharathappuzha River (Nila) – Kerala’s second-longest, began drying up, Dr. Siddeek stepped in. Under his leadership, ERAM Holdings replaced damaged river shutters with durable iron structures, renovated 100+ wells, and revived 141 ponds across five rural governing bodies.
The results were dramatic: improved irrigation for farmers, restored groundwater, and rejuvenated ecosystems. Over 5,000 families benefited directly.
The initiative, executed with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and local communities, has become a model for sustainable CSR in India. His campaign, ‘Save Water, Save Earth’ now inspires environmental efforts across the region.
ERAM Holdings even produced a documentary, ‘H2O – Human to Ocean’, which is being screened in educational institutions to raise awareness about water conservation among youth.
The Man Behind the Mission
Despite the scale of his empire, Dr. Siddeek remains grounded in humility. A graduate of the Owner / President Management Program at Harvard Business School, he combines academic precision with intuitive leadership.
He serves as Co-Chair of the FICCI Arab Council, representing India on global economic platforms. He has been honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (2021)—the highest recognition for overseas Indians—and consistently features among Forbes Middle East’s Top 20 Business Leaders in the Arab World.
His relentless determination and commitment to social upliftment continue to earn him global recognition. Yet, those who know him describe him as a listener first, leader second. His leadership philosophy revolves around trust, empowerment, and authenticity. “A true leader,” he says, “is one who builds more leaders.”
He attributes much of his strength to his family, his spouse, Nushaiba, and their three children Rizana Mariyam, Rizwi Mariyam & Rizwan Ahamed – who continue to inspire his sense of balance between ambition & empathy.
Dr. Siddeek’s dedication to education extends through five institutions nurturing over 3,000 students, including Mariyumma Memorial Public School, Higher Secondary School, Teachers Training Institute and ERAM Academy for Sports and Excellence (EASE). These schools embody his vision of holistic education that shapes both intellect and character. Named in memory of his late mother, Mariyumma, they stand as a lasting tribute to his roots and values.
The Road Ahead
As the world races toward renewable energy and intelligent automation, ERAM Power Electronics is poised for exponential growth. Its upcoming innovations include next-generation converters based on cutting-edge semiconductor materials.
ERAM Power Electronics continues to strengthen its culture of unity and shared purpose through flagship events like the Annual Day & Power Conference 2025. The gathering celebrates teamwork, innovation and collective achievements under the theme ‘One Team, One Energy’. Such events embody the company’s commitment to fostering collaboration and recognising the people who power its growth.
EPEC also plans to expand manufacturing and integration facilities in India to cater to the South Asian market, while continuing to strengthen its GCC operations. The company also envisions new collaborations in defense and aerospace – further cementing its reputation as a trusted energy partner worldwide.
For Dr. Siddeek, however, the destination is not dominance but difference. “Our goal is not just to create technology, but to create capability,” he says. “To empower nations, industries and communities through innovation and reliability.”
In a world that often measures success in profits, Dr. Siddeek measures it in progress – in the youth trained, the rivers revived and the power systems that keep the world moving.
A Legacy of Purpose
From a small town in Kerala to the global stage, Dr. Siddeek Ahmed’s journey is a masterclass in leadership – not the loud, commanding kind, but the purposeful, compassionate kind that quietly changes lives.
ERAM Power Electronics may deal in energy systems, but its true strength lies in something far more powerful – human energy – the belief that progress is meaningful only when it uplifts people and preserves the planet.
And as the lights of EPEC’s innovation glow across continents, one truth shines brighter than ever: Real power isn’t in what you create, it’s in how many lives it empowers.
Pic Courtesy: pegasus/ images are subject to copyright
