KCA DEUTAG, the international drilling contractor, has won the Achievement in Internationalisation Award at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of

Commerce's Northern Star Business Awards 2008.

The award, which recognizes the company that has been the most successful in growing the international share value of their business, was presented

to KCA DEUTAG at a high profile dinner on 25 September, attended by almost 1,000 local business people.

Neil Stevenson, KCA DEUTAG Director of Business Development and Commerce, who collected the award on the company's behalf, said: "As a company firmly

rooted in north east Scotland it is great to win recognition of our international business success from our local business community.

"Last year saw a significant increase in our international growth, with offshore operations commencing for the first time in Angola, Thailand,

Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast, and onshore operations in Algeria starting for the first time since 2001.

"International operations contributed 83% of KCA DEUTAG's total turnover in 2007, increasing by 32% to US$1,179 million. We also recruited an

additional 700 people. Following an investment of US$600 million in drilling rig assets in 2006, KCA DEUTAG will continue to invest in

onshore and offshore rigs over the next few years, in line with our five-year growth plan."

KCA DEUTAG beat off the short-listed companies Production Services Network (PSN) and MCS to win the Achievement in Internationalisation Award.