Business Club

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the financial sector and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Jordan with a JD21.3 million subordinated loan to Bank Al Etihad that will support its growth and lending capacity.

This is the first time that the EBRD has provided a Basel III-compliant subordinated loan in Jordan or the wider southern and eastern Mediterranean region.

The loan is aimed at strengthening Bank Al Etihad’s capital structure in line with the Basel III instructions that Jordan adopted in 2016. The Basel III instructions seek to improve regulation, supervision and risk management within the Jordanian banking sector to enhance the ability of banks to face risks.

The loan will support Bank Al Etihad’s growth plans and lending capacity, including to MSMEs, thus improving MSME access to finance, which remains a major challenge for this segment of the economy.

“Adventures of Loony Balloony”, the nation-wide campaign to promote positive parenting as a strategy to end violence against children in Jordan, has won two of the Middle East Public Relations Association awards. The “best media campaign in Jordan” received two awards.

The campaign was created, organised and managed by iJordan, a Public Relations, Communication and Event Management Agency.

Lana Al Sakka, managing director of iJordan, expressed pride at receiving the awards. “We are very proud... There was a lot of hard work that went into creating, organising and managing this nation-wide campaign, she said. 

Hayat FM has renewed its cooperation agreement with Al Marji’ Publications, publisher of Family Flavours and Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh parenting magazines, for the fifth consecutive year.

This cooperation agreement stems from both parties’ commitment to raising awareness about family values and parenting through expert contributions. During the signing, Musa Saket, founder and chairperson of Hayat FM radio station, said this partnership “reflects Hayat FM's keen interest in serving families.

Our cooperation with Al Marji’ Publications is one of the radio station's most effective ways to do so”. He expressed his appreciation of both magazines for remaining true to their shared missions and values.

“We are happy to renew our partnership with Hayat FM radio station as its family values align with our mission,” said publisher and managing director of Al Marji’ Publications, Hind-Lara Mango. She added, “We are proud of this growing partnership, evident this year with Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh’s segment on Beit Hawa programme, and are looking forward to bringing our partnership to the next level  in the upcoming year.”

Al Marji’ Publications has recently honoured Hayat FM with an award of appreciation for its support as a media sponsor, hosting experts from both magazines on issues about health, nutrition, parenting, relationships and more. This year, a social media component was integrated in this partnership.

For the seventh consecutive year, Societe Generale de Banque-Jordanie (SGBJ) renews its partnership with Al Marji’ Publications, publishers of Family Flavours and Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh parenting magazines.

“This ongoing partnership with Al Marji’ Publications highlights the bank’s belief in Family Flavours and Nakahat ‘Ailiyeh magazines which are highly reputable in the Jordanian market.

Through this partnership, SGBJ promotes its various products and services as well as its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives,” said SGBJ General Manager Nadim Abaouat at the signing.

“We are happy to renew our partnership with SGBJ and are proud of the trust they have in us and in continuously offering the latest products and investment tools that are tailored to meet the needs of our readers, women and men looking for smart ways to invest and manage their finances,” noted Hind-Lara Mango, Publisher and Managing Director of Al Marji’ Publications.

Exactly three years to date after turning professional, England’s Harry Konig won his first title in dramatic fashion at the $100,000 Journey to Jordan Tour Championship, the season-ending event on the MENA Tour by Arena, on Thursday.

At the Greg Norman-designed Ayla Golf Club, the 24-year-old from Devon seemed out of the reckoning when he was three-over through eight holes. But he first holed his wedge third shot for an eagle on the par-5 ninth, and then played the last five holes to four-under par to finish on 11-under par 205.

England’s Joshua Grenville-Wood (70) looked all set to secure his first win as a professional as he reached the par-5 17th hole at 12-under par, but finished with two straight bogeys, including a missed par putt from less than three feet on the last to force a play-off.

Challenge Tour stars Todd Clements (67) and Jamie Rutherford (70) of England and Sweden’s Henric Sturehed (69) were already in the clubhouse at 10-under par and Grenville-Wood made it a four-way tie at 206.

South Africa’s MG Keyser and Dubai-born, 15-year-old Josh Hill both had rounds to forget but seasons to remember when they won the Professional and Amateur Journey to Jordan (Order of Merit) respectively. 

Under the patronage of Hala Zawati, the minister of energy and mineral resources, Orange Jordan inaugurated its solar farms project on Thursday at the company’s solar power plant in Na’our.

“We are inaugurating a new important project through which the company seeks to reduce the costs of electricity consumption and go green,” Zawati said at the ceremony, which was also attended by French Ambassador Véronique Vouland-Aneini, and several Jordanian officials.

The minister highlighted the importance of the project in reducing the operating costs at Orange Jordan, hoping that this will lead to reducing the costs of the services the company provides.

She praised the efforts of workers, employees, financiers, and partners who contributed to the success of this project and the institutions and government departments that facilitated the completion of the project.  

AMMAN — Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts recently recognised Al Marji' Publications, publishers of Family Flavours and Nakahat 'Ailiyeh magazines, in an awards ceremony at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea.

Al Marji' Publications’ partnership with Mövenpick  Hotels and Resorts spans more than a decade; it has been based on promoting the hotel's five branches through social, digital and print media, including through the company’s tourist  guide Aqaba Seasons.

In addition, the hotles have been actively and strategically engaged in the magazines' various health,wellness, fashion  and corporate social responsibility activities.

At the ceremoney, Mövenpickalso honoured other partners who have had an impact on its success in Jordan. Several tourism agencies, as well as others in the tourism industry and media, attended the awards ceremony. 

The Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (int@j), jointly with CONVTECH are offering the first international Internet of Things (IoT) Training and Certification Programmes in the Arab world, offered by the Global ICT Training and Certifications Pte Ltd from Singapore.

The training, which will take place in Amman, is part of a memorandum of understanding signed last June between inta@j with the GICT Training & Certification (GICT) to establish an institutional framework for cooperation between the two parties. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a new term referring a new generation of the Internet (the network) that allows communication between interconnected devices, which include devices, sensors, tools, and different AI tools.

Int@j Chairman Bashar Hawamdeh said: ”IoT training was based on the best international practices…, as the IoT will not monopolised by a country, region, or a company, but it will…be available worldwide.” CONVTECH CEO Feras Mahmoud Diab said this certificate enables recipients to work professionally on the IoT, adding that training will not be limited to one field, instead enabling programmers, developers, system analysts and others to benefit, as the Internet of things overlaps with all sectors.

In celebration of the Global Customer Appreciation Week (GCAW), Marriott International Group in Jordan visited Abi Hurayra Orphan Care Centre in Hay Nazzal to spend a day with the kids and revamp their classrooms.

The day started by cleaning the classrooms and painting the walls, to offer the students an inviting and clean study environment.

Teams from the seven participating hotels; Sheraton Amman Al Nabil, Amman Marriott, Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa, Petra Marriott Hotel, W Amman, St. Regis and Al Manara, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Saraya Aqaba, enjoyed a loving and energetic lunch with the children at the centre.

The GCAW is an opportunity to highlight the internationally acclaimed customer service provided by Marriott International Group associates. Throughout this week, associates from around the world come together to express their appreciation and celebrate the success of all fruitful collaboration.

Orange Jordan launched The Gift, a new awareness campaign, simultaneously with the group’s launch. The campaign was announced during a press conference, held by the CEO of Orange Jordan, Thierry Marigny, and a number of executives on Thursday.

With the slogan "We all have great power, we all have great responsibility", The Gift aims to highlight the safe, secure and responsible use of the internet on all devices to protect users of all ages and interests.

Marigny said modern technologies provide immense opportunities for users, but at the same time, many responsibilities for better use, noting that the company offers a wide range of concrete products and services to provide customers with information or tools designed to help them use technology safely and responsibly.

The “Gift” campaign focuses on protecting users from cyberbullying, considering the impacts of online activities on other users and the society, utilising technologies to strengthen social connections and effective communication, preventing screen addiction, as well as promoting public road safety.