Business Club

AMMAN — Four Seasons Hotel Amman announced that its talented chefs and servers played a prominent role at this year's Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Awards (HORECA) Jordan – the region’s annual hospitality and food event that celebrates the best in hospitality and foodservice.

The Four Seasons team took home three gold medals, three silver medals and three hygiene awards at HORECA Jordan 2022, showcasing their skills and talents in a range of live competitions covering the hospitality, catering, and food industry sectors.

The gold medal winners include Rama Basheer, Team Leader, in the Art of Service Category; Ahmad Mishael, Demi Chef de Partie, who had the Best Macaroon, and Ahmad Zidan, Demi Chef de Partie, who took home a hygiene award in addition to his gold medal in the Seafood Category.

The silver medal winners include Mohammad Abu Riziq, Demi Chef de Partie, in the Croissant Category; Ahmad Abu Khashab, Cook 1, in the Pizza Category; Izaaz Alyaa Ramadhana, Chef de Partie, who received a hygiene award in addition to a silver medal in the Pasta Category; while Zakaria Al- Masri, Demi Chef de Partie, received a hygiene award in the Market Basket Category; and Mohammad Da'aabour, housekeeper, who received a bronze medal in the Bed Making Category.

Carlo Stragiotto, General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Amman, congratulated winners, saying: “I am very proud of everyone who participated and received medals and awards at HORECA Jordan 2022”.  

The eighth edition of HORECA Jordan is the largest exhibition for the hospitality and food & beverages service industry in the region. 

It took place from September 27 to 29 in Amman. The annual exhibition covers food & beverage services and hospitality sectors from Jordan and the region, including Palestine, Iraq and Egypt.

AMMAN — Huawei, a communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart device provider on Tuesday held the second annual Huawei Innovation Day under the theme ) under the theme of "Collaboration to Unleash Innovation for Sustainable Digital Future".           

The event featured the participation of customers, partners, government leaders and technology experts from the region, and was organised in partnership with the Arab ICT Organisation (AICTO), according to a statement from the organisors.

Jeff Wang, Global President of Public Affairs and Communications at Huawei, said: “Today, we have heard from customers and partners from the Middle East and Africa…We also heard amazing stories of how technology is being applied to solving some of the greatest challenges facing humanity such as climate change, energy transition, inclusion and women empowerment.Such outcomes inspire us to continue innovating to power a better future for all".

Mohamed Ben Amor, Secretary General of the Arab ICT Organisation (AICTO), , highlighting the importance of collaboration to build an integrated ICT ecosystem for a sustainable digital economy, said "Innovation was always, and will remain the engine of economic and social progress with a profound transformational impact on our lives, technological innovation will be, without any doubt, the compulsory way towards a better digital future. Therefore, we highly trust that technological innovation will help transform challenges into opportunities and shorten the path to achieving our common goals. This requires, in particular, a strong regional and international cooperation framework”.

This year's event covered themes such as green ICT for the sustainable future of sectors and industries, the ICT talent ecosystem and empowering women in ICT in the MEA region, according to the statement.

Shunli Wang, Huawei's Vice President in the Middle East, who delivered the closing remarks during the event, said: “More markets in MEA — such as Jordan — have already announced the launch of 5G. We look forward to supporting Jordan in introducing the benefits of 5G, and we call for maintaining a fair, unbiased, and transparent 5G business environment”.

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Thursday launched the first Voluntary Local Review (VLR) in the Arab Region for the City of Amman.

Developed in partnership with UN Habitat, UN ESCWA, and UCLG-MEWA, this VLR discusses the city’s actions and performance against the selected Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets based on available data, and analyses the consequent implications on policy and practice to improve Amman’s performance against SDGs, according to a statement from UN Jordan.

Speaking at the VLR launching ceremony, the Minister of Public Works and Housing Yahya Kisbi congratulated GAM and other partners for this achievement, which is considered a source of inspiration for other Arab cities to present similar reports.

Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Amman Mayor, indicated that, under the guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah, the modern, sustainable and flexible smart-city of Amman has joined cities around the world in integrating SDGs in its strategies, evident in the GAM Strategic Plan for 2022-2026.

“Amman’s experience in preparing its report adopted an evidence-based, comprehensive, participatory and implementable methodology that included more than 60 participating stakeholders, representing government agencies, civil society, academia, the local community, and others,” commented Erfan Ali, UN Habitat Regional Representative for the Arab States.

Dominik Bartsch, UN Jordan Resident Coordinator ad interim said, “Municipalities are at the forefront of providing services to people, of improving infrastructures, of making cities more liveable and of ensuring the well-being of the people and achieving the Urban Agenda 2030.” 

He added that this report is a roadmap unifying joint efforts towards achieving sustainable development in Amman, "the city of light", which has embraced refugees and worked to include them into the local community.

Sukaina Al Nasrawi, UNESCWA Lead of Sustainable Urban Development Portfolio, emphasised the importance of working together and of reinforcing national-local policy coherence to advance the achievements of the SDGs, whereby the goal of the VLR is to “provide evidence on the efforts made in the city to achieve the SDGs while also proposing recommendations for improving sustainable development.”

Deema Abu Thiab, National Programme Coordinator for the UN-Habitat Jordan Office, said: “This VLR represents the long-standing commitment of the GAM and the UN to continuously work together towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and leave no one —and no place behind.”

AMMAN — The "We Innovate Together" Youth Social Innovation Challenge, implemented by Expertise France with the support of IBTECAR Consulting, held an awards ceremony on Thursday. 

The challenge is part of the EU funded "Support to Social Protection in Jordan" Programme.

The Social Innovation Challenge brought together young people aged between 18 and 25 from Amman, Karak and Jerash for a journey that lasted over 10 months, according to a statement from organisers. 

Out of the 500 applicants, 110 were chosen to form teams in the local stage of the Challenge, and to submit ideas for innovations that would benefit social protection and cohesion in their communities. 

The 27 teams received advice, training and guidance on developing and implementing workable, sustainable innovations.

Fifteen teams, comprising 50 innovators, were selected to compete in the national stage to develop prototypes with the support of coaches and mentors, ready to make their pitch to the jury. 

Over 250 people attended the closing awards ceremony, most notably Minister of Social Development Ayman Al Mufleh, and Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Jordan, Patrick Lambrechts. 

The ceremony included awards for five winning teams. The Turkuaz team ranked first in Amman, whose project focuses on persons with physical disabilities and on youth by training them in digital and micro-skills to open employment opportunities. 

The Mantojna team ranked first in Jerash, whose project promotes eco-tourism in Jerash and creates economic opportunities for women. The Aphanius team ranked first in Karak, whose project targets the youth of the southern Jordan Valley by providing part-time job opportunities and supporting small business owners, read the statement.

The winning teams of the second and third places of the National Challenge were also awarded: Clips team from Amman, an e-business incubator for individual economic empowerment, and the Hemmah team from Karak to economically and socially  empower women with hearing disabilities through an e-platform. 

Mufleh expressed his happiness and pride in the youth’s social projects and stressed the need to support them and provide them with financial support.

Lambrechts said: “The objective of today’s event is to reward and give recognition to new solutions to local social issues, and invest in budding talents along with the Ministry of Social Development. Rest assured that the EU will remain committed to advancing social protection in Jordan over the next five years. And we very much look forward to seeing the solutions and ideas presented today sustainably transform Jordan for many years to come.”

Marie Keirle, project leader at Expertise France, was very pleased with the response to the Challenge. 

She said: “At the start, we were not quite sure how well the idea of a social innovation challenge would work, given all the other activity around innovation for growth. We were delighted to find that the initiative struck a chord, and Jordan clearly has many talented young people who are strongly motivated to make a positive difference in their communities and wider society, and who have great ideas for how to do that.”

One of the coaches of the Challenge, Sawsan Zayed, said that the Social Innovation Challenge was a unique opportunity for young people to experience the innovation journey that enables them to transform their ideas into projects with a sustainable community impact. 

One of the participants in the challenge, Ghaith Al Shamayleh, emphasised how he learned to solve challenges and transform innovative ideas into practical projects. 

"The project helped me meet peers with the same interests, and coaches who helped me develop my idea," he added.

The event also saw the participation of Wahj Al Shams Team for Theatre and Folk Arts, a non-profit organisation, who performed a play on the role of youth in social protection. The team has so far presented 255 theatre performances inside and outside Amman, and trained 696 vulnerable youth and introduced them with directors, artists and academic institutions. 

Excitement is building as World Travel Awards (WTA) prepares to host its Middle East Gala Ceremony 2022 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amman. The travel industry figureheads and decision-makers from across the region are attending the red-carpet gala reception in the capital of Jordan on October 23, 2022.

The Ritz-Carlton, Amman is located in the 5th Circle. The hotel provides a destination for both leisure and business travellers, as well as serving as a gateway to explore Jordan’s historic sites of Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.

Graham Cooke, Founder, WTA, said: “We are incredibly excited to host our Middle East Gala Ceremony 2022 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amman, for what will mark our first ceremony in Jordan, a nation blessed with World Heritage Sites, friendly towns and inspiring desert landscapes”.

General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amman, Tareq Derbas, said: “We are delighted to welcome attendees of this year’s World Travel Awards, a milestone not only for our hotel – which officially opened its doors in June – but for Jordan as a whole. It is our great pleasure to welcome some of the world’s foremost travel industry leaders, and we look forward to showing them a level of hospitality and care that is both a hallmark of the Ritz-Carlton brand and a true reflection of the Kingdom and its people.”

Bank ABC, MENA’s leading international bank, has launched its seamless digital mobile-only banking app, ila, in Jordan.

After its phenomenal success and customer adoption rates in Bahrain, Bank ABC is taking ila’s banking experience to its core MENA markets. With a fintech enabling and Cloud-supportive environment, Jordan became an attractive next destination for ila.

The launch ceremony was held on September 25, following the inauguration of Bank ABC’s new state-of-the-art headquarters building in Shmeisani.

In the presence of Minister of Investment Khairy Amr, and under the patronage of Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Ahmad Hanandeh, Huawei on Monday launched public cloud services in Jordan and initiated a start-up programme to support SMEs with advanced cloud services and communication platforms in partnership with international venture capitalists. 

Huawei Cloud target is to build the cloud foundation for an intelligent world. It is currently the fastest-growing cloud services provider in the world, operating 65 Availability Zones in 27 Regions. 

It has attracted more than 3.02 million developers, 28,000 consulting partners, 9,000 technical partners, 19 data centres, and released more than 250 cloud services, 210+ solutions, and 7,400 KooGallery products five years since launch.

Huawei provides a broad range of ICT capabilities to help all industries go digital. Together with ecosystem partners, the company provides innovative technologies, products, and solutions that help customers build open, secure, and sustainable digital platforms.

With digital transformation picking up pace, cyber security will become a cornerstone of the future digital world. Business success will not be achieved without security, trustworthiness, and privacy protection. Huawei says it continues to place cyber security and privacy protection as a top priority. 

Over 70 cyber security certifications were awarded to Huawei. To date, the company have submitted over 65,000 standards contributions in more than 200 standards organisations. Huawei 5G base station was the first to pass the NESAS/SCAS 2.0 evaluation in the industry. 

Through Seeds for the Future CSR initiative, Huawei ICT Competition, and many others, the company promotes collaborations between public and private sector entities, educators, and technology companies to develop talent. 

In the Middle East, Huawei has set up 167 Huawei ICT Academies, and more than 3,500 students have participated in the flagship programme Seeds for the Future, while over 40,000 students have obtained Huawei certification. 

Globally, countries are racing to develop their telecommunications capabilities, specifically in 5G because of its fundamental importance to socio-economic development. 

Huawei calls for fair competition and just business environment in 5G business based on technological neutrality approach that considers only the key factors such advanced innovations, best practices, cost, compatibility, profound expertise in global markets. 

AMMAN — The 22nd global edition of the World’s Biggest Blockchain Summit Series is making a big return to Dubai on October 17-18, 2022 at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, UAE being one of the most elite gatherings of the global crypto and blockchain ecosystem.

Dubai has set its sights on becoming a global tech hub by attracting entrepreneurs, investors and even crypto influencers as marketing capitalisation hits $1.4 trillion up 86 per cent year-to-date, with the Middle East’s blockchain market anticipated to be worth $3.2 billion by 2023.

The UAE has begun implementing crypto regulation in the past year, issuing more than 30 exchange licenses and establishing a devoted regulatory body. But will UAE’s new regulatory structure make the market grow even faster? And will the Emirati government be able to regulate cryptocurrency quickly and effectively? World Blockchain Summit looks to answering the most pressing questions and bringing together industry experts and thought leaders to understand what the future of blockchain and crypto looks like not just in the case of Dubai, but also the world.

In line with Dubai’s vision of being a global Web3 hub, leadership backing, and digital asset regulatory framework, the summit will feature presentations, use-case studies, and educational sessions by global technology providers who will be showcasing their latest innovations designed with the primary focus on enabling businesses and organisations to adopt Blockchain and Crypto solutions.

“The government’s focus on blockchain is evident in the UAE, with various initiatives and ventures related to the technology. The event will essentially explore what lies ahead for UAE in terms of blockchain adoption in various industries, technological and regulatory advancements,” said Mohammed Saleem, founder of World Blockchain Summit.

The World Blockchain Summit – Dubai is sponsored by Headline Sponsor: Decentralised Investment Group; GBR Coin, Platinum Sponsors: Quai Network; SafuuX, Silver Sponsor: Coinstore; Aura Dogs.

Ecosystem Partner: Crypto Oasis

Exhibitor: Dreamster; Galaxy Heroes; Khaleeji

Badge Sponsor: SafuuX

Lunch Sponsor: SafuuX

Lanyard Sponsor: Quai Network

Official PR Partner: Luna PR

Media Partners: Be In Crypto; TyN Magazine; CryptoNewZ; Crypto Academy; Women In Blockchain Canada; Bitcoin World; Coinspeaker; BinBits; Coinvestasi; Cointelegraph; The Cryptonomist; Coinstelegram; The Jordan Times; Security Middle East; Regtech Times

AMMAN — Under the patronage of HRH Prince Firas Bin Raad, chairman of Run Jordan’s board of directors, Run Jordan has announced that it began preparations for the Aquafina Amman Marathon event, which will be held on October 14 under the slogan “Run in the heart of Amman”.

The annual marathon will be organised in coordination with the Greater Amman Municipality and sponsored by Aquafina drinking water, a product of PepsiCo International Company.

Prince Firas commended the efforts of Run Jordan and its dedication to encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle among various segments of society. 

He highlighted the importance of the international marathons held by Run Jordan and the vital role it plays in enhancing Jordan’s status in the world of sports, and promoting it as a sports-tourism destination.

Amman Mayor Yousef Al Shawarbeh commended the events organised by Run Jordan, which are becoming increasingly popular at the local and international levels. 

General Manager of Pepsi Jordan Bassem Ali said: “We, as Aquafina, are proud to be the title sponsor of the Amman Marathon and the exclusive source of pure drinking water. This sponsorship is a natural extension for the strategic partnership with Run Jordan, and our role to support its activities.”

The Aquafina Amman Marathon will be divided into three categories, in addition to the children’s race.

The registration for the marathon is now available online on Run Jordan’s website (registration.runjordan.com) and will remain open until two days before the event. Registration can also be completed in-person at the Run Jordan office in Shmeisani.

The starting point for the 42km marathon race (individual/relay) and the 21km half marathon will be at the Hashemite traffic light. The starting point for the 10km race will be in front of the Royal Cultural Centre. The awards ceremony will be held in the Roman Amphitheatre – the Hashemite Square.

The children’s race will be held in King Al Hussein Park on October 7 at 9am.