venture magazine september

CONTENTS09.15

40

Samir Cherfan, Nissan Middle East Managing Director

“We are big believers in supporting sustainable driving technology and offering greater fuel efficiency across all our models.”

10 | VENTURE MAGAZINE | September 2015

CONTENTS09.15

48 ENTREpRENEURshIp Champions of Change: Jordan’s Social EntrepreneursHow Jordanian entrepreneurs are rolling up their sleeves to tackle some of the country’s biggest social challenges.By Dina al-Wakeel

62 TEchNoloGyPrepare for the Internet of Things How machine-to-machine communication will change life as we know it. By elisa ODDOne

features

56Cover storyThe TransporterGAM’s Executive Director of Transport and Traffic Management Ayman Smadi lays out his ambitious plans for the city.By laith aBOu-RagheB


68

regulars

CONTENTS 18

38

35

66

Wael R Toukan, President of the Jordanian Construction Contractors Association

Nina Mufleh, Freelance Growth Manager at Upwork

opINIoNThe Economist

Where are the Women in the Workforce?More needs to be done to redress the glaring gender imbalance in our male dominated labor market.By khalid W. Wazani

22 Tech Talk

On-demand is in Demand How access to every conceivable service is becoming a click away.By Zeid nasser

24 The Analyst

Jordanian Property Buyers in Dubai: the Reality behind the Stats Are billions of dollars really flooding out of Jordan to snap up real estate in Dubai?By Jawad J. abbassi

46 Media and Society

Do We Need Another Public Service Broadcaster?Why should we be wary about plans for two new state-funded television and radio stations.By Osama al sharif

80 Postscript

The Importance of UNRWAHow solving UNRWA's financial issues will restore faith in a better Palestinian future.By Osama al sharif

MoNEy42 Amman Stock Exchange

Financial, Industrial Indexes Push ASE UpThe General Index climbs after a strong performance from the country’s financial and industrial shares.By aram Rabadi

REVIEwHot Wheels

The MG Abingdon Edition A 60s Icon Reinvented. By ghaith Madadha


Managing Director Qais [email protected]

Senior AssociateDina al-Wakeel

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EditorLaith Abou-Ragheb

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Staff WritersJane Hosking

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Elisa [email protected]

Senior Designer Ahmad Aliah

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Photography Alaa’ al-Sukhny

Contributing Writers Aram Rabadi, Ghaith Madadha, Jawad

Abbassi, Khalid W. Wazani, Nader Museitif, Osama al-Sharif, Sadad Talhouni, Talal

Abdullah, Zeid Nasser

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The recent outcry over funding for UNRWA schools perfectly illustrates the broader plight of a whole generation of young Arabs—from Palestinians and Syrians to Yemenis and Iraqis—who are being denied the right to an education due to ongoing conflicts in the region.The numbers involved are hard to fathom. UNICEF says hundreds of thousands of Syrian children aren’t enrolled in school. According to Save the Children, almost 820,000 primary-aged Iraqi children aren’t in class, either. While the UNRWA funding crisis has threatened to deny an education to almost half a million Palestinian students, 120,000 of which live in refugee camps spread across Jordan.UNRWA warned that unless it gets precisely $101 million, then schools in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria will not open for the start of the new academic year this month. It seems like their demands have been met before the start of the first semester (what is $100 million, after all?), but there’s still a chance that this funding shortfall might occur again next year or the year after. This is what happens when an agency totally

relies on donations in a region where conflict continues to spread and more communities begin to rely on international relief.What are the types of skills that we hope our children will grow up with and how productive do we want them to be if they are missing out on education? In five or 10 years, when these children become of working age, what opportunities will they really have? Unemployment is already an issue among youth in the Arab world, the IMF says it continues to be among some of the highest in the world, and this will only exacerbate it. The international community has to shoulder part of the responsibility, so do the wealthier Arab nations, lest we risk having a whole generation of illiterate youths, whose alternative could be falling into the arms of extremism. Education has been and remains the key to lifting the region out of the mess it’s been mired in for years.

editor's letter

Dina al-Wakeel senior associate

Generation Lost


ALThoUGh JoRdAN’S PoPULATIoN IS almost equally divided between males and females, women are substantially underrepresented in the Kingdom’s workforce. The main reason for this is the fact that women’s participation rate in the economy has been declining. The latest figures show an overall participation rate of around 13 percent, down from 14.9 percent back in 2010. The participation rate in the MENA region is around 28 percent and 43 percent in countries with a comparable income level to Jordan globally. however, policy makers, civil society organizations, and even women activists repeatedly push “empowerment” campaigns, which often do more harm than good as they portray women as needing support or sympathy rather than viewing them as a genuine human resource that the country needs to use and utilize in order to improve the economic production base. Such campaigns have done more to boost the workforce and budgets of some NGos than they have helped to find solutions to the problem of the dearth of women workers.To this end, policy makers should help induce and boost the economy by designing the right policies to utilize all available resources in the Kingdom; this usually starts by checking on the level of underutilization of human resources in any economy. In the case of Jordan, the most underutilized human resource is women. If policy makers are really interested in revitalizing the economic production cycle then they need to help

move the production function of the country. That production function in an economy is driven by labor intensive sectors, such as services, which are mainly dependent on the level of engagement of the labor force. however, the labor force in Jordan is underutilized not only because of unemployment but mainly because of full underutilization of almost 50

percent of the human resources in the Kingdom. This means that Jordan’s economy is producing much below its potential output. Therefore a strategy needs to be put in place to explore the way forward to increase the level of women labor force utilization. This should start by a female resource mapping in order to determine the strong and weak points in the

qualifications and capabilities of our women-power. Secondly, the mapped women human resources should be matched with the relevant opportunities or enrolled in some skills transformation programs to match other opportunities that are not relevant to their current skills. Thirdly, job mapping should help determine those women who are interested to

create their own jobs but are unable to get funding for it or are in need of some technical capacity building to get started. Fourthly, given that females compose over 51 percent of university students in Jordan, the resource mapping should help revisit the future qualifications and skills for those females by directing them towards the future needs of the economy. Finally, although the 13 percent female participation rate in the workforce is very modest and below all expectations, one cannot dismiss the possibility that a good number of women are either working in the informal economy or are unregistered as a result of receiving below the minimum wage in some parts of the private sector, as in the case of some private schools. But in any case, Jordan needs to consider developing a job

map for the coming decade in which empowering the economy is sought through gender equality and proper use of all human resources.

The Economist KhAliD W. WAzANi

Khalid W. Wazani is the Chief Economist/ Strategist and CEO of IssnaadConsulting. Dr. Wazani can be reached at [email protected] and his twitter account @khwazani

If we’re really serious about improving our economy over the long-term, many more women will have to join the workforce.

Where are the Women in the Workforce?

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oUR REGIoN IS FALLING MoRE ANd more behind when it comes to developing new technology. Some astounding advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics are being made in the United States and Japan. Google (or Alphabet), Palantir, and even Facebook are breaking ground in transportation, health care, and other sectors, meaning that some major disruption is on the way. Technology is advancing faster than ever, and we’re being relegated to mere importers that may or may not be lucky enough to afford what we’re allowed to buy. There’s nothing new about us being behind on technology. But the world is changing and technological irrelevance poses huge social and economic dangers. Markets with proprietary access to latest technology will leap in efficiency and disrupt most of the current methodologies. during disruption, one party leaps, and another is rendered obsolete. If we don’t keep up, we’re doomed to the latter. Save for a few exceptions, the majority of regional governments and corporates aren’t doing much to change the status quo. They’re slow to react, and classic sectors like real estate and oil continue

to draw most of the money from investors. This mentality has to shift and unless we move towards tech we won’t advance very far. Tech startups are our best bet to stay relevant. And those who harbor them shall reap the most. This has been proven by the large corporates in the United States and other developed markets. Investing in startups is one strategy to hedge against disruptive competition and to remain close to the potential disruption rather than being out of the loop. The reasoning behind such a strategy isn’t so complicated. one argument is that startups act faster and more independently. They innovate better, provided they have a minimum level of competent driven management and capital. Nevertheless, large corporates should play a key role in supporting startups by providing them with access to resources without hampering their momentum and freedom. It’s easier said than done. But if it’s done well, everyone wins. Another argument is that startups can be a viable bridge to innovation in developed markets. Entrepreneurs are by nature networkers who will gladly reach out to anyone—even Martians—if it means getting the

information or resources they need. They will network with investors, mentors, accelerators, and other entrepreneurs across the world for capital, guidance, or cooperation. We’re already seeing it with US investors, funds, and organizations that are crossing borders and looking to add value to entrepreneurs globally and in the region. Think Tiger Global Management, Naspers, and 500 Startups, among others. Finally, startups don’t have to be from the region. Capital is borderless and early investing is becoming almost standardized with BVI and Cayman structures. Entrepreneurs look for diversity in their investor portfolio as it opens up future doors for their unbound ambitions. In return, investors get to be on board with new waves of innovation in new markets. Granted they might be riskier investments, but that’s where the corporate’s experience becomes invaluable in terms of how it mentors and guides the startup to minimize risk.

gateway

THE STRATEGIST NADEr MuSEiTif

Nader Museitif is a director of Merg-ers and Acquisitions and franchising at Aramex. You can contact him at [email protected]

It’s high time we realized that nurturing tech startups is key to staying relevant in a fast changing world.

Embracing the Great Tech Race


gateway

ThE PhRASE “ThERE’S AN APP FoR that” was coined around the time we all started to realize just how brilliant mobile applications could be at helping us complete simple, everyday tasks. But the well-worn phrase has now started to take on a whole new meaning and could actually be rephrased as: “There’s an app that will give your job to someone else, because that person is available on-demand.”In a nutshell, it explains the reason why some labor unions and governments are waging war on Uber, the on-demand ride-hailing service launched in 2009 which connects customers with freelance drivers who are available in the area and arrive on short notice.Its huge success has caused waves of discontent among traditional taxi drivers. Protests against Uber have become common occurrences across Europe and the United States. Taxi drivers argue that enlisting amateur drivers who don't have high licensing fees gives Uber an unfair competitive advantage. Apparently, the income of taxi drivers has fallen in some European countries by one third in the past two years. Every week, new objections emerge about Uber. Even the mayor of New York warned the growing number of Uber cars on the streets of the city could lead to mass congestion.It’s disruptive, but it’s the next big thing in our mobile-driven lifestyle as analysts believe that Uber has a potential 1.1 trillion dollar market size and say that the app has prompted a reclassification of the transportation industry.That’s why entrepreneurs, egged on by excited investors, are capitalizing on this trend by creating on-demand apps enabling users to get doctors, domestic help, haircuts, and even pet care.According to CrunchBase, the directory and data section of TechCrunch, investment in

on-demand startups is currently peaking, with over 120 startups now funded close to the tune of $2 billion. Not a week goes by without a founder claiming their startup is the Uber of this or that industry.Medicast claims to be the world’s first on-demand platform for delivering medical care. While VetPronto is a version for your pets. Bannerman allows you to instantly hire a private security guard for a flat fee of $35 per hour. Shortcut is a service that connects you with on-demand barbers. It’s an expensive haircut at $75, but you’re paying for the convenience. Pamper, Priv, and GlossPod enable customers to enjoy manicures and pedicures in the comfort of their home or office.The laundry and dry cleaning industry is also getting the on-demand treatment with Laundrapp in the UK and FlyCleaner in the United States, both of whom will pick up your laundry in 20 minutes. Several popular on-demand apps for garden

care have also appeared. Plowz and Mowz will plow the snow off your driveway in the winter and mow the lawn in the summer. Parking also has its on-demand services like ZIRX and Luxe, which give you a personal valet waiting to park your car. Then there’s Spothero which enables you to locate and reserve a parking space yourself. For fitness enthusiasts, there’s Vint, which matches fitness instructors with customers in a choice between one-on-one or group sessions. handy is a service that matches household jobs with independent contractors on the fly, and so do other similar services

such as homeJoy and TaskRabbit.All these on-demand services could just represent the tip of the iceberg in the exponentially growing app economy.however, the best established and fastest growing on-demand services are in the food delivery business. Apparently, it’s a good fit for the food eco-system players. Watch food on-demand explode worldwide, with global players like FoodPanda and deliveryhero acquiring emerging local players.There could still be many obstacles along the way, other than just regulatory issues. Recruitment specialists expect that there will be a shortage of independent workers in several sectors due to many emerging on-demand companies competing to hire the same on-demand talent.But that highlights the rather old-fashioned benefit these smartphone-driven, cloud-based services actually provide: person-to-person experiences that make the consumer feel valued.

Isn’t that what classic salesmanship is all about?That’s why on-demand is in demand. You had better prepare for it, especially if you’re a skilled worker in a service-delivery industry. It will reshape your career and cause upheaval for companies and industry bodies you work for. Adapt or expect to be Ubered.

TECH TALK zEiD NASSEr

Zeid Nasser is a tech and media writer and commentator since the 1990s. He’s also the founder of vari-ous local and regional media [email protected]

Want someone to wash your laundry or give you a haircut in the comfort of your living room? There are now on-demand smartphone apps that offer these services and many more.

On-demand is in Demand

THE bEST ESTAblISHED AND FASTEST GROWING ON-DEMAND SERvICES ARE IN THE FOOD DElIvERY bUSINESS


dUBAI’S PRoPERTY MARKET hAS rebounded well from the dark days of the global economic downturn. The dubai Land department (dLd) reported the total amount of real estate transactions in the emirate in 2014 exceeded $59.3 billion through 53,871 transactions. The outlook for this year looks just as rosy, with transactions in the first quarter exceeding $17.4 billion through 11,603 transactions. Many Jordanians are amongst the buyers. Last year, out of all Arab investors, the dLd said Jordanian investors made the most number of purchases with 1,028 transactions worth $680 million. While in the first quarter of 2015, the dLd said Jordanian investors also ranked highest in terms of the number of transactions at nearly $192 million worth of deals through 204 transactions. So over in 2014 and the first quarter of 2015 combined, Jordanians accounted for 1,232 real estate transactions in dubai with a total value of $872 million. Some media reports in Jordan suggested that Jordanians moved this amount out of Jordan into dubai. A closer examination of the figures suggests otherwise. Jordanian real-estate transactions in dubai constituted 1.88 percent of the total number of transactions, and 1.14 percent of the total value of real estate transactions there in 2014 and the first quarter of 2015. As there are

close to 200,000 Jordanians in the UAE, representing some 2 percent of its population, the share of Jordanians seems in line with their size relative to dubai’s population. The figures also suggest that Jordanians are bargain hunters. Jordanian real estate transactions in dubai were quite smaller than the total average. The average transaction value for Jordanians was $711,000 in

2014 and the first quarter of 2015, 40 percent less than the total average of $1.17 million. What the figures clearly suggest is that Jordanians working in dubai are now quite eager to plough their savings into the dubai real estate market. dubai’s liberal property rules that allow foreigners to buy easily into the market have clearly succeeded. Mortgages tell the rest of the story. A full quarter of all real estate transactions reported in dubai were via mortgages, representing 44

percent of the total value of the real estate transactions in dubai—and a full 87 percent of total sales transactions—in 2014. Assuming that Jordanian buyers in dubai relied on mortgages at the same rate, then it follows that Jordanians relied on UAE banks to finance close to 87 percent of their real estate purchases. Moreover, it follows that Jordanian purchases of dubai real estate totaled

an estimated $459 million. In short, the dLd data shows that Jordanian residents of dubai bought offices, houses, and apartments at an average price of a little over $700,000 to save on rent or serve as rental properties. The total purchases over 2014 and the first three months of this year were around $460 million, of which the great majority ($415 million) were financed by mortgages from UAE banks. But this money didn't leave

Jordan because it was never in the Kingdom to start with.What we have is yet another example of dubai’s success in convincing expatriates to invest their savings in their adopted home instead of repatriating all their savings to their home country.

THE ANALYST JAWAD J. ABBASSi

Jawad J. Abbassi is the founder and GM of Arab Advisors Group. Contact him on [email protected].

Even though the statistics show Jordanians are snapping up millions of dollars worth of Dubai real estate, it doesn't mean cash is flooding out of Jordan to do so.

The Reality Behind the Stats:Jordanian Property Buyers in Dubai

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mailto:[email protected]

gReeCe, august 17Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran arrive on the island of lesbos. Around 160,000 migrants fleeing violence in their home countries have arrived in Greece since January.

CuBa, august 15US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Cuban Foreign Minister bruno Rodriguez at the Cuban Foreign Ministry in Havana. The United States and Cuba announced in December they were ending a 54-year standoff.

MONTHIN PICTURES

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leBanOn, august 23lebanese riot police use water cannons to disperse protesters during a demonstration, organized by the ''You Stink'' campaign, to protest against the government's inaction over garbage collection from the city’s streets.

© Marwan Tahah/APA Images via ZUMA Wire

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China, august 16Rescue workers at the site of a massive warehouse explosion in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, which killed at least 110 people and injured more than 700.

JaPan, august 6People mark the seventieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by floating colorful paper lanterns into the Motoyasu River in front of the Atomic bomb Dome.

thailanD, august 18Thai soldiers and police inspect the Erawan Shrine the morning after an explo-sion killed at least 20 people and injured more than 120 others.

VENTURE MAGAZINE | 2726 | VENTURE MAGAZINE | September 2015

What is it?last year, the European Court of Justice ruled that European residents could ask Internet search engines like Google to de-list search results which appeared under a person’s name when they’re out of date, irrelevant or inflammatory—the so called right to be forgotten.

so hoW many people actually Want to be forgotten?Google alone has so far received more than 250,000 removal requests, of which it has accepted around 40 percent.

but Why does the tech giant still seem to be in hot Water?Google has been limiting these removals to its European websites such as France’s Google.fe because it argues these are where the vast majority of its European searches originate from. but the CNIl, the French data protection authority, isn’t too pleased about this and in June ordered Google to de-list on request search results appearing under a person’s name from every single one of its websites globally.

What Was google’s response?A resounding “non,”citing typically American First Amendment fears over limiting freedom of speech. “We’ve worked hard to implement the right to be forgotten ruling thoughtfully and comprehensively in Europe, and we’ll continue to do so,” said Peter Fleischer, Google’s global privacy counsel. “but as a matter of principle, therefore, we respectfully disagree with the CNIl’s assertion of global authority on this issue and we have asked the CNIl to withdraw its formal notice.”

What next?Google could be fined for its refusal to extend the right to be forgotten. but analysts doubt they would make much of an impact on the company’s gargantuan bottom line.

the Right tO Be FORgOtten

Cheat sheet

gateway news&views

INDuSTRY

ith regional unrest continuing to hamper

access to traditional export markets, a week-long showcase of Jordanian-made products was held in Amman last month in a bid to boost demand amongst domestic consumers.Over 150 companies from a variety of sectors took part in the Made in Jordan Festival held at the Expo Land venue on Airport Road. “It is a platform to showcase the success of local industries, whose products are sold in more than 120 countries,” said

Fathi al Jaghbir, a member of the Amman Chamber of Industry which

helped organize the event. “It gives a chance for Jordanians to see how distinguished their industries and products are, and start using them

to support the sectors.”The event featured examples of

traditional Jordanian handicrafts, a sector which is estimated to employ around 20,000 Jordanians. “This particular industry suffered a major setback as a result of the decline in the number of tourists coming to Jordan due to the regional turmoil,” said Issa Gammoh, the secretary general of the Tourism Ministry.Stressing that the

industrial sector makes up around 25 percent of the country’s GDP, al Jaghbir said the event is set to become an annual appointment. –eO

ExPO HELD TO LIFT FLAGGING SALES OF JORDANIAN PRODUCTS

W

ARAB BANK REACHES SETTLEMENT IN US LAWSUIT

BANKING

hortly before an unprecedented damages trial was slated to begin last month, the Arab Bank agreed

to a settle with hundreds of American plaintiffs who accused it of facilitating militant attacks in Israel. The first phase of the trial concluded last year when a US jury found the bank liable for knowingly providing financial services that helped hamas and other Palestinian groups to conduct attacks that killed and wounded Americans in Israel between 2001 and 2004. The bank vehemently denied wrong-doing.The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but the bank said in a statement published on the Amman Stock Exchange that the arrangement details would be disclosed in the coming months. Jordanian economist Salameh daraawi said reaching an agreement was the best option for the bank as a court had already ruled it was in the wrong. “Taking the case further to court would have cost the bank huge amounts of money in settlements that could have affected its financial status. direct settlements with the plaintiffs will significantly reduce that sum,” he said, adding that the bank, which has a capital of $30 billion, would unlikely take a major financial hit.Last year’s verdict covered 310 plaintiffs, but the settlement will include all 500 plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit against the bank under the US Anti-Terrorism Act, Reuters reported. The case was the first time a foreign bank has been found liable in a civil terrorism financing trial in the United States.At the trial, lawyers for the plaintiffs said the bank knowingly maintained accounts for hamas operatives and facilitated payments to families of suicide bombers. The Bank argued that it had followed proper screening procedures and met all regulatory requirements. It also maintained that it only provided “routine services” that followed laws and regulations, denying it had any hand in the events that led to the lawsuit.The Arab Bank was first established in Jerusalem in 1930 and it currently operates through more than 600 branches in 30 countries, across five continents. –eO

s


“We are appealing to the EU and other countries to try and find a

solution to the problem. It's a global problem."Ivo Kotevsky, a Macedonian interior ministry spokesperson, as thousands of refugees

attempted to cross over the border from Greece.

"It does not mean the people whose positions were canceled are accused of corruption."

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi

in a statement after sacking one third of his cabinet.

“By their courage, they saved lives.” French President Francois Hollande during a ceremony to honor the four men who subdued an armed terror suspect on a French train.

"I warn that we are going towards collapse if matters continue."Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam in a televised address in response to protests in Beirut over his government’s failure to clear refuse from the streets and to provide other public services.

QUOTED

THINK TANK QUESTIONS EFFECTIvENESS OF NEPCO RESCUE PLAN

new Identity Center report has questioned the effectiveness

of the National Electric Power Company’s (NEPCo) cost recovery strategy, after it found a recent round of electricity tariff hikes failed to drag the publicly-owned company out of debt, but led to bumper profits at private electricity distribution firms. The report from the development think tank said NEPCo’s losses surged from around Jd160 million in 2010 to more than Jd1.2 billion in 2014 due to the spiraling cost of energy imports. The report stated that during this period, electricity generation and distribution companies that were privatized in the period of 2007-2009 saw their profits expand significantly. The Electricity distribution Company (EdCo) and the Irbid district Electricity Company (IdECo) saw their profits surge in 2014 by 626 percent and 94.1 percent, respectively, compared to 2013.It also said analysts associated NEPCo’s losses and the gains of

private companies with the hike in electricity tariffs implemented by the government starting in 2014, which

was part of NEPCo’s cost recovery strategy, prepared under the reform program with the support of the International Monetary Fund. According to the report, the increase in tariffs actually led to a surge in the profits of distribution companies but did not affect the profitability of NEPCo, which posted a 23 percent rise in losses in 2014.

“This calls into question the effectiveness of NEPCo’s cost-recovery strategy and the associated

increase in electricity tariff rates. While citizens and business are suffering from higher electricity prices, NEPCo’s losses continue to expand leading to a higher level of public debt, while generation and distribution companies post higher profits,” said the report, which examined developments in Jordan’s energy sector.Another vital factor contributing to NEPCo’s poor financial performance is the considerable amount of electricity lost during transmission and distribution. This

accounted for Jd343.8 million or around 32.6 percent of NEPCo’s losses for 2013. According to a statement provided to Venture by the Identity Centre, the report reveals the urgent need for a comprehensive assessment of the energy situation in Jordan and strategic planning, followed by concrete actions. –Jh

ENERGY

a


uAE

Real estate slow downA report by property consultant Asteco said Dubai’s property market edged “further south” during the second quarter of the year, as rental rates and home sales in some locations recorded a decline.The Dubai land Department said almost 20,000 investors from 142 nations spent more than $14.4 billion in the emirate’s market during the first six months. With transactions worth $2.12 billion, Indians were the most active investors in Dubai’s real estate sector during the first half of 2015, followed by investors from britain and Pakistan.

SAuDI ARABIA

Bonds to the rescueAs low oil prices continue to cast a heavy shadow over Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter aims to fill its budget gap by issuing a second round of bonds that could be worth up to $5.33 billion. Unlike last month’s $4 billion worth of notes that were only sold to quasi-government funds, the new bonds will be sold to commercial banks too, Reuters reported. While no particular figure has been disclosed for the latest sale, Saudi-based sources at banks and government bodies told Reuters the total value was expected to be between $4 billion and $5.33 billion, in tranches issued for five, seven, and 10 years.

OMAN

Oil revenue dropThe most recent figures from the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) revealed that Oman’s net revenue from oil has dropped significantly during the first five months of 2015.According to the Oman Tribune, net revenue from oil exports dropped 46.3 percent to $6 billion, down from $11.2 billion in the same period last year.The drop in oil income has affected the country’s budget, which showed a deficit of $3.89 billion at the end of May, down from a surplus of $604 million at the same time last year.

GULF ROUNDUPinFlatiOn WatChInflation in July fell by 0.63 percent over the same month last year. Indicators for Rent rose by 4.45 percent, Education by 3.6 percent, Communication by 0.19 percent, and Clothing and Footwear by 4.9 percent. however, Transportation, and Fuel and Lighting dropped by 11.5 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively.

FOOD iteMs

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Fuel anD lighting

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0.23 0.2 0.19 0.19

3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6

-12 -11.8 -11.2 -12.3

-13.9 -13.1 -11.5-11.0

1.5 1.4 0.73 0.47

5 4.9 4.8 4.9

-0.16 2.4 3.6 0.98

MOnth On MOnth PeRCentage OF Change in MaJOR COnsuMeR

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TECH SUPPORT

HEALTH AND FITNESS APPS

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Runkeeper

MyFitnessPal

Want to keep on top of your health but don’t know where to start? These four health and fitness apps will help keep you fit and healthy, and ready to deal with any medical issues that come your way.

BY JANE HOSKING

There’s no better way to stay healthy than to exercise and get fit, and while it’s been around for a while, Runkeeper is still one of the best apps to keep you on track with your fitness goals. Whether you’re running, walking, cycling, skiing, working out at the gym, or even rowing, Runkeeper uses your phone’s GPS tracker to track metrics like distance and calories burned. So if you’re just starting out on an exercise routine or if you’re training for a marathon, Runkeeper will help you track your progress and follow a training plan that works for you.

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This calorie counter and diet tracker is one of the best ways to monitor your health and lose weight. MyFitnessPal allows you to quickly enter in your daily food intake either manually or by using the app’s barcode scanner, which recognizes over 4 million barcodes. By knowing how many calories, fat, protein, carbs, sugar, fiber, and cholesterol you are consuming, you will be able to make healthier food choices. MyFitnessPal also allows you to enter in whatever exercise you do so that you can see how many calories you’re burning. The app can even be linked to other health apps, such as Runkeeper, to make this step even easier.

Price: FreeAvailable on: iOS, Android, Windows Phone

This app from hikma Pharmaceuticals gives you detailed information about medications, including dosage information, side effects, and drug interactions. The app also features a symptom checker to help you work out what might be causing your aches, pains, or illness. As well as this, the app gives you quick and easy access to your health records, and can even remind you when to take your medication or when your next doctor’s appointment is.

Price: FreeAvailable on: iOS, Android

Through this Arabic-language app, you can ask medical questions and receive answers from more than 7,000 doctors and health specialists from across the Arab world for free. The app is linked to a medical encyclopedia that offers comprehensive information about diseases, symptoms, medications, and treatments. Users can also use the app to search for doctors, hospitals, and view videos about medical issues.

Price: FreeAvailable on: iPhone, Android

gateway news&views

uai Masri is the founder and CEo of Whatshudoin, a new social

media app that allows users to interact based on the way they feel.

How is Whatshudoin different to other social media apps?Whatshudoin is a complete mood-focused platform. What we are working to build is a platform that users go to when they want to know how their friends and the people they track are feeling at all times. Everyone feels different during the day and this is the place to document that. The platform is not about opinions, link sharing, or news posts, it is all about people and how they feel.Also, Whatshudoin is the first platform that shows results about people who feel the same way you do now. So when you feel bored and

post that using the app, the platform will allow you to see who else is feeling the same, which guides to better communications, interactions, and planning.

Where did the app start and

where are you present now?

Whatshudoin started as a Jordanian company at first, and then expanded to Silicon Valley to have its place within the US market and the business culture. But for sure we have

many plans to open more offices and maybe move others according to the business journey we’re witnessing. At the end of the day, these decisions are taken according to what’s best for the business and value behind each market.

What about the business environment in Jordan?I believe that there is much that can be done within the business environment in Jordan, and I am so confident that supporting startups and

small businesses would make a radical change to the economy, employment, and even education.

How is the startup environment in Silicon Valley different from that in the region and do you

think there’s enough support for entrepreneurs here?I can say that the region is starting to see some interesting ideas and support channels for entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, I cannot compare that to what I’ve seen in Silicon Valley, which is okay considering that we are comparing something that has just started in our region to the already established and proven ecosystem here in the Bay Area and San Francisco. What you see in Silicon Valley is not even like anything else in other US states.The trick is all about previous experiences and culture. here in Silicon Valley startups and risk taking is nothing new to businesses, it is something that started many many years ago and now is translated into a culture. Startups are close to investors and many funding channels. dreamers and founders are risking everything to reach their goals, and people are traveling from all over the world to take part in this interesting environment by investing, joining companies, or establishing new ones. So I can say that what we are witnessing in our region is the beginning of an ecosystem that wasn’t available years ago, but that can’t be compared to the Valley yet. –ta

TECHNOLOGY

WHAT’S UP WITH WHATSHUDOIN?

l


Karachi 136 40.9

Lagos 137 39.7

Port Moresby 138 38.9

dhaka 139 38.7

damascus 140 29.3

AIR ARABIA JORDAN PILES PRESSURE ON RJ WITH SECOND SAUDI ROUTE

SUNNY MELBOURNE AND WAR-TORN DAMASCUS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF ‘LIvABILITY’ REPORT

The five Most livable Cities/Overall rating (100=ideal)

The five least livable Cities/Overall rating (100=ideal)

AIA-based budget airline Air Arabia Jordan is to begin flying

to a second destination in Saudi Arabia next month, a move which shows just how much of a threat this newly-launched carrier poses to troubled Royal Jordanian and its vital network of regional short-haul routes. From September 1, Air Arabia Jordan will start flying twice a week to damman, the largest city in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. “damman is the entry point to a province of more than four million people and a center of industry in the Middle East,” Air Arabia Jordan said in a statement. “In a short space of time, Air Arabia Jordan is rapidly establishing its route network and bringing a new level of connectivity to people living in Jordan.” Air Arabia Jordan, which was launched in May and is run by Sharjah-based Air Arabia, already flies direct from its QAIA hub to Jeddah, Erbil, Sharm El-Sheikh, and Kuwait City, all regional destinations that have long proved important to Royal Jordanian’s bottom line. Jeddah, for example, is the carrier’s most popular destination and is regularly used by the many thousands

of Jordanian expatriates that work in oil-rich Saudi Arabia.In May, Royal Jordanian raised its capital by Jd200 million in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy. The airline, which reported losses of almost Jd40

million in 2014, has struggled over recent years to deal with continuing regional unrest, fluctuating oil prices, and the lure of cheap flights offered by the region’s growing number of low-cost carriers. –la

gateway news&views

AVIATION

Q

elbourne is the world’s most livable city, while damascus is the least,

according to The Economist's annual Global Livability Ranking of 140 cities around the world.The report considers 30 factors when evaluating a city’s livability, such as safety, healthcare, educational resources, infrastructure, and environment. Besides ranking conflict-racked damascus in last place, the report also listed Tripoli, Tunis, Cairo, and Bahrain amongst the 10 cities that witnessed the biggest falls in livability scores over the past five years, also mainly due to ongoing unrest. But Kuwait City and dubai were amongst the 10 cities that improved the most over the same period. –DW

MDEVELOPMENT

Corporate Social responsibility (CSr) expenditure in Jordan fell between 2013 and 2014, according to a report produced by the Arab Advisors Group that analyzed 65 companies on the Amman Stock Exchange. here are some of the key stats from their report:

CsR in Jordan: how Much are they giving Back? gOFiguRe

Arab Bank

Arab Potash Company

Jordan Phosphates Mines Company

Arab International Company for Education and Investment

Jordan Kuwait Bank

City Ranking Rating

Melbourne 1 97.5

Vienna 2 97.4

Vancouver 3 97.3

Toronto 4 97.2

Adelaide 5 96.6

JD28.8million spent on CSR,

compared to

JD32million in 2013

2.2%of net profit spent on

CSR compared to

2.9%in 2013

10%drop in CSR expenditures while the net profit of the

companies grew by

20%

90.4of the total CSR came from the banking and

mining sectors

70of the total CSR came from the Arab Bank and the Arab Potash

Company

the five biggest CsR spenders:

nline Arabic content was given a boost last month with the

announcement that Jordanian startup Mawdoo3—a Wikipedia-like online Arabic encyclopedia—received $1.5 million in Series A funding from dubai-based investor EquiTrust.Initially founded as a student project in 2010, Mawdoo3 quickly filled a void in online Arabic content and has since grown into a team of 15 people, with the website consisting of more than 40,000 articles on topics ranging from cooking to religion.According to Ehab al-otibi, business and communication manager at Mawdoo3, in terms of the amount of online Arabic content, they now rank third, behind MBC and MSN Arabia. The website, he said, is growing by

more than 1,000 articles every week and he hopes that the additional

funding will help them to invest further in their content. “We are aiming to become the number one Arabic content website and with such funds and support from EquiTrust we think we can do it,” al-otibi said. demand for the website is also on

the rise. In the last year Mawdoo3 saw it’s traffic increase by 500

percent. They now boast more than 20 million visits per month, of which 12 million are unique. According to al-otibi, the majority of traffic is coming from Saudi Arabia (24 percent), followed by Egypt (13 percent), and Jordan (10 percent).Mawdoo3’s content is created by a combination of freelance writers and volunteers. While anyone can create an account and contribute an article in a similar fashion to Wikipedia, all

content is reviewed and edited for accuracy and quality, especially for articles on topics such as health. “We are focusing on delivering high quality information, and are really trying to provide the most accurate information,” said al-otibi. –Jh

ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA MAWDOO3 RECEIvES $1.5 MILLION IN FUNDING

O

TECHNOLOGY


http://mawdoo3.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9

gateway executive interview

COnstRuCtiOn WOesThe head of Jordan’s contractors association says his members are starting to suffer due to a downturn in their sector.

BY DINA AL WAKEEL

keep attracting investment in this sector. I have warned that some people have instead been heading to Turkey, Cyprus, and Greece to buy property. The buyer always looks for cheaper prices, even if the difference is a few hundred dinars. The trend is now moving more towards renewable energy projects. But most of the volume goes to foreigners. Thirty percent of the work should go to local contractors according to the law, but the engineering expertise is mostly imported.

You said that you wanted to improve the end product, what are some of the issues that you think need to be addressed in the construction processes?There are issues and we are currently holding a workshop to better organize the construction market. We have many laws and regulations but they are not activated. I wouldn’t say there is cheating but there is a laxity in standards. We are now aiming to strengthen the construction standards. during each construction process, the services of classified contractors should be sought, the process should be supervised by an engineer, and they all should follow existing procedures. At the end of the day what matters are the customer, the economy, and encouraging investment in this country. We want products that abide by regulations and are built according to Jordanian building codes. We have daily trips by inspection committees with GAM to detect violations, but violators don’t get punished. The market is a bit loose, today the problem is many people only think of how they can make money.

How do you foresee the future of the sector?We are trying to amend some of the laws and regulations that we feel don’t serve the sector and the government is cooperating with us to make this happen. It’s a promising sector in a stable country. We should find ways to export the sector, and our experienced contractors, to neighboring countries. We already do that but to a small extent. With our engineers, technology, and contractors, we should expand.

According to the department of Statistics, the number of building licenses issued during the first five months of 2015 was down almost 20 percent on the same period last year.

Wael R Toukan, the president of the Jordanian Construction Contractors Association, said a general economic slump, increased competition, and a dearth of major public sector projects have all led to increased unemployment among the association’s 2,450 members.

How bad has the slowdown been in Jordan’s construction sector? The volume of business is in billions but the Jordanian contractor only gets 10 percent of all work. We get peanuts compared to the volume of the projects. Competition is fierce and the market is not moving; what’s expensive remains expensive. our financial obligations are constantly on the rise.

What are some of the most prominent challenges that your members face?Last year, we paid a flat percentage of our income in tax: 1.4 percent. Today under the new Income Tax Law, this percentage has increased to 2.5 percent. This is definitely unfair. It is true this is a sector that helps keep the economic wheel spinning, but it doesn’t mean we are making money. Many of the contractors have made losses, particularly during the past few years due to the increased competition and the slowdown in business. In the public sector, the number of projects has declined tremendously, probably to 10 percent of what they used to be.

Today we are asking the Prime Minister to pay bills due since last November. We are owed roughly more than Jd40 million. In the private sector, we have a problem as it seeks the services of unregistered contractors. Eight million square

meters of built-up area was created in 2014. If work was properly distributed, then all the contractors would have found jobs. But this didn’t happen. The work mostly went to non-registered contractors and non-Jordanians like Egyptian workers.

But don’t some of these problems stem from a surfeit of engineers competing for jobs in the sector?Students either want to study medicine, anything related to medicine, or engineering. This is a culture. In the past, we had vocational training but unfortunately slowly these centers transformed into universities. I don’t understand why. I doubt that the quality of engineers today is the same. Today there are 120,000 engineers. The local market will not be in need of more engineers for years, but the good thing is that we are exporting to the Gulf states. Universities should carry out

studies to figure out what’s needed in the job market, some years there is more demand for civil engineering, other years there’s a need for something else. We need to guide the students from the very beginning. This is not only in engineering, but [should be applied] in the different faculties and sectors.

Do you think the price of real estate in Jordan is fair at the moment? Compared to the countries in the region, our prices are suitable. Steel is down but cement isn’t and labor isn’t. All the basic materials are not becoming cheaper, so I doubt that the price of apartments will go down.

What type of projects are most in demand? There is a lot of demand for residential buildings. Most of the apartments are sold to people from the Gulf, that’s why we need to improve the end product to

Wael R Toukan, President of the Jordanian Construction Contractors Association


Nissan Middle East sold a record-breaking 219,129 units in the 2014 financial year, up 3.3 percent on 2013. In Jordan, it managed to shift just over 2,200 units, an impressive 33 percent leap which now makes Nissan the Kingdom’s fifth biggest selling automaker.Nissan Middle East Managing director Samir Cherfan put his company’s strong performance down to offering consumers an attractive lineup of vehicles, combined with good customer service and branding.

Given the regional instabilities, not to mention a significant and persistent drop in oil prices, to what do you attribute Nissan’s strong performance and growth in the Middle East in 2014?our strategy for success and growth is still based on the global ‘Power 88’ approach. The strategy pillars for growth are to leverage on our extensive lineup renewal, continuously strengthen our brand power, and a strong and professional dealer network, on which we are focusing on dealership coverage (quantity) and customer service.

You are now the fifth biggest carmaker in Jordan. What do you put this down to?In Jordan, there is big support from the government for sustainable transportation so the hybrid vehicles segment receives great interest and holds 19 percent of the total industry volume (TIV). We are big believers in supporting sustainable driving technology and offering greater fuel efficiency across all our models. With this in mind, we recently launched a Nissan Pathfinder hybrid, providing customers in the Middle East with an eco-friendly SUV that does not compromise the drive experience.

The Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid has

been doing very well in Jordan recently. Do you see scope for expanding on this with other hybrid models?At the moment, we don’t have any plans to introduce other Nissan hybrid models to the region. We see a lot of opportunity for the Pathfinder hybrid in the Middle East market, especially as countries start to make more of an effort to drive sustainability initiatives. Moreover, as Middle East consumers become more eco-aware and environmentally conscious, we foresee that hybrids will start to increase in popularity the same way they have in Western markets.

The old Nissan Sunny was Jordan’s most popular taxi. How important is this segment, and what are Nissan’s plans for a replacement?

In Jordan, the Nissan Sunny is still one of our best-selling models. In fact, in 2014 we launched a new version to satisfy our consumers’ demands. however, the Jordanian taxi segment has been notably declining the past two years, now occupying only 7 percent with many new entrants making the segment ultra-competitive. We are currently focusing on offering the Nissan Sentra for taxi use in Jordan.

What are Nissan’s sales projections for next year for the Middle East? Under our Power 88 Mid Term strategic plan, Nissan Middle East is targeting to sell over 300,000 units by full year 2016 and reach 10 percent market share in the whole region, which of course cannot be done without the high contribution that we get from Jordan as a key market for us.

nissan kiCks uP a geaRDespite tough operating conditions, Nissan Middle East has been notching up record sales.

Soundbite

BY GHAITH MADADHA

Samir Cherfan, Nissan Middle East Managing Director


Market Brief

FinanCial, inDustRial inDexes Push ase uPJUl 16, 2015 – AUG 19, 2015BY ARAM RABADI

T he General Index gained 1.17 percent on the back of a strong performance by the Financial Index and

support from the Industrial Index. The Financial Index gained 3.07 percent and the Industrial Index gained 0.61 percent. At the same time, the Services Index retreated 3.96 percent. Sixty-five stocks gained and 52 stocks remained unchanged as 105 stocks dropped. Meanwhile, the market’s activity reached Jd296 million and the financial sector accounted for 84 percent of that activity. The services and industrial sectors each accounted for 8 percent of the market’s trading.

The Banking Index gained 3.6 percent and was the top performing financial sub-index. At the top of

the list, Arab Bank (ARBK) gained 18.84 percent to close at Jd7.19. ARBK was also the market’s third most active stock with Jd18.6 million in trading. Arab Banking Corporation/Jordan (ABCo) also gained 5.61 percent to close at Jd1.13, and Jordan Islamic Bank (JoIB) gained 4.32 percent to close at Jd3.62.

Meanwhile, the Real Estate Index gained 1.93 percent. Ad-dulayl Industrial Park and Real Estate Company (IdMC) led the sector with a 36.3 percent gain to close at Jd1.99, becoming the market’s second best performer for the week. IdMC was also the market’s most active stock with Jd103

COMPANY

BEST PERFORMERS

WORST PERFORMERS

MOST ACTIVE

CLOSE(JOD)

CHANGE(%)

TuRNOVER(JOD)

TRADING ACTIVITIES

AMI: Ab Invest Market IndexASMI: Ab Invest Smaller Market

IndexASE: Amman Stock Exchange Index

Trailing P/E: Market capital weighted P/E of index elements

MARKET BREADTH

65 105 52

AD

vAN

CER

S

DE

ClI

NE

RS

UN

CH

AN

GE

D

close

change (%)

ytd (%)

y-o-y (%)

trailing p/e

ASEINDEX

2140.82

1.17

-1.14

1.42

14.51

VOLuME (SHARES)209,627,247

VOLuME (JD)296,127,296

VOLuME (uS$)417,539,487

ind

us

tr

ies

8%

se

rV

ice

s 8

%

fin

an

cia

ls 8

4%

TRADING VALuE

middle east pharma. & chem ind. & medical appliances

ad-dulayl industrial parK & real estate

the mediterranean & gulf insurance

1.54

1.99

1.06

0.41

3.70

0.41

1.99

1.41

7.19

170.18

36.30

32.50

-59.00

-29.92

-25.45

36.30

13.71

18.84

82,152

103,425,216

176,543

329,251

5,556

401,547

103,425,216

47,236,870

18,639,611

al Qaria food & Vegetable oil industries

Jordan proJect tourism deVelopment

Jordan decapolis properties

ad-dulayl industrial parK & real estate

al-amal financial inVestment company

arab banK

million in trading. The Insurance Index also gained 1.75 percent and Mediterranean and Gulf Insurance Company (MdGF) led the sector with a 32.5 percent gain to close at Jd1.06 to become the market’s third best performer for the period. however, the diversified Financial Services Index retreated 1.3 percent.

Middle East Pharma and Chemical Industries and Medical Appliances (MPhA) led the market for three consecutive weeks and was the period’s top performer after gaining 170.18 percent to close at Jd1.54. however, the Pharmaceutical & Medical Industries Index retreated 1.86 percent as all but two of the sector’s stocks dropped. other notable losers in the industrial sector included the Electric Industries Index, which declined 9.73 percent and the Paper & Cardboard Index, which dropped 7.41 percent.

At the other end, the Food & Beverages Index gained 3.76 percent as Jordan Poultry Processing and Marketing (JPPC) led the sector with a 15.91 percent gain to close at Jd0.51. Moreover, the Mining & Extraction Index gained 3.12 percent. Arab Potash (APoT) led the sector with a 10.4 percent gain to close at Jd23.25, and Jordan Cement Factories (JoCM) gained 5.96 percent to close at Jd1.60.

The Media Index dropped 17.97 percent and hence was the worst performing sub-index for the period. Jordan Press Foundation (PRES) dropped by the same percentage to Jd1.05. At the same time, the Technology & Communications Index retreated 9.76 percent and Jordan Telecom (JTEL) dropped by the same exact percentage to Jd2.68. Meanwhile, the Utilities & Energy Index dropped 4.75 percent and Jordan Petroleum Refinery (JoPT) shed 19.42 percent to close at Jd4.73.

however, some of the services stocks posted strong gains including Al-Sharq Investment Projects (AIPC), which gained 26.07 percent in the hotels & tourism sector, to close at Jd2.66. Moreover, International Company

for Medical Investments (ICMI), which is listed in the healthcare services sector, gained 8.24 percent to close at Jd8.24. Additionally, Barter Company for Investment and Transport (NAQL) led the transportation sector with a 9.76 percent gain to close at Jd0.45.

Five companies returned to active trading after they completed a capital reduction procedure. Real Estate development (REdV) returned to trading on August 5 at a reference price of Jd0.46 per share after reducing its capital from Jd91.5 million to Jd49.6 million. A day earlier Taameer Jordan (TAMR) returned to active trading at a reference price of Jd0.46 after reducing the company’s paid-up capital from Jd212 million to Jd86.8 million.

A number of companies issued their semi-annual results. ARBK

posted $423 million in net profits in the first half of the year at the group level, compared to $415 million for the same period last year. Meanwhile, Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJAL) managed to cut its losses from Jd14.9 million in the first half of 2014 to Jd6.3 million in the same period this year. In the first six months of 2015 Jordan Phosphate Mines (JoPh) posted a net gain of Jd9.3 million. over the same period of last year JoPh lost Jd6.7 million. Also in the mining & extraction sector, the net income of APoT grew 41 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period of last year to Jd61 million. Meanwhile, in the technology & communications sector the net income of JTEL dropped 48 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period of last year to Jd11.8 million.

PROVIDED BY:AL ARABI INVESTMENT GROUP

“Member of the Arab bank Group”[email protected]

[email protected]

THE bANKING INDEX GAINED 3.6 PERCENT AND WAS THE TOP PERFORMING FINANCIAl SUb-INDEX


Oxford Business group

Words By Oliver Cornock

Oliver Cornock, Regional EditorTHE INSIDE EDGE

www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com

JORDan 2025 – an aMBitiOus Plan FOR gROWthJordan’s government has high hopes for its newly launched 10-year blueprint for economic and social development.

he Jordan 2025 develop-ment program, which was unveiled last month by hM King Abdullah and Prime Minister

Abdullah Ensour, aims to revitalize the Kingdom’s economy by targeting poverty, unemployment, and the fis-cal deficit, as well as boosting annual GdP growth.

Jordan 2025 will be implemented over three executive development programs, the first of which will run from late 2015 until the end of 2018.

In May, Minister of Planning

and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury led a meeting of the coordination committee for the preparation of the 2016-2018 program that will include the first phase of the Jordan 2025 vision and national strategy. Fakhoury noted that the final draft of the program is targeted for the end of August.

Jordan reported annual GdP growth ranging between 2.3 and 2.8 percent from 2009 to 2013. Although this improved slightly last year—with 2014 expansion registered at 3.1 percent—economic pressures caused in part by disruption in gas supplies from Egypt and the influx of refugees from Syria have kept the country’s annual growth rate below the 7 percent target recommended by the IMF to effectively fight poverty and unemployment.

It’s hoped the successful implemen-tation of Jordan 2025 will help boost GdP growth rates and reduce the nation’s budget deficit, bringing about much needed improvements to the lives and per capita wealth of Jordanians.

At the end of July, the IMF noted that fiscal consolidation is expected to help stabilize public debt this year (in large part thanks to lower oil prices), while the current account deficit

is narrowing. despite significant challenges remaining, the IMF said they could be overcome by adopting the new economic blueprint. “There is ... a need to move on structural reforms geared to job creation, and focused on labor market reform as well as improvements in the business climate and the quality of public institutions,” the IMF said in its review of the country. “Vision 2025 ... is an opportunity to address these challenges, and an important step will be to anchor it in a medium-term macro-fiscal framework.”

Under the plan’s targeted scenario, the authorities aim to progressively boost annual GdP growth from 3.1 percent in 2014 to 7.5 percent by 2025.

The plan also seeks to reduce the budget deficit to zero by 2025, from a deficit of 3.5 percent of GdP after grants in 2014. overall debt will therefore be gradually reduced from 82.3 percent of GdP in 2014 to 47.4

percent by 2025. To achieve these targets, Jordan

2025 seeks to reverse what it de-scribes as a recent deterioration in the nation’s competitiveness relative to other countries. It’s looking to pursue an export-oriented economic strategy, primarily by boosting trade with other countries in the region, particularly the GCC states. This will be attained through various efforts to create a more attractive business environment, including improving the rule of law and transparency of government

affairs, and leveraging the Kingdom’s political stability.

The use of public-private partnerships and provision of tax credits to firms that attain interna-tional certification will be applied to help raise standards in both govern-ment and private sectors, all in the hope of supporting the country in its goal to move from 114 to 75 on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index. In addition, new sources of energy will be introduced to reduce Jordan’s reliance on oil and gas. For example, the government is aiming to develop a nuclear program that will meet 40 percent of the Kingdom’s energy needs by 2025.

To bolster industrial development, Jordan 2025 adopts a cluster-focused approach that seeks to expand existing industries that are perform-ing well, while developing related or supportive clusters complementary to those industries. The plan identi-fies eight clusters with high potential for development: construction and engineering, transport and logistics, tourism and events, health care, life sciences, digital and business services, educational services, and financial services.

Jordan’s National Competitiveness and Innovation Committee will establish cluster coordination com-

mittees to support the development of selected sectors.

By focusing on specific industry clusters, Jordan 2025 aims to modify the composition of the country’s economic output by boosting agriculture from 2.9 percent to 3.4 percent, industry from 22.4 percent to 27.4 percent, and construction from 4.2 percent to 5.8 percent.

IT’S HOPED THE SUCCESSFUl IMPlEMENTATION OF JORDAN 2025 WIll HElP bOOST GDP GROWTH RATES AND REDUCE THE NATION’S bUDGET DEFICIT

THE AUTHORITIES AIM TO PROGRESSIvElY bOOST ANNUAl GDP GROWTH FROM 3.1 PERCENT IN 2014 TO 7.5 PERCENT bY 2025

T


Words By Osama al-sharif

he government is pushing ahead with plans to launch another public service broadcaster that will

consist of two new television and radio stations. The move has attracted a fair deal of controversy, especially among media experts who believe it’s vital that such an important project be discussed in an open and transparent manner.

Little is known about the new broadcaster beyond the fact it will be launched within the coming eight to nine months and that a prominent Jordanian journalist with no TV experience is likely to be put in charge of running it.

We’ve been assured the new stations will be free of government interference. A board of directors will be appointed by a Royal decree and that board will be solely responsible for charting editorial policy. But the existing public service broadcaster, the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTVC), is also supposedly managed by an independent board, though in reality it lacks editorial freedom.

Concerns have been raised about how the project is going to be funded. Journalist and media expert Rana Sabbagh wrote in Al-Gad in August that the JRTVC received Jd35 million in public financing for 2015, while it’s only expected to generate around Jd4 million in advertising revenue during the whole year. So how worried should we be that Jordanian taxpayers are picking up the tab for the new

stations? And what will become of the JRTVC? Past attempts to restructure and revitalize JTV, the corporation’s television arm, have all failed because

the government couldn’t decide what to do with the 1,600 employees who are on the payroll of the 50-year-old station. The reality is that JTV had become a hot political potato which no minister dares to handle.

For a small country like Jordan, having two state-owned broadcasters is a luxury it cannot afford. The proposed new TV and radio stations will be free

of advertising, which means that they will cost the Treasury much more than the existing JRTVC. Is this really the right approach?

Then there’s the matter of finding an audience for the new stations. A quick look at the current media landscape in Jordan suggests that it’s highly fragmented. JTV has lost the battle for viewership to the up-and-coming privately owned Roya TV station, which itself is unlikely to be making money or breaking even. The situation will be worse for the new public radio service, where more than a dozen local FM radio stations compete for a relatively small audience.

The truth of the matter is that public broadcasting is costly and highly

competitive. The new project will find itself in competition with the private sector for talents, including presenters and producers, in addition

to producing controversial and interesting programming.

In the Arab world there are no TV and radio stations that fit the concept of public broadcasting as we know it. The closest foreign examples are the BBC in the UK and PBS in the United States. Because of strong public financing, by law, the BBC has become a media empire. It’s truly

independent from government influence and while its TV and radio stations do not carry advertising, they generate hundreds of millions of dinars in high-quality programming that are sold to broadcasters all over the world.

PBS is a much smaller entity and is entirely dependent on donations and sponsorships. It also has a very small share of the broadcasting market in America.

It’s misleading to compare Jordan’s proposed project to public broadcasters such as France 24, deutsche Welle, or VoA. These are government funded media arms that broadcast exclusively to foreign audiences.

The biggest test for the new stations will be their freedom to report on issues of public interest. But at a time when journalists complain of restrictions and laws that prohibit free reporting, it’s doubtful the new entity will be able to report freely and without obstructions.

At any rate, if the government is adamant on creating a true public broadcasting service why not salvage the existing JRTVC by amending its law and investing in its infrastructure? It really makes no sense to build a new body when you already have something that can be made right. After all, it’s not what we want to call the local broadcaster that matters, but what role we want it to fill.

Media and society

CONCERNS HAvE bEEN RAISED AbOUT HOW THE PROJECT IS GOING TO bE FUNDED

FOR A SMAll COUNTRY lIKE JORDAN, HAvING TWO STATE-OWNED bROADCASTERS IS A lUXURY IT CANNOT AFFORD

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Questions concerning editorial independence, funding, and audience demand need to be asked about plans for a new public service broadcaster.

DO We neeD anOtheR PuBliC seRviCe BROaDCasteR?


A growing number of passionate and resourceful Jordanians are setting up social enterprises in a bid to tackle some of the most

pressing challenges facing their society. BY DINA AL-WAKEEL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAA’ AL SuKHNY

Champions of Change:

Jordan’s Social Entrepreneurs

A s CSR programs become more popular worldwide with more and more companies

choosing to have a bigger impact on the societies they operate in, some entrepreneurs have chosen to completely dedicate their work to help incite change in their communities.

According to Maher Kaddoura, the veteran angel investor and philan-thropist, a business entrepreneur comes up with ideas to meet market demands solely to make profit, while a social entrepreneur is someone who undertakes a venture primarily to solve a social challenge.

Much of its importance also lies

in the fact that instead of waiting for governments to fix social problems some social entrepreneurs prefer to take things into their own hands thus

putting forth initiatives for the good of the public, said Kaddoura.

Some Jordanians are also increasing-ly aware of their society’s ills and have set about finding their own solutions.

Rabee Zureikat is one such ex-ample. After witnessing the harsh liv-ing conditions in the poverty-stricken Ghor al Mazra’a area in the Karak governorate, Zureikat founded Zikra, Arabic for memory, which creates programs that bridge the urban com-munities with the local marginalized communities to exchange resources and skills. The experience is then turned into a positive memory.

Zureikat describes Zikra as a modern

day treasure hunt to find communities’ hidden gems that may be exchanged to trigger organic sustainable develop-ment. “Subscribed to the idea of

capitalizing on people’s strengths, skills, and heritage to create an equal and fair relationship for social develop-ment to occur, the Zikra Initiative was brought to life,” Said Zureikat.

So instead of operating along the lines of just another development-orientated charity, Zikra encourages residents of relatively wealthy urban areas to give something and receive something in return. For a fee, anyone can take part in a trip to learn new skills from the traditions and lifestyle of the Ghor al Mazra’a community, like picking tomatoes. In return, the local residents receive an income and can even apply for university scholarships provided by Zikra through its Minhati initiative.

For Zureikat, the advantage of this model is obvious. “The ‘exchange’ experience eliminates the giver-receiver dynamic and replaces it with an ‘equal’ and fair relationship in which both the giver and the receiver gain new skills and resources,” he said. “These programs, based on trust, accountability, creativity, and participation, empower both the local and visiting community members in

"The ‘exchange’ experience eliminates the giver-receiver dynamic and replaces it with an ‘equal’ and fair relationship"

Maher Kaddoura, Angel Investor and Philanthropist

Entrepreneurship


Entrepreneurship

taking part to ‘exchange to change .”

THE HYBRID MODELSocial enterprises can also involve

a profit component, like Lina Khalifeh’s She Fighter venture, which aims to empower women mentally and physically through self-defense training. Khalifeh said she felt compelled to set up She Fighter after a female friend was assaulted by a member of her family, and felt powerless to do anything about it.

Khalifeh, who had practiced Taekwondo since the age of five, began holding basic self dense classes for women in the basement of her house. Two years later, she decided to establish a small women-only self-defense center, and later she fine-tuned her business model and moved to an even larger venue.

Khalifeh estimates she has trained 10,000 women from teenagers to wom-en in their 70s, both in her center and through workshops she holds in schools and universities across the Kingdom in cooperation with non-profit organiza-tions. She has also cooperated with NGos to provide self defense training to migrant workers from countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh working in Irbid’s free zones, who might be subject to sexual harassment. She is also a staunch supporter of women’s rights on topics like marital rape, which is punishable by law in countries like the United States, while the term is not recognized in Arab countries.

The number of women registering at the center increases by 30 to 40 percent each month, Khalifeh said, with most of the demand coming from university students.

For all the work she’s done, Khalifeh received an acknowledge-ment from US President Barack

obama during a speech at the Emerging Global Entrepreneurship

gathering in the White house in May. What differentiates her work from

that of Zureikat is that Khalifeh has managed to combine being a social entrepreneur that incites change in her society and running a for-profit training center. “Through my work I have managed to combine both a business and a not-for-profit which has resulted in a stronger and more profound work called a hybrid

business,” she told Venture. Although she is particularly wary

of allowing other investors into her business at the time being, she is still planning to take her business to the next step by expanding out of Jordan, into Europe or even the United States.

With its importance ever-growing, several prominent business schools

have created programs to tackle social entrepreneurship, including oxford’s Said Business School and harvard Business School.

But Kaddoura, who has invested in an incubator that helps social entre-preneurs, still believes we have a long way to go before social entrepreneur-ship becomes an important engine of

job creation. “We don’t have enough serious social entrepreneurs, but we are not short of posers,” he said. “It’s easy to say I’m one, but do you have the will to sacrifice to be a social entrepreneur? do you care enough? It needs to be a way of life.”

But how do you measure success when you are a social entrepreneur?

"It’s easy to say I’m one, but do you have the will to sacrifice to be a social entrepreneur?"

Rabee Zureikat, The Founder of Zikra


Kaddoura named Zureikat as a serious social entrepreneur whose impact on the people of the area he’s working in cannot be denied. “In Zureikat’s case, there are real people who are benefit-ing and real people who are going to Ghor al Mazra’a. Some say he could have scaled it, but he is content to focus on one area.”

Kaddoura also hailed Zureikat as a person who managed to affect the lives of not only those who live in the area, but those who visit and could now be interested in doing more social good elsewhere.

“The positive thing is that we are learning. We are in the adolescence stage. So we need to experience it and make mistakes. It will take 15 to 20 years for us

to have enough role models and docu-ment our stories,” said Kaddoura.

Although Khalifeh has faced some challenges that could’ve deterred her from continuing with her journey, like receiving threats from the families of some of the girls that have registered in her center, she still thinks that its worthwhile and encourages others to follow suit in coming up with more ideas to change some aspects of society.

“Social entrepreneurship is still a novel concept in our country, and there is a shortage of ideas that help change certain concepts in society,” said Khalifeh. “The best entrepreneurs are those who see a need in the society and try to [solve] it, not complain about it. It is important to change to develop the society.” Lina Khalifeh, The Founder of She Fighter

Khalifeh has managed to combine being a social entrepreneur that incites change in her society and running a for-profit training center


CoCa-Cola Middleeast

The General Manager of the Coca-Co-la Bottling Company of Jordan (CCBCJ) Ezel Agaoglu.

C CBCJ was established in 1993. It is a subsidiary of the Turkish company Coca-Cola Içecek, the fifth largest bottler

in the Coca-Cola network in terms of sales volume. The company is the bottler of Coca-Cola products in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan,Turkmenistan, and Jordan, as well as its home country of Turkey.

What is the core business of CCBCJ?The core of CCBCJ’s business is centered on the production, bottling, sale and distribution of soft drinks and non-carbonated drinks (Cappy juice and Arwa water) to about seven million people in all parts of the Kingdom.

How do you evaluate the CCBCJ as a company operating in Jordan?CCBCJ is 100 percent Jordanian with its factory and workforce, which include more than 500 Jordanian employees, its strategies, objectives, and future vision. CCBCJ shoulders the responsibility of designing plans and strategies which go in accordance with the nature and cultural back-ground of the Jordanian society in its promotional campaigns and social initiatives that we launch and support

for local Jordanian talents. The same applies in our business operations, where we deal with local companies and Jordanian suppliers.

What role does CCBCJ play in supporting and developing the society in which it operates?CCBCJ believes that it is its duty to serve the local community in which it operates out of its social responsibility. CCBCJ constantly seeks to develop the communities in which it operates, through the design and implementation of a series of programs, activities, and campaigns which have concrete and positive impacts on the society.

Does CCBCJ have any community-based initiatives that flow into social responsibility?CCBCJ is committed to social responsibility programs that revolve around three main pillars: me, we, and the world serving individual wellbeing, community wellbeing, and environment sustainability. CCBCJ is the only company in Jordan that has football and bas-ketball pitches inside its premises, serving not just employees but also residents of surrounding communi-ties in the governorate of Madaba. We also seek to always provide

low or calorie-free products such as Arwa Water, Cappy juice, and for sure Coke Light and Sprite Light along with Coke Zero that we import from our Ramallah factory in Palestine.

The second pillar mainly focuses on the wellbeing of communities. We as the Coca-Cola bottler believe in the importance of sustaining the com-munities we operate in as we can’t grow our business without sustaining the resources of Jordan and raising the capabilities of Jordanian communities. That’s why we focused over the last 10

years on empowering women and young people, along with supporting local non-governmental, non-profit organizations registered under the Ministry of Social development, such as Injaz, Tkiyet Um Ali, the King hussein Cancer Center, and the Jordanian Food Bank. Since last year, we have also focused on sharing our experience through Roya TV’s Caravan show, which targets young people and social networking sites to participate in building this culture within the private sector and encourage youth on the importance of volunteerism and

giving back to Jordan.

What is the CCBCJ’s latest campaign and has it achieved the expected level of success?CCBCJ launched the Share a Coke campaign for its customer-base in the Jordanian market. The campaign included the launch of the new look 330 ml can. Fans within this marketing campaign are able to have any name they want on these cans and share them with their friends, loved ones, and families; and present

the cans with the new packaging as special gifts bearing the name of a loved one or a friend in a creative and innovative way.

The Share a Coke campaign received wide resonance and great demand in the Jordanian market, where Coca-Cola places within its marketing policies great importance on designing cam-paigns that are filled with excitement to achieve the happiness of its fans, to enable its customers to share with their friends and loved ones Coca-Cola cans embellished with their names.

Advertorial


coverstory

GAM’s veteran transit chief says the newly reinvigorated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

project is just one of the many examples of how the city is finally facing up to its huge

transport challenges.

The TransporTer

How GAM'S AyMAn SMAdI PlAnS To GET THE CAPITAl MovInG

BY LAITH ABOu-RAGHEBPHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAA’ AL SuKHNY

fter years of setbacks and delays, GAM’s ambitious BRT project is back on track. With its $166 million

finance package reinstated, work has now started on the second phase of the 32-kilometer project which, once completed in 2017, should carry around 200,000 passengers per day.

Plans for another BRT linking Amman with Zarqa are also well underway, and GAM is looking to develop a host of other transport projects which range from the modest; LEd street lighting, to the gargantuan; a metro.

At the center of all this activity is Ayman Smadi, GAM’s long-serving executive director of Transport and Traffic Management. here he explains why he’s confident that Amman’s hard-to-ignore transit problems are finally being tackled head on.

How big a difference will the BRT make to daily lives of public transport users?The commuting time between Amman and Zarqa will be cut by half, as will journey times around Amman. Everything that people rightfully complain about today—the quality of buses, the reliability of the system, the quality of the service and the overall experience, the driver, the bus stop and the bus itself—all of this we will fix. This is what the BRT is all about: improving service.

For such a supposedly important project, why has the BRT experienced so many delays?It was a combination of factors. one big reason was the lack of trust between the citizen and the public sector. I think this is a problem that has haunted Jordan. People are just getting sick of all the accusations. And look where it’s left us. We’ve scared off investors and hindered projects that could have helped. I think there’s now a genuine desire on behalf of all stakeholders to finally get a handle on the transport challenges facing the city. his

A


Majesty sets the pace. In his guiding speech, he mentioned public transport. The government, in its 2025 program, identified transport as a priority alongside water, energy, and education.

Are all the bus operators on board, too?Everyone understands what needs to be done. But sometimes the problem with the public sector is figuring out how to do it, especially when you have an inheritance that consists of different operators and companies. There are about 200 coasters (Toyota mini buses) in Amman. There is clearly strong resistance to change, not only to the BRT, but to any attempt at trying to organize the sector. There have been a lot of experiences where individual owner operators worry that any attempt at organization will cut their bottom. But this is not the case. I tell them today we’re looking at a 5 percent mode share from the daily trips in Amman. If with the BRT I can double that, people are not going to fly away to the BRT stations. I’m not reaching into their neighborhoods. I want them to reposition themselves so that they feed passengers to this main pipeline. Most of them get it, but we need to do more in terms of showing them an organization model. For example, the BRT is an international tender. But does this mean I’m going to bring 1,000 people from France or Britain to run the system? No, I’m going to bring a few experts because I want their know-how. But they will come here and they will teach and hire, as I’m creating job opportunities.

How bad is the traffic in Amman?We are still better than some of the neighboring cities, but it’s getting very, very bad. First, traffic patterns are hard to identify. Second, we are running out of space. Cars are littering our streets, roads, yards, and parks. In order to organize parking I have to provide you with an alternative way of getting to your destination. Third, we have sensors at certain locations that collect data and

we’ve noticed that travel times have gone up by 20 to 30 percent over the past five years. Just multiply this by a million cars, and fuel costs, and time. This is very significant if we want to be a more productive society.

Besides the BRT, what else are you doing to get a handle on this problem?We are increasing the number of buses in the city. We’re now planning a shuttle service for the Abdali area that’s similar to one up and running downtown. We think it will encourage people to ditch their cars at parking lots and then move around the city. We also want people to get excited about electric vehicles. his Majesty is a big fan of this technology. We want to produce solar power to run electric vehicles. They’re clean and if the power is coming from the sun, then that’s fantastic. We’re setting up a pilot project with an American and a French firm which will include 10 solar charging stations. As GAM, we’re also looking to acquire some electric vehicles to evaluate them as part of our fleet. And we’ve also facilitated through an amendment to contract with Al Moumayaz Taxi that we can ask them to bring in up to 100 electric cars. This should help launch this technology at the national level. Also, we’re finally about to get a centralized taxi call center. It should be up and running in a few months. You call the center, the system will identify your approximate location, and patch you through to the nearest taxi.

How are you going to tackle the city’s parking problems?Let’s say a particular street has 10 parking spaces. What’s best, if I can have 50 people use them during a

two or three hour period, or just 10 people use them for the whole day? The tender took way longer than I planned, but we’re finally in the final negotiations to organize on-street parking. We’re going to be setting up pay and display machines with enforcement. We have 200 machines which will probably control around 4,000 spaces.

Are you planning to introduce more traffic lights on Amman’s main roundabouts?With the Seventh Circle, the objectives were to reduce delay and improve traffic flow. We managed to do this by eliminating through-movements. For this most part it’s working, but the people coming from the direction of the Airport suffer a little, and we’re still working on resolving this. The Eighth Circle was an entirely different story. The aim there was to try to improve the level of service, but we also wanted to make the intersection behave. It was a jungle. There have been some initial problems with that project because of the effect of the work being carried out at the Bayader interchange close by. There were also some delays in getting the signals linked to our traffic management center. But I metered the distance to clear the Seventh Circle. It used to be 12 minutes. Now most of the runs that I’ve timed, it’s about six. on the Third Circle we did something without traffic lights by regulating how cars enter the roundabout. We had a few complaints at the beginning but motorists soon realized the roundabout is now almost clear at most times because

the metering happens outside the roundabout. We’re now looking at the Fifth and Sixth Circles, as well as the intersection of Al Madinah Street and Mecca Street.

coverstory

There is clearly strong resistance to change, not only to the BRT, but to any attempt at trying to organize the sector


The traffic cameras that were recently installed around Amman have proven to be particularly controversial. Are you confident they’re making our streets safer? We now have about 20 around Amman. It’s going fantastic. The spots where we have the cameras, the speeds are so regulated. We’ve

reduced red light running on two major signals on Queen Zein Street. This is the future.

Amman is growing fast. How will the city’s transport infrastructure need to develop beyond the BRT?Today, the population of Amman is about 3.5 million. That rises to 5.5

to 6 million if you widen that out to the Amman region. Shame on us if we don’t plan on a metro or some rail-based transport. If, for example, we punched a 10 kilometer line from the customs center in Al Qwueismeh to Sports City, it could carry 28,000 passengers per hour, per direction. It would make a huge difference. The idea is that we have to do it via value capture. This allows cities to do bigger projects like this through direct funding. As a city I can facilitate development at major nodes. Look at the Al Mahatta terminal; it handles 400,000 passengers daily at the very least. Imagine if you’re only selling falafel there. So the idea of creating value through real estate development at these nodes will help finance the infrastructure.

coverstory

We have sensors at certain locations that collect data and we’ve noticed that travel times have gone up by 20 to 30 percent

over the past five years

The bRT's Map


ordan is gearing up for another digital revolu-tion. home appliances, hospital equipment, and car control panels managed by smart-phone apps and sensors used to be the stuff of

science fiction, but are now quickly becoming a reality.Machine-to-machine communication (M2M) is what runs under the banner of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its applications are limitless. Any natural or man-made object that can be assigned an IP address can now connect to the Internet; from a heart monitor implant, to a a biochip transponder inserted under the skin of a farm animal.Some 3.5 billion devices are online today—a number that could soar to 50 billion in just over five years, according to Cisco. That’s on top of data centers with millions of computer

servers, several billion mobile devices, and all the gaming devices, personal computers, and anything else with a chip inside.“our internal research indicates that by 2020, the Internet of Everything (an-other name for the IoT) will generate some $19 trillion worth of opportunity in terms of revenues and cost savings for all industries involved,” said Irfan Verjee, principal for the Cisco Service Provider Transformation Group.Even though the IoT’s adoption in the Middle East is happening at a much slower rate than elsewhere in the world, the foundations for the industry’s eventual boom are already being put in place. “The whole ecosystem for the IoT is still nascent at a global level,” said Ziad Matar, senior director of business development for the MENA region and South East Asia with the American chipmaker Qualcomm. “despite the region’s de-lay, its interest in the sector is starting

at the right time, possibly leading to more mature decisions based on the latest technological developments.”The French teleco group orange shares this outlook, though it stressed some fundamental requirements are still needed to be put in place to guarantee a solid implementation of the IoT. “The IoT will explode in the Middle East in the next few years,” said orange Jordan CEo Jean-Francois Thomas. “Everything is ready and people are hungry for the application of this technology.”one such example is dubai, which is currently preparing to host World Expo 2020. In the next five years, the emirate is set to connect, coordinate, and manage its ground transport, national security and defense services, as well as travel and touristic as-sistance and other civil applications by leveraging the IoT. As a matter of fact, dubai aims to become one of the world’s best connected cities by 2017,

prepare for The InTerneT of ThIngs

The coming leap in Machine-to-Machine communication will change our lives.

BY ELISA ODDONE

Technology

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according to Cisco.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTBuilt on cloud computing and networks of data-gathering sensors, M2M communication is a mobile, virtual, and instantaneous connection. Cloud-based applications are the key to using lever-aged data. The IoT doesn’t function without cloud-based applications to interpret and transmit the data coming from all these sensors. The cloud is what enables the apps to work for consumers anytime, anywhere.The need for an enhanced, more efficient technological infrastructure to run the IoT means its improvement is more urgent than ever. But there still is a long road ahead. one problem is the current lack of compatibility between systems. The IoT still lacks its own html and there are no common platforms or standards available for it to run on. This raises questions about how different devices can connect and communicate with one another. Another obstacle is the insufficient spectrum of frequencies available for all these myriad of devices to operate on. Thomas believes it would behove governments to facilitate these basic requirements. “Governments should look at the evolution of the IoT as an overall benefit for the country,” he said. “Governments would benefit indirectly through savings and an enhanced agil-ity in the way they manage services by allowing the use of frequencies at low cost to develop a suitable ecosystem for the IoT.”omar omoush, Umniah’s marketing director, said governments should guar-antee investment, entrepreneurship, and flexible regulations to allow the sector to push forward. “This is especially needed in the Kingdom, where regula-tions are stifling businesses and causing many of them to relocate outside, and where we should work further and establish more 4G services,” he said.his view was echoed by Cisco’s Verjee. “There should be a small number of flexible and smart regulations on the government’s side to allow the industry to develop competitively,” he said. “It should

provide better and stable electricity, help open extra frequencies for wifi, allow permanent roaming, consider licensing for NVNo, and expand the spectrum of frequencies.”Users are also another key element for IoT development, especially since its framework of operation has not been standardized yet. “It is going to be a kind of jungle for a while in which only the fittest framework will survive and its natural selection would be left up to the consumers,” Thomas said.

REVOLuTIONIZING JORDANIn Jordan, Umniah is already providing consumers with a chance to live in a smart home. According to omoush, his company can connect anything inside

homes in the Kingdom. “Everything can be ruled by sensors; doors, heaters, lights, and water heaters. Everything can be controlled via the [Umniah] app downloaded on your smartphone.”Prices for such systems are affordable, he said, as they depend on the package chosen by the client. Packages begin from around $1,500 for seven different services and installation, plus a monthly subscription fee of $6. As the technology evolves, so does our dependence on the Internet, leaving people increasingly interested in services like IoT. This means products are losing their luxury status, and their cost is steadily declining.“Those who choose these services are middle class people, they don’t belong

despite the region’s delay, its interest in the sector is starting at the right time, possibly leading to more mature decisions based on the latest technological developments


Finance

to the wealthiest echelons of society. We are talking about individuals living in apartments and not large villas,” said omoush.But IoT’s infusion is also heading more and more towards businesses. Earlier this year, Umniah launched its Video Analytics Monitoring Solution for retailers with just a niche market in mind. But this has not been the case as the service has been widely adopted. “What we observed in the past months has been amazing,” omoush said. “This is due to the fact that Jordan is a high-tech country despite its low

GdP. People are hungry for technologi-cal solutions.”By using this service, which can count and profile people, register the human traffic flow, audience attention, as well as intrusion and loitering attempts, retailers can learn more about their customers and use the information they collect to provide better services. “Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and China are a step forward in the implementation of such services,” omoush said. “Surprisingly, they are

also just starting to spread throughout the United States. Jordan has so far had a pioneering role in their implementa-tion in the region.”The IoT is also bringing in a host of new collaborations and partnerships, something that isn’t always easy to achieve in the region. Providers are now unanimously calling for dia-logue between different stakeholders to make sure that investments chime their goal, avoiding more sector fragmentation.“This is a story of partnerships and collaboration not only between vendors

and service providers, but mostly about strategic partnerships between the agents of innovation,” Verjee said.The IoT is about the interpolation of computer hardware and software into many applications, so it’s also necessary that providers partner and start discussing security. All the new connected devices give hackers potential opportunities to break into home products such as security systems, monitoring cameras, and smart TVs. Guarantees on security and

data privacy need to grow together with the development of the IoT to protect consumers from harmful intrusion into their lives. “We took a lot of precautions to protect the privacy of the customers in the services we provide,” omoush said. “The informa-tion we collect while monitoring the shops are only linked to clients as persons interacting with the store: their preferences, gender, and in what areas of the shop they spend more time. We don’t intrude on the person’s privacy. But this possible violation is a hot topic concerning these services.”A new data economy is also growing out of the Internet revolution’s poster children. Young people who grew up surrounded by social media are sharing more information about themselves online than their older counterparts. And for the economically-minded, that means it’s high time to take advantage of that.“Now data is going to be exchanged between entities and it will carry a certain amount of monetary value,” Verjee said. “What will happen in the future, and what companies are currently working on is to create some control for the users over the data they publicly share and create some form of monetization from them. These are the times of total connectivity.”

The IoT will explode in the Middle East in the next few years

From left to right: Darren Webb, Vodafone; Irfan Verjee, Cisco; Jean-Francois Thomas, Orange Jordan; Omar Omoush, umniah; Ziad Matar, Qualcomm; Jawad Abbasi, Arab Advisors


Sometimes submitting your resume when applying for a job feels more like you are throwing it into a dark abyss where it will never be seen again, let alone be read by anyone. When Nina Mufleh moved to San Francisco from Jordan last year in the hope of landing a job at a high profile tech firm in Silicon Valley, she found this experience all too familiar.

despite having a decade of ex-perience in marketing, and having cofounded a company which grew into one of the leading social media agencies in the MENA region, Mu-fleh struggled to get an interview. After a year of applying for jobs the traditional way she decided to adopt a dramatically different approach when trying to land her dream job with Airbnb, the hugely popular home-sharing website.

She designed a website which presented not only her skills and ex-perience but also a detailed rundown of why Airbnb would be wise to expand into the Middle East. Social media quickly caught wind of her unusual online creation, and it soon

went viral. Within two weeks, the website re-

ceived nearly half a million hits. There were hundreds and thousands of tweets, her LinkedIn profile was viewed over 14,000 times, and her story attracted global media coverage. But most im-portantly, within a few hours of launch-ing the campaign, Mufleh was contact-

ed by Airbnb to arrange an interview.While it didn’t result in a job offer,

Mufleh had garnered so much atten-tion that she also gained interviews with dozens of other high profile companies, which eventually led to being offered a job with Upwork, a platform that connects companies with freelancers.

here are the top five tips we've developed with the help of Mufleh to help you stand out from the crowd when looking for a job:

Each industry is different and will therefore require a different approach, but Mufleh strongly believes in the value of think-ing creatively when it comes to applying for a job. “i think it’s really important for people to re-evaluate what they’re doing and what the opportunities are,” she said. Mufleh added that you need to work out a way to be unique, and look at the chal-lenges from a different angle so that you can find an approach that will work for you. You’re not going to stand out if you’re using the same tactics as everyone else.

Think outside the box

01

How To

Anyone attempting to land their dream job can learn a great deal from Nina Mufleh’s experience.

Standing out from the Job hunting CrowdBY JANE HOSKING

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Nina Mufleh, Freelance Growth Manager at Upwork

By building up an online presence using social media and by posting content online that’s relevant to your field, you can significantly increase your visibility to help you be noticed by potential employers, and impress them with the work that you are capable of. Be careful at the same time not to have anything online that could work against you or damage your image in the eyes of an employer.

Use the power of your digital presence

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Social media, particularly Twitter, can be an extremely ef-fective way of connecting with the relevant people in your field. Mufleh suggested identifying the relevant people in your targeted field, following them, getting an understand-ing of how they communicate, and then eventually opening up a dialogue with them, which could lead to suggesting to meet up for a coffee or a conversation. Other than this, Mufleh believes that following the right people and consum-ing the content that they share will keep you informed and ready for any conversations that could lead to a job.

it doesn’t take a genius to realize that knowing the right people can take you a long way in getting that dream job. When Mu-fleh first moved to San francisco she had no connections there, but by asking her network at home to help spread her campaign, she managed to attract the attention of those in Silicon Val-ley and create a new network. hM Queen Noor also brought Mufleh’s website to the attention of Airbnb’s CEO via a tweet, which no doubt helped her get noticed. So if you find you don’t know the right people in your field, think about how you can get to know them. This might include connecting through social me-dia, attending relevant events, or joining a relevant association.

Being rejected again and again, or not hearing back from a re-cruiter after you have slaved away for hours writing a job applica-tion can be a soul crushing experience. Despite knowing she had a lot to offer, Mufleh found that self-doubt was one of the biggest challenges of looking for work. “Throughout my own journey there were times i doubted my own abilities, where i wondered if i was ever going to be able to succeed,” she said. Mufleh, therefore, believes that while it’s really difficult to maintain that positivity, it’s the most important part of looking for a job.

Reach out and connect

Use your network or build one

Stay positive

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hotwheels review

Alcantara trim and period-style 15-inch dunlop alloy wheels.The most powerful of Frontline developments’ MGs, the Abingdon Edition’s naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivers supercar-like specific output and power-to-weight ratio. It is modified with billet crank and rods, forged pistons, solid lifters, omex engine management, and 50 mm direct-to-head individual throttle bodies. The lightweight 897 kg Abingdon Edition pulls hard from low revs and digs deep in mid-range, developing 304 BhP at 6800 rpm and 241 lb/ft at 5200 rpm with urgently linear and rev-hungry delivery. Riding on aluminum independent front wishbone and model-specific six-link rear live-axle suspension, the Abingdon Edition benefits from

sharp handling, low unsprung mass, and with limited-slip rear-differential, develops phenomenal off-the-line traction. dispatching the 0-97 km/h sprint in a supercar-like 3.8 seconds and capable of 257 km/h, its performance is complemented by a charismatically rasping, crackling, and wailing medley of exhaust and induction notes. The Abingdon Edition is ideal home turf, with direct steering, nuanced chassis tuning and small, narrow, light, and balanced dimensions. It’s agile, maneuverable, and connected when briskly driven through winding and imperfectly paved British B-roads. The Abingdon Edition turns in crisply and

tidily, while taut but forgiving adjustable dampers keep it poised and flat when cornering. And with linear power delivery, high rev limit, and superb traction and grip, the Abingdon Edition digs in and pounces out of corners with intuitive fluency. over rougher tarmac patches, its modified live axle rear suspension proved better refined than expected.The Bingdon Edition’s classy and cozy cabin, which is tastefully appointed with hand-crafted leathers and metal accents, also features traditional rotary dials, toggle switches, and pushbutton starter. Seated low in comfortably padded and supportive seats, controls are within easy reach. The Abingdon Edition features1960s-style Smiths instrumentation, with digital internals and classic-style JL Audio stereo, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Also included are Chrystal headlights, electric windows, and remote central locking. And with extensive personalization possibilities, Frontline developments offer a generous options list that includes air conditioning, heated seats, and integrated satellite navigation.

sPeCsengine: 2.5 liter, aluminum in-line 4

cylinders

gearbox: 6 speed manual, rear-wheel-

drive, limited-slip differential

Power, BhP (Ps) [kW]: 304 (308) [226]

@6800 rpm

torque, lb/ft (nm): 241 (326) @5200 rpm

0-97 km/h: 3.8 seconds

top speed: 257 km/h

Rev limit: 7600 rpm

Wheelbase: 2312 mm

track, F/R: 1240 / 1410 mm

suspension, F/R: Wishbones / six-link

live axle

steering: Power-assisted rack & pinion

Brakes, F/R: ventilated discs / discs

tires: 195/65R15

Price, uk: Starting from £79,900

With a wealth of high tech engineering and traditional artisan talent, Britain’s tapestry of niche car makers is characterized by passion, detail, and authenticity. A case in point is Frontline developments, which was established in 1991 by Tim Fenna and based at Benetton F1’s former Abingdon-on-Thames facility. This modest-sized manufacturer has won plaudits for producing modernized incarnations of the 1962-80 MGB. The MGB’s glamour is perfectly recaptured by the Frontline

developments MG, which with more power, reliability, and refinement goes beyond faithful nostalgia. It is a great example of a quintessentially small, affordable, and accessible British sports car. Limited to 25 examples and conveying lots of sexy 1960s charisma is the range-topping soft-top Abingdon Edition Roadster.Frontline developments builds use tailored CAd-designed seam-sealed rust-proofed 1965-spec British Motorsport heritage shells. Thoroughly redesigned suspension delivers contemporary refinement

and handling yet traditional character. Extensively modified Mazda-sourced engine and gearbox provide reliable power and are matched with contemporary high performance brakes. Frontline developments’ MGs are tailored to a client’s individual specifications. holistically-built and using made-to-measure seats, personalized possibilities include materials, paint, specifications, and mechanical set-up. The Abingdon Edition features chrome details, quality Connolly leather, and

MG AbINGDON EDITION

a 60s iCOn ReinventeDThe MG Abingdon Edition might look like a classic throwback from a bygone age, but it’s a thoroughly modern sports car under the hood.

BY GHAITH MADADHA


BuDget thRillsDon’t worry if you can’t afford to fork out $800 for a flagship smartphone, the shops are teeming with cheap but feature-packed handsets. Here are four of the best.BY LAITH ABOu-RAGHEB

thecuttingedge

2OnePlus 2www.oneplus.neta follow up to the well-received oneplus one, the imaginatively titled one plus 2 continues with the same winning formula of a well built handset with great specs at a great price. it comes with an expansive 5.5 inch display, a zippy Qualcomm snapdragon 810 processor, and either 16 or 64 gb of storage. there’s even a selection of removable back covers available, including a hard-wearing one made of Kevlar.The BoTTom Line: even though it requires an invite to buy, the oneplus 2 is one of the most impressive smartphones on the market at any price point.Price: $330

review

3Microsoft Lumia 640www.microsoft.comeven though many insist on writing off lumias as the smartphone world’s underachieving also-rans, there’s no denying the range includes some capable and keenly priced pieces of kit. take the lumia 640, for example, which comes with a decent 5-inch screen, a 1.2 ghz Qualcomm snapdragon processor, and an 8-megapixel rear camera. to sweeten the deal it also comes packaged with a free one-year subscription to the microsoft office 365 personal that’s worth over $90 dollars.The BoTTom Line: by producing impressive handsets like this, microsoft prove they can still compete with the best on price and features. Price: $240

4Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)www.motorola.comthe original moto g, released back in 2013, really was the first smartphone to prove it was perfectly possible to get brilliance on a budget. the third generation moto g ably demonstrates this once more. it boasts a crisp 5-inch 720p hd screen, an upgraded 13-mega pixel rear camera, and is even waterproof up to one meter.The BoTTom Line: its price seems to creep up with each upgrade, but the moto g remains a bargain buy.Price: $250

1 Huawei Ascend G7www.huawei.comchinese smartphone makers like huawei are flooding the market with cheap but sophisticated handsets—a trend which has the likes of samsung and apple jumpy. here we have the premium-feeling ascend g7 that comes with 5.5 inch screen (which is edging into phablet territory), a 13-megapixel camera with hdr imaging, and a snapdragon 410 processor. The BoTTom Line: With these sorts of specs and price tags, expect chinese smartphones to become pretty commonplace soon.Price: $370


QAIA Welcomes Over 3 Million Passengers since Beginning of 2015the Jordanian company responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA)– has releasedQAIA’s traffic statistics since the beginning of the year and up until end of June. Registering sustained growth, year-to-date (YTD) cargo trafficfigures showeda significant 8.3% increase to reach 48,973 tonsas opposed to 2014. Compared to the same period last year, YTD passenger traffic (PAX) declined by 9.2%to come in at 3,248,413 PAX,and YTD aircraft movements (ACM) dropped by 6.4% to settle at 33,748 ACM.

Coca-Cola expands the (Share a Coke) campaign to cover all regions of the Kingdom Amman, (June, 2015) The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Jordan ( CCBCJ) concluded its (Share a Coke) campaign which was launched earlier this year and was introduced through the new distinctive 330 ml Coca-Cola can priced for 25 piasters with the names of consumers, Jordanian touristic places, and governorates printed on the them.

The Hub Advertising & Marketing Celebrates Partnership With Dentsu Aegis NetworkThe Hub Advertising & Marketing celebrated last Sunday the partnership with Dentsu Aegis Network in a festive gathering at the Intercontinental Hotel Amman. The gathering was attended by executive managers of Dentsu Aegis MENA region and many other invitees from The Hub’s clients, Dentsu Aegis clients in Jordan and the region, Representatives of the local and regional media and honorary guests and potential clients.

NEW OPEN LINK STRAP RICHARD MILLELast year, after receiving many requests, Richard Mille was very pleased to present its very first gold bracelet for two ladies models, the RM 07-01 and the RM 037 to complement the large offerings of straps in all kinds of leather, silk, rubber, alligator...For 2015, The Jura-based company present yet another precious metal bracelet, the ‘Open Link’. Each piece of this new bracelet is hand-made and hand finished. Each link is micro-blasted, satin brushed and polished. Comfort has always been one of the brand’s top priorities. The development and the testing concerning this strap have resulted in a very ergonomic bracelet that is a pleasure to wear. It is a combination of aesthetic appeal and perfect integration.

ICS Financial Systems Ltd Named “Best Islamic Software Provider MENA 2015”Global Banking and Finance Review, one of the worlds’ leading global banking and finance publications has announced ICS Financial Systems Ltd. (ICSFS), the global software and services provider for banks and financial institutions, as the “Best Islamic Software Provider in MENA for 2015”.The Global Banking & Finance Review Awards recognize excellence within the global financial community. They have been designed to reflect the innovation, achievement, strategy and progressive changes taking place within the financial sector.Global Banking and Finance Review awards ICS Financial Systems Ltd-in recognition of its continued commitment to quality and innovation in banking software. ICS BANKS® ISLAMIC provides a complete suite of banking business modules with a rich sweep of functionality and features, addressing business needs and automating accounting processes, as needed, to improve a bank’s business performance.

Abu Shakra launches “Acqua Di Gio Profumo” from Giorgio Armani The General Manager of Abu Shakra trading, Rami abu Shakra, announce the launching the new fragrance “Acqua Di Gio Profumo” Giorgio Armani reinvents a legendary fragrance. Introducing the profoundly sensual Acqua Di Giò Profumo. born from volcanic rock and Deep Ocean waters. It is the depth and intensity of the Mediterranean Sea. It is sophisticated and intensely masculine, an ode to freshness as sea meets rock. It combines mineral marine notes with the intensity of frankincense and the seductiveness of patchouli. Elegant and impassioned, Profumo awakens the senses as it reflects desire. Creating simplicity from complexity. Finding harmony in the contrast of hot and cold, freshness and opacity, the blackest stone and the crystalline blue of the sea. This new fragrance is available at all Abu Shakra branches, Gravity and selected points of sale.

BMW Group boosts Middle East sales by 6% during first half year

Middle East sales for the BMW Group continue to go from strength-to-strength, with the company posting a 6% increase across the region for the first half of this year, a growth which has been achieved in spite of the increasingly volatile market environment in several countries over the past months. Having delivered a total of 16,706 BMW and MINI vehicles to customers in 12 markets, BMW Group Middle East has its sights set on yet another successful year. The UAE remained the largest market, accounting for 59% of BMW Group Middle East’s total sales.

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MOTIF15 showcases local art and design talentBorn of AlQasr Metropole Hotel and VIVMAG’s shared belief that events spotlighting our local talent are vital, MOTIF15 provides exciting entertainment and artistic enlightenment away from the hustle and bustle of daily Amman life.The Jordanian public are invited to peruse an immersive exhibition from Orient Gallery, featuring artworks by up-and-coming local artists Leena Baker, Saad Rabadi and Zeina Al Salti, before browsing an array of distinctive fashion, footwear, jewellery and accessory designs displayed throughout the hotel’s recently remodelled guest rooms.Footwear designs from Aennis Eunis, men’s suits and accessories from Al Kharouf Menswear, a new jewellery collection from Lama Hourani, embellished formal gowns from Nut&Ptah, the latest ready-to-wear fashions from Shatha Al Dabbass and heritage inspired designs by ZDSuzani are to be showcased.This artisan evening will be enriched with a performance by celebrated jazz vocalist Ahmad Harfoush as well as canapés, cocktail and mocktails from the chefs of ATICO Fakhreldin Group’s renowned outlets.

AUDI AG: for the first time, over 900,000 customers in the initial half of the yearCompared with the same period last year, AUDI AG’s worldwide sales from January to June increased by 3.8 percent to around 902,400 cars. For the first time in the company’s history, more than 900,000 customers had already chosen the brand with the four rings by mid-year. Even though important model changes are imminent in a number of markets, sales climbed further in all world regions – particularly on the American continent (+12.4%). In June, worldwide deliveries of around 157,450 were slightly above the level of the same month last year (+1.3%).

LEADERS E MALL Launch the 1st specialized Online Store in JordanShopping has never been easier and full of fun in Jordan as it is now after the launch of Leaders E Mall last April. Leaders E Mall is the place where anyone who has access to the internet can surf and look for the favorite electric and electronic products from the world most famous brands at favorite prices. Leaders E Mall is now available for shoppers in Jordan, and soon in Dubai, to have the chance of surfing, selecting, buying and paying at ease and while at home or office using the credit, debit and VISA cards for payments or cash and visa upon delivery. Purchases will be delivered to your address anywhere in Jordan at the lowest delivery rates.


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Grand Hyatt Amman introduces Italian Brunch on Fridays Grand Hyatt Amman invites all Italian food enthusiasts to Friday brunch at L’incontro. Chef Pablo uses his touch to craft authentic dishes featuring appetizing antipasti, delicious pizzas, pastas, risotto and traditional delicacies capturing the essence of Italy. Opt for a sweet ending with our delicious dessert counter.Hublot reveals the new limited edition watch dedicated to the Football ClubThe Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde Paris Saint-Germain – Hublot’s second timepiece with the French football champion – is limited to 100 pieces and features a 45.5mm titanium case with a sapphire anti-reflective treatment and the Paris Saint-Germain logo printed on the case back glass. Inspired by the iconic team colors, embellishments of red, white and blue are reflected throughout the dial, hands and strap. Manufactured with Hublot’s in-house UNICO self-winding bi-retrograde movement and designed to time two halves of a soccer match, the sleek and sporty timepiece will be available at Hublot boutiques around the world.

New Vision Inaugurates Its Largest Showroom in Jordan in Al Hejaz Towers

New Vision the official distributor of LG Electronics’ household appliances, home entertainment devices, ACs and mobile phones in Jordan - has inaugurated its largest showroom in the Kingdom and one of its biggest in the region. The inauguration was announced during a press conference held on Saturday 1 August, 2015, at the new showroom, which is located in Al Hejaz Towers on Mecca Street. In attendance were Managing Director of LG Electronics Levant, Tae Hun Ryu, CEO of New Vision, ‘Shadi Ramzi’ Al Majali, in addition to a host of prominent figures and a number of local media representatives.

Four Seasons Amman Welcomes Thai Guest Chef Suwattana Boonyarattanusorn from Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Four Seasons Hotel Amman is proud to welcome Thai Guest Chef Suwattana Boonyarattanusorn, who is here with us from Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai in Thailand, and is renowned for his unique home-made Northern Thai recipes that are generally prepared with curry spices and Chiang Mai peppercorn. Chef Suwattana, 33 years old, is the Assistant Chef Instructor at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, where he manages the Cooking School and the Chef’s Table. He will be sharing his northern Thai recipes with city and hotel guests alike for the next three months. Guests can enjoy Chef Suwattana’s dishes at Asia Restaurant everyday for lunch and dinner.

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ESKADENIA Software Powers the “Support to Civil Society, Dialogue and Participation in Jordan” Project Website

The development team at ESKADENIA Software designed the user-friendly and informative portal for GFA Consulting Group’s project in Jordan “Support to Civil Society, Dialogue and Participation in Jordan.” The powerful web content management tools provided by ESKA® CMS allow the GFA team to deliver real-time information and provide site visitors with a rich content on project activities, new assessments and useful development tools that promote civil society networking, participatory governance and gender equality. Lazhar Aloui, the Project’s team leader thanked ESKADENIA’s design team for “its hard and committed work to ensure a custom-built, aesthetically pleasing, and response platform to serve the project’s partners and beneficiaries.”

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba wins Jordan’s Luxury Contemporary Hotel of the Year Award.

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba’s modern feel and Middle Eastern design earned the votes of upscale travelers and tourism professionals during the 2015 Luxury Travel Guide Global Awards - consequently, naming the resort as Jordan’s Luxury Contemporary Hotel of the Year. Best known to holiday makers, the full-fledged five-star resort offers a distinctive blend of luxury and comfort on the southern shores of the Red Sea. Its’ contemporary facilities, including the state-of-the-art ZARA Spa, 306 well-appointed guestrooms, 5,000 cubic meters of pool spaces and the oriental Bab El Hara motif (resort’s entrance) add to the charming ambiance of the resort.


http://www.newvision.com.jo

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THE CERAMIC SPEEDMASTER COLLECTION FROM OMEGAThe Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon “Pitch Black” is distinguished by the Super-LumiNova that coats the indexes and all the markings on its matt black ceramic dial. The ceramic timepiece has a polished and brushed casebody and a brushed ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale also in Super-LumiNova. The hands on the matt black sub-dials are painted with Super-LumiNova. The “Pitch Black” is presented on a black leather strap with ecru stitching and a ceramic foldover clasp. Inspired by the incredible discoveries NASA astronauts made while exploring space, OMEGA launched a statement-making timepiece in 2013 that caught the attention of watch fans and collectors around the world: the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon.

Samsung Electronics Unveils World’s First Wireless Mobile Charging Monitor

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., introduced the SE370, the industry’s first monitor with an integrated wireless charging function for mobile devices. Available in 23.6 inches and 27 inches, the SE370 monitor declutters work areas by doing away with unnecessary cables and ports needed to charge mobile devices. Along with superior picture quality, enhanced visual performance and thoughtful design, the monitor seamlessly integrates advanced technologies that offer both professionals and consumers an optimal viewing and usability experience. Samsung’s SE370 monitor works with all mobile devices that use the leading Qi wireless charging standard, which was developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Qi is one of the most readily-available global interface standards.

Piaget Altiplano Gold Bracelet collectionFor the first time in the history of the Altiplano collection, Piaget treats these ultra-thin timepieces to a gold bracelet and unveils six refined interpretations at the SIHH 2015. Designed for both men and women, the new range encompasses pink and white gold versions in two different diameters and fitted with a polished or gem-set bezel. Its style will inspire casual-chic aesthetes for whom elegance is a natural part of daily living. With Altiplano, Piaget created an icon with a powerful identity: pure lines, an understated dial graced with extremely slim double or single baton-type hour-markers swept over by slender hands. At the SIHH 2015, the legend is transformed into a chic, urban must-have, as the Maison offers six new Altiplano watches with their first-ever polished gold bracelet.

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Mahmoudia Motors Announces Arrival of New Jaguar XE in Jordanian Market

The sole and official dealer of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in Jordan -has announced the arrival of the new XE, Jaguar’s latest ground-breaking, performance-orientated, aluminum-intensive sports saloon car, during a media round table .The event was attended by members of the Company’s marketing and sales teams, as well as a group of media representatives. The Jaguar XE Prestige, XE R-Sport and XE Portfolio are now available exclusively at the Mahmoudia Motors showroom, with the XE Pure scheduled to arrive later this year. Customers will enjoy several benefits including a five-year or 250,000 km warranty, whichever comes first; scheduled maintenance services for five years; the Jaguar Total Care Programme; and 24-hour roadside assistance.


BY ThE TIME ThIS ARTICLE IS published, the fate of over half a million Palestinian refugee students in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza Strip will have been made clear. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has warned that unless donor countries come up with the $101 million needed to fund its activities, the agency may be forced to delay the start of its school year in over 700 schools across the region.More than 100,000 students attend the UNRWA schools spread across 13 refugee camps in Jordan. Besides education, UNRWA also provides several other vital services, including primary healthcare and sanitation. The agency relies entirely on donations and in recent years donor countries have been slow to respond due to a number of factors, such as the increase in humanitarian needs in conflict-ridden areas around the world. It was an ominous sign that during a recent donor meeting only Sweden pledged to pay money; about $1 million, casting doubts over the future of the 65-year-old agency.UNRWA’s crisis has raised red flags in Amman. The government issued statements rejecting attempts to “liquidate” the agency and warned of hidden agendas to close the file on the fate of Palestinian refugees. They fear it could pave the way for transferring responsibility for Palestine refugees from the UN and the international community to host countries. Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh sent letters to donors all over the world pleading for funds to save the agency. on August 13 it was announced that Saudi Arabia had pledged $35 million to UNRWA, but with the start of the school year fast approaching it was not clear if these funds will be enough to keep the

agency’s schools open.The government said that its public schools will not be able to absorb the students registered with UNRWA. This isn’t likely a bluff. Public schools, some of which are running two shifts per day, are already overstretched as a result of having to accommodate Syrian

students in the Kingdom.Naturally, the refugees see the possible reduction in UNRWA services as a major blow. Many insist on their refugee status as a way to remind the international community of the huge injustice that they had been subjected to. Under UN General Assembly resolution 194, Palestinian refugees have the right to return to the homes they fled, something which Israel rejects.The deficit in UNRWA’s budget is actually relatively small by international relief agency standards, and could easily be written-off by a single wealthy country. But the fact that UNRWA’s mandate is sanctioned by the international community is symbolically important. There’s little doubt Israel would like to see UNRWA shut down and its responsibilities transferred to host countries. This is something which must be confronted boldly and aggressively.For Jordan, the work of UNRWA is important on many fronts. Jordan is host to the largest number of Palestinian refugees and the economic challenges that the

Kingdom is facing will be made worse if the agency stops providing essential services. In addition, Jordan is already suffering because the international community is failing to provide for the cost of hosting over 600,000 Syrian refugees who have strained the country’s infrastructure.Added to these is the fact that Jordan

has vested interest in securing a just end to the Palestine problem through the two-state solution which must include a final settlement to the plight of refugees. Furthermore, any repatriation of Palestinian refugees in Jordan will create political frictions and will give credence to those who warn of a conspiracy to impose the Jordan-is-Palestine agenda. For these and other reasons Jordan must mobilize its partners in the international community to make sure that UNRWA continues to provide services to refugees across the region.Suggestions that UNRWA be solely funded by the Arab League or oil-rich Arab countries must also be rejected. It’s important that this unique agency continues to rely on donations from as many countries as possible. This is one way to keep the plight of Palestinian refugees prominent on the international stage. Their wellbeing and their search for justice is an international responsibility.

You can contact OSAMA Al-SHARIF at [email protected]

POSTSCRIPT

the iMPORtanCe OF unRWaThe need to resolve UNRWA’s funding crisis is about more than just providing education for refugees—it’s about keeping alive the hope of a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

BY OSAMA AL-SHARIF

THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAT THE KINGDOM IS FACING WILL BE MADE WORSE

IF THE AGENCY STOPS PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES


venture magazine september

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