The Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) has embarked on the activities of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) initiative, which is founded by the Kauffman Foundation.
“We are pleased to have embarked on the implementation of this year’s edition of GEW. As we start the activities of the program, Jordan joins the rest of the world in one of the largest celebrations of entrepreneurship,” QRCE’s Executive Director, Farhan Kalaldeh, said.
Kalaldeh noted that QRCE has this year collaborated with 29 partners organizing 47 events to render the week-long program a success as it always has proved.
“Over the past years, we have been able, together with our strategic partners in the public and private sectors, to boost Jordan’s position as a key regional hub of entrepreneurship. Our hosting of GEW and the appropriate nature of the activities, field workshops, and training programs held in Jordan as part of the global event have also contributed to getting us eligible to occupy a high rank in GEW international ranking in parallel with many developed countries,” Kalaldeh, added.
According to the international ranking of 105 countries by the GEW international organizer, Jordan’s hosting of the GEW in 2010, for example, was the best in the region, and worthy to be ranked 1st among the Middle Eastern countries and 16th globally.
“We commend the accomplishments of the Kingdom through Global Entrepreneurship Week, guided by QRCE since the initiative was launched in 2008. Its objectives are to promote a culture that fosters entrepreneurial activity among all segments of society given its importance in enhancing the economies of all countries. GEW strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystems in 130 countries and provides innovative thinkers with the opportunity to turn their ideas into projects that would create promising career paths and reduce unemployment,” GEW’s President, Jonathan Ortmans, said.
The initiative’s activities this year focus on exploring means of encouraging knowledge and sustainable development among all segments of the Jordanian community, while connecting participants with Jordanian and Arab entrepreneurs who will shed light on their success stories. QRCE will also open the door to a discussion of different entrepreneurship-related areas such as social entrepreneurship and women entrepreneurship, whilst special attention will be placed on engaging the largest possible number of participants from across the Kingdom.
It is worth mentioning that the annual GEW is the world’s largest campaign to promote entrepreneurship among all community segments and provide them with all the tools and resources they need to unleash their potentials with the ultimate goal of engaging youth in the process of economic development and employing their capabilities to service the society.
Last year, QRCE renewed an agreement under which it will remain the organizer of the initiative in the country for the following three years.
QRCE was established in 2004 to help develop technology entrepreneurship in Jordan. The Centre is hosted by El Hassan Science City and an integral part of iPARK, playing the role of a national Centre of Excellence for Entrepreneurship. As part of QRCE strategic plan, the Centre is implementing a national initiative supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), Intel Corporation and Arab Potash Company, focusing on networking, recognition & awareness, capacity building and support in various governorates.