In support of the largest development programs dedicated to involving the local community in the decision making process

Amman, April 2009 – Based on its commitment to empowering the local community and enhancing its corporate social responsibility programs to cater to the community's basic needs, improving the living standards of Jordan's citizens, Munya Specialized Resorts – one of the tourism development subsidiaries under Jordan Dubai Properties (JD Properties), the investment arm of Jordan Dubai Capital in the tourism and real estate sectors – announced the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Jordan River Foundation (JRF), a pioneering, non-profit Jordanian NGO. The MOC aims to enhance the dynamics within the Jordanian community by creating and supporting sustainable social, economic and cultural programs derived from national needs and priorities in partnership with different parties, in order to empower communities and individuals alike.
The Memorandum was signed by H.E. Mr. Samir Al-Rifa'i, Munya's Chairman, and Mrs. Valentina Qseisieh, JRF General Manager, in the presence of the JRF Executive Board Members in addition to Mr. Nidal Khawaja, Munya General Manager, and Mr. Nasser Al Khaldi, CEO of JD Properties. Both Mr. Khawaja and Mr. Al Khaldi expressed their pleasure with this step, which aims to implement local development programs in Dibbeen and the areas surrounding it in Jerash in order to elevate living standards, preserve the environment, and empower the community.
The agreement involves the creation and implementation of sustainable social, economic and cultural programs based on the needs and priorities of the local community in Dibeen and its surrounding areas, with special focus placed on a number of key aspects. The most prominent of these aspects is training and education, wherein Munya will offer training and education scholarships to students from the area through the Jordan River Foundation and in collaboration with the Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans.
Another main aspect is productivity projects, where Munya will provide funding to local co-operatives and commissions to establish production projects. The co-operatives will own these projects, which will utilize local resources such as olive, handicraft and agricultural products, and will market their own products as well as give priority to projects that promote tourism and enhance the region's infrastructure, such as stores and markets.
Furthermore, Munya will support the Madrasati initiative through JRF by adopting several schools in Dibeen and its surrounding areas to help improve the schools' infrastructure, develop programs to enrich the learning environment, meet national safety and health requirements, develop teaching tools, and train teachers by giving them additional skills that support their existing experience in this field.
Commenting on this initiative, H.E. Al Rifa'i said: "We are pleased with this agreement, which reflects our faith in the importance of our social responsibility and which comes in line with the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II in brining investment benefits to all the Kingdom's governorates and their respective communities."
He added: "We chose to partner ourselves with Jordan River Foundation, one of the most effective local organizations serving Jordan's communities, due to their nation-wide programs and intimate understanding of the needs of Jordan's different regions. Our partnership comes within our corporate social responsibility strategy for the Dibeen tourism project, which aims to enhance the living standards of the area's community and present opportunities to qualified, well-trained human resources to contribute to the economic growth that the region will witness."
Ms. Qseisieh also expressed her pride in this partnership, explaining that Munya Specialized Resorts enjoys a strong awareness of its social responsibility and is dedicated to playing a proactive role in the improvement of the community's standards of living, representing a true model of a public-private sector partnership.
Munya Specialized Resorts is joined in a strategic partnership with the Social Security Investment Unit in the Dibeen project, as well as with the international Aman Group, Munya's management and operations partner for the project. Aman Group is considered one of the world's leading 7-star hotel and resort operators, and its resorts are famous for their beautiful worldwide locations, which are characterized by their natural surroundings and rich cultures.
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This news release has been distributed by Bidaya Corporate Communications on behalf of Munya.
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