Eisenhower Fellows conclude US tour - Jordan
December 23, 2005
Jordan Times
AMMAN-- Four Jordanians recently completed the Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) 2005 Single Region Programme, a seven-week-long fellowship in the US.
Corporate manager Samer Asfour, one of the Eisenhower Fellows, said the trip fostered a productive dialogue between Jordanian and American business leaders and laid the foundation for foreign investment in the Kingdom.
Fellow Jordanians Danah Dajani, Hala Zwati and Omar Jazi, as well as 14 other "rising stars in the fields of business, technology, journalism, health and government" from Egypt, Palestine and Saudi Arabia accompanied Asfour.
The group toured the US focusing on economic development, democratic practices and US foreign policy in the Middle East.
Asfour made a presentation to business leaders and students in Denver, Colorado, about potential investment opportunities in Jordan; subsequently, a delegation of 30 people from the city expressed their interest in the real estate and industrial markets and agreed to visit Amman and Aqaba in March 2006.
"It shows that the fellowships creates a mutual dialogue and understanding among nations, which is the foundation for any corporation and later investments, said Asfour, who became a fellow, among other reasons, because of his active engagement in building the Kingdom's export capacity.
The fellowship also focused on how to enhance the competitiveness of Jordanian products and services in the regional and global markets.
Asfour said he would use his newly acquired skills to help local companies through a new venture, Design Jordan, of which he is the corporate manager.
"If... a company finds it difficult to sell a product, we will analyse the product, and find out what is missing. Then we will seek to find the most innovative solution to the problem," Asfour explained to The Jordan Times.
EF also put the Eisenhower Fellows in touch with American community leaders such as former President George Bush and Pepsi Co. CEO Roger Enrico.
Created in 1953 as a tribute to President Dwight Eisenhower, EF has sponsored more than 1,500 Fellows from more than 100 countries. Jordan has partnered with EF since 1964, and around 17 Fellows from the Kingdom have participated.
The nonprofit organisation seeks to foster international leadership through exchange of information, ideas and perspectives among emerging leaders.
Eisenhower Fellows must fulfil criteria including community activity, a continued interest in learning, and potential for advanced leadership and social impact.