Ammon News - AMMAN – The Business & Professional Women-Amman (BPWA) concluded the second annual Corporate Ambassadors Conference, that was held this year under the theme, “Green Businesses: Sustainability as a Business Strategy”, on the 8th of November 2009.

The conference was held under the patronage of His Excellency, Minister of Industry and Trade, Amer Al Hadidi. Deputizing for H.E. Al Hadidi was Yurub Qudah. The conference was attended by H.E. the Minister of Environment, Khalid Irani. There were over 200 attendees representing both the public and private sectors pioneering the instigation and development of environmentally friendly projects.

The conference focused on the feasibility and importance of adopting sustainability as a business strategy, and elaborated on the economic and social significance of businesses going “green”, showcasing the latest developments in green project investments in Jordan.

It also highlighted the emerging business opportunities in the energy, water and the environment (EWE) sector, how entrepreneurs can position their companies among media and community stakeholders, how to a green business, as well as showcased green initiatives and policies in Jordan and explained the value of entrepreneurs greening their businesses.

Speakers at the opening session included Meisa Batayneh, president of BPWA, Yarub Qudah, Mary McPherson Businesswomen's Network Director at Vital Voices and H.E. Stephen Beecroft, US ambassador to Jordan.

The morning session included three panel sessions. The first session titled " sustainability as a business strategy" included Kris Manos, Director for KeyCorp; H.E. Karim Kawar, Chairman from EDAMA; Mira Maghedessian from Public Affairs Manager at The Dow Chemicals; Nell Merlino, founder and president and CEO of Count me in Inc; and Ennis Rimawi, founder of Water and Energy.

The second panel titled "Green Initiatives and Policies in Jordan" Included H.E. Khaled Irani, minister of Environment, H.E. Sami Halaseh, Secretary General, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Meisa Batayneh, Founding member of the Green Building Council, Head of the Green Unit, Oudeh Jayyoussi, Regional Director for West Asia at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Malek Kabariti, Former President of the National Energy Research Center and Ruba Al Zubi, Director of Environmental Sustainability.

The conference, stressed the need to give “Green Initiatives” a push, and intensify efforts regarding legislation in order to encourage Jordanians and Jordanian businesses to observe “Green Practices”. Noting that Jordan is the fourth most water-deprived country in the world, and its population is expected to double in 2025, Batayneh pointed out that “This leaves Jordan with no choice but to go green. In fact, going green might well be the one solution for Jordan's chronic economic predicaments and the only way to reduce our high energy bill, poverty and unemployment.” She went on note the aim of BPWA of creating new employment opportunities for women to activate their role in supporting the green movement in Jordan.

The third panel titled "How to grow your business by Positioning and Strategic Planning" included Kris Manos, KeyCorp Director; Mira Maghedessian from Public Affairs Manager at The Dow Chemicals; Osama Fattaleh, Chief Operating Officer at Aramex; Shereen Allam, Co-President of AWTAD and founder of ECOTEK, Egypt; Henna Khalil, Owner of Henna wa Teen. This session presented some Jordanian success stories regarding “Going Green”.

Participants also got the chance to mingle and chat with the “Corporate Ambassadors”, Women leaders in different fields, who come , from different parts of the world, to share their experiences and success stories, and inspire others by setting up workshops and exchange ideas.

It is worth noting that the Corporate Ambassadors Conference is part of the MENA Businesswomen’s Network program supported by the U.S. State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). The Conference’s sponsors include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Business and Export Development Project for Jordanian Enterprises (Tatweer), Union Bank, Silsal Ceramics, the Engineering Business Council, the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), and the Vital Voice Global Partnership.