Princess Sumaya Attends Closing Ceremony of 16th Global Entrepreneurship Week

AMMAN — HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society and Chair of the Board of Trustees at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), attended the closing ceremony of the 16th Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).

Organised annually by the Queen Rania Centre for Entrepreneurship in strategic partnership with Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC), the week-long event celebrated innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial achievements, according to a PSUT statement. 

This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week began with a visit by Her Majesty Queen Rania to the PSUT campus, "marking an inspiring and unforgettable start to the activities."

Her Majesty’s presence underscored the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and empowering young entrepreneurs to drive sustainable development.

The closing ceremony was attended by PSUT President Wejdan Abu Elhaija, alongside representatives from El Hassan Science City, the innovation and entrepreneurship sectors, and other participating organisations.

In her speech, Princess Sumaya underscored the role of Global Entrepreneurship Week as a platform for exchanging ideas and addressing market challenges, stressing that entrepreneurship transcends local markets, offering young people expanded opportunities and driving global progress.

The princess highlighted the critical need for investment in knowledge as a cornerstone of development. 

She noted that knowledge, coupled with innovation and technology, provides solutions to global challenges and enhances the quality of life.

These principles are particularly crucial in advancing efforts to rebuild and foster resilience in communities affected by crises, including those in Palestine and Gaza, she said.

Citing the example of Gazan entrepreneur Majd Al Mashharawi, who developed eco-friendly construction solutions through GreenCake and solar energy innovations with SunBox, the Princess praised such initiatives as powerful examples of entrepreneurship’s potential to address pressing local challenges through creativity and innovation.

The princess also advocated for integrating entrepreneurship into educational curricula and research institutions to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking at an early stage. 

She added that this would empower young people to transform ideas into impactful projects that contribute to sustainable development, praising the Queen Rania Centre for Entrepreneurship for its pivotal role in fostering technological innovation and supporting national progress.

In her concluding remarks, Princess Sumaya celebrated the resilience and creativity of entrepreneurs, recognising them as drivers of change and sources of inspiration for future generations.

Director of the Queen Rania Centre for Entrepreneurship Mohammad Obeidat shared the successes of this year’s activities, which extended beyond Jordan to include several Arab countries. 

The programme featured lectures, workshops, dialogue sessions, and networking opportunities focused on topics such as environmental systems, education, inclusion, and policy. 

Obeidat also highlighted the collaborative efforts of participants in advancing the centre’s vision of becoming a leading platform for creativity and entrepreneurship to support community development.

Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Zain Jordan Tareq Bitar said that ZINC, in collaboration with the Queen Rania Centre for Entrepreneurship, hosted 36 entrepreneurial activities across five Jordanian universities and at its headquarters in King Hussein Business Park. 

These events, which attracted around 800 participants and featured 38 speakers and trainers, aimed to align with labour market needs by enhancing students’ skills and academic knowledge in key areas of entrepreneurship, Bitar added.

The ceremony concluded with the announcement of the winners of the Jordanian University Students’ Entrepreneurship Competition and the DART Tank competition, recognising their innovative contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape.