| COUNTRY PERSPECTIVES
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JORDAN |
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Success story |
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Orange France Telecom uses Jordan as its regional R&D hub |
'It all started in 2000, when the France Telecom Group acquired a minority share and agreed to invest in the overall management of the then Jordan national telecom company. Knowledge transfer then as now remains a key driver for France Telecom’s investment in Jordan. With a constructive relationship secured with the Government of Jordan, France Telecom went on to acquire the majority shareholding of the company and we integrated all our fixed, mobile, internet and content activities under Jordan Telecom Group in 2006.
Milestones were coming thick and fast, as in 2007 we laid down another marker when we rebranded the Group’s fixed, mobile, internet and content services by adopting the Orange brand. This turning point enabled us to capitalise on this globally renowned brand by consolidating all business units, products and services under the Orange umbrella. One of our greatest commitments and benefits of the relationship with France Telecom has been the introduction of the Orange Labs in Jordan. This fruitful partnership provides a brilliant example of North-South technological cooperation and we are very proud of it. The newly opened centre brought together researchers, marketing specialists and network engineers with the aim of designing and marketing new products and services.
Ideally situated between the Mediterranean and the Gulf region, Orange Labs Jordan will serve as the principal access point for all Orange France Telecom affiliates in Africa, the Middle East and Asia – for R&D, software development, regional specifications, introduction of new technologies, etc. It is well placed to cater to the needs of these countries as it enjoys genuine groundbreaking services offering a short timeframe, best cost and top quality. It is also visible proof of regional cooperation beyond national borders. At Orange Jordan, we pride ourselves on seeing possibilities before they become obvious. In order to expand and consolidate our presence in the Mediterranean region, a technology, media and telecommunications park is among our plans for the future.
The Group is also investing in an information security office with up-to-date processes to protect the data of Jordan’s commercial sectors and general public, a commitment that we have affirmed to His Majesty King Abdullah II.'
Mickael Ghossein
Chief Executive Officer, Orange Jordan (Jordan Telecom Group)
To download the booklet "Entrepreneurs’ success stories" Part 1 / To download the booklet "Entrepreneurs’ success stories" Part 2 |
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Land Rover makes a strategic all-weather investment |
The investment of 100 million dollars was made in partnership with the Jordanian group, Shaheen Business and Investment Group. The production unit is an assembly facility which will import the different parts of the vehicles directly from the United Kingdom . Initially, the annual production capacity is 5,000 cars and the Land Rover Defender constitutes the only model assembled. In a second stage, the capacity is to be increased to 10,000 vehicles per annum and new models will be added to the catalogue, including the Freelander and the Discovery. At least 500 new employment opportunities, including 100 for engineering positions, are expected from this investment.
The Jordanian partner, the Shaheen Business and Investment Group, alone contributes the capital of the company, while Land Rover brings its know-how and managerial, technical and logistical support. Shaheen Business and Investment Group is one of the large Jordanian conglomerates and, through its subsidiary, the Ole Automotive Trading Company, it was already the exclusive distributor for Land Rover vehicles in the Kingdom.
At the outset, BMW, the mother company of Land Rover was to be part of the project. After the sale of its shares in the British company to Ford, the German group pulled out of the project.
Until then, Land Rover sold all its vehicles throughout the Middle East region thanks to its local network of importers and distributors who imported the vehicles direct from the group's factory based in Solihull in England . According to Bill Begg, Land Rover's Regional Director for Middle East-Africa, the objective is to make Jordan a strategic supply centre for the rest of the region. |
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