middle east duty free association holds annual board meeting in jordan
on the sidelines of jdf’s 10th anniversary celebration
The Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) held its annual Board Meeting on Sunday May 17th 2007 for the first time in Jordan at Le Royale Hotel
Commemorating this very important event, H.E. Mr. Osama Al Dabbas, Jordan’s Minister of Tourism joined board members for the press conference that took place after the meeting’s proceedings. The events were also attended by; Mr. Olivier Charriaud Chief Executive Officer of Tax Free World Association (TFWA), Mr. Anthony Chalhoub President of Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA), Mr. Haitham Al Majali General Manager of the Jordanian Duty Free Shops(JDF), alongside 8 other board members from MEDFA.
MEDFA’s Board meeting in Jordan was held to concede with the JDF’s 10th anniversary celebrations, which was celebrated during a gala dinner, held on Saturday June the 16th at the Four Season’s Hotel.
During the press conference that followed the meeting, H. E. Mr. Osama Al Dabbas and MEDFA board members announced the meetings findings and future plans. Following the press conference, his Excellency and board members voted for Petra to be the new 7 Wonders of the World, and encouraged all attendees to do the same. This step served as an extension to JDF’s previous efforts in support of Petra, as JDF has previously donated JD 10, 000; the equivalent of 100, 000 votes in sport of the Rose City.
In honor of this occasion H.E. Mr. Al Dabbas said, ”We are very proud of all what JDF had achieved over the past 10 years, as JDF's outlets are Jordan’s interface since they are the first entity tourists see while entering the country and last leaving it. We at the Ministry of Tourism feel that we are partners with JDF, and I am confident that together we can promote Jordan to tourists around the world. On this occasion, we would like to thank JDF’s efforts to promote Petra as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and we thank everyone here for their support and their promise to vote for this great cause“.
From his end Mr. Haitham Al Majali added that JDF, and the Jordanian tourism industry at large are very proud to host MEDFA and its Board meeting for the first time in Jordan, ”We are honored to celebrate this occasion alongside of our 10 year anniversary celebrations, for JDF has made giant strides, and this meeting serves to solidify this fact”.
It is important to note that the Jordanian Duty Free Shops (JDF), was founded in 1997 with a capital investment of JD 5,000,000. It was launched as a Jordanian public shareholding company that specializes in the investment, establishment and operation of duty free shops at the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's land borders and seaports crossings, with the exception of the Amman JDF Shop; which was solely established to serve the diplomatic community and the non residing foreigners. Today it provides its clients with perfumes, tobacco products, spirits, watches, toys, electronics, leather products and confectionary.
MEDFA on the other hand was established in 2001, with the aim of ensuring the continued growth of the duty free business in the Middle East. And to ensure that high standards continue to be maintained in the region's Duty Free Shops..
The organization was established as a non profit membership based organization, and as a subsidiary of the Dubai International Airport Duty Free organization..
