Amman: The Hand by Hand Association for Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship concluded its participation in the Second Jordan Honey Festival as part of the PLANBEE project, an initiative funded by the European Union that aims to support the beekeeping sector and promote innovation and sustainability in Jordan and the Mediterranean region.
According to Jordan News Agency, the association said its exhibition booth welcomed 128 visitors during the festival and distributed around 200 brochures introducing the project and its initiatives.
PLANBEE is funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED programme and aims to develop the beekeeping sector as a pillar of sustainable economic development by supporting beekeepers, empowering entrepreneurs, strengthening regional cooperation, and creating new opportunities for marketing and innovation.
During the festival, held at Al Hussein Public Parks from July 22 to 26 and organized by the Jordanian Beekeepers Association, the association presented several of the project's initiatives, including Med Queen Bee, which is designed to empower women working in beekeeping and hive products by strengthening their economic and entrepreneurial roles.
The association also introduced the HORECA programme, which encourages hotels, restaurants, caf©s, and chefs to incorporate honey and locally produced bee products into their menus, helping to support local products and promote culinary tourism.
In addition, visitors were introduced to the project's training, capacity-building, innovation, product development, and networking activities, which are implemented in cooperation with partners from Mediterranean countries. These programmes are intended to enhance beekeepers' capacities, strengthen the sector's competitiveness, and connect it with new market opportunities.
The association said the festival provided an opportunity to engage directly with beekeepers and other stakeholders in the sector, allowing the project team to better understand their needs and aspirations, refine project activities, maximize their impact, and strengthen partnerships with organizations working in the field.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the implementation of PLANBEE activities by promoting innovation, sustainability, and the empowerment of women and young people, contributing to the development of a more competitive and resilient beekeeping sector and strengthening its role in economic and environmental development.
PLANBEE is implemented through a partnership of seven organizations from six Mediterranean countries. The project has a total budget of pound 2.8 million, with 89% funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED programme. It aims to strengthen local beekeeping networks, support entrepreneurship, and develop the regional beekeeping economy under the slogan: "There is no Plan B for our planet."