Amman, July 29 (Petra)– 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.

The association said its exhibition booth welcomed 128 visitors
during the festival and distributed around 200 brochures introducing
the project and its initiatives.

According to the association, 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, cafés, 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
€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… only PLANBEE.”

//Petra// WH