EDGNEX Data Centers by DAMAC Confirms Strategic Partnership with Nordic Data Center Developer Hyperco

• New acquisition in Nordics is part of the company's ambitious European and global expansion plan.
• The acquisition is expected to strengthen the expansion of the Hyperco brand further by adding significant growth capital to deliver significant future capacity in the Nordics

DUBAI, UAE, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EDGNEX Data Centers by DAMAC, the digital infrastructure platform of the Dubai-headquartered DAMAC Group, has confirmed the acquisition of Finland-founded data center company, Hyperco. Aligned with its vision to deliver next-generation, sustainable digital infrastructure globally, the move underscores the Group's commitment to strengthening its presence in the European market and contributing to the region's evolving data center landscape, creating new jobs and promoting economic development.

Hyperco's operations are focused on Finland and Sweden, leveraging the Nordic region's sustainable energy resources, mature digital ecosystems, and high connectivity. All three Hyperco founders, together with the team, will continue to steer the company forward during the next growth phase.

Hussain Sajwani, Founder of DAMAC Group said: "This acquisition aligns with our vision to develop strong partnerships, invest, and build scalable, world-class digital infrastructure. Hyperco brings a great team, deep market expertise, and a shared commitment to innovation, which will drive our success in the region. We plan to build a significant future capacity in the Nordics and establish a strong foothold in the market."

Aleksi Taipale, Co-founder and CEO of Hyperco adds: "This marks an exciting new chapter for Hyperco. Joining forces with EDGNEX and DAMAC Group empowers us to accelerate our mission of delivering large-scale, sustainable data center infrastructure tailored for hyperscalers and AI-driven workloads. With our established footprint in Finland and Sweden, access to low-carbon energy, and focus on scalability, we are well-positioned to meet the growing digital demands of the region and beyond."

Since its launch in 2021, EDGNEX has grown its presence globally. Backed by over 100+ seasoned professionals, the company is on track to deliver 55 MW in the Middle East by 2025, with a projected global capacity exceeding 3,000 MW. EDGNEX is targeting 300+ MW of operational capacity by 2026, supported by a robust investment pipeline of over $3 billion, including key Southeast Asian markets.

EDGNEX's recent European activities include a €150 million joint venture in Greece with Public Power Corporation (PPC) to develop up to 25 MW and a €400 million commitment to build a 40 MW data center in Madrid, Spain. Earlier this year, EDGNEX also announced $20 billion of foreign investment in building state-of-the-art data centres in the USA.

 "إيجنكس من داماك" توقع شراكة إستراتيجية مع شركة "هايبركو" الفنلندية المتخصصة في تطوير مراكز البيانات في دول الشمال الأوروبي

• الاستحواذ الجديد في دول الشمال الأوروبي يتماشى مع خطة التوسع العالمية لداماك في مراكز البيانات
• ستؤدي هذه العملية إلى ضخ رؤوس أموال جديدة مما سيساعد علامة "هايبركو" على تطوير عملياتها التشغيلية المستقبلية في تلك المنطقة

دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة, 31 مارس / آذار 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- – أكدت شركة "مراكز بيانات إيجنكس من داماك"، الرائدة في تطوير البنية التحتية الرقمية والتابعة لمجموعة داماك، استحواذها الكامل على شركة "هايبركو" (Hyperco) الفنلندية المتخصصة في مراكز البيانات. ويُجسّد هذا الاستحواذ رؤية المجموعة في تقديم بنية تحتية رقمية مستدامة ومتطورة على مستوى العالم، كما يعزز من حضورها في السوق الأوروبية ويسهم في تطوير قطاع مراكز البيانات في المنطقة، مع توفير فرص عمل جديدة وتعزيز التنمية الاقتصادية.

تتمركز عمليات "هايبركو" في فنلندا والسويد، وتستفيد من وفرة مصادر الطاقة المستدامة، والأنظمة الرقمية المتقدمة، ومستويات الاتصال العالية في دول الشمال الأوروبي. وبموجب الاستحواذ، سيواصل المؤسسون الثلاثة للشركة عملهم مع الفريق لقيادة المرحلة التالية من النمو.

بهذه المناسبة، قال حسين سجواني، مؤسس مجموعة داماك: "يتماشى هذا الاستحواذ مع رؤيتنا في بناء شراكات قوية والاستثمار في تطوير بنية تحتية رقمية عالمية قابلة للتوسع. تمتلك هايبركو فريقاً متميزاً وخبرة عميقة في السوق، بالإضافة إلى التزامها بالابتكار، مما سيُعزز نجاحنا في تلك المنطقة. نخطط لتطوير قدرة تشغيلية كبيرة في المستقبل في دول الشمال، وتعزيز وجودنا القوي في سوق مراكز البيانات هناك".

من جانبه قال أليكسى تايبالي، الشريك المؤسس والرئيس التنفيذي لشركة "هايبركو": "تمثل هذه الخطوة مرحلةً جديدة في مسيرتنا. إن التعاون الإستراتيجي مع إيجنكس ومجموعة داماك يُسرع من عملية تنفيذ خططنا المستقبلية والمتمثلة في تقديم بنية تحتية مستدامة على نطاقٍ واسع مخصصة لكبرى شركات الحوسبة وتطبيقات الذكاء الإصطناعي. ومع وجودنا الراسخ في فنلندا والسويد، وقدرتنا على الوصول إلى طاقة منخفضة الانبعاثات، وتركيزنا على التوسع، فإننا في موقعٍ مثالي لتلبية الطلب الرقمي المتنامي في المنطقة وخارجها."

منذ إطلاقها في عام 2021، توسّعت إيجنكس على نحوٍ كبير في عدد من أبرز الأسواق العالمية في مراكز البيانات. وتضم الشركة أكثر من 100 شخص ممن يتمتعون بخبراتٍ كبيرة وكفاءاتٍ عالية، وهي بصدد الوصول إلى قدرة تشغيلية تصل إلى 55 ميجاواط في الشرق الأوسط بحلول عام 2025، مع قدرة عالمية متوقعة تتجاوز 3000 ميجاواط.  وتهدف الشركة أيضاً إلى تحقيق قدرة تشغيلية تتجاوز 300 ميغاواط بحلول عام 2026، مدعومة بمحفظة استثمارية تتخطى 3 مليارات دولار أمريكي، تشمل أسواقاً رئيسية في جنوب شرق آسيا.

ويأتي هذا الاستحواذ بعد سلسلة من الخطوات الإستراتيجية للشركة في أوروبا، بما في ذلك مشروع مشترك بقيمة 150 مليون يورو في اليونان مع شركة الكهرباء العامة (PPC) لتطوير مركز بيانات بقدرة تصل إلى 25 ميجاواط، فضلاً عن استثمار بقيمة 400 مليون يورو لبناء مركز بيانات بقدرة 40 ميجاواط في العاصمة الإسبانية مدريد.

وفي وقت سابق من هذا العام، أعلنت إيجنكس عن استثمار بقيمة 20 مليار دولار أمريكي لبناء مراكز بيانات متطورة في الولايات المتحدة.

How Ajman University is Bridging Education and Humanitarianism for a Brighter Future

 

As a leading private non-profit educational institution in the UAE, As a leading private non-profit educational institution in the UAE, Ajman University (AU) remains deeply committed to the transformative power of education, ensuring that learning is not confined to classrooms but extends into communities, shaping a more compassionate world. On Zayed Humanitarian Day, the university reaffirms its dedication to the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose vision of philanthropy and social responsibility continues to inspire meaningful change.

 

Upholding a noble vision through social transformation

The university’s steadfast dedication to community engagement is exemplified through its trailblazing initiatives and strategic alliances, aimed at uplifting communities. With 65% of students benefiting from scholarships and financial aid, Ajman University ensures that high-quality education remains accessible to talented students from diverse backgrounds. Through volunteering efforts, sustainability initiatives, and free healthcare programs, AU’s non-profit ventures actively drive positive change, reinforcing its commitment to social responsibility and upholding Sheikh Zayed’s vision for a better tomorrow.

 

The institution reinvests its resources into initiatives that enrich the student experience and contribute to broader social transformation. Moreover, in the absence of profit-driven motives, the university is able to channel its resources into initiatives that directly benefit students, faculty, and the wider community. Whether it’s offering financial aid to deserving students or launching programs to address key social issues, AU’s non-profit model enables the institution to leave a lasting positive impact on society.

 

The university is also dedicated to fostering a culture of empathy, leadership, and social responsibility, empowering students to become able professionals, leaders, and changemakers. In addition, the institution’s ethics-focused academics and extracurricular activities ensure that the graduates understand and remain committed to realising Sheikh Zayed’s vision of innovation and service to society.

 

A legacy rooted in humanitarianism

Ajman University regularly implements diverse initiatives, designed to address critical needs and create opportunities for growth. These include healthcare campaigns that offer essential medical services to underserved populations as well as sustainability projects aimed at protecting future generations, among others. The ‘⁽¹⁾ AU Mobile Dental Clinic’  exemplifies the university’s commitment to accessible, high-quality healthcare, delivering free treatment to thousands of patients annually. Equipped with state-of-the-art dental technology, including advanced dental chairs and X-ray units, this self-sustaining mobile clinic brings essential care directly to communities, ensuring that individuals—regardless of their circumstances—receive the treatment they need. In addition, AU operates fully equipped on-campus dental clinics, providing free-of-charge treatment to thousands of patients each year. These state-of-the-art facilities serve as a vital training ground for future dental professionals while delivering essential oral healthcare to the community. Under the guidance of experienced faculty, students gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating patients, reinforcing AU’s mission to combine academic excellence with social impact.

 

Beyond its healthcare initiatives, AU fosters a strong culture of volunteerism and community engagement, with over 1,500 volunteers actively contributing to community-driven projects. In the past year alone, AU volunteers have dedicated 3,376 hours to meaningful service, supporting initiatives in healthcare, education, sustainability, and social welfare. These efforts reflect the university’s commitment to social responsibility, empowering students to become agents of positive change while reinforcing AU’s role as a driving force for community impact.

 

On a similar note, the university established the ⁽²⁾ Office of Sustainability in 2018 to pave the way for a greener tomorrow by spearheading initiatives across various domains such as environment, society, and economy. As a proud member of the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) and the UAE Universities Climate Network (UCN), AU aligns its efforts with internationally recognized best practices in environmental stewardship and climate action. These memberships enable the university to collaborate with institutions worldwide, exchange innovative solutions, and drive impactful sustainability initiatives.  On the other hand, societal initiatives aim to integrate sustainability principles into teaching and learning, empowering future generations while fostering a culture of sustainability within the campus. Finally, economic endeavours seek to create cutting-edge sustainable solutions through research, while advancing practices that promote a healthy and prosperous future. Through such trailblazing initiatives, AU continues to uphold the humanitarian ethos that forms the organisation’s foundational values and reflects the ambitious vision of sustainable transformation at a national level. 

 

In addition to being a centre of educational excellence, Ajman University is a beacon of the UAE’s commitment to community engagement and social upliftment. The university harmonises the dual aspects of education and community building, as it drives positive social change, reinforcing Sheikh Zayed’s legacy of compassion and progress.

--Ends—

US-BASED CALADAN OCEANIC PARTNERS WITH TCARTA AND GREENWATER FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE NEW COASTAL MAPPING DATA FOR GREENLAND TO SUPPORT SEABED 2030

 

Victor Vescovo’s US-based marine technology development company Caladan Oceanic has provided financial support and guidance to Greenwater Foundation to source new mapping data of the seafloor in coastal areas of Greenland using Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB). This initiative will support the mission of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO* Seabed 2030 Project, which aims to compile a map of the entire seafloor by the year 2030 and has already contributed SDB data to countries including the United States, Japan, Canada, Kenya, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Tonga, and numerous other countries. Together, these parties have contracted with the world leader in mapping the seafloor using satellite data in the visible and other spectra of light, TCarta of Denver, Colorado. Over the past year, never before has so much coastal satellite-derived bathymetry been charitably contributed in a single contribution to Seabed 2030. The minimum resolution of the contributed imagery is 100m but some of the contributed data is as high-resolution as 10 meters to provide even higher safety of navigation data to the local communities. TCarta has the ability to produce even finer imagery, as high as 0.5 meters in resolution, for specifically commissioned commercial products as well as marine asset or habitat mapping. The project has contributed 11,000 square kilometers to Greenland at an average resolution of 10 meters including SDB data of key cities of Nuuk and Narsaq and will also be providing more general 100-meter resolution data for the region. The data was provided to Karl Brix Zinglersen (Head of Department, Department of Environment and Minerals Pinngortitaleriffik, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources) and will be used to provide more awareness about potential coastal hazards, enable more precise fisheries and resource management, and for other marine scientific uses. SDB offers the benefits of an extremely short timeframe from collection to delivery when compared with boat or airplane-based methods, making this an ideal technology for mapping coastal areas in Greenland where repeated mapping with aircraft is costly and can take years to process and release the data. SDB also provides the lowest carbon footprint per square kilometer mapped compared to aircraft or ship-derived mapping. There are no international restrictions on the use of publicly available satellite data to provide such derived bathymetric data to open-source projects like GEBCO. Greenland has been informed of this project and received the data generated by the project prior to the date of this release. Victor Vescovo, of Caladan Oceanic, stated: “It is very exciting to use existing space technology and open-source data to generate seafloor maps of coastal areas where there were none publicly available before. I look forward to continuing this charitable effort to generate more coastal area maps of the world’s countries which are difficult to map and then provide them to GEBCO’s open-source database and to the world community.” “One can’t understand the global climate, ecosystems, manage resources, and safely navigate the ocean without knowing what is there. Right now, 74% of the ocean is completely unmapped. We have detailed maps of the moon and Mars, but we have somehow skipped over half of our own planet. The ocean is hard; hard to “see” through the water, hard on equipment, hard on people, and therefore it is expensive to map. By leveraging new technology to push the price of mapping the seafloor down, we can finally start to see what it is that we need to understand and protect.” said Commander G. Mark Miller NOAA (ret.), Co-Founder of Greenwater Foundation. Kyle Goodrich, Chief Executive Officer of TCarta added: “SDB is the only ocean mapping technology that can rapidly and repeatedly map coastal areas. Satellite Derived Bathymetry offers unique capabilities within ocean mapping technologies. Its cost effectiveness and repeatability being most notable and pertinent in areas such as Greenland.” Karl Zinglersen said: “The vast coastline and waters around Greenland are generally poorly mapped. Coordinated and collaborative scientific cruises conducted by scientists and institutions from US, Canada, Greenland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and other countries have mapped many of the deep fjords and seas, but shallow waters remain difficult to measure. SDB analysis is a key method to accomplish this and any project exploring and testing the capabilities of this method are welcomed.  To local and visiting seafarers in Greenland, the shallow waters, abrupt changes in bathymetry, and numerous submerged rocks, present dangerous hazards to navigation and safety where search and rescue capabilities are often far away. For these people all new knowledge and maps can be lifesaving.  To natural sciences, the shallow waters are of great interest. Here are resources of sand used for concrete in construction projects and glacial flour, which might have a future commercial value in agriculture as a nutrient source. The coastal zone is home to seaweed Kelp forests and an ecosystem including juvenile fish and shellfish growing up there to later become a commercial resource in the fishing industry, crucial to Greenland’s economy.” Finally, Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Director of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project added: “Our mission at Seabed 2030 is made possible thanks to the work of our partners, including those that leverage cutting edge technology to advance our understanding of the ocean. “This collaboration exemplifies how satellite derived bathymetry can significantly expand our knowledge of previously unmapped coastal areas. We are grateful for this invaluable contribution, which brings us one step closer to realising our vision of a complete map of the seafloor by 2030.”

احتفلوا بعيد الفطر في ريكسوس باب البحر وجهتكم العائلية المثالية لعطلة شاملة في رأس الخيمة

 

استمتعوا بأجواء العيد مع عروض ترفيهية حية وأداءات مبهرة على الشاطئ والمسرح طوال أيام العطلة. ولإضفاء لمسة خاصة على الاحتفال، يدعوكم ريكسوس باب البحر إلى ليلة شواء تحت النجوم، حيث تجتمع النكهات الشهية مع الأجواء المميزة لتجربة لا تُنسى

 

 

الإمارات العربية المتحدة، رأس الخيمة،  28 مارس 2025 – يحتفي منتجع ريكسوس باب البحر بعيد الفطر بأسلوب استثنائي، مقدمًا مزيجًا رائعًا من الضيافة الفاخرة، وتجارب الطهي الراقية، والعروض الترفيهية اليومية التي تناسب جميع أفراد العائلة.

سيحظى الضيوف بفرصة تجربة أشهى الأطباق، والاستمتاع بعروض حية تفاعلية، وسط أجواء مفعمة بالبهجة. في هذا المنتجع الشامل كليًا على جزيرة المرجان، تنتظركم لحظات لا تُنسى وذكريات عيد تبقى خالدة في الذاكرة.

 

 

 

يمكن للضيوف الاستمتاع بتجربة طهي فريدة تبدأ ببوفيه إفطار فاخر في Seven Heights، ثم تذوق أشهى الأطباق في أحد المطاعم الخمسة في ريكسوس باب البحر، مثل المطعم الإيطالي L’Olivo لمحبي المأكولات الإيطالية، وMeat Point لعشاق شرائح اللحم، إلى جانب خيارات متنوعة تناسب جميع الأذواق. كما يمكن للعائلات الاستمتاع بأجواء Isla BBQ Fiesta ، حيث تُقدَّم تشكيلة شهية من اللحوم المشوية الطازجة.

أما البالغون، فيمكنهم الاسترخاء مع مشروبات منعشة بلا حدود على مدار اليوم، سواء بجانب المسبح أو أثناء الاستمتاع بكوكتيلات غروب الشمس على الشاطئ.

وللأطفال، يقدم مهرجان Rixy Kids Carnival تجربة ترفيهية مفعمة بالمرح، حيث يمكنهم الاستمتاع بالألعاب الهوائية، والعروض التفاعلية، والعديد من الأنشطة الممتعة، مما يضمن لهم أوقاتًا مليئة بالفرح والمرح.

 

 

في إطار احتفالات العيد، يقدم ريكسوس باب البحر برنامجًا ترفيهيًا حافلًا بالعروض الحية والفعاليات الممتعة التي ستُقام طوال أيام العيد:

• السبت 29 مارس: يستمتع الأطفال بفعاليات Rixy Kids Carnival على الشاطئ، إلى جانب عرض مذهل في Isla Bar، وعرض Dance Flix Show في Show Centre كما ستقدم فرقة Rhythm Live Band عرضًا موسيقيًا حيًا على مسرح Isla Stage
• الأحد 30 مارس: تتضمن الفعاليات الألعاب الأولمبية الشاطئية، وعرض علاء الدين وياسمين للأطفال في Isla، وليلة ذات طابع شرقي على مسرح Isla Stage، بالإضافة إلى عرض موسيقي لفرقة Afro Journey Live Band في Show Centre
• الاثنين 31 مارس: يعود Rixy Kids Carnival إلى الشاطئ ليستمتع الأطفال بمزيد من المرح، إلى جانب عروض حية مثل Cosmo Kids Show في Isla، وPirates Circus Show في Show Centre، فضلًا عن عرض موسيقي لفرقة Rhythm Live Band على مسرح Isla Stage
• الثلاثاء 1 أبريل: تستمر الأجواء الاحتفالية مع تحدي Squad Game على الشاطئ، وعرض Clown Kids Show للأطفال في Isla، وليلة بطابع Retro Theme Night في Isla، وختامًا بعرض موسيقي مميز لفرقة Orient Band في Show Centre

عطلة العيد في ريكسوس باب البحر

العرض: إقامة شاملة كليًا ومثالية للعائلات، مع مجموعة متنوعة من العروض الترفيهية الحية طوال فترة العيد.
التوقيت:  خلال عطلة عيد الفطر.
المكان: ريكسوس باب البحر، جزيرة المرجان، رأس الخيمة.
الأسعار: تبدأ الأسعار من 2,000 درهم إماراتي لليلة الواحدة، مع حد أدنى للإقامة 3 ليالٍ.

 

يُعد ريكسوس باب البحر الوجهة المثالية لعطلة عيد لا تُنسى، حيث يمكن للضيوف الاستمتاع بتجربة طعام فاخرة، ومشروبات مميزة، وعروض ترفيهية حية تبعث على الحماس.

للحجز والاستفسار، يرجى التواصل عبر:
reservation.rak@rixos.com

+971 7 202 0000

معرفة المزيد عن المنتجع: https://www.rixos.com/en/valentines-day-rixos-bab-al-bahr.

Al Ansari Exchange Marks a Decade of Giving with 100,000 Iftar Meals Distributed Across the UAE

 

Supporting the ‘Year of the Community’ by Sustaining a Legacy of Giving During Ramadan

 

Dubai, UAE – 27 March 2025 – Al Ansari Exchange, the UAE’s leading remittance and foreign exchange company and a subsidiary of Al Ansari Financial Services PJSC [DFM: ALANSARI], proudly commemorates ten years of its annual Iftar meal distribution, reaching a milestone of 100,000 meals provided to communities in need across the UAE. In alignment with the UAE’s ‘Year of the Community 2025,’ this year’s initiative continues the company’s commitment to fostering solidarity and sustainability, with 10,000 meals distributed across all seven Emirates.

 

Since its launch, this initiative has been an integral part of Al Ansari Exchange’s corporate social responsibility efforts, ensuring that individuals and families receive nourishing meals to break their fast. In collaboration with government entities and community organizations, this year’s distribution covered 10 locations, reinforcing the company’s role in supporting social cohesion and well-being.

 

“Our Iftar meal distribution embodies the spirit of the ‘Year of the Community,’ which celebrates the values of unity, generosity, and collective responsibility,” said Hisham Salah Eldin, Head of Business Development at Al Ansari Exchange. “Reaching the 100,000-meal milestone is a testament to the impact of sustained giving. As we continue this tradition, we remain committed to strengthening our communities and promoting initiatives that create meaningful change.”

 

"This initiative offers our employees a valuable opportunity to directly contribute to community service and embody the spirit of giving, which resonates deeply with our company's core values", he added.

 

Through its decade-long Ramadan meal distribution and broader CSR efforts, Al Ansari Exchange remains dedicated to enhancing social welfare and championing sustainability, in line with the UAE’s vision for a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Rockefeller Foundation Commits US$100 Million to Serve 100 Million Children Nutritious School Meals

• 5-year effort announced at Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Paris summit to expand support to more than a dozen countries worldwide and in the United States
• The Rockefeller Foundation and partners to strengthen countries' food systems, while boosting nutrition and investment in locally and regeneratively sourced foods

PARIS, March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), hosted by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, The Rockefeller Foundation announced a new US$100 million commitment to address rising global nutrition insecurity by supporting more than a dozen countries' efforts to expand and further develop their school meal programs. This five-year effort, which builds on initial work in Brazil and Kenya, aims to reach 100 million children worldwide and in the United States with more nutritious, locally, and regeneratively grown school meals. A partner of the School Meals Coalition, The Rockefeller Foundation will collaborate with others, including Novo Nordisk Foundation and the UN World Food Programme (WFP), to help strengthen the resilience of countries' food systems, improve the nutritional quality of school meals, mobilize finance, and help design procurement standards that incentivize investment in locally and regeneratively sourced foods. 

During a special session titled, "Together to Feed the World: Mobilizing the Private Sector and Philanthropists for Global Food," President of the Republic of France Emmanuel Macron, who announced that France would commit €750 million for projects promoting nutrition, said that, "Our health depends on what we eat and therefore the health of our soil, our plants, and our animals. We see how much this fight for nutrition is twinned with our fight for health, biodiversity, and the environment." He also thanked The Rockefeller Foundation for its US$100 million commitment, noting it "will allow us greatly to accelerate our work...adding even more strength to it."

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, said: "The world can't stand by and let kids go hungry. We need to come together behind bold, innovative solutions like locally grown, sustainable school meals that address today's urgent needs while safeguarding against tomorrow's urgent threats. This announcement reflects The Rockefeller Foundation's commitment to delivering results for people in the United States and around the world by investing in solutions and working with a range of partners that can advance the food security of children, economic opportunities for farmers, businesses, and communities, and the health of our planet."

Today, over 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet, and according to the WFP, 153 million children and young people go to bed hungry every night. In addition to the estimated 550,000 people who could die worldwide within a year due to cuts in food aid, per the Center for Global Development, nutrition insecurity leads to a multitude of negative physical and mental outcomes. This includes high rates of anemia, lower academic performance, and increased absenteeism, along with other long-term consequences.

In response, The Rockefeller Foundation, in collaboration with others, plans to advance a range of public, private, and non-profit efforts over the next five years across three core areas:

1. Supporting countries as they expand their school meal programs and improve the nutritional quality of meals. For example, The Rockefeller Foundation will help improve the nutritional quality of school meals by increasing consumption of micronutrient-rich, locally grown, indigenous, and more resilient crops like millet, teff, and sorghum on school menus. It will also continue to support nutrition research, including on fortified whole grains and adapted crops, to more deeply understand the nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits of incentivizing better sourcing for school meals.
   
   
2. Cultivating local economic development and facilitating a stable market. This includes generating a supply chain for school meals from local farmers and production by working with investors and other philanthropies to provide upfront capital for regenerative agriculture transitions along supply chains connected to school meal programs. The Rockefeller Foundation will start with "proof point" countries that will model the initial investment before scaling the effort with partners to other countries. For example, countries like Brazil have demonstrated the power of effective procurement with 30% of school meals sourced from family farms. With additional incentives to shift to agroecological practices, according to research by IPEA in Brazil, the program led to income gains ranging from 23-106% for farmers.  
   
   
3. Working with partners to mobilize financing and galvanize support for countries' school meal efforts. The Rockefeller Foundation will also collaborate with cross-sectoral coalitions, including, but not limited to, the Agroecology Coalition, which has 300 public and private sector members across 55 countries committed to agroecological food system transformation; Global Alliance Against Poverty and Hunger, which is part of Brazil's G20 presidency; World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a CEO-led organization of over 225 international companies; and Regenerative and Agroecological Finance for Transition (RAFT), a collaborative initiative between 32 philanthropic partners aiming to accelerate and scale regenerative and agroecological approaches to transform global food systems.

School meals, which feed an estimated 418 million children worldwide, have consistently been shown to improve nutrition, increase attendance, improve education outcomes (especially for girls), and drive economic growth and development. Providing a significant return on investment, ranging from US$7 to US$35 for every dollar spent, the WFP also calculates that for every 100,000 school meals served, 1,377 jobs are created.

"Today's announcement brings The Rockefeller Foundation's total investment in global nutrition to more than $220 million," said Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of Programs at The Rockefeller Foundation, during the special session at the French Foreign Ministry. "Our $100 million in new funding will reach 100 million children with more nutritious meals, by connecting the demand for school feeding programs, with the supply of locally grown food – creating new opportunities for farmers, children and the planet alike. Bottom line: school meals are more than just food; they're the fuel for opportunity and a brighter future."

This new US$100 million commitment to advance universal locally grown and regenerative school meals both in the United States and around the world is part of a more than US$220 million that The Rockefeller Foundation has committed to nutrition initiatives benefiting people, the planet, markets, jobs, and beyond. This includes The Rockefeller Foundation's 'Big Bet' of US$100 million to advance Food is Medicine solutions in the United States and over US$20 million for the Periodic Table of Food Initiative, which is providing standardized tools, data, and training to map food quality of the world's edible biodiversity.

Statements of Support:

• "As the world's largest humanitarian organization, WFP fights hunger on the ground in 120 countries supporting millions of people every year. We have the global reach, the scale, and the ability to help our partners deliver assistance where it matters most. Our work with governments and partners like The Rockefeller Foundation supports school meals programs that transform the lives of children, boost local economies, and help vulnerable communities tackle the root causes of food insecurity all across the world. Together, we can ensure that no child goes to bed hungry." ― Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme
  
  
• "With this substantial investment, The Rockefeller Foundation will be playing a key role in advancing school meals at the global and national levels. We look forward to growing our strong collaboration around the world and in Brazil." — Daniel Balaban, Director of the WFP's Centre of Excellence Against Hunger in Brazil
  
  
• "Good nutrition is the building block for lifelong learning, earning, and good health. In a world of increasing pressure and complexity, it is more important than ever for us to scale solutions that break silos – delivering all the things that future generations need to thrive. Universal school meals are exactly this kind of solution, and we applaud The Rockefeller Foundation for their exciting commitment to this work." — Matt Freeman, Executive Director of Stronger Foundations for Nutrition
  
  
• "I am excited about this bold intervention from The Rockefeller Foundation focused on propelling catalytic capital, innovation, locally led solutions, and strategic partnerships to transform and scale school meal programs in more than a dozen countries This visionary program will ensure that 100 million children around the world obtain the nutrition they need to thrive and live full and meaningful lives, empower farmers and communities, and build a more sustainable future." ― Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President and CEO of the ONE Campaign and member of The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees

منتجع فورسيزونز المالديف في كودا هورا يقدّم تجربة طهي حصرية مع الطاهية الكورية جرايس تشوي

 

جزر المالديف 28 مارس 2025: أعلن منتجع فورسيزونز المالديف في كودا هورا عن استضافته الطاهية الكورية الشهيرة جرايس تشوي لإقامة حصرية لمدة أسبوعين هذا الربيع، من 1 إلى 15 أبريل 2025، حيث ستستغل الطاهية الحائزة على جوائز، خيرات محيط كودا هورا في إعداد أطباق كانتونية استثنائية تحت النجوم في بوول أيلاند. تستلهم الطاهية إبداعاتها من شعارها القائل " الإلهام في عالم الطهي يمكن أن ينبع من أي شيء مهما بدا صغيراً في هذا الوجود"، وستسعرض خلال إقامتها شغفها وإبداعها في عالم الطهي الذي وضع مطعمها الأول على خريطة الطهي كواحد من أفضل 10 مطابخ خاصة في هونغ كونغ بحسب سي إن إن.  تشتهر تشوي بقدرتها الفنية على سرد القصص من خلال الطعام، وهي معروفة بتحويل المكونات البسيطة إلى إبداعات رائعة وغنية بالنكهات. سيحظى ضيوف كودا هورا بتجربة عشاء آسرة مستوحاة من مطعم الطاهية الصغير في طوكيو، "تشوي تشوي برايفت كيتشن" الذي يتسع لأربعة مقاعد فقط، ولكن هذه المرة في الهواء الطلق، حيث يلتقي نسيم المحيط مع دفء من الأضواء والفوانيس. تتميز قائمة الطاهية المحضّرة خصيصاً لهذه التجربة بتوازن متناغم بين التقاليد والابتكار، ومن أبرزها طبق شار سيو الشهير على طريقة هونغ كونغ، وحساء الملفوف المجفف والتين المطبوخ مرتين، والمأكولات البحرية الطازجة التي تم صيدها من جزر المالديف، والحلويات الشهية الطرية المحضّرة يدوياً، برفقة شاي بو-إره لاو تشا تو (شاي قديم) معتق من عام 1998. بالإضافة إلى تجربة تناول الطعام الفريدة، يمكن للضيوف أيضاً التعمق في فلسفة الطهي لهذه "المرأة الريفية المتواضعة" كما تصف نفسها، من خلال دروس طهي تفيض بالألفة، مع رحلة صيد مالديفية باستخدام تقنيات الصيد التقليدية بالخيط اليدوي التي تقدّم فرصة فريدة لطهي صيد الضيوف الخاص بتوجيه من الطاهية، وتتوفر كلتا التجربتين على أساس أسبقية الحضور. وتعليقاً على هذه المناسبة، قالت الطاهية جرايس تشوي:" "حيثما يصفو ذهنك ويحضر جسدك، هناك تتجلى القمّة ويتوقف سريان الزمن. أتوق إلى استكشاف هذا الإحساس العميق بالحضور تحت سماء المالديف المتلألئة بالنجوم، وبين يديّ خيرات البحر الطازجة في هذا المكان الذي يفيض بالإلهام". مع توفر ثمانية طاولات فقط كل ليلة، يعد هذا الحدث الحصري تجربة استثنائية لا تفوت.  لحجز مقعد في تجربة الطاهية تشوي المؤقتة والحصرية، يرجى إرسال بريد إلكتروني إلى: reservations.mal@fourseasons.com أو الاتصال بقسم الحجوزات المركزي في منتجعات فورسيزونز المالديف على الرقم: (960) 66 00 888.   انتهى