The 2011 edition of the Takreem Awards, which recognise and pay tribute to Arab achievers worldwide, will be held in Doha on April 30.
Qatar was chosen as the venue for being an Arab country at the forefront of change, programme founder and chairman Ricardo Karam told Gulf Times.
The event will be held at the Katara cultural village under the auspices of HH the Emir.
“Qatar has become known throughout the world for its outstanding cultural initiatives and we consider Doha to be the ideal platform to gather unsung heroes and remarkable achievers,” Karam, a celebrated Lebanese journalist, said.
In keeping with its international identity, Takreem celebrates Arab achievements in a different country each year; the 2010 edition was held in Beirut, Lebanon.
“Qatar is embracing the future and so do we. Hosting the event in Qatar fulfils our professional aspirations, strengthens the Takreem platform, and its inter-
national out reach,” Karam said.
The awards will be the culmination of a year’s work where laureates in each of the 10 categories are revealed and rewarded.
“One of the main objectives of Takreem is to contribute in altering the stereotyped perception of Arabs, no matter where they live or work,” Karam said.
Of the 10 winners in the inaugural edition last year, Qatar-based Prof Abdelmagid Hamouda (Qatar University) won the Takreem Scientific and Technological Achievement Award.
The awards for other categories, honouring either individuals or institutions, feature Advancement of Peace, Philanthropy and Charitable Services, Arab Woman of the Year, Exceptional International Contribution to Arab society, Innovation in Education, Young Entrepreneur, Environmental Development and Sustainability, Cultural Excellence, and Outstanding Corporate Leadership.
“In the run up to the award ceremony, Takreem has organised a series of seminars and conferences on topics related to the award categories held in different countries from France to Lebanon to Qatar,” the official said.
The awards utilise a two-phase screening process involving highly-experienced committee members who judge eligible applicants through pre-determined criteria.
This is then passed to the grand-jury. The 2011 jury includes such global Arab icons as Queen Noor al-Hussein, Sheikha Mai bint Mohamed al-Khalifa, Dr Mohamed El Baradei, Dr Lakhdar Ibrahimi, Dr Hanan Ashrawi and Carlos Ghosn.
After intense deliberations for two days in Beirut on February 24-25, the Takreem Selection Committee short-listed finalists for the grand-jury, which is set to convene in Paris on March 17 at the Institut du Monde Arabe.
Ricardo Karam:”Hosting the event in Qatar fulfils our professional aspirations
By Sarmad Qazi
Staff Reporter
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