Company Profile:
A private family company, the Kawar Group has diversified and become a holding company for more than 20 ventures, employing 800 people. It’s seven business centers specialize in shipping; travel and tourism, mining and energy, healthcare, trade and project development, information and communications technology (ICT), and investments.
Kawar Shipping, one of the group’s seven umbrella companies, is a diverse maritime business. It represents global shipping giants; Denmark’s Maersk Line, Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Company, Dubai-based logistics firm Gulf Agency Company; as well as, Pacific International Lines and COSCO.
A forwarding arm, Kargo offers shipping and transport services from Jordan to Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.
In 1963, the group entered the tourism sector. Amin Kawar & Sons Travel & Tourism includes tour operation and sales for cruise lines and airlines. One of its quirkier businesses is Roman Army & Chariots Experience, a company that re-enacts chariot races and gladiator duels at Jerash.
ICT is set to drive the Kawar Group’s future growth. The Kawar Group bought a controlling stake in Al-Faris National Investment Company in 2006 to spearhead expansion of its ICT portfolio. Rudain Kawar is now chairman of Al-Faris “OPTIMIZA”, which invests in ICT, human capital, management and business consulting.
The Kawar Group’s ICT businesses include biometrics, including the Iris Guard eye recognition system used for security at UAE airports. Its other ICT businesses are d1g.com, a bilingual portal that aims to increase internet access in the Arabic-speaking world. Moreover Heidelberg Jordan, a fledgling print-on-demand service, aims to revolutionize publishing and printing in Arabic.
The trade and project development division started out importing and distributing fast-moving consumer goods. The division plans to bid for major regional industrial and infrastructure projects on a build-operate-transfer or build-own-operate-transfer basis. It includes water treatment plants and cement factories. One such project has involved Kawar developing a 450,000-square-metre logistics park in Aqaba on a build-operate-transfer basis.
In healthcare, Kawar is a franchise partner with NatHealth, a third-party administrator for medical insurance, asserting that it is the first company in Jordan to offer online processing of claims. The group is also a major supplier of healthcare equipment, as owner of advanced medical equipment, which leases medical equipment to healthcare projects in the Middle East, Sudan and Kazakhstan.
Addressing Jordan essential need for renewable energy resources, Kawar Group ventured into the Energy sector establishing Kawar Energy. An eco-friendly project developer focused on bringing technology solutions and services of energy water and environment projects. This would include oil shale, wind and solar energy.
How did you start your business?
Having consolidated the group shipping activities, the company’s position was established in the market in the early 80’s. My brother, Karim, and I graduated from Boston College in mid-eighties and decided to venture into the Information Technology business. We believed this is where the world was going and we became the first Apple® Mac distributors in Jordan. Afterwards, we expanded the business to become the most prominent IT software factory. We started this business believing in our vision and assessing the opportunity for growth particularly in Jordan.
We are taking the same approach in the Energy field now.
When you first started your business, were you expecting that it would become not only your full-time occupation, but also a growing company?
From day one, our ambition was to develop a company, to branch out in all domains, and generate more employment opportunities. It was a challenge filled with passion and not a full-time job.
What is the most rewarding thing you have accomplished and why do you cite it above all your other accomplishments?
It brings great pleasure to our group when we see the largest companies in the world take interest in some of the ventures that were created and originated by Jordanians. When closing deals of this sort, the benefits are considered a national accomplishment rather than a personal achievement; therefore, I cite it above all other accomplishments.
Today we negotiate deals with the largest investment houses. We take pride in ourselves with the business we developed and the human resources that further enriches our enterprises.
What were your biggest challenges you faced as an entrepreneur and how did you overcome them?
Resistance to change, to the introduction of technology, and to new inventions are always challenges that entrepreneur’s face. Nonetheless, awareness and proving the value of the services we offer has always supported the progress of our work and helped overcome these challenges.
What do you think it takes to be successful in the industry your company competes in?
We adopt the partnership concept when dealing with all stakeholders involved in our projects. Hence, our success will be theirs, and there will not be a better way for any entrepreneur to overcome challenges and become a leader in the industry.
What advice would you give to those contemplating starting their own business?
Build it and they will come, properly package it and they will buy!
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