RIYADH: The Institution of Engineers Pakistan, Saudi Arabian Center (IEPSAC), organized a felicitation ceremony in honor of the sponsors of the IEPSAC scholarship program here recently. The function was attended by a number of company representatives, businessmen and individuals besides several top-notch executives; who have contributed to the scholarship program.
Muhammad Hassan Wazir, charge d’affaires at the Pakistan embassy was the chief guest. The program was conducted by the general secretary of IEPSAC Syed Muhammad Iqbal. The program started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Mohammad Asim Siddiqui. The convener of IEPSAC sponsorship and advertisement committee Abdul Majeed Shah delivered the welcome speech where he appreciated the contributions made by the sponsors.
Jaleel Hassan, convener of IEPSAC liaison committee gave details of the scholarship program. He mentioned that the scholarship program was started in 1996 with 32 students in eight engineering universities in Pakistan. Now, after 20 years, this program has grown manifold. Hassan pointed out that a total of 96 annual scholarships are being given to the needy engineering students in 12 universities every year now.
In his speech, Hassan Wazir, charge d’affaires at Pakistan Embassy, said that “the engineers play the most vital role in the development of countries, uplifting the economy and enriching the human capabilities.” He praised the initiative of IEPSAC to nurture the brilliant minds in Pakistani universities and appreciated the support extended by the sponsors towards this program.
In the concluding part of the program, Mubashir Kirmani and chief guest Hassan Wazir presented appreciation shields to the sponsors and contributors of scholarship program. In his concluding remarks, Kirmani mentioned the necessity of scholarship program and thanked all the sponsors for extending support for this noble cause. He expressed his gratitude for the patronage provided by the embassy of Pakistan to IEPSAC.
IEPSAC honors sponsors of scholarship program
IEPSAC honors sponsors of scholarship program
Saudi chef wins culinary competition
- Event aimed to empower chefs’ ability to showcase talent on global scale
- Bayan Abdullah Al-Sudani: It (has) encouraged me to participate in more challenging spaces
RIYADH: A Saudi has won the Saudi Elite Chefs competition at Horeca Riyadh.
The event, which was organized by the Culinary Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture, in alignment with the ministry’s long-term goals, aimed to empower Saudi chefs’ ability to showcase their talent and creativity on a global scale.
Speaking to Arab News, the winner, Bayan Abdullah Al-Sudani, shed light on how the competition equipped her with confidence for the future, saying: “It was a big challenge, and I faced off against strong chefs. It (has) encouraged me to participate in more challenging spaces.”
On her future plans, Al-Sudani wants to give back to the industry, and added: “I look forward to opening the Bayan Academy soon so that I can support chefs and help them with the pastry sector specifically.”
Celebration and achievement were echoed throughout, and it was evident at the event that the culinary industry in the Kingdom is hungry for growth, recognition, and global competition.
Seba Zarea, general manager of strategy and program delivery at the Culinary Arts Commission, told Arab News of the many facets of the industry that the ministry was prioritizing.
Zarea said: “This competition is just one of the initiatives that the Culinary Arts Commission is working on. There are also local scholarships (and) vocational training. We are also working on attracting the best culinary schools to Saudi. For example, Le Cordon Bleu is opening next year in Misk City.”
Zarea stressed the rewards of events like the Saudi Elite Chefs competition, adding that the winner had a fast track to Bocuse d’Or and the World Pastry Cup — representing global opportunities to place both competitors and Saudi cuisine on the map.
Zarea added: “Food is a soft power and, in terms of tourism, food is a universal language so we codified the Saudi cuisine, an initiative started four years ago, and we came up with more than 1,300 codified recipes, items, and local produce from the Kingdom.”
Zarea went into depth on some of the behind-the-scenes efforts that have helped create the food that the Kingdom is able to showcase.
She shared the example of the Wild Plant Initiative, a program designed to explore plants of various regions in the Kingdom to discover new ingredients that can be integrated into Saudi cuisine.
These efforts go into helping to build an industry that is rooted in culture, creativity, and passion.
In the same way that the Saudi Elite Chefs competition provides its winners and participants with the tools to bring their success to global attention, the Culinary Arts Commission works to elevate the Kingdom’s cuisine through tourism and hospitality.
Zarea said: “This sector is the easiest way to showcase the culture.”
