Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Inauguration of the Restoration of the Polana Serena Hotel in Maputo, Mozambique

Your Excellency the President
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Let me begin by saying what an honour and joy it is to receive His Excellency the President of the Republic of Mozambique on this occasion.

What a great day this is as we mark the opening of a new landmark for the African hospitality industry - a new flagship for the Serena Hotel Group - and a new benchmark in the economic progress of Mozambique.

We have been looking forward to this celebration for some time - it marks the culmination of a complex process. And it is good to celebrate this moment with those who have devoted so much talent and energy to this process - and have made the moment possible.

It is a pleasure to welcome all of you.

That special word, “welcome”, is at the center of my thoughts today. After all, the purpose of this rebuilt Polana Serena hotel is to receive people from across the country, the continent and the planet and to help them to feel “welcome” in Mozambique.

I remember well the day- a little over twelve years ago - when President Chissano welcomed me to Maputo, for the purpose of signing a Development Co-operation Agreement between the Mozambique government and the Aga Khan Development Network. Our celebration today grows out of that initiative - and I thought I might say a word about how our cooperation has unfolded since that time. It is the longer story of which the Polana story is the latest part. 

Full Speech @>>> 

http://www.akdn.org/Content/1040/Speech-by-His-Highness-the-Aga-Khan-at-the-Inauguration-of-the-Restoration-of-the-Polana-Serena-Hotel-in-Maputo-Mozambique

Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Mozambique for the inauguration of the Polana Serena Hotel

Maputo, Mozambique, 15 December 2010 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Maputo this evening on a two-day visit to Mozambique. During the visit, Hazar Imam will participate in the inauguration of the Polana Serena Hotel in Maputo, together with His Excellency President Armando Guebuza.

Upon his arrival, Mawlana Hazar Imam was received by senior government officials, including Mr Fernando Sumbana, Minister of Tourism, Mr Pedro Couto, Vice Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Government-AKDN Coordination Committee, as well as representatives of the AKDN and leaders from the Mozambique Jamat.

Mawlana Hazar Imam is accompanied by Prince Amyn, who will attend the inauguration ceremony in his capacity as Director of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and Chairman of its Executive Committee.

MOre @ >>> http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1130/Mawlana-Hazar-Imam-arrives-in-Mozambique-for-the-inauguration-of-the-Polana-Serena-Hotel

Healthy Speed of Change.

It is rare in the world of BlackBerries, iPads, mobile phones and airport lounges that one can pause long enough to think differently about the shape of the world, in particular the Middle East.

Doha is a city that welcomes a slower pace - despite its breakneck pace of development - and it is where I sat down with the Aga Khan, the Imam of the largest branch of the Ismaili followers, for an exclusive interview. The window of time was limited - 10 minutes to be precise - but precious in its outcome.

The Aga Khan was in Qatar to present a handful of awards for architectural excellence - major projects touching the Islamic world that make a difference to the lives of nearly 1.5 billion people. His Highness is a man who backs his words with action. His network is focussed on what he calls “the construction of civil society” since he believes it is the “greatest guarantor of positive change.”

The network facilitates economic, housing and tourism development in more than 30 countries and encourages investment to foster employment and advance education. But here is the caveat: change must be calibrated.

“I think the issue is not only quality of life. There are many other criteria and one of the ones we are most exposed to as a network of institutions is, 'What is a healthy speed of change?' Because you can move too fast.”

According to the International Monetary fund, Qatar will grow 16% this year and as much as 20%  in 2011. In a world of 2% growth in Europe and the United States, the tiny Middle Eastern state could see 10 times the pace of expansion next year.

MOre @ >>> http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/10/healthy-speed-of-change/

Mawlana Hazar Imam arrives in Egypt to participate in forum to combat human trafficking

Luxor, Egypt, 10 December 2010

Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Egypt today to attend the Luxor International Forum to Combat Human Trafficking. Upon his arrival, Hazar Imam met with Her Excellency Suzanne Mubarak, the First Lady of Egypt, at the Old Winter Palace in Luxor.
Part of the “End Human Trafficking Now!” campaign, the Forum brings the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) and the business community together to find solutions that will put an end to human trafficking. Organised by the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement, the Luxor Forum represents a milestone in international efforts to combat such crime.
The Forum will also announce the winner of the first-ever Business Leader's Award to Fight Human Trafficking. Mawlana Hazar Imam was invited to sit as a member of the jury for the award.

http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1128/Mawlana-Hazar-Imam-arrives-in-Egypt-to-participate-in-forum-to-combat-human-trafficking

An Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries: Volume I – On the Nature of the Divine

The IIS is pleased to announce the paperback edition of An Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries: Volume I – On the Nature of the Divine. Edited by Feras Hamza, Sajjad Rizvi and Farhana Mayer, the Anthology analyses the works of Sunni, Shi‘i, Ibadi, Mu‘tazili and Sufi commentators on six Qur’anic verses, revealing varied approaches to the scripture and its meaning. Contextual introductions and annotated translations allow the reader to follow the genesis of key intellectual debates and religio-political attitudes still relevant to the lives of Muslims today.
On the Nature of the Divine is the first of the Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries Series, which aims to make the reception and interpretation of the Qur’an accessible to anyone interested in cultural and religious studies. The main research question underlying the Series is: how do historical, intellectual and social circumstances affect interpretation? The multiple volumes of the Anthology will, collectively, emphasise the historicity of tafsir, the fact that each commentator and commentary is a product of his own time. The volumes are designed as a standard reference work and textbook for university courses, but they also contribute towards a ‘mapping’ of how ideas, concepts, dogmas and fields of knowledge have evolved along a fluid history to the present time. The Anthology is a reflection of the plurality of meanings that the Qur’an itself allows for, and which have produced a vast and venerable tradition of diverse interpretations.

MOre @ >>> http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=112125