Emirates and Starr FM Ghana MSME Challenge Winner has rewarded the winner with a handsome package.
Winner of the maiden edition of the Emirates and Starr FM Ghana MSME Challenge, Teddy Marfo, has described his 5-day trip to Dubai, UAE, kind courtesy the world’s leading airline, Emirates. Teddy Marfo, CEO of Teddy’s Cravings — a food processing company was declared winner.
He made his international travel debut on February 6, onboard Emirates’ business class flight from Accra to Dubai. The EK-788 crew, aware of his trip, left nothing to chance to ensure Teddy’s flight was memorable.
“My experience onboard Emirates, was a lovely – from the crew to the food and the service, it was amazing! If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would do it again, and again,” Teddy admitted.
Upon descent into Dubai, Teddy and his entourage, including a representative each from Strategic Communications Africa Limited (Stratcomm-Africa), the airline communication agency in Ghana, and Starr FM, were lodged at the world’s second tallest hotel – the JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai. The team had access to the 5-star hotel’s globally acclaimed restaurants, gym, pool and other facilities.
Teddy’s tour of Dubai started on the Palm Jumeirah, where he experienced first-hand one of Dubai’s proud creations – an artificial island shaped in the form of a palm tree. The tour continued through neighborhoods in Dubai such as Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai and the Al Fahidi Historical district, with photo opportunities at the famous Burj Al-Arab. Though the Dubai Museum had been closed due to Covid-19 protocols, Teddy tells me he was enlightened by the tour guide on a walk through the Al Fahidi Historical District to an Abra (water taxi) ride into the Spice and Gold Souk (Market). The Spice and Gold Souk is one of Dubai local markets, where budget friendly shopping can be done. Traders at the Souk, just like in Accra Makola Market are open to bargains, and will stop at nothing to have the customer purchase their wares. Despite the names; the Souk has a variety of wares on sale: from groceries to clothing. Arabs pride in their vast knowledge and use of spices, having traded in curry, tea, menthol, and argawood among others for centuries. The well-organized Souk is also known for its neatness, which makes shopping comfortable.
The tour continued to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Named after the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan, the 2,722 feet edifice is impossible to miss when looking at the city's skyline. Teddy took the opportunity to view the earth from 1,483 feet on the 124th floor observation deck. The trip to the observation deck from the ground floor, thanks to the building extremely fast lift, took less than forty seconds.
As part of his winning package, Teddy had a day’s pass to the 2020 Expo held in Dubai. He and the team visited the three districts at the Expo – Opportunity, Sustainability, and Mobility where they visited various exhibitions including Emirates, Ghana, African Union, Malawi, Monaco, Russia, Saudi Arabia among others; affording him the opportunity to make business connections for his business back in Ghana. On the day tour, I asked Teddy what he made of the trip. “The exposure has been massive, I’ve really gotten to appreciate how things are done in the other parts of the world. For that I am grateful”. He added “I realised here on the trip, people push the limits regardless of the industry. It made me revisit my thoughts and ask myself if I was happy selling what I have as a business or I wanted to go further?”
Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert, which is one of the world largest continuous body of sand. Though rapid urbanization in the region may convince visitors the land is not arid, the UAE has ensured a reserve of its original landform. What then is a Dubai experience without hitting the desert? The Emirates and Starr FM Ghana MSME Challenge winner had an adrenaline-charged morning riding the dunes in a private 4×4 at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The activities included sand boarding, camel riding and a traditional Arab campsite breakfast.
The team had the chance to see Dubai’s first permanent show, La Perle. La Perle features a theatrical delight by several cast members and stunt performers in, on and above an aqua stage containing 2.5 million litres of water. La Perle, performed in Dubai Al Habtoor City, tells a story of a girl who receives and loses a gift of a pearl. Through music, choreography, fire gymnastics, we join the girl on a search for her pearl in a cocktail of emotions. The familiarization trip also featured a visit to the Dubai Miracle Garden, where flowers had been arranged in colourful patterns, and the diverse shapes they form. This was followed by a mesmerized view of all of Dubai from the biggest Ferris wheel in the world – Ain Dubai, which reaches a height of 820 feet.
The team returned to Accra from Dubai on February 11, with a highly motivated Teddy, ready to take on the world one product at a time, having experienced the trip of a lifetime. In an interview on Starr FM Morning Starr, Teddy intimated his work ethics have improved. Acknowledging his personal growth from the trip, whenever he has the chance, he shares lessons.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ekow Boakye
