News
King briefed on progress of teacher training programme
Amman, 8 October 2024 (Jordan Times) - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday was briefed on the progress of the pre-service and in-service teacher training programme, implemented as part of the executive programme of the Economic Modernisation Vision (2023-2025). During a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace with the concerned officials, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty called for providing high-quality training for teachers, given their important role in shaping future generations. The King urged moving forward with the development of instructions for mandatory professional licences for teachers to enhance their qualifications, which in turn would contribute to the development of a successful educational environment and the advancement of the education sector in Jordan. The pre-service teacher training programme aims to train 14,000 teachers in seven subjects by the end of the 2026-2027 academic year, and to activate mandatory pre-service training. The in-service teacher training programme aims to train about 40,000 teachers by the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Azmi Mahafzah, and Planning Minister Zeina Toukan attended the meeting.
King meets US CEOs, representatives of universities
25 September 2024 (Jordan Times)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday met with a number of CEOs and representatives of US companies and universities in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss investment opportunities in Jordan and enhance economic cooperation.During the meeting, organised by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, His Majesty stressed the importance of building on the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States to expand cooperation for the benefit of both countries.The King spoke about the Economic Modernisation Vision that Jordan is pursuing to promote investment opportunities, improve the business environment, increase the competitiveness of exports, and create job opportunities for Jordanians.His Majesty said Jordan is also moving forward in implementing political and administrative modernisation, despite regional challenges.The meeting covered ways to benefit from Jordan's investment advantages and the experiences of leading US companies operating in the country.For his part, Governor Moore spoke about the importance of networking between Jordan and the Maryland companies and universities represented at the meeting, in order to explore opportunities for cooperation and investment.The meeting included CEOs and representatives of universities and companies operating in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, engineering, food industries, technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, financial services, and hospitality.Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar attended the meeting.Earlier, the King met with Governor Moore and discussed the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States.
King discusses Jordan’s economic growth efforts with IMF director
22 September 2024 – (Jordan Times), His Majesty King Abdullah II met on Sunday with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and discussed Jordan’s efforts to boost economic growth and attract investment.The meeting, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, covered ways to implement economic and development priorities aimed at improving Jordan's business environment, creating job opportunities, and enhancing women's participation in the labour market, in line with the Economic Modernisation Vision.His Majesty affirmed the Kingdom’s continued implementation of financial reforms to bolster the economy’s resilience amid increasing regional tensions.The King noted the important partnership with the IMF over the past years and its continued support for Jordan’s economic programmes.Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, Planning Minister Zeina Toukan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar attended the meeting.
King briefed on progress of tourism, environment projects
Amman 14 August 2024 (The Jordan Times) - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday was briefed on the progress of a number of development projects in the tourism and environment sectors. During separate meetings at Al Husseiniya Palace with the concerned officials, attended by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, His Majesty was briefed on progress in the Ajloun development master plan, and highlighted the importance of accelerating implementation within the specified timeframe, while ensuring that the governorate’s residents benefit from development projects. For his part, Deputy Prime Minister and Local Administration Minister Tawfiq Kreishan gave a briefing on key projects that will be implemented within the plan, including the development of a model farm, a heritage tourist village, a culinary academy, and a wellness resort, in line with the Economic Modernisation Vision. During a meeting to review the implementation plans to develop the Aqaba Marine Reserve, the King listened to a briefing by Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Chief Commissioner Nayef Al Fayez on efforts to register the reserve on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Fayez also highlighted studies to establish the Aqaba Marine Park, which consists of the Aqaba Marine Reserve, a science and technology hub, and a public aquarium, with the aim of protecting the marine environment and developing a blue economy. At another meeting, His Majesty was briefed on the Sustainable Hunting and Wildlife Strategy developed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. The society’s director, Fadi Al Nasser, gave a brief on key nature reserve programmes dedicated to sustainable hunting, with the aim of preserving biodiversity and protecting wildlife and natural resources in Jordan.
King visits King Hussein Business Park, tours several institutions
Amman, 26 August 2024 (Jordan Times)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Monday was briefed on the second phase of the King Hussein Business Park’s (KHBP) expansion plan, extending over 309 dunums at an estimated cost of JD5 million, to stimulate economic growth, attract investments, and create jobs. The second phase of the project offers investment opportunities to develop facilities, roads, parking lots, and green spaces, and will witness the establishment of several facilities, including ones for information storage, medical simulation, and a hotel over an area of 9,000 square metres. During a visit to the KHBP, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty listened to a briefing by KHBP Chairman Osama Madanat on means of implementing the park’s strategy, seeking to enhance the business environment, attract regional and international investments, support start-ups, and hone the skills of young Jordanians. The King stressed the importance of enhancing Jordan's ability to benefit from economic opportunities by further developing a competitive business environment with distinctive infrastructure and services, capable of attracting more quality investments. His Majesty called for building on the lessons learned from developing the KHBP’s first phase to accelerate future phases, highlighting the importance of coordinating with the private sector and investors to understand their needs and address challenges. The investment volume of the KHBP’s first phase reached JD210 million, with a 99 percent occupancy rate, extending over a land of 200 dunums, including 36 facilities. The park currently includes 295 start-ups, 65 local companies, 14 regional companies, and 19 international companies operating in various sectors and employing about 7,000 people. His Majesty’s visit to the park also included a stop at the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), where he was briefed by the fund's director general, Mazen Tabbalat, on key achievements and development programmes and projects. Since the fund’s establishment in 2001, it has provided some 3 million direct and indirect employment, training, and qualification opportunities. During the meeting, attended by the fund’s chairman and members of the Board of Trustees, His Majesty commended KAFD’s efforts throughout the years, stressing the need to ensure projects’ sustainability and secure new funding opportunities through philanthropy and corporate social responsibility.
King meets representatives of major international companies
Amman 28 May 2024 (Jordan Times)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday met with representatives of international companies to discuss investment opportunities and economic cooperation. During the meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty stressed that Jordan’s stable business environment and qualified talents have strengthened its ability to attract investments. The King highlighted the success achieved by leading international companies in Jordan, such as Amazon and Cisco, noting the importance of capitalising on available investment opportunities. His Majesty also highlighted plans to empower youth to meet labour market needs, by offering new vocational and academic courses. Members of the delegation, which represents seven international companies, commended Jordan’s efforts to attract investments and improve the business environment as part of its Economic Modernisation Vision. The vision seeks to attract local and international investments, promote investment opportunities, enhance exports’ competitiveness, and provide job opportunities for Jordanians. The delegation’s visit, organised by the Business Council for International Understanding, aims at exploring investment opportunities in Jordan in education technology, training, technology, digital services, energy, defence, and cybersecurity. Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.
King meets representatives of textile industry
Amman 21 May 2024 (Jordan Times)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday met with representatives of the textile industry at Al Husseiniya Palace and affirmed the importance of the sector in providing employment, enhancing economic growth, and increasing exports. The meeting was held to follow up on the progress of developing the textile industry in line with the Economic Modernisation Vision. Discussions covered ways to boost vocational education in order to provide the sector with qualified workers, as well as boost training programmes for workers in the industry and build their capacities. The textile sector contributes JD756 million to the gross domestic product, and textile products account for 20 per cent of industrial exports, with exports worth JD1.4 billion annually. The sector employs 89,000 workers, 31 per cent of whom are Jordanians. Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.
King, Crown Prince attend Regional Ocean Summit’s main session at Dead Sea
16 May 2024 (The Jordan Times)- His Majesty King Abdullah and HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Wednesday attended the main strategy session of the Regional Ocean Summit, held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre at the Dead Sea. Jordan is hosting the first regional edition of the World Ocean Summit, organised by the Economist Impact, in cooperation with the Aqaba Marine Park (AMP) initiative, the government, and the Jordan Tourism Board. The summit brings together over 200 participants from around the world, including politicians, officials, businesspeople, investors, experts, and academics, to exchange expertise on means of finding balance between protecting the ocean and fostering sustainable economic growth. Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said at the session that green growth is key to Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision, noting that topics discussed in the summit highlight Jordan as a distinguished destination for future businesses, due to its talented youth, strategic location, robust infrastructure and commitment to sustainability. Khasawneh added that the AMP will become a hub for scientific research cooperation to preserve oceans and marine life in Aqaba and the world, by providing innovative solutions to mitigate climate change impact on coral reefs and biodiversity. For his part, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson warned in a recorded message of the dangers of the continuation of rising temperatures, which negatively affects marine life in oceans and humanity at large, ultimately making the planet uninhabitable. He commended Jordan’s efforts, under His Majesty’s leadership, to launch the AMP, an embodiment of the Kingdom’s commitment to working towards achieving one of the key sustainable development goals to protect marine life and oceans. Due to the Gulf of Aqaba’s strategic location, the AMP includes over 200 species of coral reefs, according to Thomson, who noted that 25 per cent of biodiversity in oceans depends on coral reefs, which underscores the need for their preservation. In another recorded message, Prince Albert II of Monaco said Jordan has been a model in the region and the world for its contributions to environmental preservation, noting that the AMP is an example of Jordan’s commitment to the sustainable management of resources, despite regional challenges. Prince Albert added that crises and conflicts around the world may make some believe that protecting nature is not a priority, while in fact environmental degradation only exacerbates adversity, stressing the need to preserve resources for future generations, by creating protected areas like the AMP. In a panel discussion held during the session, Ray Dalio, co-founder of OceanX, spoke about the King’s efforts in bringing to light issues related to oceans and biodiversity protection. Both Thomson and Prince Albert II expressed best wishes to His Majesty on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee. The three-day summit, which kicked off on Tuesday, addresses timely and pressing topics, including climate change mitigation, marine conservation, blue economy initiatives and ground-breaking advancements in ocean-related technologies. Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and a number of ministers and officials attended the session.
King briefed on expansion plans for Abdali project
Amman 30 April 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday stressed the importance of developing the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company’s (JPMC) exports to include downstream industry products with high economic value, in order to alleviate the impact of price fluctuations and enhance competitiveness. During a meeting with JPMC representatives, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty praised the results achieved by the company in recent years, calling for developing an ambitious investment plan consistent with the goals of the Economic Modernisation Vision, in terms of expanding investment, increasing growth and employment, and boosting modern industries. During the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, JPMC Chairman Mohammad Thneibat spoke about the company's keenness to improve the quality of production and increase its volume, as well as increase sales. Thneibat said the company has also established new partnerships and started implementing new projects to increase revenues and strengthen its financial and competitive standing. He added that the company's new projects are expected to contribute to a total increase in sales of approximately $1.2 billion, and an increase in profits no less than $500 million, in addition to creating 1,000 new job opportunities. The government owns the largest share in the JPMC, which is divided between the Government Investment Management Company, with a 25.6 per cent stake, and the Social Security Corporation, with a 16.6 per cent stake. JPMC CEO Abdel Wahab Alrowwad gave a briefing on the company’s work during the past five years, explaining that the number of job opportunities it offers increased to 10,000 direct and indirect ones, while the production volume of mining increased by 3.5 million tonnes to reach 11.5 million tonnes. According to Alrowwad, the company’s sales increased by $890 million, exceeding $2 billion during the same period. The company has also reached new markets in countries like the United States, Brazil, Australia, and China, and reduced production costs by 40 per cent annually, while employing integrated automation technologies in its production processes, he continued. Alrowwad highlighted the company's plans for 2024-2030, which include establishing an industrial complex in Aqaba, in partnership with the Arab Potash Company, as well as establishing the Jordanian-Turkish Fertiliser Company, and raising the production capacity of a number of its factories. Jordan has the fifth largest phosphate reserves in the world at 3.7 billion tonnes, of which 1.25 billion tonnes are the mine reserves of the JPMC, which is the first exporter and fifth largest producer of phosphate in the world, with an annual production capacity of more than 7 million tonnes. Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan and Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh attended the meeting.
King urges developing phosphate exports to include downstream industry products
Amman 30 April 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday stressed the importance of developing the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company’s (JPMC) exports to include downstream industry products with high economic value, in order to alleviate the impact of price fluctuations and enhance competitiveness.During a meeting with JPMC representatives, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty praised the results achieved by the company in recent years, calling for developing an ambitious investment plan consistent with the goals of the Economic Modernisation Vision, in terms of expanding investment, increasing growth and employment, and boosting modern industries.During the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, JPMC Chairman Mohammad Thneibat spoke about the company's keenness to improve the quality of production and increase its volume, as well as increase sales.Thneibat said the company has also established new partnerships and started implementing new projects to increase revenues and strengthen its financial and competitive standing.He added that the company's new projects are expected to contribute to a total increase in sales of approximately $1.2 billion, and an increase in profits no less than $500 million, in addition to creating 1,000 new job opportunities.The government owns the largest share in the JPMC, which is divided between the Government Investment Management Company, with a 25.6 per cent stake, and the Social Security Corporation, with a 16.6 per cent stake.JPMC CEO Abdel Wahab Alrowwad gave a briefing on the company’s work during the past five years, explaining that the number of job opportunities it offers increased to 10,000 direct and indirect ones, while the production volume of mining increased by 3.5 million tonnes to reach 11.5 million tonnes.According to Alrowwad, the company’s sales increased by $890 million, exceeding $2 billion during the same period.The company has also reached new markets in countries like the United States, Brazil, Australia, and China, and reduced production costs by 40 per cent annually, while employing integrated automation technologies in its production processes, he continued.Alrowwad highlighted the company's plans for 2024-2030, which include establishing an industrial complex in Aqaba, in partnership with the Arab Potash Company, as well as establishing the Jordanian-Turkish Fertiliser Company, and raising the production capacity of a number of its factories.Jordan has the fifth largest phosphate reserves in the world at 3.7 billion tonnes, of which 1.25 billion tonnes are the mine reserves of the JPMC, which is the first exporter and fifth largest producer of phosphate in the world, with an annual production capacity of more than 7 million tonnes.Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan and Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh attended the meeting.
King attends closing session of Esports Future Summit
28 April 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Sunday attended the closing session of the Esports Future Summit, which focused on a key promising sector for creating employment opportunities for young Jordanians and supporting the national economy. His Majesty listened to a briefing on the outcomes of discussion panels at the summit, held as part of Jordan’s efforts to advance the creative industries sector, a pivotal sector in the Economic Modernisation Vision. The summit was organsied by the Jordan Gaming Lab, a King Abdullah II Fund for Development project, in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, as well as other partners. Jordan Gaming Lab Technical and Operational Partner Nour Khrais gave a brief—attended by His Royal Highness Prince Omar bin Feisal, chairman of the Jordan Esports Federation—on how the summit highlighted the potential of young Jordanians in designing and developing electronic games, as well as their talents in e-sports. For his part, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Ahmad Hanandeh elaborated on the Jordanian Strategy for E-Gaming and E-Sports (2023-2027), endorsed with the aim to secure 3,000 jobs, prepare 1,500 professional players and certified trainers, and attract foreign investors. The summit included panel discussions, workshops, and contests that started on April 20, held across Jordan, in Umm Qais, Amman, Petra, and concluding in Aqaba, with sessions for experts and professional e-gamers from various countries, attended by over 1,500 participants. Around 15 local small- and medium-sized enterprises work in the e-gaming industry in Jordan, with partnerships with international companies to develop e-games and market them in regional and international markets.
King directs government to facilitate potash company’s projects in water, energy
Amman 2 April 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website)- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday directed the government to facilitate the Arab Potash company’s (APC) projects in water and energy, including solar power initiatives, to enhance competitiveness in global markets. During a meeting with APC representatives at Al Husseiniya Palace attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty commended the company’s development in line with its investment plan, which aligns with the Economic Modernisation Vision. The King called for stepping up work on value added expansion and investment projects, as well as sustainable energy projects that are in line with Jordan’s environmental commitments. His Majesty also stressed the need to prioritise sectors that add high value to the economy and generate jobs, urging the government and the APC to study prospects of cooperation and investment to develop the Risheh gas field after exploration activities conclude. The King commended the APC’s efforts in recruiting competent employees, enhancing governance, expanding products, and tapping new markets. For his part, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the government is working on supporting national industries, and investing in natural minerals across the country. He added that the government recognises the need to create a suitable environment for the private sector, including the APC, to enable them to compete in global markets, highlighting mining as a key sector in the economic vision. APC Chairman Shehadah Abu Hdaib said the company is a pillar of the Jordanian economy through its direct contribution to the state budget, which amounts to 65 percent of profit, adding that the APC and its affiliate companies are the largest employers in the industrial sector, noting the company’s partnership with the government. The company’s president and CEO, Maen Nsour, reviewed performance indicators during (2014-2023), which saw an increase in production volume and sales. On indicators during (2019-2023), Nsour said production volume reached 13.1 million tonnes, with net sales of $4.7 billion and a net profit of $2 billion, as well as a contribution of $7.3 billion to the foreign exchange reserves. He noted that the company’s strategy during (2024-2028) focuses on innovation, research, and development, automation, and sustainability. Future plans for the APC include expanding bromine production, expanding projects in the southern region, building an industrial complex in Aqaba, and increasing potash production by 35 percent through projects valued at $1.2 billion out of a total of investments worth $1.5 billion over the upcoming five years. Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan and Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh attended the meeting.
King calls for expanding opportunities for vocational education at universities
Amman 20 March 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website)- His Majesty King Abdullah II highlighted the importance of expanding vocational education opportunities at universities due to its role in economic development, during a meeting on Wednesday at Al Husseiniya Palace. At the meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty urged the government to plan for new university majors to accommodate graduates of the vocational education stream, in line with the updates introduced to the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi). The King directed the government to prioritise building and renovating technical and vocational education schools, while maintaining cooperation with the private sector to enhance the quality of vocational training output in industries like tourism and hospitality. His Majesty highlighted the importance of following up on the quality of vocational education, in accordance with pre-set criteria, calling for regular evaluation. For his part, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the government is working on matching student admission policies in higher education institutions with the new Tawjihi system, noting that the government is also encouraging students to choose the vocational stream. His Majesty listened to a briefing by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Azmi Mahafzah on the ministry’s measures to implement plans to achieve this synergy. The minister said the academic education stream in Tawjihi will be divided into six fields—health, engineering, science and technology, languages and social sciences, Sharia and law, and business, noting that a student’s choice of field will decide the disciplines he or she can pursue through higher education. Graduates of vocational education in Tawjihi can join the labour market, or pursue a diploma or a bachelor’s degree, said Mahafzah. The minister added that an awareness campaign on vocational training has been launched to introduce students and their parents to changes to Tawjihi, noting that new policies of student admission to universities will be announced in the first quarter of 2024. Mahafzah added that the new admission system has to be ready before 31 December 2025, in order to be applicable to university admission for the academic year 2026/2027. He noted that work is underway to create mechanisms for engaging the private sector in the educational process, starting with the hospitality discipline.
King Receives FAO Director General
Amman, 4 March 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website), His Majesty King Abdullah II on Monday received UN Food and Agriculture Organisation Director General Qu Dongyu, and discussed enhancing cooperation between Jordan and FAO. His Majesty expressed appreciation for the organisation’s support for the process of developing a food security monitoring system for the Near East and North Africa region, which will be launched at the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC 37), which opened in Jordan on Monday, and will contribute to the design and development of information and communications systems for the food security dashboard in Jordan and other countries. The King also expressed keenness to work with FAO to achieve the goals related to food security and agriculture in the Economic Modernisation Vision, in order to transform the Kingdom into a leading regional hub for food security. The meeting also covered the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with His Majesty warning of the repercussions of food insecurity as a result of the ongoing war, stressing the need to continue all efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip by all available means, and work to restore basic services there. Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Ali, the FAO goodwill ambassador for the Near East and North Africa, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Agriculture Minister Khaled Hneifat, and Jordan’s Permanent Representative to FAO Qais Abu Dayyeh attended the meeting.
King says Jordan overcame previous regional conditions that impacted its economy, emerged stronger
Amman, 25 February 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website), His Majesty King Abdullah II on Sunday said that Jordan throughout its history experienced many regional developments that had an impact on its economy, but it has managed to overcome them and emerged stronger. During the closing session of a forum held by the government at the Prime Ministry to highlight progress in implementing the Economic Modernisation Vision, His Majesty stressed the need to maximise efforts to implement the vision’s targets this year, especially in light of regional conditions that could have negative implications, expressing appreciation for what has been achieved over the past year. Speaking at the session, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the King stressed the important role of the private sector in implementing mega projects, urging investors to enhance their contribution to the national economy. His Majesty called for promoting investment opportunities in Jordan, to enhance the performance of foreign investment indicators, stressing the importance of maintaining cooperation between ministries and enhancing accountability. In addition, the King urged officials to maintain outreach to Jordanians, enhance partnership between the public and the private sectors, and commit to teamwork. For his part, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said over 82 per cent of the economic vision’s goals for 2023 were achieved, stressing that the government will carry on with implementing the vision’s targets. He added that the economy has proved its resilience once again amid regional shocks and external pressure, while maintaining financial and fiscal stability. Turning to job creation, the prime minister said over 136,000 job opportunities were created from the beginning of 2022 until mid-2023, including 89,500 jobs during 2022, while the average annual job creation rate in the past decade before the pandemic was around 50,000 job opportunities. The private sector created 76 per cent of these jobs, while 21 per cent were created by the public sector, and 3 per cent were created by non-governmental organisations, he added. Unemployment rates dropped during 2023 by 2.7 per cent, reaching 21.4 per cent, compared to 24.1 per cent in 2021 and 22.8 per cent in 2022, according to the prime minister. Khasawneh continued that a target economic growth rate of 2.6 per cent has been set for 2024, but the possibility of achieving this goal is linked to regional and international developments. Meanwhile, the target for foreign investments has been set at more than JD1 billion by 2025, with a total of JD673 million reached by the third quarter of 2023, as 517 investment projects benefitted from the new investment law endorsed last year, he said. The prime minister said work towards economic progress must continue, since it is a vital pillar of Jordan’s resilience and ability to help its fellow Arab brothers and sisters. The forum, attended by a number of officials, lawmakers, and private sector representatives, included five sessions that covered economic performance and current challenges, progress in implementing the economic vision’s executive programme for 2023, investments and productive sectors, as well as sustainable resources.
King stresses need to focus on mega projects in economic vision
Amman 22 January 2024 (The Royal Hashemite Court Website) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday was briefed on progress in the implementation of the government’s executive programme for the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) for the year 2023. During a meeting with officials at Al Husseiniya Palace, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah stressed the need to maximise efforts and speed up implementation of programmes, while focusing on mega projects, and preparing the workforce to benefit from the opportunities offered by these projects. His Majesty highlighted the need to enhance cooperation between ministries to speed up the implementation of the vision, and to avoid delays that may result from bureaucratic impediments. The King called for enhancing communication between officials, Jordanians, and the private sector, and utilising media tools to highlight outcomes of priorities and projects and explain their impact on Jordanians’ lives, while guaranteeing the completion of each priority through the government’s follow-up unit. Highlighting the importance of developing a follow-up system to analyse performance, address risks, and regulate accountability, His Majesty urged officials to work relentlessly, without hesitation. At the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, the King said Jordan’s economic indicators were positive and within expectations before the war on Gaza last year, adding that work must continue to improve the economic outlook this year. His Majesty listened to a briefing by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Public Sector Modernisation Nasser Shraideh on major achievements across the economic vision’s eight engines. On investment, the King said there is a possibility to achieve better outcomes than the current outlook with regards to attracting foreign investments to meet expectations. On government performance follow-up, Minister Shraideh said a dashboard was launched last year that transparently explains progress in the EMV’s executive programme for 2023-2025, noting that data is regularly updated through quarterly progress reports available for the public to view. His Majesty also followed up on progress in various sectors within the EMV’s executive programme, foremost of which is the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project. The project offers wide opportunities for local industries to benefit from its construction and operation requirements, as well as other requirements valued at billions of dollars, the King said, calling for equipping the labour force, especially youth, with the needed skills to work on the project once it is launched within the upcoming two years. His Majesty reiterated the need to secure concessional financing for the project from international financing institutions, in light of the challenges Jordan is facing as a result of hosting refugees. Water is a top national priority today, said the King, adding that any delays in the project are unacceptable, in order to guarantee its completion before the end of this decade. At the same time, His Majesty directed the government to prepare suitable alternative plans to avoid any challenges that could affect water supply to Jordanians and various sectors. The King also stressed the important role of the private sector in the project, as well as expanding it to benefit the national economy and develop local industries. For his part, Water Minister Raed Abu Soud said the water conveyance project is a strategic project for Jordan, as part of the EMV, adding that the project seeks to secure 300 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually to meet drinking water needs in Jordan.
King Follows Up On Progress Of Economic Vision Implementation In Energy Sector
Amman 18 December 2023 – (The Royal Hashemite Court), His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday followed up on the progress of implementing energy projects under the Economic Modernisation Vision. Speaking at a meeting with energy officials attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty stressed the importance of constantly updating Jordan’s investment map for the mining sector and promoting it effectively through the Ministry of Investment to attract investors and provide companies with updated information. The King called for a clear timeline to turn the signed memoranda of understanding into exploitation contracts, noting the need for a plan to utilise available gas resources for the benefit of various economic s ectors. Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh spoke about the main initiatives that have been completed, including the national mining strategy. The minister also highlighted mining areas in Jordan included under memoranda of understanding and cooperation, as well as new basalt and silica projects, oil and gas exploration, and green hydrogen plans. Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Khaled Toukan highlighted the Jordanian Uranium Project and progress in uranium exploration and mining. Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.
King briefed on progress in economic modernisation implementation
Amman 21 November 2023- (The Royal Hashemite Court), His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday was briefed on progress in the implementation of the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), at a meeting attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II. During the meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace and attended by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and a number of concerned ministers, King Abdullah said moving forward with the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project is a national priority. His Majesty said the vision must produce tangible outcomes for Jordanians by improving services and completing projects. The King called for maintaining government consultations with the private sector to provide clear and transparent updates on what has been achieved and what is expected to be achieved next year, as well as to discuss how to overcome obstacles. His Majesty said it is important to build the capacities of ministries to guarantee the implementation of the vision, and to release monthly progress reports. Prime Minister Khasawneh said the government has completed the necessary steps to institutionalise the EMV’s implementation and ensure it continues across governments, noting that the vision’s executive programme is progressing despite regional challenges. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Public Sector Modernisation Nasser Shraideh said the government has completed 26 EMV priorities this year, and work is underway on 53 priorities, while the implementation of 17 other priorities is delayed. He added that the government held several ministerial meetings to address challenges causing delays in implementing vision priorities, noting that eight priorities will be completed before the end of this year, including the endorsement of the national transport strategy (2023-2027) and the establishment of a joint council on water, energy, food security and environment, in addition to speeding up the endorsement of some laws. Shraideh said the government will complete the implementation of 87 priorities out of 96 by the end of this year, while remaining priorities will be completed before the first quarter of next year.
Jordan ranks 8th regionally on Global Innovation Index — JSF paper
Amman 10 October 2023 (The Jordan Times), The Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF) on Tuesday released a paper titled "Jordan Performance on the Global Innovation Index 2023: Tangible Progress and Promising Opportunities". A follow-up to the policy paper published by the forum in April this year, which focused on the "Global Innovation Index 2022", the paper aims to monitor Jordan progress within this index. The Global Innovation Index, produced by the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), covers 132 economies around the world and assesses the level of innovation progress based on two main pillars: Innovation inputs and innovation outputs, each of which includes several sub-indicators. Switzerland, Sweden and the United States secured the top three positions on this index, while the lowest performing countries were Angola, Niger and Burundi. Jordan secured 71st position globally and stood at the 8th position regionally on the index. Showing the third consecutive year of improvement, Jordan moved up ten places from 2021. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates ranked 32nd globally, leading the Arab nations. Jordan advance on the Global Innovation Index 2023 can be attributed to improved performance in sub-indicators categorised under the innovation inputs pillar. In particular, significant progress was made in the business environment and infrastructure indicators, with each showing an improvement of 15 positions. Jordan also maintained its improved performance in sub-indicators related to the innovation outputs pillar, particularly in the creative outputs indicator, where it advanced 13 positions between 2021 and 2023, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
King briefed on new higher education admission policy
Amman 1 October 2023 (The Royal Hashemite Court), His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday was briefed on the new higher education policy for student admission. During a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace, part of which was attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah highlighted the need to step up awareness raising efforts to facilitate change in the education system, urging the government to prioritise this issue. His Majesty listened to a briefing by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Azmi Mahafzah on the new admission policy to Jordanian universities and colleges, which is in line with plans to develop the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi). Minister Mahafzah noted at the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, that the ministry will work on completing measures related to the new admission policy, before endorsing it officially.
King inaugurates Olivewood Film Studios, attends ceremony marking 20th anniversary of Royal Film Commission
Amman 26 September 2023 (The Royal Hashemite Court), His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated Olivewood Film Studios, Jordan’s first specialised studio complex for filmmaking, on the 20th anniversary of the Royal Film Commission (RFC). King Abdullah toured the studios, which were built on an area of 47 dunums in Mugabalein area and include two sound stages with an area of 1,500 square metres each, a workshop for carpentry, ironwork, wardrobe, and graphics, as well as administrative offices, and supporting facilities and production offices. During the tour—on which His Majesty was accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, and Princess Rym Ali—the King stopped at a location of a television series shoot and spoke with a number of Jordanian filmmakers there. His Majesty also attended a ceremony held by the RFC to mark its 20th anniversary. Speaking at the ceremony, Prince Ali, chairman of the RFC’s Board of Commissioners, noted the commission’s role in transforming Jordan into a regional filmmaking hub, with the support of public and military institutions, in line with His Majesty’s vision. His Royal Highness added that several factors collectively contributed to qualifying Jordan to become a major international filming destination, namely its diverse landscapes, the provision of technical and logistical support by the RFC, and the pool of Jordanian talent. Also speaking at the ceremony, RFC Managing Director Mohannad Al Bakri highlighted the commission’s achievements over the past two decades, including the production of 31 Jordanian films and six others with international partners, as well as facilitating the production of 112 foreign films and 29 international series in Jordan, on which Jordanians worked alongside some of the world’s most renowned filmmakers. Spending on the film industry in Jordan has reached $519 million (about JD368 million), according to Bakri, who noted that investing in the film sector is in line with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), adding that the RFC’s Jordan Film Fund has provided support for more than 150 feature-length and short films. Bakri added that the RFC facilitated employment opportunities for about 134,000 people on various productions in Jordan, and engaged more than 5,695 trainees in educational programmes related to filmmaking around the Kingdom. For his part, Olivewood Film Studios Chairman Raja Gargour said the establishment of the studios is in line with the goals of the EMV under the creative industries sector, adding that they are the first filmmaking facilities of their kind in the Kingdom that are up to international standards. Gargour added that work is underway to set up a 67-dunum backlot for outdoor filming in Madaba Governorate’s Manja area.
King attends closing session of forum marking year since economic, administrative modernization
Amman 26 August 2023 (The Royal Hashemite Court), His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday attended the closing session of a two-day forum held at the King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre at the Dead Sea, to mark one year since the launch of the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) and the public sector modernisation roadmap. The forum, organised by the government, featured the participation of over 600 officials and experts from various sectors. Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the forum was held in line with His Majesty’s directives to ensure regular follow up, evaluate progress, and overcome challenges. The forum featured 17 specialised sessions, with the participation of partners from the private sector who contributed to the drafting of the EMV and the public sector modernisation roadmap, in addition to local and international experts. Prime Minister Khasawneh outlined the accomplishments and indicators of the first year of the economic and public sector modernisation plans, in addition to the government’s aspirations for the upcoming year. The prime minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to boost economic activity and investments, and to find effective solutions to counter poverty and unemployment, noting that the government aims to reach a 3 per cent gross domestic product growth in 2023-2025, and a net volume of foreign direct investment that exceeds JD1 billion by 2025. The session featured a video on the electronic dashboard, developed by the delivery unit at the Prime Ministry, to follow up on the implementation of the EMV. The dashboard, which is open to the public, documents progress in eight growth engines, 25 sectors, and 126 initiatives in the EMV’s executive programme. Liaison officers and follow up units in all the concerned government entities were trained to use the dashboard and publish monthly progress reports, based on priorities, timeframes, and key performance indicators. Speaking at a panel held at the closing session, Executive Chairman of Hikma Pharmaceuticals Said Darwazah, Jordan Ahli Bank Chairman Saad Mouasher, who is also a member of the public administration modernisation committee, and Meridiam investment company CEO Thierry De’au highlighted the importance of enhancing the partnership with the private sector to implement the EMV, stressing that public sector modernisation is a prerequisite for the success of economic modernisation. The speakers called for working towards more efficient and empowered public servants, highlighting the need to accelerate decision-making to implement plans, keep up with rapid changes, and provide an enabling environment for young innovators. The CEO of Meridiam, which invests in infrastructure, highlighted factors that encouraged the company to invest in Jordan eight years ago, namely the Kingdom’s stability, the wise political leadership of His Majesty, the consistency in vision, and the prudent fiscal policy.
King visits Ajloun cable car project, urges tapping into investment opportunities
22 August 2023 (The Royal Hashemite Court), His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed the importance of tapping into investment opportunities connected to the Ajloun cable car project, to contribute to providing job opportunities and eliminating unemployment and poverty. During a visit to Ajloun’s cable car station, King Abdullah, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, checked on visitors’ entry procedures, calling for providing quality services to boost tourism in the governorate. His Majesty said the cable car project should be a model for tourism development, by connecting it to other tourism attractions in Ajloun. The King listened to a briefing on the project, which is aimed at attracting further investments in tourism, including hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, ecological camps, hiking trails, and a convention centre. The cable car project has provided 100 permanent jobs so far, in addition to nearly 800 temporary job opportunities during construction. Since its inauguration in mid-June, the project, which cost JD12.5 million and includes 40 eight-passenger cabins, has received 150,000 visitors, with a route extending over 2.5km.
King briefed on government programme to implement economic vision in education
His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday was briefed on the government’s programme to implement the Economic Modernisation Vision in education, at a meeting attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II. During the meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah highlighted the need to focus on the quality of education and invest in qualified Jordanian human resources to advance the sector and keep up with modern teaching methods. His Majesty called for moving ahead with teacher training in line with the ongoing process of developing the curricula, especially for the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi). The King urged stepping up efforts to adopt the latest technology in education, in order to move into blended learning and avoid any disruptions in the future under any circumstances. His Majesty also called for identifying the reasons behind learning loss to come up with suitable solutions. The King underscored the need to encourage the private sector to contribute to plans to expand kindergartens. Speaking at the meeting, Crown Prince Al Hussein stressed the importance of focusing on training teachers and honing their skills as a key priority, calling for continuing efforts to develop vocational training to meet labour market needs. His Royal Highness also urged adopting careful criteria for selecting locations to build new schools, taking into account providing a suitable learning environment. Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh highlighted the education sector’s main priorities within modernisation across all its tracks, focusing on the importance of bolstering vocational education, enhancing kindergartens, and expanding teacher training. Education and Higher Education Minister Azmi Mahafzah outlined the sector’s priorities for 2023, including kindergarten level 2 universalisation, and developing curricula for the first level of kindergarten. The sector’s priorities also include developing the ICT infrastructure for education, continuing to enhance and digitise the curricula, focusing on teacher training, bolstering technical and vocational education, compensating learning loss, and attracting expatriate students. The minister said the Economic Modernisation Vision is geared towards increasing vocational enrolment by 5 per cent each year to reach 20 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2027. Mahafzah also spoke about blended learning and efforts to promote good governance and bolster capacity building, stressing that the vision calls for public-private partnerships to enhance education.
King briefed on government programme to implement economic vision in mining, energy
His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday was briefed on the government’s programme to implement the Economic Modernisation Vision in mining and energy. During a meeting held at Al Husseiniya Palace and attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah stressed the importance of devising a strategy to develop new potash and phosphate value added products rather than only raw material. His Majesty called for expediting the revision of regulations governing mining, in line with international best practices, to attract top companies in the field. The King said expanding the mining sector would contribute to creating more jobs in the future, calling for promoting investment in this field. His Majesty also highlighted the importance of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through solar power as a cost-effective option, in addition to moving forward with green hydrogen projects as opportunities for self-sufficiency and exports. Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh gave a briefing on the government’s priorities in mining and energy, highlighting the important role of these sectors in supporting the national economy and boosting the gross domestic product. He added that mining is a vital sector in the Economic Modernisation Vision due to its high industrial value. Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh gave a briefing on the ministry’s priorities in 2023 within the economic vision, as well as the implementation timeframe. He pointed to seven memorandums of understanding signed last year with local and international firms to prospect minerals, citing that as part of the ministry’s efforts to put Jordan on the regional and international mining map in order to boost economic growth by increasing national exports. Kharabsheh said the ministry is currently working on finalising a national strategy to develop and produce green hydrogen, within technical and legislative tracks while ensuring public safety.
Jordan Signs MoU for Gold, Lithium Exploration
Jordan's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Arab Mining Company signed Sunday two memoranda of understanding (MoU) to excavate lithium in Wadi Araba's Fenyan area and gold in Aqaba's Jabal Mubarak area. The Jordan News Agency (Petra) quoted Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh as saying that the Arab Mining Company will explore for gold in an area of 50 square km in the Jabal Mubarak region and will explore lithium in an area of 35 square km in Wadi Araba's Finan area. The exploration will continue for 12 months, and the geologist of the exploration area will exclude the areas located within the boundaries of the natural, archaeological, and geological reserves. Kharabsheh stressed the importance of the deal, indicating the importance of the mining sector, which was described as having a high industrial value in the Economic Modernization Vision due to its importance in providing the national economy with added value, expanding job opportunities and contributing to efforts to achieve sustainable development. Efforts are focused on placing Jordan firmly on the mining map at the regional and global levels, which helps economic development, especially in communities in investment locations, said the minister. The Ministry of Energy conducted surface geochemical studies, including surface samples studies, which confirmed the presence of promising concentrations of lithium and gold ore in the south of the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the Jordanian government signed a €200-million soft loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance the National Water Carrier Project (Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Transport Project). The loan falls within an EIB commitment from a donor conference held in March. The EIB loan would be part of the government's $352 million to the Project, which would provide about 300 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually to be transported from Aqaba to Amman and other governorates, according to the Petra news agency. Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan said it was the first agreement signed to finance the National Water Carrier Project, which comes as a translation of the pledges made at the donors and financiers conference held last March. Toukan added that Jordan would work with donors to translate the pledges into agreements during the coming period, indicating that the Project has significant environmental impacts. She stressed the importance of the Project, which is a top priority on the government's agenda to enhance water security and achieve comprehensive economic development. In turn, EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti indicated that investing in the water industry is investing in the future, pointing out that through the ambitious Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and National Water Carrier Project, Jordan would be able to adapt to climate change and would ensure environmental sustainability by using the potential of renewable energy to complete this Project. She pointed out that the fruitful cooperation between the Jordanian government, its international partners, and EIB will contribute to providing financing to support investments to bring about a fundamental transformation in the water sector in Jordan. EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou highlighted Team Europe's support for global efforts to adapt to climate change, emphasizing the importance of this funding for the National Water Carrier Project, which is the EIB's first financial commitment to the Aqaba project. Hadjitheodosiou also noted that it reflected the EU's support to enhance Jordan's water security.
Shraideh chairs meeting on Economic Modernisation Vision
AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nasser Shraideh has chaired a meeting with embassy representatives from donor countries and institutions participating in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington DC, during which he reviewed the main elements of the Economic Modernisation Vision. The minister acquainted attendees with the developments of preparations for the vision’s executive programme for 2023-2025, stressing the importance of the vision as a roadmap for the coming decade that would enable Jordan to utilise existing potential in the national economy, according to a ministry statement. Shraideh noted that the executive plan will be approved within the upcoming few months, as well as steps towards securing the necessary finances to implement it, whether through capital expenditures or foreign assistance as well as local and foreign investments. He also said that the best practices will be applied while preparing the executive programme in terms of following a cooperation approach with various stakeholders. Shraideh also reviewed the top goals, initiatives, purposes and drivers that comprise the vision, stressing that the role of the government is to meet growth targets and generate jobs. The minister called on Jordan’s development partners to continue to support the Kingdom’s endeavours towards implementing economic and development reform plans in various fields.
Interactive map of Kingdom's natural resources launched
AMMAN — Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Saleh Kharabsheh on Monday launched an interactive map to market the mineral resource sector and the oil and gas excavation sector, showing the geographic distribution and technical information on available investment opportunities in the two fields.Kharabsheh said that the map provides complete information to direct investors searching for options in the mining sector in a bid to save time and effort in finding accurate information, coming as part of His Majesty King Abdullah's vision to attract investment and keep pace with the Economic Modernisation Vision.The minister said that the map shows areas of raw minerals that are open to investments, including 13 different mineral resources: Basalt, bentonite, chalk, copper, diatomite, dolomite, feldspat, gold, gypsum, kaolin, phosphate, limestone, and quartz, according to a ministry statement.He added that the map enables investors or researchers to interact with the information in a simple way, noting that they can identify the location and coordinates of a specific mineral in several ways.Kharabsheh said that when selecting any governorate on the map, its available minerals pop up, and if investors want to look for a certain mineral, locations and geographical distributions will appear for the given item. He noted that the map has a special section for shale oil which shows the areas open to investment in shale energy as well as other areas that are open to investment in shale oil for the purpose of producing cement.The minister pointed out that allocating a special section for shale oil is because of the raw resource’s wide availability across the Kingdom, the fourth largest country in the world in terms shale reserves.The map can be reached through the following link: https://memr.tiny.us/47es2ps8.
Amman International Film Festival
The Amman International Film (AIFF), concluded last night, deemed by industry professionals and audiences as highly successful. Even though in its third edition, it really felt like it was being shown for the first time, considering that the previous two events were held during the pandemic — the first virtually, the second with limited audience — which prevented them from reaching their full potential. In a very busy week, 29 countries contributed 49 movies. It was an occasion for the Jordanian film industry to demonstrate what it can do, with talented directors winning international acclaim. AIFF is held under the umbrella of the Royal Film Commission, and enjoys the strong support of HH Princess Rym Ali, the president of the festival; the focus is on young Jordanian talents who wish to tell their stories through filmmaking. The motto of AIFF was First Film First Love. And it was not difficult to fall in love with the event, thanks to the dedication and attention to detail of the organizers. The 100 guests from the region and the rest of the world, gave AIFF strong visibility. Besides screening movies, the festival also consisted of a series of activities in an atmosphere of joy, creativity, and friendliness. Although coming from the four corners of the world, participants had no difficulty communicating with each other and the audience through the artistic language of their cinematographic productions. AIFF usually shows films that resist the commercial pressures of the standard mainstream fare. It is through independent films made by independent voices that new ideas are expressed. Networking and learning The rich program of activities held as part of the festival included engaging panel discussions and master classes on aspects of filmmaking. These were of interest to both filmmakers and to the public. Events like these are a useful way to promote filmmakers and their productions, as well as to help attendees learn what goes on behind the mysterious black curtains shrouding the film industry. AIFF strives to create debate about important issues facing humanity, and the panel discussions on a wide range of topics, managed to engage industry people and laypeople alike. As for the people who works in the film industry, AIFF was a great way to expand their circle of influence, and a terrific place to meet new people. Platform for new talent AIFF has become a new place where filmmakers come to spot new talents and have an opportunity to engage with experts. Pitching sessions where held, and awards to support upcoming film projects were given, helping filmmakers develop or complete projects still in the pipeline, which has been a priority for AIFF since its inception. This year’s festival introduced the Amman Film Market, giving filmmakers the opportunity to network with potential funders, partners, and distributors. Local community is engaged The festival succeeded in engaging the local community, with the objective of inspiring a thought-provoking discussion, through a Q&A session after most film screenings. This year, more interactive Q&A discussions were held to give the possibility of asking questions directly to the filmmaker. There is something exciting about watching films with a diverse audience. It is a great way to move conversation forward as a community, and enables people to explore different thoughts and ideas on art and issues that it tackles. In the case of filmmakers and artists, festivals nurture a community where they can find supporters and collaborators. AIFF this year was a great way to unite a community that enjoys films, help it engage with the filmmakers, as well as celebrate their stories. At three different venues, audiences were seen interacting with the guests and industry experts. Celebrities like Dhafer La’Abddin, Carmen Lobs, George Kbaza, Saba Mubark and others were warmly welcomed by their fans. Well organized The third edition of AIFF would not have been successful without the hard work of the team of organizers, led by Nada Doumani, the director of the festival, Areeb Zuaiter, head of film programming, Bassam Alasad, head of industry, and the entire staff behind the scenes who exerted huge efforts to make everything go smoothly. Looking toward the fourth edition, the film industry in Jordan is expanding, setting strong foundations for a future talented generation of filmmakers in the region, with hopes of more success and expansion.
Abdali Hospital is featured within a comprehensive report about Jordan’s economy
As part of CNBC’s Access: Middle East by Hadley Gamble, Abdali Hospital is featured within a comprehensive report about Jordan’s economy and integrated future vision. Mr. Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh Vice Chairman of Abdali Hospital talked to Hadley about the highly skilled local medical talent pool, competitiveness of Jordan as a medical tourism destination, importance of an advanced healthcare infrastructure and a number of other key healthcare topics. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abdali Hospital (@abdalihospital)
The high cost of electricity and fuel is pushing Jordan’s move to renewables.
شركة فيلادلفيا للطاقة الشمسية تنتج نحو مليون لوح شمسي سنويًا وتصدر منتجاتها إلى 40 دولة حول العالم #اطلاق_الامكانات_لبناء_المستقبل #رؤية_التحديث_الاقتصادي @PhiladelphiaSlr https://t.co/GDZjozBYe7— رؤية التحديث الاقتصادي (@visionjo) July 12, 2022
Jordan recently announced a 10-year plan to revive
#visionjo https://t.co/QZYM5r92UD— رؤية التحديث الاقتصادي (@visionjo) July 12, 2022
Jordan’s economic vision is all about creating jobs
Jordan’s economic vision is all about creating jobs, a million over the next decade. The Finance Minister tells CNBC's @_HadleyGamble that means the government has to “get out of the way.” الهدف الرئيس لرؤية التحديث الاقتصادي هو ايجاد فرص عمل للأردنيين #رؤية_التحديث_الاقتصادي @_HadleyGamble https://t.co/l4xFTJHwdu— رؤية التحديث الاقتصادي (@visionjo) July 12, 2022
Jordan lays out 10-year blueprint to revive economy
Jordan unveiled on Monday a major development strategy for the Middle Eastern country up to the next 10 years targeting doubling its growth to help it rejuvenate an economy hit by regional turmoil. The plan was a major plank of reforms pushed by King Abdullah since last year to help the oil importing country reverse a decade of sluggish growth hovering at around 2 percent that was worsened by the pandemic and conflict in neighboring Iraq and Syria. Advertisement For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. In a ceremony attended by the monarch, the vision aims at attracting $41 billon in funds that will help raise the country’s GDP to 58.1 billion dinars ($82 bln) by 2033 from a current 30.2 billion dinars. Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh said he was committed to implementing essential free market reforms that businessmen say previous conservative administrations have long frustrated. “We don’t have the luxury not to empower the private sector or the luxury of putting hurdles in the face of investors,” Khasawneh told the gathering of hundreds of businessmen, civil servants, and politicians who were invited by the palace to brainstorm and lay out the plan. The traditional conservative establishment had long been blamed for obstructing a modernization drive pushed by the Western-leaning monarch, fearing liberal reforms will erode their grip on power. Khaswaneh said the government would also soon unveil a reform plan for a bloated public sector that expanded rapidly as successive governments sought to appease citizens with state jobs to maintain stability. The runaway spending contributed to soaring public debt of $40 billion, equivalent to 90 percent of gross domestic product, which Jordan has been struggling to rein in. Jordan has however in the last two years won praise for a strong performance under a four-year IMF backed program of structural reforms that brought fiscal prudence while avoiding austerity moves that triggered social unrest in past years. The document said a key challenge was to absorb over a million youths in the next 10 years and reverse record unemployment that hit 24 percent in a country where over a third of its 10 million population are under the age of 14. “After 10 years if we don’t find solutions... we will have a million Jordanians without jobs,” Khaswaneh said.
EU envoy: Economic Modernization Vision culminates political reform efforts
Jordan's recently-launched Economic Modernisation Vision culminates His Majesty King Abdullah's and the Jordanian government's political reform efforts, said Maria Hadjitheodosiou, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) on Tuesday. During a meeting held by the Jordan Europe Business Association (JEBA) under the title "Strengthening Jordanian-European Relations and Opportunities," Hadjitheodosiou pointed to the Kingdom's great potential to attract investments, which positively affects economic growth rates and exports. There are promising investment opportunities in Jordan, she added, which can be further developed in cooperation with the countries of the Union, especially in green growth, water, energy, and renewable energy areas.For his part, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Youssef Shamali described the decades-long Jordanian-European relations as "strategic," pointing to a number of agreements that aimed at increasing trade exchange. The minister underscored that there are "great opportunities to work closely with partners in the European Union," to achieve a balance between exports and imports. Imports, he noted, have reached $682 million in the first quarter of the current year, up by 9 percent from the $625 million recorded in the same period of last year. Jordanian exports are "good but limited," he stated, pointing to a national strategy to examine means to diversify exports and find new non-traditional markets. The JEBA's president Ali Murad stated that there are untapped opportunities between Jordan and the European Union, calling for exploring and developing them and upping Jordanian exports to the countries of the Union.
Economic Modernization Vision provides insight to simplify trade, tax regulations
AMMAN — Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision envisages ways to simplify customs, taxes and shipping regulations for trade and retail business, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. The vision was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah on June 6, is set to be implemented in three phases over 10 years. It focuses on the trade sector as a top national priority, in light of its “high” contribution to the GDP, which last year hit 7.9 percent with a value of JD2.4 billion, according to official estimates. Last year’s estimates showed that the trade sector employs 265,000 workers, making up 16.6 percent of the Kingdom’s workforce. Its exports in 2021, however, amounted to JD300 million, representing 3.3 percent of the Kingdom’s total exports. Petra said the proposed regulations was prompted by the trade sector’s lack of e-trade legislation, since it relies to a “large” extent on imports, and suffers from “ineffective” customs, shipping, and taxes laws, in addition to difficulties in obtaining funding and unfair competition. The vision, which was the outcome of panel discussions for three months, drew attention to the direct economic impact that will be reflected on the trade sector after its implementation. Its contribution to the GDP will increase from JD2.4 billion to JD3.8 billion in 2033, Petra said. The number of the sector’s workers are expected to reach nearly 400,000, while exports will increase to JD1.5 billion in 2033. The vision also suggested developing consumer protection legislation, modernizing the port of Aqaba and its warehousing infrastructure, providing support for trade funding, expanding trade partnerships, free trade agreements, and creating a database of traded goods and services. Al-Ghad News said the Economic Modernization Vision envisions a campaign to spread awareness about the financial culture, and lending to micro, small and medium enterprises. It said the vision suggested creating a pre-approved list of donors and lenders to small finance companies, developing the regulatory framework for financial leasing companies, and legislation and regulations, which could meet the needs of the fast growing financial technology sector. The vision is also keen on developing the capital market, speeding up the digital transformation, establishing a local reinsurance company and restructuring the insurance sector, developing a roadmap for the financial sector’s development and detailed strategies for sub-sectors. It also addressed the strategic capabilities, market priorities and financial services, especially the continuing to develop the sector since it is the basis that enhances the economic growth and improves access to finance. It pointed to the sectors’ potentials and priorities, which fall under the market and financial services sector, such as banking through continuous development. The financial leasing sector must also be developed to become a comprehensive source in micro-enterprises, small and medium establishments, according to the vision. Likewise, the sector also prioritizes advancing the microfinance to encourage social and economic growth, and to work on developing capital markets to contribute to investment and financing, so that Jordan becomes a leading regional center and investment destination for financial technologies. The vision forecast that the direct economic impact that will be reflected on the market and financial services sector during the implementation of the vision, will see GDP jump from 2.3 percent in 2021 to 4.6 percent in 2033.
Economic Modernisation Vision to provide 99K jobs in tourism sector
Jordan's recently-launched Economic Modernisation Vision aims to provide 99,000 new full-time job opportunities in the tourism sector over the next decade. The vision's "Destination Jordan" tourism-related economic growth driver seeks to upgrade and manage tourism locations and facilities, develop various tourism products, activate the tourism investment initiative, facilitate travel to and transportation within Jordan, launch low-cost initiatives, and provide services under reasonable prices. Among the proposed initiatives are also a skills development program, digital tourism initiative, and tourism marketing, in addition to connecting Jordan to a wider tourists-attractive network, enhancing the business identity, updating the sector's data, putting in place global-level standards and rules, improving tourism-related laws, simplifying government transactions, and launching an initiative titled "A Clean, Safe, and Secure Jordan." The recently-launched vision, which will be implemented in three phases over 10 years, includes 366 initiatives in various sectors as part of eight national economic growth drivers that focus on unleashing Jordan’s full potential to achieve comprehensive sustainable growth and generate job opportunities. Aimed at meeting the total expected demand for 1 million jobs for Jordanians in the next decade, the vision identifies drivers for employment and economic growth, which will require JD41 million in investments and financing throughout the upcoming decade, the majority of which is expected to come from the private sector, including foreign direct investment and public-private partnership projects.
Qatari ambassador hails Economic Modernization Vision
Amman, June 7 (Petra) -- The Economic Modernization Vision, launched Monday under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, is "an ambitious Jordanian vision that deserves praise and admiration," said Qatari ambassador Sheikh Saud bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani. "It was an honor to attend the launching ceremony of the Economic Modernization Vision," he said, adding that Jordanians are capable of achieving this vision. The vision, which will be implemented in three phases over 10 years, includes 366 initiatives in various sectors as part of eight national economic growth drivers that focus on unleashing Jordan’s full potential to achieve comprehensive sustainable growth and generate job opportunities. Aimed at meeting the expected demand for 1 million jobs for Jordanians in the next decade, the vision identifies drivers for employment and economic growth, which will require JD41 million in investments and financing throughout the upcoming decade, the majority of which is expected to come from the private sector, including foreign direct investment and public-private partnership projects.
UN stands ready to support Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision
"The process provides an opportunity for aligning priorities under the Cooperation Framework to support with the new Economic Vision." RC a.i. / HC Ghulam M. Isaczai The United Nations in Jordan welcomes the launch of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision as part of its socio-economic reform agenda and to accelerate realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations has been a long-standing partner for the Government and to the people of Jordan and stands ready to support the Kingdom’s efforts in implementing this 10-year blueprint. "We are currently in the process of developing the new Cooperation Framework for the years 2023-2027 in partnership with the Government of Jordan. The process provides an opportunity for aligning priorities under the Cooperation Framework with the new Economic Vision”, said
Jordanian Ministry of Transport announces five-year public transportation strategy for 2022 to 2027
The ministry stated that it will be forming partnerships with the private sector to close a significant funding gap for transportation projects AMMAN: The Jordanian Ministry of Transport has announced a five-year public transportation strategy for the years 2022 to 2027, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported on Wednesday. The ministry's goal is to increase the sector's employment by 18 percent and increase its current GDP contribution from 2.6 percent to 7 percent in that time. The ministry also said in a statement that it will collaborate with its partners at the World Bank and the European Union to align its new five-year strategy with the recently released Economic Modernization Vision recommendations. As the strategy sources additional funding, the ministry stated that it will be forming partnerships with the private sector to close a significant funding gap for transportation projects. The strategy also aims to cut down on the use of cars, increase the percentage of people who use public transportation from 12 to 17 percent, and reduce household spending on transportation to 5 percent. It also aims to reduce the cost of losses caused by traffic accidents by 35 percent, the energy used by the transportation industry by 7 percent, and the emissions produced by the industry by 125 percent.
PM directs plan, timetable to implement Economic Modernization Vision document
In a Cabinet session held Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Khasawneh directed the concerned authorities to start setting a “clear” implementation plan and timetable for carrying out the outcomes of the Economic Modernization Vision document. The visions was launched last week at the Dead Sea under His Majesty King Abdullah II’s auspices, presented by national economic workshop that was held at the Royal Hashemite Court. In this regard, the Council of Ministers decided to form a ministerial team for outlining the vision’s executive programs, comprised of ministers of planning and international cooperation, state for prime ministry affairs, finance, state for follow-up and government coordination, digital economy, industry, trade and supply, environment, and investment. The PM stressed the need to develop “clear” executive programs, according to a gradual mechanism over the vision’s ten-year period and timetables over its three phases, divided according to the target sectors to ensure the vision’s implementation. Reiterating the vision’s importance as a “major” national project and a roadmap for the national economy, he stressed the need to highlight its outcomes and follow up their implementation in accordance with “clear and announced” executive programs. On another key reform issue, the PM referred to the work of the Public Sector Modernization Committee, adding that its outcomes should include an executive action plan, according to timetables that will be publicly announced. This future effort should include the measures that will be worked on to improve quality of services provided to citizens and raise their efficiency aimed to make a “qualitative” shift in performance of Jordan’s public employee and institutions, the PM added. With regard to the political modernization system, Khasawneh stressed the need to work on preparing executive programs concerned with empowering youth and women, integrating them into Jordan’s political participation process, and pushing them to form party frameworks. To push this agenda, he directed the relevant ministries and ministerial committees to make “true” effort and continuous work in this field. The PM said: ” These files are large and important, and require continuous and diligent work, and clear mechanisms for implementation, which are announced to all.”//Petra// AG
King attends launch of Economic Modernisation Vision
DEAD SEA — His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, on Monday attended the launch of the Economic Modernisation Vision, which will be a national roadmap across governments.The vision, which will be implemented in three phases over 10 years, includes 366 initiatives in various sectors, as part of eight national economic growth drivers that focus on unleashing Jordan’s full potential to achieve comprehensive sustainable growth and generate job opportunities, according to a Royal Court statement.The vision, which aims to meet the expected demand for one million jobs for Jordanians in the next decade, identifies drivers for employment and economic growth, which will require JD41 million in investments and financing throughout the upcoming decade, the majority of which is expected to come from the private sector, including foreign direct investment and public-private partnership projects.Speaking at the launch ceremony, held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre at the Dead Sea, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the Economic Modernisation Vision is a national project that the government will adopt and implement.The prime minister said the government will also present to Parliament, in its next session, a draft law that regulates the investment environment, adding that the outcomes of the committee to modernise the public sector will be ready this month.The launch event featured a screening of two videos depicting the participatory national effort upon which the vision was built over several months, starting from sessions held by the Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF) and continuing at the National Economic Workshop held at the Royal Hashemite Court upon Royal directives.The videos also covered the vision’s eight economic growth drivers: High-Value Industries, Future Services, Destination Jordan, Smart Jordan, Sustainable Jordan, Vibrant Jordan, Green Jordan, and Invest Jordan.The vision highlights innovation and entrepreneurship as key to achieving development and bolstering efficiency and productivity, and stresses the importance of stepping up cooperation with Jordan’s development partners in a more effective manner to direct their expertise and resources towards promising fields.The vision, in line with comprehensive national modernisation efforts across the political, economic, and administrative tracks, aims to improve Jordan’s standing on global economic indices and enhance the standard of living for Jordanians.The vision’s two main pillars focus on unleashing Jordan’s economic potential to achieve comprehensive sustainable growth, and improving the quality and standard of living for all Jordanians, by enhancing various services such as education, healthcare, transport and infrastructure.The launch ceremony also included a panel discussion that featured JSF Chairman Abdul Ilah Khatib, Manaseer Group Chairman Ziad Manaseer, Founding Chairman and Managing Director of Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Sanal Kumar, and Wa'ed Al Hawamdeh, country director at Webhelp Jordan.The session covered the importance of public-private partnerships in implementing the vision and expanding investments in food security, the textile industry, ICT and new industries, and the impact of these investments on creating job opportunities and increasing exports.Senior officials and officers, members of Parliament, and diplomats attended the ceremony.Earlier, Crown Prince Hussein attended one of the panel discussions that took place ahead of the launch of the Economic Modernisation Vision, and covered its eight growth drivers.Khasawneh said that the government is working to achieve the goals and outcomes of the Economic Modernisation Vision through partnerships with the private sector.“The government is committed to setting executive frameworks for the vision,” he said during his speech.According to the prime minister, Jordan has an infrastructure that is close to that of developed countries.“Jordan has entered the bicentennial with a surplus of human capabilities which not only built the Kingdom, but also built and contributed to many neighbouring countries,” he added.Khasawneh emphasised targeting foreign investment in Jordan, and empowering the national investors and entrepreneurs as well creating job opportunities.He indicated that the government "will finance within the limits of what it is currently financing, as the vision was based on a figure that the government is committed to for 10 years, every year in its budget within the limits of the number that the Jordanian government spends today in its financial space to be able to reach this foundation."“The government will do whatever is necessary despite the challenges facing Jordan. The plan and vision are feasible and it is everyone’s responsibility, whether the government or the private sector,” Khasawneh added.