Day: June 14, 2021

The prices of oil derivatives in global markets have risen in the second week of June, according to data released on Monday by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The ministry’s figures showed that the price of 90-octane gasoline went up by 1.8 percent, going from $645.7 per ton in the first week to $657.1, while the price of 95-octane gasoline rose from $661.8 per ton to $672.2 , an increase of 1.6 percent.

Diesel prices also increased by 1.5 percent going from $565.2 per ton to $573.9, while the prices of kerosene rose by 1.3 percent, from $587.3 to $595 per ton.

The prices of liquefied gas for June went up by 9.6 per cent, going from $480 to $526.3 to per ton.

Benchmark Brent crude prices also increased in the second week of the current month, from $69.9 to $71.3 per barrel.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham-Jordan) has hosted an online session titled “The National Tijara Coalition: The ongoing work of local partners to support enterprises in growing their exports to the U.S.”

The meeting featured Wissam Rabadi, former Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Chairman of Jordan Exports, Fathi Jaghbeer, Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Industry and Amman Chamber of Industry, and Mohammad Al-Shoha, Chairman of Irbid Chamber of Commerce and Jordan Chamber of Commerce Board Member, according to an AmCham-Jordan statement released Monday.

The session was attended by more than 50 companies and private sector representatives, and was moderated by AmCham-Jordan CEO Rose Alissi.

It shed light on the future plans and joint activities of National Tijara Coalition – a dedicated public-private platform for dialogue and work established in 2001 and aimed at enhancing bilateral economic ties between Jordan and the U.S.

It comes as part of a twelve-month series of events and activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the Jordan-U.S. Free Trade Agreement that came into force in 2001, implemented with support of USIAD Middle East Economic Growth Best Practices Project (MEG).

The discussions revolved around the set of identified strategic priorities and actions for the coming two years, which will target specific challenges to help companies in the manufacturing and services sectors in their post-COVID recovery, by leveraging the Jordan-U.S. relationship in trade and investment to strengthen Jordan’s economy.

The U.S. is Jordan’s top export market as over 20% of Jordan’s global goods exports go to the U.S., where Jordan, generally, enjoys a trade surplus. Strengthening business ties with American corporations can have a key role in boosting competitiveness of Jordanian firms and supporting job growth.

Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry Fathi Jaghbeer said the Jordan-U.S. Free Trade Agreement is one of the most successful trade agreements Jordan has in terms of trade volume supported by smooth administrative processes and low bureaucracy.

He called on manufacturing and services companies to explore the opportunities offered by the Agreement by benefiting from the Tijara Coalition’s support programs, where the public and private sectors are working together in true partnership to support companies grow their business with the US.

Wissam Rabadi, Chairman of Jordan Export, underlined the strong relation with AmCham-Jordan and expressed commitment and support to work as part of the National Tijara Coalition to help companies access the U.S. market. He noted that disruptions in the supply chains due to the unprecedented global situation require Jordanian companies to not only rely on traditional markets but consider expanding into non-traditional markets, such as the U.S. to diversify their imports and exports.

Mohammad Al-Shoha, Chairman of the Irbid Chamber of Commerce, explained that trade is a critical aspect of local economic activities and more needs to be done to integrate the sectors which will add value and enhance competitiveness. He indicated that overcoming challenges can only be achieved through concentrated joint action and Jordan Exports and the National Tijara Coalition reflect partners commitment to working together.

Chairman of AmCham-Jordan Mohammad Bataineh stressed the value of the Jordan – U.S. economic partnership which anchors Jordan to the world’s largest economy, and the role of the National Tijara Coalition to further develop Jordan-U.S. business ties.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply is initiating legal action against the Poultry and Feed Investors Association (PFIA) after the latter lodged an official request with the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) to ask traders to sell fresh chicken at a flat price.

According to a letter sent by Minister Maha Ali to the JCC, the minister asked the chamber to disregard the association’s request and said the ministry will take all legal measures necessary to block any anti-competitive practices in the market.

“The Competition Law prohibits, on pain of prosecution, any practices, alliances or agreements, whether explicit or implicit, that constitute a breach of, limit or prevent competition, especially those whose subject or objective is the price-fixing of goods or services or terms of sale or the like”, Ali said in the letter, a copy of which was seen by Petra.

Ali noted that a recent decision by her ministry canceling a price ceiling it set in February for poultry meat was meant to allow prices to float in the market according demand and supply and fair competition, stressing that the PFIA’s move was a clear violation of the law.

She emphasized that the ministry will continue to monitor markets and will take the appropriate decision if “unjustified” price hikes are reported.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the United Nations on Monday, embarked on a series of national consultations on Jordan’s food system ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit scheduled to take place this year.

The first dialogue held today in Irbid Governorate, will be followed by two sub-regional dialogues in Balqa and Karak, and a National summit in Amman, which are designed to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders, from producers to consumers, to discuss the sustainability of food systems in the Kingdom.

“The COVID-19 outbreak emphasized the importance and need for world countries to work together not only to combat the pandemic, but also to address and reduce its economic, social and environmental impacts. Jordan, like other countries in the world, has committed itself to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (the seventeen goals and their multiple goals) that are directly related to the issue of food security, hunger and nutrition, and we are aware that in order to achieve our goals and meet our commitments by 2030, we must develop plans and strategies to transform Food systems to ensure the adoption of healthy and affordable diets as part of the efforts required to put an end to hunger and all forms of malnutrition alike.”, said Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hunaifat.

Organized in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator Office, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and ESCWA, the dialogues will discuss enhancing food systems resilience, promoting equitable livelihoods and access to safe food for all.

“Our food systems should be transformed to be more inclusive, resilient and sustainable. This will be one of the key topics of the Food Systems Summit, hosted by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in September this year. We are glad to collaborate with the Government of Jordan in conducting these consultations at the national and local levels to identify challenges and solutions and bring voices of Jordanians to the global conversation on food systems in the Global Summit,” said Anders Pedersen, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan.

In 2015, the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved before 2030. Goal two of those 17 goals is to end hunger by 2030 and reduce malnutrition and double agricultural productions.

FAO Representative in Jordan, Nabil Assaf said “2021 marks the beginning of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and working towards healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems. Dialogues are a key opportunity for fully recognizing the potential of local food systems stakeholders to play a catalytic role in accelerating actions towards sustainable agriculture and food systems at all levels. It is important that the views of all stakeholders are captured and reflected when shaping the principles on global food systems that will guide actions in the next decade and beyond.”

“Any country needs strong and efficient food systems, producing and transforming food as well as delivering to consumers with maximum efficiency and minimal losses. Many factors are involved in sustainable food systems including agriculture, water management, supply chains, food waste, climate change issues, employment and social welfare systems. All of these have to function well to ensure people have access to adequate food and nutrition. WFP looks forward to supporting the Government of Jordan in these consultations, fostering national dialogue with various stakeholders around sustainable food systems. Ultimately, this should not only benefit the economy and the livelihoods of people involved in these food systems but improve the efficiency of putting food on our tables and ensure better nutrition for everyone in Jordan,” said Jonathan Campbell, WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Jordan.

The UN Secretary-General will convene this year a Food Systems Summit with the aim of maximizing the co-benefits of a food systems approach across the entire 2030 Agenda and meeting the challenges of climate change. The Summit aims to provide a platform for ambitious new actions, innovative solutions, and plans to transform food systems and leverage these shifts to deliver progress across all of the SDGs.

Source: Jordan News Agency