Day: October 6, 2021

Jordan’s finance minister and his U.S. counterpart Wednesday discussed over the phone areas of counterterrorism cooperation and underscored the “strong” ties between the two countries.

Minister of Finance Mohamad Ississ briefed U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen on the outcomes of a Jordanian delegation’s visit to Washington D.C. last week. The Jordanian delegation had met with the Biden Administration officials, congressmen and World Bank representatives.

Ississ highlighted the short and long term financial challenges Jordan grapples with, not least of which are the high unemployment rates and the slow economic growth.

For her part, Yellen praised Jordan’s economic reforms amidst the tough circumstances the world is going through and the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the world. The economic reforms, the secretary explained, would spur competitiveness in the market and create more job opportunities.

She pledged continued support for Jordan.

Source: Jordan News Agency

During his working visit to Jordan, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, Niels Annen, on Wednesday, discussed with UNHCR Country Representative, Dominik Bartsch, the refugee situation in Jordan and the “important” assistance provided by UNHCR and other humanitarian partners to people in need as part of the regional Syria response.

In press remarks following the meeting, Minister of State Annen said: “The Jordanian people have shown tremendous solidarity with Syrian refugees, accommodating 660,000 registered Syrian refugees who were forced to leave their country. Given the difficult economic situation in Jordan and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, these refugee communities are also in need of further support.”

Annen added: “I am therefore glad to announce today that Germany is providing another 71 million EUR for people in need in Syria and the whole region. The major part of the money will be used by our partners – such as UNHCR, who will receive 45 out of the 71 million EUR – to cover the urgent needs of refugees and host communities, for example in Jordan, e.g. by providing cash assistance as well as basic health care and shelter.”

“We also call on all parties to the conflict to work towards peace and stability in Syria and the region, as only peace can alleviate the humanitarian plight and improve people’s lives,” the German minister noted.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Zarqa governor and U.S. ambassador Wednesday discussed ways Zarqa can achieve economic growth and means to support the city in its urban planning.

Zarqa’s governor Hijazi Assaf and U.S. Ambassador Henry T. Wooster held their talks as the latter was visiting the city to see the progress of the USAID-funded water project that helps keep water flowing in Zarqa.

Joint Jordan-U.S. projects like the upgraded Awajan Pump Station help boost water protection and reduce water loss. Regular preventative maintenance for Jordan’s water infrastructure, combined with updated business practices for the Kingdom’s water utility companies, help keep faucets running.

“In Zarqa, we’re seeing new approaches to tackle the roadblocks that stand in front of Jordanians and their prosperity, and we’re proud to support and encourage that progress,” Ambassador Wooster said.

Wooster discussed economic conditions with board members of the Zarqa Chamber of Industry. He welcomed small-, medium- and large-sized Jordanian businesses to establish a presence in the United States for enhanced market access.

Five Jordanian alumni of U.S. Embassy exchange programmes Wooster had met in the city briefed him on the work they are doing in Zarqa to increase women’s participation in politics, the economy and community decision-making.

Source: Jordan News Agency

His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday reaffirmed that political reform is moving forward after the release of the outcomes of the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System, noting that the next stage is important to translate these recommendations into legislation and platform-based political party action.

During a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace with former prime ministers and ministers, King Abdullah noted the importance of everyone’s engagement, including political parties, in moving forward with political mondernisation.

Reiterating that administrative reform is key to moving forward in economic reform, His Majesty also touched upon various domestic, regional, and international topics, and highlighted regional and international support for Jordan.

The King stressed Jordan’s steadfast position on the Palestinian cause and its support for the Palestinian people, noting that the Kingdom will continue working to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship.

Noting Jordan’s coordination with Iraq and Egypt and its relations with other regional partners, His Majesty said these ties will help bring benefits to the economy.

For their part, the attendees stressed the importance of the King’s vision in moving forward simultaneously on the political, administrative, and economic reform tracks, and advancing political modernisation after the conclusion of the committee’s work.

They stressed the importance of combating drugs and countering their smuggling across the border, calling also for continuing efforts to develop and support the education sector.

They commended His Majesty’s steadfast position on the Palestinian cause and noted the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship.

Former prime ministers Zaid Rifai, Ahmad Obeidat, Fayez Tarawneh, and Faisal Fayez, as well as former ministers Adnan Abu Odeh, Jawad Anani, and Abdul Ilah Khatib attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Jordanian-Syrian Joint Free Zone Board of Directors held Wednesday a meeting at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply to finalize the preparations for resuming operations at the zone, which plays an important role in supporting trade exchange between the two countries and transit trade.

The meeting, held via teleconference in the presence of the BoD chairman and members from both sides, discussed all administrative, logistical and technical matters related to the free zone.

The meeting, attended by the company’s general manager, Irfan Khasawneh, was held as a follow-up to the ministerial meetings that were held recently in Amman, in the presence of a number of ministers from both countries.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Maha Ali, who attended part of the meeting, stressed the importance of completing the remaining operations of maintenance, rehabilitation and return of the necessary human and technical cadres in the two countries, to resume operations in the free zone, especially since the zone was playing an active role in the bilateral trade and transit movement

She pointed out that among the outcomes of the bilateral meeting with the Syrian Minister of Economy, Mohammad Samer Al-Khalil was working to re-operate the joint Jordanian-Syrian free zone.

The volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to JD92 million in 2020, compared to JD117 million in 2019, while during the first half of this year it amounted to JD67 million.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Minister of Public Works and Housing, Yahya Kisbi, on Wednesday met with Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Jordan, Eldar Salimov, for a discussion on ways to enhance cooperation in the field of construction, contracting and housing between the two friendly countries.

Kisbi expressed the ministry’s readiness to enhance partnership with Azerbaijan in the fields of housing, construction, contracting and exchange of expertise, in a way that contributes to boost the economy of the two friendly countries.

He lauded ties between the two friendly countries, and Ambassador Salimov’s efforts to increase ways of strengthening joint relations, to serve interests of both countries.

Kisbi highlighted a number of vital projects implemented and supervised by the Ministry and projects under implementation, which were built with locally and internationally known Jordanian expertise, stressing the Ministry of Works’ keenness in attracting investors.

Kisbi also highlighted actions taken by the government to support the housing, contracting and construction sector, and mitigate the pandemic’s impacts, in addition to measures that contribute to promoting investment in Jordan.

The two sides discussed attracting investors, especially from Azerbaijan, and measures taken by the two countries to enhance it, in a manner that contributes to provide facilities to investors.

For his part, Salimov commended efforts of Jordanian engineers and contractors and the prestigious position they enjoy at the local and Arab levels, looking forward to expanding cooperation that serves the interest of the two friendly countries.

Concluding the meeting, Ambassador Salimov presented his country’s experience with the use of the single window under the name of service delivery, and its rich experience in this field, stressing his country’s readiness to exchange expertise with Jordan in various fields, especially in the field of housing, construction and contracting.

Source: Jordan News Agency