Day: May 6, 2023

The Iraqi Business Council (IBC) in Jordan is scheduled to organize the Jordanian-Iraqi Business and Finance Forum next month in Amman, under the theme:”Building Bridges of Common Prosperity,” with “wide” participation from the two countries’ investors, business owners, companies and other countries. The forum, which is slated to open next June 20, will focus on the sectors of industry, finance, telecom and information technology, contracting, construction, real estate development, energy and mining. The council’s vice-president, Saad Naji, the forum is held based on His Majesty King Abdullah II’s vision to achieve the two countries’ economic integration and expand joint cooperation horizons, especially in the investment and trade fields. In a statement on Saturday, Naji said the forum, which receives “wide” interest from various Iraqi activities, also comes in light of the Kingdom’s “important” role in promoting joint Arab economic action. The forum will be attended by Jordanian and Iraqi businesspeople, investors, governmental and parliamentary figures, local and international companies, private sector institutions, United Nations organizations and international bodies, according to Naji. The forum aims to promote investment in various fields and trade exchange between Jordan and Iraq, and establish joint partnerships, he said, adding that the event will also discuss all challenges facing ways to develop joint economic relations. Naji added that the forum also seeks to enhance Iraqi companies’ trade and investment exchange with Jordanian, Arab and international counterparts, to contribute to Iraq’s reconstruction projects, as well as learning about the two countries’ current and future business opportunities. During the forum, sessions and seminars will be held on investment, industry, housing and financing issues, and mechanisms to create opportunities for Jordanian banks and exchange companies to enter Iraq and establish partnerships with their Iraqi counterparts, as well as presenting multiple recent studies on developing the two countries’ business and economies.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Mayor of Amman Yousef Shawarbeh on Saturday said that the lands owned by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) amount to a value exceeding 2.5 billion dinars, with one billion dinars of this sum being deemed as investable. Speaking at a national conference centered on investment prospects, which was held in the context of the economic modernization vision, Shawarbeh stressed that the Municipality is actively contributing to the development of the investment environment in the capital, Amman. This is being achieved by means of simplified procedures for investors and the provision of electronic services, with the ultimate aim of guaranteeing equity and integrity in the delivery of these services. Additionally, the Municipality has taken steps to create the Amman Vision Company for Investment and Development, he explained. Shawarbeh went on to emphasize that the Amman Vision Company for Investment and Development represents a crucial component of the Greater Amman Municipality’s strategy concerning the enhancement of investment management for its entrusted properties. Furthermore, he pointed out that the Municipality has successfully forged numerous agreements and memorandums of understanding, all in service of the vision of economic modernization. Ahmed Safadi, the Parliament Speaker who patronized the conference, affirmed the legislature’s mandate to overseeing the government’s adherence to the implementation of the vision of economic modernization. He underscored the importance of this blueprint in meeting the hopes of the Jordanian populace and bolstering the national economy. Safadi went on to emphasize that economic modernization is contingent upon collaborative endeavors at the national level. Such efforts must be guided by a well-defined strategic program and a clear roadmap for implementation, particularly in each sector, with the ultimate objective of ameliorating the standard of living of citizens and creating job opportunities. Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Jordan, Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, who attended the event, spoke about economic cooperation between the two countries and Emirati investments in the Kingdom. He noted that UAE investments in Jordan are estimated at more than $17 billion in a host of sectors, referring to a recent joint solar power project.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Social Security Corporation (SSC) received 13,465 work-related injuries during 2022, according to director of its Occupational Safety and Workplace Injuries Department, Nasha’t Badawi. Value of the workplace injuries amounted to about JD11, 796 million, which included daily allowances, medical care expenses, and one-off compensation for the injury disability, which is less than 30%, he added. In a statement to “Petra” on Saturday, he noted majority of on-the-job injuries took place in the manufacturing industries, health and social work sectors. SSC, he noted, accredited 41 medical treatment facilities (hospitals), taking into account their geographical distribution to cover the Kingdom’s various governorates, primarily all Royal Medical Services hospitals, and majority of private hospitals, aimed to providing “distinguished” service to the injured workers, who benefit from the corporation’s insurance umbrella. According to the corporation, the establishment must transfer the injured worker to the nearest SSC-accredited hospital if a work injury occurs to a SCC services beneficiary.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The IUCN Regional Office for West Asia has announced that the Aqaba Marine Reserve is committing to achieving the IUCN’s Green List Standard for Protected and Conserved Areas and had concluded the Applicant Phase requirements, which is the first milestone of the process. The reserve is an official candidate for the IUCN Green List and can now continue with the verification process for full recognition and certification. This declaration ensues the submission of a candidacy application by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority to the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2022, along with a comprehensive response to the assessment indicators comprising over 50 benchmarks that mirror 17 essential criteria pertaining to good governance, effective planning and design, competent management, and the excellence of nature conservation initiatives. The successful completion of this crucial phase by the Aqaba Marine Reserve has been made possible through collaborative efforts between the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and its government partners, including the Ministry of Environment, and its international partners such as the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP – Jordan Office). If the Aqaba Marine Reserve passes the second evaluation phase, obtaining the certificate signifies the Union’s official recognition of it being among the world’s best-managed reserves. This recognition is attributed to its effective governance and management, environmental sustainability approach, and preservation of marine resources, diversity, and protection against degradation and depletion. The IUCN Green List Program is a worldwide certification initiative that aims to promote and attain protected areas through equitable and efficient means. It does so by highlighting best practices and providing a benchmark to measure progress towards effective and equitable management.

Source: Jordan News Agency

NNA – Caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, in partnership with ‘LeBAM’, the Lebanese Band Association for the Promotion of Music headed by former deputy, Attorney Ghassan Moukheiber, organized today a musical concert on the internal staircase of the National Museum in Beirut marking the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, which was attended by a group of officials, diplomats, social activists and cultural figures. In his word during the event, Minister Murtada said, ‘Perhaps our meeting today on the steps of time whose eras and monuments are composed here, to revive a great historical day, with a beautiful concert, is a practical response to all attempts that seek to distort the national present that is suffering from ailments…’ He added: ‘People need a glimmer of hope, if culture does not secure it for them, their tomorrow will fall on the rubble of the present. That is why we always insist on a positive outlook, confident that the difficult stages in the lives of peoples are nothing but a summer cloud that will quickly pass as much as the people cling to their faith in their homeland.’ Paying tribute to the memory of the fallen martyrs, Murtada considered that ‘the martyrs of the sixth of May and those who followed them were among the righteous who penetrated death into eternity in the memory of the nation,’ noting that they ‘call on us to preserve the truth for which they were martyred…to love Lebanon, live for it, die for its unity, and always work to save it from the clutches of traps and conspiracies…’ Appreciating the musical performance marking the occasion, the Culture Minister said: ‘As for LeBAM, how wonderful is this verbal and spiritual mixture between the homeland and music, which, through the symbolism of its name, and the energy of our dear friend Ghassan Moukheiber, constitutes one of the glimmers of hope that should overflow to fill the nights of the nation…I may not be exaggerating if I say that with the diversity of its musicians and their instruments and the consistency of their melodies and voices, they broadcast the true scenario of Lebanon, which is diverse in unity and one in diversity, as I have mentioned on several occasions.’ Murtada concluded by indicating that ‘LeBAM is a musical group that has the image of the homeland, so let us listen to it with contemplation and joy in the hope that the homeland will return to being a land that has the shape of music and its impact that revives souls.’ Moukheiber then presented Murtada with a shield in the name of the Association, “as a token of gratitude for his tireless activity for the development of culture in Lebanon and for his support of music through the Lebanese Association, LeBAM.” Finally, tre band, led by Maestro Serghei Bolum, played Lebanese, Arab and foreign folklore musical tunes and melodies to celebrate the occasion.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Free Patriotic Movement Chief, MP Gebran Bassil, met today with MP Ghassan Skaf at his residence, during which talks touched on the general situation in the country and the presidential elections dossier. Following the meeting, Skaf considered that ‘the outside moves are due to internal stagnation and the feeling of regional and international states’ of officials’ indifference to the suffering of citizens and their distraction with personal matters.’ He added, ‘Today we are witnessing a decline in the level of external interference in favor of the Lebaneseization of the presidential entitlement, in wake of the actual internal movement we have begun…” Skaff continued: “Based on the positive and open atmosphere that I sensed with Minister Basil, I sincerely address all the other parties, especially those who are contributing, with or without knowledge, to obstructing the accomplishment of the presidential election by softening positions, easing conditions, and showing a little humility and a lot of responsibility.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Progressive Socialist Party Chief, Walid Jumblatt, received this evening at his Clemenceau residence, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Al-Bukhari, in the presence of the head of the “Democratic Gathering” parliamentary bloc, MP Taymour Jumblatt, and MP Wael Abu Faour. Discussions touched on various hour issues and latest developments.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

NNA – Caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, in partnership with ‘LeBAM’, the Lebanese Band Association for the Promotion of Music headed by former deputy, Attorney Ghassan Moukheiber, organized today a musical concert on the internal staircase of the National Museum in Beirut marking the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, which was attended by a group of officials, diplomats, social activists and cultural figures. In his word during the event, Minister Murtada said, ‘Perhaps our meeting today on the steps of time whose eras and monuments are composed here, to revive a great historical day, with a beautiful concert, is a practical response to all attempts that seek to distort the national present that is suffering from ailments…’ He added: ‘People need a glimmer of hope, if culture does not secure it for them, their tomorrow will fall on the rubble of the present. That is why we always insist on a positive outlook, confident that the difficult stages in the lives of peoples are nothing but a summer cloud that will quickly pass as much as the people cling to their faith in their homeland.’ Paying tribute to the memory of the fallen martyrs, Murtada considered that ‘the martyrs of the sixth of May and those who followed them were among the righteous who penetrated death into eternity in the memory of the nation,’ noting that they ‘call on us to preserve the truth for which they were martyred…to love Lebanon, live for it, die for its unity, and always work to save it from the clutches of traps and conspiracies…’ Appreciating the musical performance marking the occasion, the Culture Minister said: ‘As for LeBAM, how wonderful is this verbal and spiritual mixture between the homeland and music, which, through the symbolism of its name, and the energy of our dear friend Ghassan Moukheiber, constitutes one of the glimmers of hope that should overflow to fill the nights of the nation…I may not be exaggerating if I say that with the diversity of its musicians and their instruments and the consistency of their melodies and voices, they broadcast the true scenario of Lebanon, which is diverse in unity and one in diversity, as I have mentioned on several occasions.’ Murtada concluded by indicating that ‘LeBAM is a musical group that has the image of the homeland, so let us listen to it with contemplation and joy in the hope that the homeland will return to being a land that has the shape of music and its impact that revives souls.’ Moukheiber then presented Murtada with a shield in the name of the Association, “as a token of gratitude for his tireless activity for the development of culture in Lebanon and for his support of music through the Lebanese Association, LeBAM.” Finally, tre band, led by Maestro Serghei Bolum, played Lebanese, Arab and foreign folklore musical tunes and melodies to celebrate the occasion.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon