Category: General

Khasawneh said the new customs measures are designed to create a system whereby there would be a centralised database of the Jordan Customs Department. This will make the customs system more efficient and spur investments.

The customs reforms will cut the time and cost of which products can be approved and admitted in, as a colour scheme that represents three tracks will be put in place.

The reforms will allow for the registration of products being shipped before arriving in the country, bringing down the amount of time for the registration of products from nine days to only three.

The premier said the customs reforms go in tandem with the application of the new electricity tariff that will be effective as of April 1, explaining that “more than 90 percent” of households will not be affected.

He added the new tariff is designed to slash the electricity bills on businesses that mainly work in agriculture, trade, industry, tourism and the health sector.

He said the government intends to launch a platform through which Jordanians could apply for assistance on their electricity bill, vowing full government commitment.

Also, he revealed that telecommunication companies are scheduled to start working on an infrastructure for the G5 technology, highlighting the technology will bring in more investments and have a positive impact on education, health, banking, agriculture, media, transport and entertainment.

Khasawneh talked about his government’s national employment plan, for which JD80 million had been allocated from the 2022 public budget. It is expected to create 60,000 job opportunities.

The government would pay the amount of JD150 every month for six months for workers who sign a year contract with the private sector.

The government has also allocated JD24 million for small- and medium-sized projects that are expected to create over 2,000 job opportunities.

On COVID-19, the government has worked on increasing the capacity by 300 percent by setting up four field hospitals in major cities. It hired 2,500 new medical doctors and staff and signed contracts to ship over around 17.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Saturday expressed its condolences to the Pakistani government and people over the victims of a snowstorm that struck the hill town of Murree, about 70 km northeast of the capital, Islamabad.

In a press statement, Ministry spokesman Haitham Abul Ful voiced Jordan’s solidarity “with the government and people of the brotherly Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and its deepest condolences to the families of the victims.”

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi and German federal Minister of Defence Christine Lambrecht Saturday held extended talks on ways to strengthen the strategic partnership relationship between the two countries, and efforts to resolve regional crises.

Safadi underscored the importance of the Jordanian-German relationship and expanding cooperation in military, defence and security fields both at the bilateral level and within the European Union. He praised German support, as Berlin is the second largest donor to Jordan.

The ministers reviewed regional developments, including the Palestinian issue, efforts to resolve crises in Syria, Yemen and Libya, support for Iraq in its efforts to stabilize the country and cooperation in combating terrorism.

Lambrecht, who is on her first visit to the Kingdom after coming to office last month, said Germany is keen on enhancing cooperation with Jordan, praising efforts led by His Majesty King Abdullah II to overcome regional challenges and crises and establish security and stability.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

The Kazakhstan authorities Saturday said they had arrested 4,400 people following nationwide protests ignited by an increase in oil and gas prices.

The TASS news agency reported that the Kazakhstan security forces had detained the former head of national security Karim Massimov on suspicion of treason.

To address the demands of the protestors, the president asked the government to resign and canceled the proposed increase in gas and oil prices.

The Kazakhstan president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced Sunday a national mourning day after the “tragic” loss of lives.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

The German government Saturday decided to stop exporting weapons to Kazakhstan, as widespread protests led to the death of scores.

The Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (dpa) reported that the German authorities have also put out in place measures that would prevent the exportation of German weaponry to the Asian country.

last year, German government issued 25 licenses to export weapons to Kazakhstan at USD 2.5 million, the dpa added.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Tripoli, President of the High Council of State Khaled Al-Mashri, met Friday with UN Secretary General Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams in the presence of the council’s rapporteur, Said Kala.

The two sides discussed during the meeting held in Tripoli, ways to facilitate successful elections as soon as possible. According to the Council’s Communication office, Al-Mashri stressed that the best way to achieve this step, is to conduct a referendum on the constitution and agree on electoral laws on the basis of which fair and transparent elections will be held, and accepted by all Libyan parties.

Source: Libyan News Agency