Day: November 6, 2021

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has condemned the terrorist attack that took place in southwestern Niger, which killed dozens of people.

In a press statement on Saturday, the ministry’s official spokesperson Haitham Abu Al-Foul, expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of all terrorist acts and practices, stressing Jordan’s support and solidarity with Niger’s people.

The diplomat also expressed his condolences to the victims families, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

Haj Tawfiq expressed his hope that the next stage would witness a “new” start for the two countries’ trade and investment relations.

To enhance trade movement, Haj Tawfiq stressed the need to make more political efforts to amend Paris Protocol (PP) to ensure the smooth flow of Jordanian goods to the Palestinian market without obstacles.

This effort would contribute to increasing the number of Jordanian traders willing to export and expanding the export base to include other Jordanian industry’s products, he pointed out.

Paris Protocol is “an obstacle to developing Jordanian-Palestinian economic relations,” he said, calling for making pressure on the international community to amend the agreement and facilitate the import and export process in both directions.

In 1994, Paris Protocol was signed by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and “Israel,” which curbed Palestinian economy’s growth, by restricting trade exchange between Palestine and occupation authorities in the first place.

ACC, he noted, will work during the next stage to increase coordination with the Palestinian commercial and service sector institutions and arrange continuous visits to Palestinian traders and importers to ensure success of the “major” steps taken at high levels to enhance the two countries’ trade exchanges.

Haj Tawfiq called for activating the twinning and cooperation agreements and protocols signed between the Jordanian commerce chambers with the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FPCCIA) to serve common interests.

According to the ACC statistical data, the volume of trade exchange between Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) during 2020, approximately stood at JD139 million, of which JD108 million are exports to the Kingdom.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

The Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) said enhanced access of Jordanian products and goods to the Palestinian market and expansion of its base represents an opportunity to expedite recovery of the national economy from the Covid-19 pandemic-induced consequences.

In his interview with “Petra” on Saturday, the ACC Head, Khalil Haj Tawfiq said solidarity with the Palestinian economy is a duty to support its steadfastness, in light of the “distinguished and historic” Jordanian-Palestinian relations.

Haj Tawfiq also referred to Jordan’s support to the Palestinian people and their just cause, adding that His Majesty King Abdullah II “always affirms that the Kingdom will remain the true support for Palestinians.”

Haj Tawfiq called for promoting trade and investment exchange between Jordan and Palestine to “better” levels that meet the two peoples’ aspirations.

He also lauded the “remarkable” efforts made by the Jordanian government and the Royal directives to facilitate access of Jordanian products to the Palestinian market and remove the Israel-imposed obstacles.

Stressing the importance of facilitating access to Palestinian market to enhance trade exchange with the Palestinian side, he also highlighted the importance of revamping trade mechanisms related to private sector institutions in the two brotherly countries, which will be reflected on the level of their economic relations.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY

The draft laws on elections, parties and constitutional amendments, which were approved by the ministerial legal committee, are scheduled to be submitted to the Cabinet Sunday, to be then sent in their final version to Jordan’s Parliament, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs, Musa Maaitah, said on Saturday.

Last Thursday, the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System (RCMPS) sent its recommendations to the government.

Speaking at the launch of the Youth Forum for Training and Political Dialogue today, Maaitah said the Political and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry has developed a joint executive plan with Ministry of Youth to kick off dialogue sessions with young people in all Jordanian governorates and universities to highlight the RCMPS’s most important recommendations related to youth and women.

The ministry, he said, will implement programs to empower youth and women to increase their engagement in political life.

Noting some amendments related to youth and women contained in the proposed elections, parties bills, he said age of candidacy will be lowered to 25 years, and 20% youth and women membership is stipulated when launching political parties.

The minister also noted party financial contributions regulations, which were implemented in the previous parliamentary elections, are now linked to the parties’ seats in the Lower House.

20% of the value of the gov’t support to parties will be allocated depending on whether youth and women under the age of 35 win seats in the parliamentary elections, according to Maaitah.

SOURCE: JORDAN NEWS AGENCY