Day: August 10, 2022

10 (Petra)- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, on Wednesday discussed with Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan, opportunities to expand joint economic cooperation in agriculture, water, energy and trade areas, and benefit from Jordanian competencies in the Canadian labor market.

Speaking at their talks in Amman, Safadi and Sajjan stressed “effectiveness” of coordination channels in the development fields and keenness to develop “strong” friendly relations between the two countries.

Safadi lauded Canada’s efforts to support the Kingdom’s development process and help Jordan face economic challenges and consequences of regional crises, especially the refugee-related burdens.

Thanking Canada for its support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Safadi stressed the need to continue providing the necessary assistance to enable the agency to carry out its duties, in accordance with its UN mandate.

The two ministers reviewed a number of regional and international issues of common interest and efforts to resolve the region’s crises, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Sajjan affirmed his country’s keenness to enhance cooperation relations with the Kingdom, expressing his country’s appreciation for the Kingdom’s main role in efforts aimed to bolster the region’s security and stability.

Canada is currently implementing a slew of development projects in Jordan, in the energy, water, environment and education fields, through Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project (SEED).

In 2012, the two countries signed a free trade agreement that facilitated trade exchange, which amounted to $106.7 million in 2020.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The National Aid Fund (NAF) on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to implement programs for children of NAF programs’ beneficiary families at the organization’s “Makani” centers (safe spaces to learn) and its partners and Ministry of Social Development’s directorates countrywide.

The agreement aims to enroll 1-18 year-children of households benefiting from the NAF’s initiatives to join programs implemented by Makani centers, a NAF statement said.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, NAF Acting Director General, Barq Dmour, said the agreement will work to upgrade the NAF’s digital and financial capabilities and skills.

Dmour noted the NAF is working to empower families benefiting from its programs economically and socially by providing a comprehensive package of social protection services, in addition to cash assistance programs.

For his part, Chief Social Protection and Policy, UNICEF Jordan, Manuel Rodriguez Pumarol, said NAF has witnessed “great” development, becoming an example at the regional and global levels.

UNICEF’s Makani centers will enable children to prepare to face behavioral, social, educational and health developments, he said, adding that work will be launched to improve NAF’s services.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Domestic Revenue Mobilisation (DRM) rose to JOD3.37 billion during the January-May period, compared to JOD3.06 billion in the same period in 2021, a JOD3.07 million increase.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the increase in DRM was due to the JOD279.8 rise in tax and JOD28 million in non-tax revenue.

The increase in tax revenue was a direct result of the market recovery and the JOD198.5 million increase in income and profit tax revenues. The increase in revenue was made possible by not increasing taxes but by adopting stricter rules and the conformity of taxpayers to submit their annual income tax returns, in addition to effective reforms to the tax system that limited tax evasion.

The increase in non-tax revenues was due to a rise in the various revenues by JOD66.9 million, in light of the improvement in the performance of companies.

The total spending during the first five months of 2022 stood at JOD3.980 billion, a JOD203.5 million increase, as spending on social protection increased by JOD67.5 million.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The solar energy field project saved about JD400,000 of new Deir Alla municipality’s annual expenses, which was reflected in providing more services to the local community, improving the region’s infrastructure and launching development enterprises, its mayor, Mustafa Shatti, said.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, with Canadian International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan, and delegation from Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project (SEED) project team, Shatti noted the project was implemented, with Canadian government’s funding.

The project contributed to creating job opportunities to local community and launching environmental enterprises that contribute to improving the region’s eco-situation, Shatti noted.

The mayor also thanked the Canadian government and COWATER.INTERNATIONL, SEED Jordan, and Ministry of Local Administration for their contributions in the green project.

Meanwhile, SEED project director, Mohammad Ramadan, highlighted importance of “true” partnerships with Jordan’s municipalities, noting that Deir Alla municipality is a “leading” local council in this field, highlighting the project’s activities in Deir Alla region and Ajloun governorate.

The project included installing energy-saving lamps, training young men and women on maintenance work, building solar cells for many homes in Deir Alla region, supporting its health center and school with energy-generation panels and energy-saving air conditioning systems.

At the end of the meeting, the Canadian minister expressed his admiration for the “sound” management, follow-up and accuracy in implementing the project’s requirements and achieving sustainability.

Source: Jordan News Agency