Day: January 12, 2023

Baghdad, A Jordanian parliamentary delegation Monday held talks in Baghdad with Iraqi MPs as part of an official visit to Iraq at the invitation of Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi.

Jordan’s House Speaker Ahmad Safadi noted in the meetings with the leaders of the Iraqi coordination framework Jordan’s “firm” support to enhance the security and stability of Iraq, adding that “efforts to combat terrorism remained at the forefront of the Jordanian agenda.”

Safadi said that supporting Iraq in combating terrorist groups is “invariable” for Jordan, adding Jordan “will not accept compromising the security of Iraq and the Iraqis.”

“We in Jordan view Iraq as a strategic depth for our country, brotherhood and common ties between our two countries and peoples have no limits,” Safadi said, noting the importance of the agreements at the Baghdad Conference for Partnership and Cooperation.

Safadi appreciated the “great” role played by the Iraqi leaders in achieving victories over the terrorist groups, noting the importance of joint economic cooperation and striving to implement future projects that would enhance trade between the two countries.

The Jordanian delegates noted the importance of implementing the projects agreed on with the Iraqis regarding the oil pipeline, which runs from Basra to Aqaba, the joint industrial city and the electrical connection project.

In turn, the Iraqi MPs praised the “solid” Jordanian defence of the Palestinian cause and Islamic and Christian sanctities in occupied Jerusalem, highlighting Jordan’s support for Iraq during its war against terrorist organisations.

They said the region requires further coordination between regional states, especially Jordan and Iraq.

Source: Jordan News Agency

London, UK Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Lord Ahmed, Thursday reiterated “UK’s unwavering support for Jordanian Custodianship of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites and the Status Quo.”

The British Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development stated on its website that Lord Ahmed, during his first visit to the occupied Palestinian territories, had visited Al-Aqsa Mosque, met with the Director General of the Jerusalem Endowment, Azzam al-Khatib, and listened to the religious, cultural and historical importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Ministry added that Lord Ahmed had met with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, in Ramallah and noted the UK’s commitment to the Palestinians and the importance of bilateral relations.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Major General Yusuf Hunaiti and the Polish Ambassador to Jordan, Lucjan Karpinski, Thursday held talks in Amman on military cooperation.

Hunaiti and Karpinski discussed areas of cooperation and coordination in military, operation, training and logistics to “realise the desired goals to serve the armed forces in the two fraternal countries.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The Ministry of Higher Education Thursday said that 100 per cent of undergraduates from 41 districts who had applied for a grant were covered in either partially funded or full scholarships or under a loan programme.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the terror attack that took place near the Afghan Foreign Ministry headquarters in Kabul on Tuesday and resulted in a number of casualties and injuries.

In a press statement on Thursday, the ministry affirmed the Kingdom’s “strong” condemnation of all forms of violence and terrorism, expressing its condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, Jordan’s tourism revenues increased by 110.5% to reach $5,816 billion in 2022, compared to 2021.

This growth was attributed to increase in the number of tourists coming to the Kingdom by about 2,690 million, to reach a total of 5,048.9 million in 2022.

Thus, tourism income during 2022 exceeded its level recorded during 2019 pre-pandemic period by 0.4 percent, according to data issued by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ).

Jordanians’ spending on tourism abroad reached $1.467 billion in 2022, marking an increase of 59.6% over 2021, driven by increase in the number of Jordanians traveling outside the Kingdom by 58.3%, CBJ figures showed.

On a monthly level, tourism income went up last December 2022, compared to the corresponding month 2021, by 74.2% to reach $524 million, driven by an increase in the number of tourists visiting the Kingdom last December by about 204,100 visitors, to reach a total of 452,800 tourists.

Meanwhile, the data indicates an increase in spending on tourism abroad during December 2022, by 47.0%, compared to its level in the same month 2021, to reach $116 million, which is attributed to the increase in the number of Jordanian tourists traveling abroad by 44.0%.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The steering committee to operate Amman and Amman-Zarqa Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, chaired by Minister of Transport, Maher Abu Al-Samen, held its first meeting in 2023.

According to a Ministry of Transport statement on Thursday, the meeting went over a number of issues in preparation to take the appropriate decisions in this regard.

The discussions also stressed the need to expedite implementation of the project due to its “remarkable” importance in stimulating investment, advancing the economic activities and helping to alleviate traffic crises, the statement said.

Speaking at the meeting, Abu Al-Samen stressed the need to upgrade the Kingdom’s transport system by carrying out various “organized” networks that have “clear,” goals provide appropriate services to citizens and could spare their time and effort.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), Yousef Shawarbeh, said rapid bus project launches an “integrated” transport system aimed to raise road efficiency on BRT route and also provide traffic solutions at intersections.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The Steering Committee of the EU-funded Support to Social Protection in Jordan Project held its sixth meeting, chaired by Secretary-General of Ministry of Social Development, Barq Damour, in the presence of a number of representatives of public and private institutions concerned with the social protection sector.

Speaking at the meeting, Damour said the ministry continues its efforts to strengthen national partnerships and align its goals with EU donors to follow up on coordinating work requirements in implementing social protection programs at various levels, to integrate various community segments and provide responsive social systems to all cases.

The project’s activities and its vision should achieve the desired goals and outcomes by working in an integrated manner with the aim of supporting and developing Jordan’s social protection sector and improving quality of services provided to citizens, he noted.

In addition, Damour highlighted achievements made so far in carrying out the project,primarily upgrading the ministry-affiliated directorates and centers to develop services provided to citizens.

For her part, European Union delegation representative, Head of Governance and Human Development in EU International Cooperation Department, Marie Horves, noted continued joint work and cooperation with Jordanian authorities, referring to achievements made so far in implementing the project’s activities to support the Kingdom’s social protection sector, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, 57,747 university students were nominated to benefit from internal grants and loans for academic year 2022/2023, constituting 71% of the total applicants, Jordan’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced on Thursday.

Source: Jordan News Agency