Day: February 1, 2023

Amman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday said that Ankara would not agree to Sweden’s accession to NATO “as long as it allows the burning and tearing of the Qur’an.”

According to the Anadolu Agency, Erdogan said in a speech at the parliament in Ankara, “Our position is positive towards Finland’s membership in NATO and negative towards Sweden’s membership.”

Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told journalists in a conference with his Estonian counterpart that whoever is behind the burning of the Quran aims to obstruct Stockholm’s accession to NATO.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh Wednesday directed the authorities to take all necessary measures, brace and keep coordination amidst extreme weather conditions.

Khasawneh noted the “need” to maintain the work of emergency control rooms and to ensure the readiness of specialised field teams across the country to ensure public facilities are operational and address issues as they arise.

Minister of Local Administration Tawfiq Krishan followed the developments of the weather situation in emergency control rooms at ministries to ensure coordination among them.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, In attendance of Her Highness Princess Basma bint Ali, chairperson of the board of trustees of the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia (HFDJB), the fund on Wednesday signed a project agreement with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to increase capability of displaced persons and host communities to adapt to climate change, especially challenges facing Jordan’s water sector.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, HFDJB director, Jamal Fayez, said the project aims to reduce pressure on Jordan’s natural water resources by resorting to alternative non-traditional sources in agriculture, in light of the drought, extreme heat, and the change in rainfall patterns, which have become a major concern.

Fayez noted Mafraq’s northern Badia region hosted a large number of refugees during the past ten years, which led to increased pressure on the available water quantities and water and sanitation infrastructure networks.

Through this project, funded by the Adaptation Fund (AF), Fayez noted HFDJB twill work to implement and manage treated wastewater reuse from Mafraq purification plant and establish agricultural projects in the northwestern Badia region by launching a new and effective irrigation technology, building farmers’ capabilities and raising awareness about effective water management and irrigation systems.

For his part, the project manager in Jordan, Jawad Dakhqan, said the project is regional and aims to increase capability of refugees and host communities in Jordan and Lebanon to address problem of water scarcity resulting from climate change.

The project’s activities in Jordan will be concentrated in the northern Irbid and Mafraq governorates by launching rainwater harvesting projects in the targeted areas, he said.

In addition, he noted the project targets gray water treatment and reuse, improvement of wastewater treatment plants, integration of a new and effective irrigation technology for treated water, launch of a pilot project for sustainable agriculture at Jerash University campus.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The Cabinet, in its session held Wednesday, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, discussed the progress made on Jordan’s digital transformation programs and achievement expected during the next stage in this regard, as part of the services axis within Public Sector Modernization’s Roadmap.

The Council of Ministers was briefed by Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Ahmed Hananda, on achievements made so far within Jordan National Digital Transformation Strategy and its implementation plan, primarily steps that will be taken during 2023 and the coming years and the institutions under this plan for the purpose of fully digitizing their services.

Hanandeh also briefed the Cabinet on flagship e-government gateway Sanad app and its e-services, primarily activating digital ID, files, signature and e-payment, pointing out that citizens can benefit from multiple services and issue or use documents through this portal.

To date, he announced more than 200 e-services and features were launched on Sanad platform for various police, judicial, customs, land, energy, trade, industry and youth departments and ministries.

The minister said approximately 2,400 services provided by 50 institutions and government departments were documented and completed, adding that a total of 700 services were approved for digitization purposes, and work is currently underway to amend and approve the remaining ones.

Hanandeh also noted the ministry is currently working on digitizing hundreds of services in multiple ministries and public institutions.

Referring to comprehensive government service centers scheduled to be launched countrywide, he said the first pilot center was inaugurated on 9/25/2022 in Amman’s Mqablain area, which houses 15 government institutions and provides approximately 45 government services.

On the other hand, the Cabinet decided to name Sami Kamel Daoud as Chairman of Board of Directors of the Jordan Post Company (JPC).

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The recent precipitation raised the overall volume of rainfall since the beginning of the wet season to 48 per cent of Jordan’s long-term annual average of 8.1bmc, the Water Ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry said northern Ajloun governorate received the highest rate of downpour during the past 24 hours with 77 mm, adding that 2 million cubic meters were channeled into Jordan’s dams during the last depression.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, Head of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA), Hamdi Tabba’a, on Wednesday discussed with Sudanese ambassador to Jordan, Hassan Swar Al-Dahab, bilateral cooperation prospects at the economic, investment and commercial levels, which would contribute to strengthening joint business relations.

Tabba’a, in a JBA statement on Wednesday, said the two countries have “close and distinguished” relations at various levels, pointing out that the joint Jordanian-Sudanese Business Council should see further cooperation by the various two countries’ private sector to intensify joint meetings and exchange work programs in sectors of common interest.

He called on the Sudanese business community to visit Jordan and learn about investment opportunities and incentives, especially as Jordan offers an “attractive” investor environment characterized by political and monetary stability and potentials to benefit from free trade agreements.

For his part, the envoy said Sudan is looking forward to benefiting from Jordan’s expertise in the fields of information technology and “promising” investment opportunities in the cattle field.

The diplomat also referred to Sudan’s multiple untapped investment and commercial opportunities, especially its large reserves of copper and groundwater, which constitutes a “true” opportunity for cooperation with the Jordanian side in the mining fields.

In addition, the envoy expressed the embassy’s readiness to launch joint cooperation to activate the two countries’ business council and intensify talks, which would contribute to better network businesspeople from both sides.

He highlighted importance of joint cooperation to diversify mutual goods flow and increase volume of trade exchange.

During 2021, volume of Jordan-Sudan trade exchange amounted to $122.7 million, as exports accounted for nearly $81.8 million, concentrated in medicines, iron and steel, and air conditioning machines, while imports accounted for nearly $40.9 million, concentrated in sesame seeds, meat, and wood charcoal.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Zarqa, Zarqa municipality won membership of the managing body of Mediterranean Cities Network (MedCities) during its virtual elections held on Tuesday, with the participation of 100 municipalities from the Mediterranean region.

In a press statement on Wednesday, Zarqa Mayor, Imad Momani, said this achievement will allow implementation of environmental, development and urban projects for Jordanian municipalities and provides “greater” opportunities to enhance their joint municipal cooperation and coordination and benefit from other Mediterranean municipalities’ expertise.

Source: Jordan News Agency