Day: May 16, 2023

Categories
Business & Finance

King briefed on government’s progress in implementing economic vision in first four months

His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday was briefed on the government’s progress in implementing the Economic Modernisation Vision in the first four months of 2023, according to a royal court statement.

During a meeting attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and held at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah stressed the importance of implementing a comprehensive communication plan on the vision, to keep citizens informed on progress, so they can feel its impact on the economy and job opportunities.

His Majesty called for accelerating the launch of the electronic evaluation system, and publishing regular reports on progress in implementation.

The King said any challenges facing the implementation of the vision must be addressed, highlighting the importance of enhancing efficiency at units affiliated with the Prime Ministry and other ministries, and equipping them with qualified human resources.

His Majesty stressed the need to put clear performance indicators for initiatives and priorities.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the government is keen on ensuring the vision’s implementation within a specific timeframe, including the allocation of JD670 million in the 2023 budget.

He noted that the government has achieved progress in a number of economic indicators, namely recording a real growth rate of 2.5 per cent in 2022, adding that the government seeks to reach a 2.7 per cent growth rate this year.

Khasawneh added that growth in national exports reached 25 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, while tourism income reached JD1.2 billion during the same period.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Public Sector Modernisation Nasser Shraideh said the government prepared detailed cards for every priority on the modernisation programme, in addition to publishing monthly and quarterly reports to follow up on progress.

According to Shraideh, the government completed a number of priorities under the eight drivers of the vision, including endorsing the investment promotion strategy for 2023-2026, and activating the investment services platform, which offers 68 electronic services.

The government has also endorsed the national exports strategy 2023-2025, aimed at increasing national exports by 5 per cent annually, has started to draft the national mining strategy, and is working on developing an interactive map for mining in Jordan.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
Technology

King receives delegation from British Royal College of Defence Studies

His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday received a delegation from the British Royal College of Defence Studies, which includes officers from several countries, according to a royal court statement.

The meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, covered various regional and international issues, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, in addition to efforts to reach political solutions to regional crises, and counter terrorism within a holistic approach.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Categories
General

MIKATI DISCUSSES WITH BOU HABIB PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR LEBANON’S PARTICIPATION IN ARAB SUMMIT, BRIEFED BY MAKARY ON OUTCOME OF BAU CONFERENCE IN TRIPOLI, MEETS CARETAKER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday met at the Grand Serail with Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, with whom he discussed preparations underway for Lebanon’s participation in the thirty-second regular session of the Arab League Council’s meeting at the Summit level, which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on May 19.

On emerging, Caretaker Bou Habib said he will leave on Tuesday for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to represent Lebanon in the meetings of Arab foreign ministers ahead of the summit.

The Lebanese delegation to the Summit includes Caretaker Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, Industry Georges Bouchikian, Trade and Economy Minister Amin Salam, Tourism Walid Nassar, and Agriculture Dr. Abbas Hajj Hassan, in addition to Premier Mikati’s Diplomatic Adviser, Ambassador Boutros Asaker.

The delegation will be joined by the Lebanese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Fawzi Kabbara, and the Lebanese Ambassador to the Arab League, Ali Al-Halabi.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Mikati met at the Grand Serail with Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Hajj Hassan, who said on emerging that he briefed the Premier on the situation of the Ministry of Agriculture in terms of plans and projects implemented with donor agencies and other ministries, as well as on agricultural sector related affairs.

Mikati later welcomed at the Serail Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, in the presence of President of the Economic and Social Council of Lebanon Charles Arbid, President of Beirut Arab University, Dr. Amr El-Adawi, Vice President of Tripoli-branch Beirut Arab University, Dr. Khaled Baghdadi, and President of the Lebanese-French Businessmen Association in France, Antoine Manasseh, and others.

Following the meeting, Minister Makary said that the delegation briefed the Premier on the outcome of the recent conference held by the Beirut Arab University in Tripoli, and its issued recommendations that contribute to improving the conditions of the northern city and helping it regain its historic role.

For his part, Manasseh thanked, on behalf of the French-Lebanese businessmen, Beirut Arab University for hosting the conference.

The PM also received MP Haider Nasser, with whom he discussed developmental affairs related to the city of Tripoli.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Categories
General

SHEIKH AKL AL-MUNA RECEIVES JAPANESE AMBASSADOR

Sheikh Akl of the Unitarian Druze Community, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, on Tuesday welcomed at the Druze Community House in Beirut, the Japanese Ambassador to Lebanon, Magushi Masayuki.

Discussions reportedly touched on general issues and the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Categories
Government Policy

ARMY CHIEF MEETS MP KARAM, CONGO’S HONORARY CONSUL

Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday received at his Yarzeh office, MP Fadi Karam, with whom he discussed the current general situation in the country.

Maj. Gen. Aoun also received the Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Lebanon, Richard Chelala, and they discussed various issues.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Categories
Government Policy

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB PARLIAMENT IN THE CAPITAL BAKU

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, commended the significant role played by the Arab Parliament in the field of parliamentary diplomacy and the defense of Arab and Islamic issues, and praised the keenness of the President of the Arab Parliament to strengthen Arab relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan at all levels, notably in light of the historical, cultural and religious commonalities between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Arab States, and stressed that the relations with Arab States were one of the key pillars of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.

This came during the reception by H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan of H.E. Mr. Adel bin AbdulRahman AlAsoomi President of the Arab Parliament and accompanying delegation, in the course of his official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan to participate in the Special Session of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the modern Republic of Azerbaijan, who played a major role in promoting Azerbaijan’s relations with Arab States.

President Aliyev added that the late leader Heydar Aliyev had greatly emphasized developing relations with the Arab States, and underlined that this policy is continued today, vividly testified by his multiple meetings with Heads of Arab States and reciprocal visits, and pointed that Arab-Azerbaijani relations are developing successfully at all levels, and expressed confidence that the visit of the President of the Arab Parliament to Azerbaijan would contribute to the expansion of the Arab-Azerbaijani cooperation at the parliamentary level.

From his side, AlAsoomi expressed the Arab Parliament’s appreciation for the great role played by the late leader Heydar Aliyev in establishing strong relations of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the Arab and Islamic States, and paid tribute to the foreign policy of current President Ilham Aliyev and his support for Arab issues primarily the Palestinian question, as well as his keenness to follow his father Leader Heydar Aliyev’s footsteps in enhancing his country’s relations with Arab States as reflected in the remarkable qualitative leap in Arab relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The President of the Arab Parliament also commended the strenuous efforts of President Ilham Aliyev under his chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, which during his reign had witnessed qualitative developments and achievements that had contributed to the strengthening of the global role of the Movement and the realization of its noble objectives for which it was established, and added that President Ilham Aliyev’s initiative to establish a parliamentary arm of the Movement under the name of “The Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network” is an addition to his achievements in this field, and emphasized the Arab Parliament’s keenness to participate actively in this Network since its establishment.

The Arab Parliament’s delegation included H.E. MP. Dr. Abdualslam Nasia and H.E. MP. Dr. Hanan AlFatlawi, and from the General Secretariat Mr. Ahmed Tarek.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Categories
Business & Finance

Tourism Minister receives BTECH Chairman

Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, the Minister of Tourism, received Tareq Fakhro, the Chairman of the Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH).

Al Sairafi highlighted the ministry’s commitment to supporting various events aimed at revitalizing business tourism as a crucial pillar of Bahrain’s Tourism Strategy 2022-2026.

She emphasized the ministry’s efforts and BTEA in promoting different aspects of the tourism industry and diversifying it to make it more attractive to both domestic and foreign investments.

She also stressed the significance of enhancing business tourism growth rates in Bahrain and increasing its contribution to the country’s economic development.

The meeting discussed BTECH’s role in supporting business development related to technology and promoting entrepreneurship.

The two sides reviewed cooperation in organizing specialized, high-quality events to support common projects and goals that aim to create a significant improvement in the level of services and products offered in the tourism sector.

The minister praised the significant efforts of BTECH, especially in the ICT field, and its strategic plans focused on developing the capabilities of entrepreneurs in the technology sector.

These efforts aim to provide innovative solutions that help facilitate the provision of services and create an appropriate environment for technology companies in Bahrain to access global markets.

Fakhro emphasized the the ministry and BTEA’s efforts in developing the tourism sector in Bahrain.

He said that these efforts would have a positive impact on the national economy as a whole and create more business opportunities.

The chairman expressed BTECH’s readiness to enhance cooperation with the ministry to promote tourism commercial growth, e-commerce, and stimulating investment in Bahrain.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Categories
Fashion

Hoam Museum presents abstract master Kim Whanki’s retrospective

Hoam Museum of Art, a private gallery run by Samsung Foundation of Culture, said Monday it will hold a retrospective of Korean abstract master Kim Whanki (1913-74) to commemorate its reopening after a year of renovation.

The private gallery in Yongin, just south of Seoul, is set to present about 120 works of Kim, a pioneer of Korea’s abstract art, in the exhibition titled “a dot, a sky_ kim whanki,” from May 18 to September 10.

The exhibition showcases Kim’s major paintings and rare works as well as the archival materials and objects from his collection, including pottery, painting tools, sketchbooks, letters and scrapbooks, Yonhap reported.

The museum said the upcoming exhibition will shed new light into 40 years of Kim’s artistic journey, which combined Korean traditional beauty with Western painting techniques.

“His work has been routinely perceived as twofold: divided into figuration and abstraction, or into before and after allover dot painting,” the museum said in a release. “Avoiding such a dichotomous simplification, and examining both changes and continuities in his oeuvre, this exhibition suggests his art as a single formative process.”

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Categories
Government Policy

Speaker receives delegations participating in APA meetings

Speaker Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallahm received the councils delegations heads and parliament members participating in the meeting of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly’s (APA) Committee on Economic Affairs and Sustainable Development, hosted in Bahrain.

The Speaker stressed the importance of strengthening Asian parliamentary cooperation, especially in investment economics sector.

Al Musallah noted that Bahrain is taking pioneering steps under the leadership His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

He praised the role of the parliaments of the APA in supporting the implementation of sustainable development goals, environmental issues and the Asian Climate Finance Initiative.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Categories
Government Policy

HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister meets the UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister, today received the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa, Air Marshal Martin Sampson, at Riffa Palace.

His Royal Highness highlighted the long-standing relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, which have resulted in various strategic military and defence partnerships.

His Royal Highness emphasised Bahrain’s commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation to achieve common goals benefiting both Kingdoms and their peoples.

The latest regional and international developments and issues of common interest were also discussed.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Minister of Finance and National Economy, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and the Bahrain Defence Force’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Theyab bin Saqr Al Nuaimi, also attended the meeting.

Source: Bahrain News Agency