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AMMAN — The value of total exports in Jordan during the first nine months of 2019 stood at JD4.356 billion, marking an 8.1-per cent increase compared with the same period in 2018, while exports of national goods increased by 7.8 per cent to reach JD3.687 billion, according to figures from the Department of Statistics (DoS). 

The value of reexported goods in the first nine months of 2019 reached JD669.3 million, increasing by 9.4 per cent compared with the first three quarters of 2018.

In the same comparison period, imports decreased to around JD10.1 billion, at a rate of 5.3 per cent, according to DoS figures. 

The trade balance deficit, which is the difference between the value of imports and total exports, stood at JD5.743 billion, decreasing during the first nine months of this year by 13.4 per cent, compared to the same period with 2018.

In regards to the most significant goods exported during the first three quarters of this year, national exports of clothing and garments increased by 10.8 per cent, raw potash by 14.4 per cent, fertilisers by 9.1 per cent and chemical products by 37.1 per cent, while exports of raw phosphate decreased by 2.4 per cent.

As for the most significant imported goods in the first nine months of 2019, imports of machinery and their parts increased by 1.6 per cent, electrical devices and their parts by 10.6 per cent and seeds by 7 per cent.

Imports of oil derivatives decreased by 19.8 per cent, vehicles and their parts by 7.2 per cent and iron by 15.8 per cent during the same comparison period, according to the DoS.

In regards to foreign trade partners, national exports in the first nine months of this year increased in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area by 1.8 per cent, including Saudi Arabia, by 6.3 per cent. Exports to countries of the free trade agreement with North America increased by 11.5 per cent, including the US, by 11 per cent.

During the same period, imports from non-Arab Asian countries increased by 6.4 per cent, including China by 11.6 per cent, while imports from the countries of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area during the same period decreased by 5.3 per cent, including Saudi Arabia, by 2.8 per cent. 

In response to the figures, Economist Husam Ayesh said that the numbers “indicate a positive change” and the possibility to offer incentives to well-performing industries in order to stimulate growth.

He said that "the government's comprehensive four-aspect economy plan could contribute to the production process and increase economic growth in this sense".

In regards to the decrease of imports, especially in oil derivatives, the economist said that this can be read in two different ways: It could mean that consumption regressed due to low purchase capability and led to a reduced need for imports; but it could also mean that consumers are not using oil derivatives as much as before. 

Ayesh said, as the trade balance deficit also decreased, the government needs to maintain this positive change, mainly through reviewing their plan in regards to taxes.

"I compiled all the statements from the Central Bank of Jordan from the year 2000 up until 2018, and the calculations showed that the Kingdom's total national exports for that period stood at JD62.2 billion, while imports stood at JD181.4 billion," the economist revealed.

Adding the first three quarters up until the end of September, national exports would stand at around JD66 billion and imports would stand at JD191.5 billion, Ayesh said, noting that the trade balance deficit for the whole period from 2000 to the end of September this year would stand at JD125.5 billion. 

AMMAN — UNRWA Acting Commissioner General Christian Saunders said on Monday that the cumulative fiscal deficit of the agency amounts to $322 million, which it needs in order to operate its programmes and activities.

“We currently and immediately need a total of $167 million to provide the bare minimum of our services, without which we cannot survive,” Saunders added on the sidelines of UNRWA’s advisory committee opening at the Dead Sea, as reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

He noted that UNRWA is currently facing the “worst financial crisis” it has witnessed since its inception. 

While he called on donor countries to fulfill their commitments by donating to UNRWA, Saunders expressed his appreciation for the role Jordan plays in defending the agency and urging the international community to provide financial support.

Saunders noted that donor countries are currently being approached to pay financial dues in order to enable the agency to maintain its services for its 5.5 million Palestinian refugee beneficiaries, Petra reported.

An investigation concerning UNRWA’s methods is expected to conclude soon, the acting commissioner said, adding that “the results of the investigation have proved there to be no financial corruption, which incentivises donor countries to commit to providing donations”. He stressed that the agency utilises donations with “professionalism and responsibility”. 

“The increase of UNRWA teachers in Jordan came as a result of equating their salaries to those of government employees and teachers,” Saunders said, noting that the agency’s employees have not seen an increase in salaries since 2012. 

The acting commissioner also reviewed the progress seen in the agency’s services, noting that it requires $80 million monthly to survive. 

AMMAN — Under the implementation of the Jordan Response Plan to the Syrian Crisis (JRP), Syrian students attending Jordanian universities can now receive scholarships to cover their tuition from projects designated for Syrians' education, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Muhyiddine Touq said on Monday.

During a meeting with an Arab League delegation headed by Sheikha Hessa Al Thani, the Arab League secretary general’s envoy for humanitarian relief, Touq highlighted the burden placed on the Kingdom's various sectors, mainly higher education, as a result of Jordan's hosting of Syrian refugees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He said that the main challenge facing the ministry is refugees' lack of basic identification documents needed to enroll in Jordanian universities, noting that the ministry has managed to solve this problem by depending on Interior Ministry-issued cards instead of students' passports.

Sheikha Hessa, for her part, lauded Jordan's role in addressing the Syrian crisis.

To evaluate the impact of hosting Syrian refugees in the Kingdom, Sheikha Hessa asked the gathering about major challenges encountered by the higher education sector, emphasising that Jordan's experience in receiving refugees should be shared; most notably the Kingdom's keenness on protecting refugees' rights to life, education and health.

AMMAN — The government is planning to increase the budget for universities by JD18 million next year, bringing the total designated amount up from JD72 million in 2019 to JD90 million, according to Minister of Higher Education Muhyiddine Touq.

During a meeting with representatives from various local media outlets last week at the ministry, Touq announced several measures taken to improve the higher education system in the Kingdom, noting that the financial support will depend on adherence to international standards and improvement in various international indices. 

While considering these indices, the ministry will conduct a study to determine the distribution of government support to universities, better control spending, move towards development and create a balance between management staff and academics. 

Public and private universities in the Kingdom require support to lift them out of the current difficult financial conditions, so that they can achieve their goals, the minister said, noting that the Higher Education Council's (HEC) role is to form policies and strategies that cover the general framework of higher education in the Kingdom.

The ministry intends to reform the committee that recognises non-Jordanian higher education institutes and the committee for non-Jordanian certificate equivalency in accordance with the amended by-law on recognising non-Jordanian higher education institutes and providing  certificate equivalency.

In light of these changes, Touq announced that there will be “intense meetings” in the upcoming days with public and private university presidents and chairmen of boards of trustees, which will aim at determining the main priorities of the upcoming stage.

In regards to current activities at the ministry, the minister has met with ambassadors and senior officials from various countries, including Algeria, Hungary and Ukraine to discuss cultural, academic and scientific cooperation.

The minister also tackled the issue of students being expelled from Ukrainian universities, working to resolve this matter during his meeting with the Ukrainian chargé d'affaires.

Additionally, Touq met with several students who have returned from Sudanese universities, and listened to their complaints and demands in regards to the tuition fees they are paying, as the HEC had recommended that they pay half the programme fee, while various Jordanian universities did not follow the recommendation. 

The minister also announced that Jordanians studying in bachelor’s and diploma programmes at Jordanian universities can apply to benefit from scholarships and grants for the upcoming academic year until November 28th, and those interested can find all the necessary forms and information on www.dsamohe.gov.jo.

Around 24,000 applications  have been submitted on the website, he said, noting that a total of 2,140 grants and scholarships were available this year across the Kingdom.

He also highlighted the scholarships in Hungary for Jordanian bachelor's, master's and doctoral candidates, with all the requirements and forms available at http://studyinhungary.hu; while information on Hungarian universities and their certificates can be found on rce.mohe.gov.jo/RecgonizedUniversities. 

AMMAN — Four earthquakes on Monday struck the Dead Sea, with the strongest measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale at depths of 12 and 7 kilometres, according to a Jordan Seismological Observatory (JSO) statement.

JSO Director Mahmoud Qaryouti said that the first strike recorded in Ghor Al Haditha started at 10:02am, measuring 2.6, followed by strikes with magnitudes of 3.3 at 10:07am, 3.8 at 1:39pm and 3.7 at 1:48pm. 

AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Wisam Rabadi, Tourism Minister Majd Shweikeh and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Hotel and Tourism Education Company Nadim Muasher on Monday signed an agreement under which the Planning Ministry will finance the development of a hotel and tourism education project.

The project is implemented by the Jordan Hotel and Tourism Education Company with the aim of finding 300 annual jobs for Jordanian youth in the field of hotels and tourism, according to a Planning Ministry statement.

The funding of the project comes as part of Royal directives to improve the living conditions of Jordanians. The Cabinet has approved the allocation of JD500,000 for financing the project, under the umbrella of a programme enhancing economic and social productivity for 2019, which is run by the Planning Ministry.

AMMAN — The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) on Monday released a number of Chukar partridge birds at the Dana Biosphere Reserve.

The partridges were released so they could repopulate their natural habitat and "allow hunters to practise their hobby within the confines of the law", according to Abdul Razzaq Hmoud, who heads the RSCN’s conservation and hunting regulation unit.

Hmoud said that, prior to releasing birds, the RSCN inspects them to ensure their safety, according to an RSCN statement. 

AMMAN — During a recent workshop held by the Economic and Social Council at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Director General of NARC Nizar Haddad signed agreements to accept pioneering projects to the centre’s Agricultural Innovation Incubator.

This measure comes under an initiative that was first launched in February 2019 to offer a comprehensive package of technical consultations and logistical support for new projects to allow them to benefit from research programmes at NARC, for the purpose of preserving the sustainability of those pioneering projects and making those in charge “more qualified and competitive”, according to a NARC statement.

Haddad highlighted in the statement the “success of the previous projects” in the incubator, while director of NARC’s Intellectual Property Protection Unit Ammar Hattar said that nine projects have joined the incubator so far and the chance for more is “still open”, according to the statement. 

AMMAN — Chairman of the Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) Khalid Wazani on Monday said that the commission will adopt a plan for “all promising investment opportunities to be promoted in all forums”.

The chairman made his remarks during a meeting with Jordanian delegates who participated in the November 10-14 promotional tour for Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, according to a JIC statement. Wazani described the tour as “successful” and said that the committee is receiving letters of interest from expatriate Jordanians and Arab investors.

He added that the JIC will work in cooperation with the public and private sectors to conduct more promotional tours for interested investors, especially from the UAE and Qatar.

AMMAN — The results of a study into the microfinance sector presented by the Jordan Microfinance Network (Tanmeyah) on Monday show the sector’s commitment not only to abide by the best global practices and rules but also to take into account the social dimension of business, according to Tanmeyah Chairman Ahmed Al Hussein.

The study, supported by the European Union, explores several aspects of the sector, such as the market gap between supply and demand, informal lending practices, social performances of the microfinance sector and an evaluation of its business environment.

“Raised awareness on microfinance practices is improving the living standards and business practices of target groups in all the Kingdom’s governorates,” said Hussein at a press conference on Monday.

According to the study, supporting entrepreneurship through microfinance “contributes to achieving economic growth rates that positively affect poverty and unemployment”.

The study also covered structural challenges that negatively influence the “formal” microfinance sector and limit its development and growth.

Government taxes, informal lending practices in firms not registered with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply and individual lending practices have had “the most negative impact on clients”, according to study results.

Also at the press conference, representatives of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) discussed its role in “supervising the work of companies and ensuring the quality and efficiency of financial services provided by the CBJ and the financial sector in general”.