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AMMAN — Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat on Tuesday said that the government is employing a new approach to address issues such as unemployment by instilling a sense of self-reliance.

Ghunaimat said that solving unemployment “requires years” and the collective efforts of institutions, adding that creating job opportunities for youth is a top priority in the government’s 2019-2020 action programme.

Meeting with managing editors of news websites on Tuesday, the minister added that the government’s plan in addressing unemployment is centred around diagnosing the problem and then solving it in cooperation with the private sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

“Unemployment is not going to be solved in the short term but will take years of endless work and effort... the government’s primary focus is to enhance the principle of self-reliance through creating a sound and safe investment environment capable of providing job opportunities,” Ghunaimat said.

She also said that the government is now drafting a “comprehensive strategy” to address poverty that includes support programmes for underprivileged families and an expanded healthcare system, according to Petra.

The minister also reiterated Jordan’s unaltered position on Jerusalem and Palestine, which is based on the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and Baghdad’s municipality on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to exchange expertise and foster municipal cooperation.

The MoU was signed in the Iraqi capital between Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh and Baghdad’s Mayor Thikra Alloush, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Alloush said that Baghdad is looking to benefit from the GAM’s expertise in service and infrastructure development, transformative industries, energy, environmental protection and waste management, Petra, reported.

Under the MoU, Amman and Baghdad will work together in the fields of public works, infrastructure, road management, transportation and training, according to Petra.

In a separate meeting in Amman, Transport Minister Anmar Khasawneh and Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Safiah Suhail reviewed the outcomes of recent visits between the two countries’ officials, according to Petra.

AMMAN — The 7th international biannual Aqaba conference on insurance opened on Monday with the participation of 550 people representing 25 countries.

Organised by the Jordan Insurance Federation (JIF), in cooperation with the General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF), the three-day conference will discuss a number of topics related to various insurance issues.

The topics included agricultural insurance, digital integration with insurance and its risks, 'Takaful' insurance (a cooperative system of reimbursement), natural catastrophic exposure and a debate on risk vs. capital, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Chairman of JIF’s Board of Directors Majed Smeirat said that this year’s conference was special because of the introduction of the insurance research award” meant to encourage research into e-insurance.

Bakheet urged the GAIF to invest in Aqaba, adding that the port city has hosted 10 international and regional conferences during this year’s first quarter.

In addition to Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries, took part in the three-day conference.

AMMAN — Jordan and Germany celebrated on Tuesday the 60th anniversary of Jordanian-German cooperation.

The event was sponsored by Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abul Saud and the German Ambassador to Jordan Birgitta Siefker-Eberle in the presence of a number of ministers, MPs and representatives of the water sector.

“German cooperation has been crucial in helping Jordan face water-related challenges, providing water services and enhancing the performance of the water sector,” Abul Saud said in a statement sent by the Agriculture Ministry.

Abul Saud thanked the German government for its understanding of the water shortage issues in Jordan, especially with the influx of refugees over the years.

“Relations between Jordan and Germany are rooted in the strong fraternity and friendship established by our leadership over the years. They are reflected in the mutual respect and appreciation shared between the two peoples,” the minister added.

He reiterated that issues of supply and demand and budget deficits within the water sector, following waves of refugees to the Kingdom since 1948.

“The water sector in Jordan cannot bare more strain,” Abul Saud stressed.

The minister pointed that the implementation of large-scale water projects, especially those involving water desalination, is the only hope for the future of the Kingdom’s water sector.

“The Disi project, which cost the Kingdom $1.1 billion, helped with the water demand, especially with the influx of Syrian refugees. Projects such as the Zarah desalination station in Maeen and others, at a cost exceeding $500 million, have also helped mitigate demand challenges resulting from the influx of Iraqi, Yemini and Libyan refugees,” Abul Saud elaborated.

“Jordanian-German cooperation began in 1959, and ever since then, the two countries have worked closely to enhance sustainable development within the Kingdom. They have made great strides in the fields of water and wastewater, solid-waste recycling, environmental protection, education and the promotion of employment,” affirmed Siefker-Eberle.

Meanwhile, the German Jordanian University’s School of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, in cooperation with the Technical University of Cologne, launched a water-safety project funded by the German ministry of education and research.

The project aims at finding areas of cooperation between scientists and policymakers to discuss various aspects of water safety, in addition to coordinating research among academic fields, create innovative environmental systems and turn research into practical solutions to serve the local market. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday affirmed the importance of dialogue and institutional partnerships to reach innovative solutions to move Jordan forward and enhance development.

During a meeting with members of the House of Representatives’ Islah (Reform) bloc at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah stressed the importance of public-private sector cooperation to reduce poverty and unemployment rates, and to create jobs for young Jordanians, a Royal Court statement said.

His Majesty also said it was imperative for parliamentary blocs to put their proposed programmes to practice to address national challenges and reflect positively on Jordan’s political landscape.

The meeting, part of the King’s outreach to parliamentary blocs, addressed the latest regional developments and the exceptional conditions the region is going through, which require collective national action.

His Majesty reiterated Jordan’s unwavering position on the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem, stressing that the only solution to the Palestinian issue is the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The King noted that his recent visits to Arab and European countries focused largely on Jordan’s steadfast and clear position on the Palestinian cause, in addition to efforts by proactive stakeholders to achieve just and lasting peace, according to the statement.

The King stressed that Jordan will not accept external pressures over its position on the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem.

For his part, Abdullah Akaileh, who chairs the 14-member Islah bloc, commended His Majesty’s honourable positions on the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem, noting that “we are all united behind you”.

MP Akaileh said Jordan, through its wise leadership and vigilant citizens, has been able to overcome past crises and maintain its security and stability, the statement added.

He called for effective crisis management by the government, as well as clear plans to reduce poverty and unemployment.

Also speaking at the meeting, other Islah bloc members commended the King’s positions in support of Palestinians’ pursuit of their legitimate and just rights, affirming that all Jordanians support His Majesty’s position on the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem.

Jordan stands out with its united internal front and its steadfast positions on the Palestinian cause, the lawmakers said.

They also commended the King’s efforts to defend Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem in line with the Hashemite Custodianship, the Royal Court said.

The MPs said they are aware of the challenges facing Jordan, stressing that a Jordan that is strong internally is a point of strength for Arabs and Jerusalem.

Current challenges facing Jordan due to regional crises require the unity of all Jordanians behind His Majesty to overcome them, the lawmakers added.

They called for promoting investment safeguarding the middle class and families affected by poverty, the fair distribution of taxes, safeguarding liberties, combating corruption and character assassination, reducing poverty and unemployment, and improving the standard of living, the statement indicated.

The deputies also stressed the need to bolster public trust in institutions, noting the importance of speeding up litigation and developing key sectors such as health, education, water and energy.

The MPs urged focus on economic development and addressing the public debt, calling for capitalising on young Jordanian talents.

The deputies highlighted the importance of implementing His Majesty’s discussion papers to develop political and partisan life, noting that their bloc uses these discussion papers as a guide.

The lawmakers also underscored the need to develop the Elections Law, the statement said.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas and Adviser to His Majesty for Economic Affairs Mohamad Eses attended the meeting.

AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Tuesday attended the launch of the Crown Prince Award for Best Government Service Application.

The award, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, is part of the strategic cooperation plans between Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the field of modernising government services. 

The award, which was officially launched at the King Hussein Business Park and attended by hundreds of university students and officials, will target some 300,000 higher education students in over 30 private and public education entities in the Kingdom.

A JD100,000 prize will be distributed for the top three ranking projects.

The annual award is designed to stimulate and encourage university students to provide creative solutions via smart phone applications for simplifying government services. 

The aim is to improve government services and provide simple, around-the-clock government services that are easy, efficient and transparent, organisers of the initiative said.

The award also aims to strengthen the relationship between students and government entities in Jordan and involve the youth in creating services and finding solutions that transform citizens’ experience with public institutions and improve their quality of life, according to the organisers.

The projects are allocated for six sectors — health, water, tourism, education,  transport and business environment — which students can choose from to design innovative tech solutions.

The main criteria the award will be focused on are ease of use, efficiency and effectiveness and innovation.

Crown Prince Hussein praised the award’s message and goals that aim to encourage innovation and creativity among university students, and use their ideas to improve and facilitate government services.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, who attended the launch alongside the UAE’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future Mohammad Al Gergawi, described the strong relationships between Jordan and the UAE as an “important and distinguished example that should be followed”.

“We are extremely proud with the strong cooperation between the wise leadership of both countries and we constantly work under their directives to strengthen the cooperation and partnership in various fields,” Razzaz told the gathering.

The premier stressed that the government took serious steps to “improve and develop the public sector’s performance and to strengthen the youth’s participation in decision making and the public sphere”.

“We constantly strive to achieve the proper environment for the youth to unleash their capabilities and release their potentials and innovation,” Razzaz said.

“The government has worked, based on the Royal vision, to launch this award to employ the youth’s potential in the field of government work and to provide the proper environment for the youth to become more creative and involved in developing government services,” Razzaz said.

The premier urged government institutions to “help students look for challenges and solutions and to provide all forms of support they need to succeed”.

Gergawi also addressed the gathering during the launch event, noting that the “historical relationship between Jordan and the UAE is deep and noble”.

“We strive to maintain and strengthen the long-term relationship between the two countries in the field of developing the government’s performance as part of the knowledge exchange agreement that aims for learning from each other’s successful experiences and practices,” Gergawi said.

Addressing the youth in the auditorium, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Edraak Bassem Saad said that the youth play a major role in boosting the aims and goals of Edraak’s online platform, launched by Her Majesty Queen Rania with the aim of revolutionising access and delivery of education in the Arab world by providing high-quality learning opportunities for both adults and school students.

Meanwhile, the managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board, Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, pointed out that recent Jordanian graduates contributed in developing a smart phone application, “Visit Jordan”, that is used by tourists who want to visit the Kingdom.

Both Saad and Arabiyat said they have “strong confidence in young Jordanians’ abilities and innovative ideas, as they will be the job creators, not the job seekers”.

The two also agreed that the award will hopefully help the youth in creating smart phone applications that will solve a lot of problems in the public sector and create more work opportunities for the youth in the near future.

AMMAN — Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Musa Maaytah on Tuesday refuted allegations that the ministry was considering reducing funds for political parties.

During his meeting, over the Political Parties Law, with 16 secretaries general of parties, Maaytah said that parties elected to Parliament could receive more funds than currently designated to them, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The minister stressed that the state wants to deliver a message to citizens that it supports developing the political system until parties can be represented in Parliament, a demand that His Majesty King Abdullah has spoken about several times.

During the meeting, the secretaries general agreed to link financial support to elections.

They also called for an increase in funds allocated for election campaigns.

The participants said that financial support for parties was generally based on political participation and linked to elections and parliamentary representation in international systems.

Maaytah said that the party finance system implemented through the Treasury has not achieved its goal, calling for changes to the current system through dialogue with political parties.

He added that the government had sent certain standards to parties and, in return, the parties replied with the proposals that are currently being discussed.

AMMAN — Citizens in Balqa, Zarqa and Karak on Tuesday took to the streets in a show of support for His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in the occupied city of Jerusalem.

Demonstrators reaffirmed their support of Jordanian leadership’s position on Palestine, Jerusalem and the causes of the Arab and Islamic nations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In Salt, citizens paraded around the city reaffirming unity and solidarity among Jordanians, as well as between Jordanians and their leadership, according to Petra.

Chairman of the Balqa Governorate Council Musa Awamleh said that the Hashemites have made immeasurable sacrifices in the effort to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and preserve the occupied city’s Arab and Islamic identity.

Citizens in Karak also rallied in support of the King’s stance on Jerusalem.

They also chanted slogans voicing support of His Majesty’s position against the Judaisation of Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.

Arab Potash Company Chairman Jamal Sarayrah said that “the Hashemites are the legitimate historical and religious custodians of Jerusalem, and there was no debate on this”.

In the Rusaifa district of Zarqa Governorate, citizens also rallied in support of Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause. They also chanted support for the Palestinians’ right to an independent state of their own and their right to return to their occupied homeland, Petra reported.

SHANGHAI — Chinese and Arab experts weighed in on China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative on Tuesday, saying it would play a key role in achieving desired development and prosperity in the Arab world, including Jordan, by focusing on boosting development.

The initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network to connect Asia, Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes. 

Experts, who have gathered in Shanghai for the second Arab-Chinese Forum on Reform and Development, said the massive undertaking would strengthen Sino-Arab relations in fields of commerce, culture and other areas.

“The One Belt, One Road initiative is of key importance for enhancing Chinese-Arab relations in several arenas... Ties between China and the Arab world are growing at a rapid pace,” said Li Chengwen, ambassador of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The initiative supports strengthening ties with Jordan and Arab economic development,” he added on the sidelines of the event.

In his address, he stressed that China supports Arabs and their causes, including the Palestinian issue, a central cause for the Middle East.

As of July 2018, more than 100 countries and international organisations have signed Belt-and-Road cooperation agreements with China, extending the initiative’s scope from the Eurasian continent to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the south Pacific region.

During the event, former Lebanese president Michael Suleiman stressed the significance of the initiative for supporting development in the Arab world.

“Arab states are essential for the success of this project as it focuses on infrastructure and energy projects,” Suleiman said.

Meanwhile, former Egyptian foreign minister Mohammad Fahmi stressed that cooperation under the initiative would not only benefit the economic and trade relations between China and the Arab world, but also other areas including science, culture and technology.

Jiang Feng, chair of Shanghai International Studies University Council, said many of the problems in the Middle East could be solved by focusing on and achieving development, in which the One Belt, One Road initiative could play a key role.

China is the second-largest trading partner for the Arab world, Khalil Thawadi, assistant secretary general of the Arab League, said, noting that trade exchange between China and Arab states reached $190 billion in 2017.

“The initiative is very important, and 21 Arab states signed memoranda of understanding as part of the initiative with China last year,” he said.

“The Arab world is a strategic partner for China in implementing the plan [One Belt, One Road],” the Arab League official said, adding that China is a strong supporter of the region’s stability, and that the Arab League supports the One China policy.

Majdi Abdul Aziz, a researcher at the Middle East Studies Centre, said the initiative would play an important role in creating much needed jobs in Jordan and boosting trade to create opportunities.

“Ties between China and Jordan are distinguished and this initiative would make ties stronger,” Abdul Aziz told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the event.

“Jordan was among the first to start Arab-Chinese dialogue via the Arab Thought Forum [ATF],” said Hashem Kayed, deputy secretary general for cultural affairs at the ATF.

“China’s initiative to revive the cultural Silk Road began several years ago and aimed at restoring the spirit of peace, cooperation, tolerance and openness... between the two nations and peoples to make the bonds between those of the east and the peoples of the world stronger,” Kayed said.

‘Not a debt trap’

During the forum, Arab and Chinese officials rejected claims by several Western media outlets that the initiative dangerously increases the debt of countries participating in the plan, stressing the importance of debt management by countries in this regard.

They alleged that there were attempts by Western media to “tarnish the image of the initiative”, adding that a majority of the investments under the initiative were not only through loans but also through investments by Chinese companies and partnerships with other international organisations.

The participants said that the initiative aims to benefit the countries taking part in the plan, and it was important to focus on debt management as the debt itself is “not the core problem”.

At last week’s World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, Li, ambassador for China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Affairs, said “China is trying to find mechanisms to avoid a ‘debt trap’.”

The Chinese official added that no country to date has complained of falling into a “trap” of unsustainable Chinese loans.

“The Belt and Road initiative aims to increase the economic prosperity of a country. It does not aim at expanding the political and geographical authority of China in the world,” he said at the World Economic Forum.

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mary Kawar on Monday concluded her working visit to Washington, DC, after participating in the Spring Meetings of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Kawar, Jordan’s governor at the WB, co-chaired a roundtable meeting with Jordan’s main donors to follow up on the outcomes of London conference in February, entitled “Jordan: Growth and Opportunity — the London Initiative 2019”, which was held in February.

Representatives of the G-7, Gulf Council countries and donor organisations attended the meeting, a statement from the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation said.

During the meeting, donors stressed their support for Jordan and sustaining its economy.

Kawar also represented Jordan at the meeting of the Joint WB-IMF Development Committee, which was chaired by President of the World Bank Group David Malpass.

The minister also met with Ferid Belhaj, the WB’s vice president for Middle East and north Africa, and other officials concerned with supporting Jordan, according to the statement.

During the meeting, Kawar outlined the progress made in the projects funded by the WB, as well as future priorities, means of cooperation and the support that the bank will provide to Jordan.

For their part, the bank’s officials commended Jordan’s economic reforms, stressing their support to the economic reform matrix on growth and job creation for 2018-2019, the statement underlined.

The matrix will help the government implement its reform agenda in line with the Economic Growth Plan 2018-2022, the statement said, adding that it will contribute to overcoming various challenges, boosting investment and achieving sustainable development.

As a keynote speaker, Kawar participated in the launch of the World Banks report: “The Mobility of Displaced Syrians: An Economic and Social Analysis”. She also took part, as keynote speaker, in high-level panel discussions on education and gender, in addition to holding bilateral meetings with a number of representatives of donor countries.

Alongside Finance Minister Ezzeddine Kanakrieh, Kawar took part in the eighth ministerial meeting of social safety network, where they reviewed Jordan’s social safety efforts and plans.

These plans, the statement underscored, are implemented through under way and future efforts to improve services and expand the coverage of the National Aid Fund.

Minister Kawar also participated in the dialogue session on gender equality and the empowerment of women in the context of humanitarian action.

She noted that since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Jordan had received about 1.3 million Syrians in the Kingdom, 90 per cent of whom reside in Jordanian cities and villages and only 10 per cent in refugee camps.

Of the 1.3 million, 670,000 are registered with the UNHCR and more than 50.6 per cent of the total refugee population are female, the ministry statement affirmed.

Kawar referred to the Jordanian government’s efforts in the field of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, which reflects the government’s commitment to human rights and justice and the promotion of participatory approaches, through the launch of the Jordanian National Plan to activate Security Council Resolution 1325 for the years 2018-2021.

The planning minister said that the government is working with international institutions to build 600 new schools in Jordan over the next 10 years, in order to deal with the population growth.

She noted that 70 per cent of the Jordanian population members are less than 30 years old, adding that the government is working with the International Finance Corporation to build, operate and manage schools in Jordan.

The minister also held several meeting with US officials from the departments of treasury and state to follow up on the US aid to Jordan for 2019 and the next year.

Kawar voiced her appreciation to the US government and people for increasing aid, which contributes to Jordan’s ability to face challenges, increase self-reliance and support national reform and development programmes.