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AMMAN — Exports of the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) increased by some 9 per cent during the first third of 2018, thanks to the rise of exports of seven sectors, ACI data showed on Friday.

The chamber's exports during the January-April period of 2018 grew to JD1.336 billion, compared to JD1.226 billion for the same period in 2017, according to ACI statistical data, cited by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The data showed an increase in the chamber's exports to the Iraqi market by 37.5 per cent during the first four months of 2018, hitting JD168 million compared to JD122 million for the same period last year.

Exports of the chamber to India rose by 11.5 per cent in the first third of 2018 to reach JD190 million compared to JD170 million for the same period of 2017.

Chamber's exports to the US also went up by 10.2 per cent to JD158 million in the first four months of 2018, compared to JD143 million for the same period of last year.

The exports of ACI to Palestine increased by 93.3 per cent, reaching some JD109 million compared to JD56 million for the same period last year.

The statistical data showed an increase in the chamber's exports during the first third of 2018 to many Arab and foreign countries including Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, Sudan, Belgium, Australia, Spain and Oman, among others.

On the other hand, the chamber's exports to Saudi Arabia decreased by 5.1 per cent in the first third of 2018, down to JD158 million compared to JD167 million for the same period last year.

The chamber's exports also decreased in the January-April period of 2018 to several Arab and foreign countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, China, Algeria, Turkey, Malaysia, Yemen, Italy and Japan, among other countries.

Sector-wise, the chamber's exports were distributed to the mining industries with a total value of JD335 million, chemical and cosmetic products with JD211 million, medical supplies that amounted to JD165 million, and food, agriculture and livestock with JD145 million.

Exports of the leather and garment sectors amounted to JD138 million, while the engineering, electrical and ICT sectors hit JD118 million, and packaging, paper, and office supplies reached JD84 million.

The rest of the chamber's exports during the first third of 2018 were distributed to the sectors of construction industries with a value of JD67 million, plastic and rubber with JD65 million, and wood and furniture with JD7 million.

AMMAN — Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) Director General Khaled Toukan has stressed the significance of SESAME in the Middle East as the first international research centre of its kind which also promotes global scientific cooperation.

Participating in the International Day of Light on Thursday at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Toukan gave a keynote speech at the opening of the event, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Toukan pointed out that the International Day of Light celebrates one of the most important scientific discoveries that will benefit many fields of research.

Toukan discussed with Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay the prospects for cooperation between Jordan and UNESCO in the field of science support and future mechanisms to back the SESAME Centre as an international centre for all scientists and researchers around the world, according to Petra.

AMMAN — The Jordan-Iraq Economic Association and the National Iraqi Business Council on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for economic cooperation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Friday.

The MoU was signed by the directors of the two organisations Khaled Kanaan and Dawood Zayer. Under the memo, the two sides agreed to cooperate in projects of development and construction in Iraq and in the fields of expertise, technical, financial and industrial consultation.

Iraqi Ambassador in Amman Safia Al Souhail attended the signing ceremony. 

AMMAN — The Public Security Department (PSD) on Saturday announced that the working hours at the King Hussein Bridge during Ramadan will be between 7:30am and 10pm from Sunday to Thursday, and between 7:30am and 1pm on Friday and Saturday.

Travel movement will stop daily between 7pm and 8:30pm, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The Jordan Valley border crossing will be open in Ramadan from 8am to 6pm between Sunday and Thursday, and between 9am and 4pm on Friday, while on Saturday it will open between 8:30am and 6pm.

As for the Southern Wadi Araba border crossing, travel movement will be between 6:30am and 8pm from Sunday through Thursday, and between 8am and 8pm on Friday and Saturday. 

AMMAN — Income and Sales Tax Department Director General Hussam Abu Ali on Saturday said that the aim of amending the Income Tax Law is to limit tax evasion, expand the base of taxpayers and improve the tax administration.

Abu Ali said that expanding the tax base aims at increasing the percentage of taxpayers from its current level of 4.5 per cent to 10 per cent, stressing that 90 per cent of citizens will continue to be exempted from paying the income tax, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

As for the financial investigation department, the director said that it aims at unifying efforts related to addressing tax evasion, whether in income, sales, lands or customs tax, where the department will be independent and associated with the minister. 

AMMAN — Land Transport Regulatory Commission (LTRC) Director General Salah Lozi has met with the World Bank's chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa, Alan Moody, and senior private sector specialist, Abeer Shalan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Saturday.

The two sides discussed the developmental projects that support sustainable growth in the transport sector in the Kingdom and the challenges Jordan has endured as a result of border closures with some neighbouring countries.

During a meeting chaired by Lozi and attended by goods transport and transport facilities managers in the commission, they discussed the most important challenges faced by the Kingdom as a result of the unrest that the region is going through on the transport sector level in particular and on the economic sector level in general, and solutions implemented by the Kingdom to face these challenges as well as the government's commitment to provide the best transport services for citizens.

AMMAN — Jordan on Friday marked the International Museums Day, celebrated annually on May 18, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The day aims to provide the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and raise awareness about the importance of museums and the challenges that face them.

Tourism Minister Lina Annab said that museums are “mirrors” of people and civilisations and abbreviate thousands of years through simplified and comprehensive showcasing.

Annab noted that there are 35 museums across Jordan that are classified as archaeological, folk and arts, military and museums that exhibit the lives of national figures.

On the occasion, the ministry announced exempting visitors from entree ticket fees to celebrate the day and encourage people to visit.

AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah on Friday urged the international community to uphold its responsibilities in protecting the Palestinian people and enabling them to gain their rights and end occupation, injustice, and despair.

In his speech at the extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, Turkey, the King said that the sole path to peace is through ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.

He stressed that the region will never enjoy comprehensive peace unless the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is resolved according to international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Following is the full text of the speech:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate,

Prayers and peace be upon the Arab Hashemite Prophet Mohammad,

Your Majesties, Highnesses, Excellencies,

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

First, may the souls of our martyrs in Palestine rest in peace.

Jerusalem is our First Qibla. Jerusalem is Amman’s twin. Jerusalem is the key to peace and harmony. And the sole path to peace is through ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.

Let me stress, once again, that our region will never enjoy comprehensive peace unless the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is resolved according to international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.

My brothers,

Nearly five months ago, we met to counter the dangerous implications of the United States’ decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. And here we are today, witnessing the very implications we had warned against—the undermining of the foundations of peace and stability, the dominance of unilateralism, and a deepening state of despair that breeds violence.

Throughout that period, Jordan worked in coordination with brothers and friends to limit the ramifications of this decision. Our steadfast position continues to affirm that East Jerusalem is occupied territory and that it is a final status issue whose future is decided through direct negotiations, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

Here, we must also emphasise the need for immediate measures by brotherly Arab and Muslim countries to support the perseverance of Palestinians and empower them economically, while countering attempts to Judaise Jerusalem and alter its Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity.

My brothers,

The violence, aggression, and violations perpetrated by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people in Gaza and elsewhere in the Palestinian Territories must stop. The international community must uphold its responsibilities before history; peoples of the world and all people of conscience must uphold their responsibilities in protecting the Palestinian people and enabling them to gain their rights and end occupation, injustice, and despair.

As I have affirmed at the latest Arab Summit, the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem is a historical duty and responsibility that we are proud to carry. We will persevere in upholding this responsibility, in coordination with our brothers at the Palestinian National Authority and with your support. And we will continue to strengthen the resolve of Jerusalemites and counter any attempts to impose new facts on the ground or change the historical and legal status quo.

We genuinely seek peace, and everyone is called upon to end the prevalent anguish and frustration by advancing and achieving a peace that fulfils the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people—a peace where the holy city of Jerusalem stands as a symbol of harmony among the followers of the monotheistic faiths, not a cause for conflict.

In closing, I thank my brother and friend, His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his efforts and for convening this Summit.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

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AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah is scheduled on Friday to head the Jordanian delegation participating in the extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Thursday. 

The summit, to be held in Istanbul, follows the latest developments of the Palestinian issue due to relocating the US embassy to Jerusalem and the Israeli violence against Palestinians in Gaza. 

The summit comes upon a call of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the second since December last year, when the US announced its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem. 

Turkey, which is the rotating president of the 57-member organisation, is hosting the emergency meeting to discuss a joint action against Israel in the wake of the recent Gaza killings, according to Anadolu news agency.  

The meeting is expected to “give a strong message against the Israeli violence that led to the death of at least 62 Palestinians  during mass rallies Monday along Gaza's eastern border,” the official agency said.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Afghan President Ashraf Gani, Kuwaiti Amir Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and Mauritanian President Mohammad Veled Abdulaziz are expected to participate in the summit meeting.

A final declaration is to be released after the gathering. 
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin was quoted by the agency as saying that the OIC summit meeting will focus on steps to be taken to mobilise the international community to end the persecution of Palestinians.

In a written statement on Thursday, Kalin said the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian issue are not problems for the Muslim countries alone but common problems for all who believe in law and justice.

Monday’s protests in Gaza had coincided with Israel’s 70th anniversary — an event Palestinians refer to as Nakba or the catastrophe — and the relocation of the US embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Since the mass Gaza rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian protesters have been killed by cross-border Israeli army gunfire.

Last week, the Israeli government claimed the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law does not apply.

AMMAN — Jordan's economy is resilient, able to face challenges and is being reformed to reach self-sufficiency, State Minister for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said on Thursday. 

At a meeting with the Jordan News Agency, Petra’s staff, Momani stressed the government's openness to dialogue on the amended income tax draft law's impact on economy, development and fiscal position. 

The minister, who is also the government's spokesperson, stressed the importance of the public’s understanding of the draft law, noting that this piece of legislation is designed to protect the middle-income tranches. 

The spokesperson said that 90 per cent of citizens will not be included in the tax payers’ base under the bill.