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AMMAN — Several members of the private sector have shown mixed reactions towards the government’s national project to establish a new city in the Kingdom, expressing both optimistic and negative views over the newly announced plan. 

The new city project, to be located to the east of Amman and southwest of Zarqa, was officially announced by the government on November 4, describing it as “one of the key strategic schemes” and a “significant step aimed at providing a better lifestyle for citizens, improving services and offering residences with lower costs,” according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times. 

The project is part of the government’s efforts to stimulate economic growth, and a strategic response to challenges facing the national economy through contributing to enhancing investment in national resources and assets, the statement said. 

However, the government “is not ready for such a megaproject,” economist Zayyan Zawaneh told The Jordan Times, explaining that “building a new city would take years in any given economy, but the situation of Jordan is even worse.”

“The government is not taking into consideration that this project could take even decades, and before they embark on this, they should find short-term solutions to issues such as the ever-growing public debt, unemployment and inequality between the Kingdom’s citizens,” he continued. 

“The announcement made appears to be confusing, and if they are really planning to count on the support of the private sector, the announcement should have been made along with such partners,” Zawaneh added. 

The expert’s views are opposed to those expressed by economist and commentator, Issam Qadamani, who told The Jordan Times that “it was about time we see a project like this one, and this new city should have been built many years ago”.

“Five years from now, we will see many new business and even entire sectors flourishing in Jordan, as the new city presents huge new opportunities in order to address the economic problem in the Kingdom,” Qadamani added. 

As for the employment issue, the columnist believes that “many new jobs will be created as new business opportunities emerge, not to mention the positive impact that the new infrastructures and public services will have on the job market”.

Economist Wajdi Makhamreh shared positive views as well, noting that “eventually, building the new city will encourage investments in several sectors and boost the labour market”.

“However, we still have not heard the views of the private sector regarding the project, and even though the government mentioned the cooperation with financial institutions and banks, they were not clear about the partnerships and agreements reached,” he added. 

“Many promising projects have been announced before and nothing happened, so before we jump to any conclusions, the financial sources for the execution of the project must be made clear,” Makhamreh concluded.

His views echo those of President of the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) ​Majed Tabbaa, who stated that “the government needs to be more transparent about this project.”
“There is a lot of information that we still don’t know and we can’t decide whether this project could be beneficial or not without having a complete picture of the plan,” continued Tabbaa, pointing out that “by now, all stakeholders should have been consulted, including  the JEA.”

“The government stated that they are going to rely on investors for the execution of this project, but what does this project have that would attract investors?” Tabbaa asked, pointing out that “the only thing that we have in Jordan right now is human capital”.
“Furthermore, if this project is really going to be implemented, all the current obstacles and challenges that Amman is facing must be taken into account. Transportation, environmental and infrastructure issues must be addressed, and their replication must be prevented,” said the expert. 

Zuhair Omari, president of the Jordan Housing Developers Association (JHDA), said the new city project should have been studied more thoroughly.

“We as private sector should have been involved in the discussions even before announcing it…This is a nice and good idea but the priority should be to improving the current situation in Amman,” he told The Jordan Times.
“We need to solve problems that Amman faces at present. Currently, there are five million people in Amman and it is crowded, no public parks, heavy traffic, no public transportation,” he said.
“The priority should be given now to Amman and the urgent need to improve its infrastructure,” he said.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday is scheduled to open the Parliament's second ordinary session, where he will deliver the Speech from the Throne.

The Senate will later convene a meeting chaired by President Faisal Fayez to read the Royal Decrees that include one proroguing the Parliament's extraordinary session, a second adjourning its ordinary session until November 12, 2017, and a third summoning it to meet in an ordinary session as of Sunday, November 12.

The Upper House will then elect members of the committee to reply to the Speech from the Throne.

After the Senate meeting, the Lower House will hold its first meeting to elect the panel that will reply to the Speech from the Throne and the two deputy speakers and the speaker's assistants.

The Lower House will also elect members of its 20 permanent committees.

Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh on Friday said that His Majesty's Speech from the Throne will include directives to all state institutions and is considered an action programme for the next stage.

In an interview with Jordan TV’s 60 Minutes, Tarawneh expressed his satisfaction over the performance of the Lower House, noting that the Chamber has faced many challenges and yet managed to endorse many laws, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He stressed that the House is fully aware of its responsibilities and the magnitude of economic challenges facing the Kingdom, especially that it does not receive enough aid that enables it to implement economic programmes.

The speaker highlighted the importance of addressing economic woes, expressing hope that the government will soon “announce war” on tax and customs evasions and administrative inefficiency.

In this regard, he said that the tax evasion provisions in the new law — in the making — needs oversight from the government and the Lower House, where the former has to stiffen penalties on tax evasion.

Tarawneh said that the national economy needs some revisions, especially when it comes to subsidy that has to be directed to beneficiaries from the lower- and middle-income segments through finding suitable mechanisms.

AMMAN — Participants in the World Science Forum (WSF) 2017 voiced their support for the launch of an Arab Science Forum aimed at bringing together science and research communities, utilising scientific capacity to address regional challenges and connecting regional science voices to the global discourse.

"We, as partner organisations and participants of World Science Forum 2017, commit our support to the establishment of the Arab Science Forum," the participants said in the declaration of the 8th World Science Forum which concluded in Jordan on Friday.

This year's WSF witnessed the participation of some 3,000 scientists, policymakers, activists and experts.

In the communiqué, a copy of which was e-mailed to The Jordan Times, the participants called on stakeholders in the field of science to come together to promote the universal right to science as an essential precursor to building a fair and durable peace.

"We recognise the importance of regional initiatives to strengthen cohesion within diverse scientific communities and to build partnerships among them. In this respect, we support the organisation and promotion of regional science as a powerful tools to initiate positive change focusing on regional challenges to science systems," they said.

Calling on science organisations, universities and governments to devise mechanisms to identify professionals among the millions displaced by war, economic hardship and climate change, the forum urged coming up with recommendations that protect the person’s status and ability to create knowledge.

The participants of the event, which was for the first time held in the Middle East, underlined the need for education and jobs programmes to support mobility and integration of migrant and refugee researchers and students.

They also called for the inclusion of migrant and refugee researchers in the negotiation process of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration due to be signed by UN Member States in 2018.

In the declaration, the participants called for the recognition and promotion of diversity in science as an essential precursor to fully realising the potential of human capacities globally, to cherishing excellence and optimising the impact of scientific research for the benefit of humankind.

“We affirm the need to collaborate to improve governance, to inform technological choices and investments, and to build social and human infrastructures for equitable and sustainable management of resources,” the declaration read.

They also endorsed the three landmark UN agreements adopted in 2015 — the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. 

They said the preservation of scientific capacities, threatened by global migration trends, was key to peace, sustainable development, resilience and recovery, committing to promote the right for all to participate in the advancement of science and the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications as established in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966).

AMMAN — The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) and Rolls-Royce on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct a technical feasibility study for the construction of a Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in Jordan, the two sides announced.

The suggested reactor would have a 440MW capacity and would be used to desalinate seawater and generate electricity. 

The signing took place at the British embassy in Paris, between Alan Woods, Strategy and Business Development director, Rolls-Royce, and Kamal Araj, JAEC’s vice chairman, according to Rolls-Royce media centre and a JAEC statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Saturday.

They highlighted the growing international interest in small modular nuclear technology.

Harry Holt, president — Nuclear, Rolls-Royce, said in a statement: “We’re pleased to work with JAEC to look at the benefits that SMRs could deliver to Jordan.”

“With demand for global energy set to rise due to new technologies, such as electric cars and increasing requirements for water desalination and district cooling, international interest in Rolls-Royce small modular reactor technology is growing. It represents an important British export opportunity,” Holt was quoted as saying.

JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan said, as quoted in the company’s press release: “SMRs offer unique opportunities to address many of the challenges confronting Jordan, in particular water scarcity and small grid size, through the introduction of nuclear energy in the country as part of the energy mix.”

The two organisations will work together to define the technical, safety, economic and financial requirements for constructing a Rolls-Royce SMR power station in Jordan for electricity generation and water desalination. 

The outcome of the feasibility study will be used to inform an investment decision by JAEC to move forward to project delivery phase.

JAEC was established in 2008 to carry out a national strategy for nuclear energy to address the increasing public demand for energy, limited local energy sources and the high prices of fossil fuels on the international market.   

Jordan has already signed an agreement with Russia on worth $10 billion to build the Kingdom’s first nuclear power plant with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatt.

Rolls-Royce is a consortium of British companies to design a small modular reactor power station to deliver low cost, low carbon energy to help the UK meets its carbon commitments.

AMMAN — Jordan and the US on Saturday signed a protocol to extend and amend the cooperation agreement in the fields of science and technology, on the side lines of the World Science Forum held between November 7 and 11 at the Dead Sea.

Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury and Deputy Charge D’affaires of the US Embassy in Amman Jim Bernhardt signed the protocol, in the presence of HRH Prince Hassan, according to a Planning Ministry statement.

Fakhoury said that the 10-year agreement comes as a result of the important cooperation between the two countries in the fields of scientific research and technology, noting that it has played an important role in improving the knowledge-based society in the Kingdom.

He said that the agreement would enhance the technological capabilities, intellectual property and partnerships in technological investments for both sides, in addition to improving the economic opportunities in the sector. 

The minister said that it will also support the Jordan 2025, the Plan to Stimulate Economy 2018-2022 and help achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

For his part, Bernhardt said that the US has bilateral and multilateral agreements with various countries that seek to provide a framework for international cooperation in the scientific and technological fields.

He highlighted that these agreements provide a mechanism for important research and development efforts to improve the humanitarian situation and facilitate the exchange of scientific information and results of experiments and protection of copyright as well as building partnerships with scientific institutions abroad.

He added that the scientific and technological cooperation agreement between the US and Jordan serves common peaceful purposes and provides more opportunities for the exchange of ideas, information and skills.

The US official welcomed the opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom.

AMMAN — President of Guinea Alpha Condé is scheduled to arrive in Jordan today, starting an official visit during which he will hold talks with His Majesty King Abdullah, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The meeting will discuss means to foster bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

AMMAN — With the aim of building a school environment characterised by  beauty, discipline, health and hygiene, a new initiative has been helping students of a local school change their eating habits and instilling values of team work and social responsibility.

Titled “Beati Al Ajmal”, or “My Beautiful Environment”, the Knowledge Society’s project at Princess Rahma Bint Al Hassan School brings teachers, students, parents and the civil society together to partner in the process of changing both the educational environment and students’ habits. 

Basma Maamar, one of the coordinators of the project, said the initiative was launched in 2008 by Queen Rania Award for Educational Excellence (QRAEE) winners in cooperation with QRAEE Association.

Through the project, the school sets goals and action plans, following the guidelines designed by the founders, Maamar noted.

The guide book offers guidance to new society members to execute the project through a series of procedures by different committees, co-founder of the project Ruba Salameh said. 

Maamar noted that the school chooses to work on one or two criteria each year in the fields of beauty, discipline, health and hygiene through specialised committees led by an awardee teacher of the QRAEE. 

Ahlam Hamdoun, a teacher and member of the Knowledge Society, told The Jordan Times that they have succeeded in enhancing hygiene at the school by fostering pupils’ loyalty towards their environment. 

Moreover, teacher Abeer Tahboub said that the school has removed junk food from the canteen including soft drinks and chips, replacing them with healthier alternatives like milk and crispy snacks. 

The students stressed that, although the canteen’s food was “more delicious”, they enjoy the school’s veggie days during which they bring fruits and vegetables and share them with their friends to learn more about healthy food.

The civil society has helped in revamping the school’s playground and supplied it with recycled tables and chairs, Hamdoun noted.

Principal Khuloud Zubi said that the impact of Beati Al Ajmal on students is “clear compared to other schools students”, adding that they have a higher sense of responsibility, citing the student’s punctuality, regular attendance and initiatives to clean the school’s surroundings and the Sports City area.

“The project is a team work and teaches the students essential life-long values, especially discipline,” Salameh noted. 

Evaluation 

QRAEE Association has provided The Jordan Times with the results of an evaluation that reviewed the eight-year project’s effectiveness on the educational process.

The study found that the longer the school ran the project, the more students shared ideas with their teachers and longed to participate in upcoming activities, “which proves its role in encouraging voluntary work, as well as building trust between pupils and teachers”. 

The beauty committee had the biggest impact on schools enrolled in “Beati Al Ajmal”, with 87 per cent of the students saying that their schools now have greener areas while 72 per cent of students from other schools said their schools do not have green areas.

Last month, Minister of Education Omar Razzaz announced that the ministry will be piloting the project in few schools to measure its feasibility for adaptation across the Kingdom.

AMMAN — Royal Court Secretary General Yousef Issawi, head of the follow-up committee for the implementation of Royal initiatives, and Minister of Public Works and Housing Sami Halaseh on Saturday checked on a number of Royal initiatives in Amman.

The projects include under-construction Tarik Elementary School, a female student dormitory, Ibn Al Azhar School, King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence in Muqabalain and in Sahab, and a vocational school in Muwaqqar, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — HRH Prince Raad on Saturday attended the annual ceremony to honour relatives of cornea donors. Prince Raad highlighted the importance of cooperation and solidarity with families of cornea donors and praised the continuous support of public and civil society institutions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Muawyah Bdour, director of the Jordan Eye Bank, presented a briefing on cornea donation in Jordan and the major achievements of the bank.

AMMAN — The small number of green spaces in the capital prompted 14-year-old Reem Hamadah to participate in a one-day planting tree activity in Amman on Saturday. 

Hamadah said that she is forced to visit malls in the upscale neighbourhoods of Amman whenever she wants to enjoy some leisure time due to the lack of parks in the capital. 

“It is very important to care about the environment and to overcome any problems environment suffers from. As we keep planting trees, people can increasingly turn to green spaces instead of malls,” she told The Jordan Times during the activity. Hamadah was among 300 students from the Jubilee School and 500 employees of the King Hussein Foundation (KHF) who joined Her Majesty Queen Noor and some of her grandchildren in planting 1,400 trees in a plot of land affiliated with the KHF. 

Hana Shahin, executive director of the KHF, said that the event was organised out of the foundation’s belief in paying attention and care to the environment.  

“These students represent the future generation of the Kingdom and we always try to enhance their love towards the soil of the country and towards the Kingdom in general,” she told The Jordan Times. 

Shahin said that they also aimed to reflect on the dangerous impact of the growing number of buildings which made the greenery in the capital shrink. 

Fifteen-year-old Abdul Rahman Saad  said that he wanted to participate in the activity in order to make his peers join him in taking a positive step for the sake of the environment.  

For her part, Shaimaa Qurashi said that such events will help encourage other students to participate in community service activities.