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AMMAN — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) forecasts Jordan’s economy to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2017 and by 2.5 per cent for 2018, according to its latest Regional Economic Prospects report.

For the EBRD’s southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region, the report expects a growth of 3.8 per cent in 2017 and of 4 per cent the year after, supported by the reform implementation and continued recovery in the tourism sector. 

This is in addition to export rebounds in Egypt and Jordan.

Economic performance remains weak amid continued regional turmoil, the report, a copy of which was e-mailed to The Jordan Times, showed.

It also indicated that conflicts in Syria and Iraq have disrupted trade routes, and strained public infrastructure, service provision and public finances.

Tourism arrivals picked up by 11 per cent in the first-half of 2017 after falling for six consecutive years until 2016 and unemployment increased to 17.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2017, according to the report.

It showed a modest pick-up in 2017/2018 is expected and reflects a slow recovery in exports and a rebalancing towards new markets and some reform progress.

“Downside risks to the forecast include deterioration in the regional security situation, lower-than-expected aid flows, and the effect of fiscal consolidation on consumption,” the report added.

AMMAN —  An exhibition titled “Khayrat Al Urdon”  was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Ras Al Ain Gallery, as part of the “Creating employment and improving food security in the host communities of Syrian refugees in the northern and central badia in Jordan” project. 

The project, which is sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and funded by Japan at a value of around $1.9 million, is implemented in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry.

At the inauguration ceremony, Agriculture Ministry Secretary General Mahmoud Jamani said that Jordan’s geographical location is “playing a big role” in shaping the political, economic and social capabilities of regional countries, reiterating that Jordan is surrounded by three unstable countries, Palestine, Syria, and Iraq.

Jamani stressed the role of the ministry, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, in implementing the project, saying that “it drafted a work plan for the years 2014-2019, which gave priority to the sectors affected by the refugee influx in order to enhance their livelihood”. 

Sulafa Mdanat, UNIDO’s Country Representative, said: “This exhibition aims to give our beneficiaries, mostly farmers and producers, the opportunity to showcase the result of our joint work throughout the past 18 months, in addition to linking them with potential buyers.”

Three Gulf investors were present at the exhibition, in addition to representatives from hotels, hospitals and restaurants sectors, with the aim of connecting them with the farmers.

The exhibition also witnessed the attendance of 10 charitable and cooperative societies of the agricultural sector in the governorates targeted by the project — Irbid, Mafraq and Zarqa. 

They displayed food items such as pomegranates, herbs and dried tomato.

“UNIDO is a specialised agency that focuses on building resilient infrastructures, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation,” Mdanat said, adding “its mandate is an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals’  agenda, which Jordan pledged to achieve by the year 2030.”

Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Shuichi Sakurai said: “Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the government of Japan has been providing continuous support for Syrian refugees and host communities, in coordination with the government of Jordan and international organisations”.

He noted that this project is implemented to improve food security in the Kingdom and to create employment opportunities by promoting the establishment of small agricultural business in the host communities affected by the influx of refugees.

“So far, the project has successfully completed both entrepreneurship development and agricultural technical trainings for around 500 local farmers, with a special focus on women and youth in the host communities,” he added.

Last year, Japan donated approximately $66 million to international organisations and NGOs operating in Jordan, according to a statement by the organisers.

AMMAN — Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp is planning to go green with the inauguration of a 12.9 megawatts solar plant next Monday, aimed at bringing affordable and sustainable energy to around 80,000 Syrian refugees and the host community. 

The 15-million-Euro project, which is funded by the government of Germany through the KfW Development Bank, will be the largest ever solar plant built in a refugee camp worldwide, a statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

The construction of the solar plant saw the participation of many refugees from the camp.

Once inaugurated, the plant will allow the UNHCR to provide more hours of electricity to refugees’ homes, the statement said.

The initiative comes in line with the Jordan national energy strategy, which aims at generating 10 per cent of the country’s energy through renewable sources by 2020. 

The launch, scheduled for November 13, will be attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh, UNHCR’s representative to Jordan Stefano Severe, and representative of the German embassy Mairo Stumm, among other accompanying delegations, the statement concluded. 

AMMAN — ”I see street art as archives of social revolution. Like a war photographer, I am simply recording urban activities for posterity; graffiti and tagging are a kind of journalism through art,” said Just One, a Dubai-based graffiti artist whose work covers some of the walls of Amman.

Just One started tagging at the age of 16, along with a group of friends influenced by the 1990s hip-hop culture. “At that point, I was only ‘tagging’ my name on the city’s walls, mostly at night with spraycans and a marker,” he recalled. 

As the city’s video surveillance increased, the young man decided to leave the graffiti scene and turned to photography and video instead. “When I started doing graffiti and tagging, I realised I was truly passionate about art, but I also knew that it wouldn’t give me a degree,” the artist told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

“However, I still had so many things to say and felt the need to elaborate more,” he continued, remembering how he tried again after being inspired by a group of Parisian artists who made photo realistic art.

Wall-painting has always existed since the origins of civilisation, Just One stated, noting that it reflects the people’s need to express something to others in an indirect way. “Murals are important in that they bring art into the public sphere,” he explained.

The artist, who said he draws inspiration from every place he visits, has been working on the walls of Dakar in Senegal, Italy, Jordan, Yemen, Iran, Palestine and Syria, among others.

“In each city, I tackle a different issue that is relevant to its context. In Italy, I worked around the issues of racism and immigration, while my artwork in the Middle East was more focused on peace,” he explained.

Social issues, revealed by riots and protest movements, fuel the inspiration of Just One, whose work is often centred around the symbols of peace. 

“It seems like the most appropriate theme to work on in the Middle East,” he said, noting that portraying the Dove, the rose, the kiss or the peace hand sign are also ways to avoid censorship.

Describing his work as “muralism” (a movement associated with Mexican artists in the 1920s who sought to unify their country after the revolution), he explained it as a way to “take his distance from the graffiti and street art cultures”, which still have difficulty being accepted by society. 

Stressing the struggles he faced in expressing his personal views in conventional cinematographic work, he noted that wall-painting provided him with a shortcut to exposure, by breaking the rules and “being disrespectful in a good way”.

“I believe seeing walls being painted is a sign of the freedom and democracy in any country,” the artist said, noting that street art and graffiti are slowly emerging in the Arab world. “It shows the possibility to spread a message without any control over it,” Just One continued, stressing the need for the artist to convey “a valuable and meaningful message”.

He remembered the story of two Syrian kids who were allegedly tortured by the police for having written propaganda graffiti on a wall, later igniting the events that led to the Syrian crisis, saying:  “I see artists like thermometers of the freedom offered in each society.”

Originally commissioned by Dubai for a single art piece expected to last only four weeks, the Swiss national has been living in the region for over four years. His work can be found in the Secret Garden and in Mu’ath Bin Jabal street in Amman.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global developments with Hungarian President  János Áder.

In remarks welcoming President Áder during expanded talks that were attended by the Hungarian president’s wife Anita Herczegh and held following bilateral talks, King Abdullah said the visit marks an improved stage of relations between Jordan and Hungary, according to a Royal Court statement.

During the meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace, the King said he had the distinct pleasure of visiting Hungary almost 10 years ago, and the two countries have continued to exchange visits and build on their ties.

Highlighting opportunities to expand partnerships for the mutual benefit of the two countries, His Majesty added that the political and security ties are improving all the time, in addition to the many synergies that allow economic cooperation to be enhanced.

The King said discussions held earlier on Monday also covered education and the potential of Hungary increasing scholarships for Jordanian students.

Education, His Majesty said, is a tremendous building block of bridges between the two nations, pointing out agriculture, engineering and medical services as other areas for cooperation.

The King voiced hope that further discussions will lead to identifying other key areas where the two countries can further strengthen their relationship.

For his part, Áder expressed his delight for visiting Jordan and meeting with His Majesty, saying he is looking forward to building on the current ties for the benefit of both countries.

The president said he was honoured that the King accepted his invitation to visit his home country and expressed appreciation for His Majesty’s efforts and achievements.

Áder said that everyone, with no exception, recognises what Jordan has provided to the Syrian refugees, who fled to the Kingdom in large numbers, in addition to efforts in combating terrorism and establishing peace.

He noted the pivotal role of the Kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty, in achieving stability and peace in the region.

The president said his country always calls on the EU to increase support to the refugees, stressing that what Jordan provides for the refugees is “unprecedented”.

These facts make it a must for the EU to increase support to Jordan, he continued.

During the expanded talks, which continued over a working lunch  attended by senior officials from both countries, the King and the president discussed advancing cooperation, especially in economic and military fields.

On the Palestinian issue and efforts to resume peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution, the King said the absence of a just and lasting solution would fuel extremism and undermine efforts to achieve stability and security in the region.

The King and the Hungarian president also reviewed regional and international efforts in combating terrorism within a holistic approach.  

On Syria, they stressed the importance of building on the Astana talks to reach a political solution within the Geneva process.

Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs and the visiting delegation’s Escort of Honour Musa Maaytah, Jordan’s Non-resident Ambassador to Hungary Hussam Al Husseini, Hungary’s Ambassador to Jordan Csaba Czibere, and the president’s accompanying delegation attended the talks.

Earlier, His Majesty had received the Hungarian president and first lady in an official welcoming ceremony at Al Husseiniya Palace.

Also on Monday, Mulki met with President Áder, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the meeting, Mulki and the president stressed the importance of forming committees for joint action to enhance cooperation.

Mulki noted that Jordan boasts “advanced” relations with regional countries, which can be capitalised on to enhance trade and investment opportunities.

During a separate meeting with the Hungarian president, Senate President Faisal Fayez said that Jordan faces economic challenges due to hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees.

Fayez thanked Hungary for supporting the Kingdom, especially by working with the EU to secure more aid to Jordan.

Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh also met with President Áder and discussed issues of mutual concern.

Áder outlined his country’s experience with the World Bank and dealing with the burdens of internal and external public debt, according to Petra.

AMMAN — Hungarian First Lady Anita Herczegh on Monday visited several historical and archaeological sites in Amman, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The visit included the Citadel, the Roman Theatre and the Jordan River Foundation.

During her visit, the first lady was briefed on the local products and handicrafts showcased at the foundation and on the history of various sites. She also toured the Folkloric Life Museum at the Roman Theatre.

BONN — Diplomats, scientists and environmentalists from 195 countries on Monday started negotiations at the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, with the aim of drafting out operating guidelines for the Paris agreement.

A Jordanian delegation headed by Minister of Environment Yaseen Khayyat is attending the global meet.

The guidelines will detail how nations can reach and achieve the goals announced in the Paris agreement, which set a target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C at the most, by the end of the century.

In her opening address of the COP23, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Patricia Espinosa said that now that 169 countries have ratified the Paris Agreement, it is time to move to the implementation phase to truly address climate change and sustainable development.

She said that the COP23 is being held this year with a "greater sense of urgency", citing the World Meteorological Organisation's new report that expects 2017 to be one of the hottest three years on record.

Espinosa indicated that long-term indicators of climate change, such as carbon dioxide concentrations, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification, among other phenomena, will continue to expand, unless governments take action.

She warned that national pledges only bring a third of the reduction in emissions needed by 2030 to meet climate targets.

“The message cannot get any clearer. We no longer have the luxury of time. We must act now… this right here, right now,  is where we begin,” Espinoza said, referring to the COP23.

Delegates of the participating nations will be negotiating specific goals at the event, which is presided by Fiji, the first island nation to preside over a COP.

The delegates are expected to define the structure for the implementation of the Paris agreement, in order to strengthen its impact and achieve its goals for countries that ratified it, pledging to fulfil their commitments by 2020.

Negotiators at the conference will set up guidelines that ensure the agreement promotes transparency in action, in support as well as resilience and adaptation.

They will also be checking on the progress of the delivery of $100 billion of support for developing countries by 2020, in addition to bringing into force the Doha Amendment of the first international emission reduction treaty, the Kyoto Protocol, according to the UNFCCC.

The participants also aim at drawing up international standards on ways to measure carbon emissions and to set new and more ambitious goals to reduce emissions after 2020.

AMMAN  — The Jordan Museum on Sunday launched an exhibition titled “Jordan: the Land of Innovation, Continuity and Change”, as part of Jordan’s year of science 2017 celebrations. 

Held under the patronage of HRH Prince Hassan, the exhibition unveils Jordan’s scientific and technological innovations throughout the years. 

Deputising for HRH Prince Hassan, HRH Princess Sarvath inaugurated the event, which is organised by the Jordan Museum in collaboration with the Royal Scientific Society (RSS). She commended the efforts exerted by the individuals who brought the exhibition to life.

Focusing on innovation, continuity and change, the exhibition presents the story of Jordan from a new perspective influenced by the essays of Prince Hassan. These papers, which he wrote during his time at Oxford University as a visiting fellow in 2000-2001, provide a hopeful vision of the Kingdom’s future, and its ability to thrive in a land of scarcity, according to a statement by the organisers. 

RSS president and vice chair of the board of trustees of the Jordan Museum, HRH Princess Sumaya said that the exhibition will contribute to the development of creativity, encourage scientific research, and boost the use of science to serve the society. 

She added that it will help address the current challenges Jordan is facing, by turning them into concrete development opportunities by identifying realistic models of creation and innovation built on Jordan’s scientific legacy.

Princess Sumaya emphasised that the multicultural heritage of Jordan has enriched the Arab region, and that the Kingdom’s diversity is a source of strength and inspiration for the future.

“I believe that our efforts will reaffirm the pivotal role that our small nation has to play in the region’s sustainable development. This exhibition will help engage our people in debates and discussions to highlight the challenges we face and to celebrate the huge capacity we have to tackle them with intelligence, creativity and drive. Science is ours and has always been. Innovation is in our DNA,” the Princess said.  

The exhibition focused on five key questions: “How do we care for our most vital natural resources? Where does our food come from? How does this land power our lives? How do we communicate? How does Jordan’s multicultural heritage enrich our nation?”

Director General of the Museum Ihab Amarin said that the exhibition also lies within the framework of the museum’s vision to serve as an educational and touristic platform. 

Schools will be able to access the exhibition daily from 9am to 4pm, he said, noting that they can accommodate up to 50 students every 20 minutes with a tour that lasts around an hour.  

One of the pieces displayed at the museum is the Jawa Dam, which was built more than 5,000 years ago. Standing 4.5 metres high and 24 metres long, the Jawa Dam was one the largest of three dams built around 3200BC. 

Another exhibit displayed is the collection of small monuments from Petra that provide evidence of the city’s past inhabitants including Nabataeans, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. 

Many other innovations showed Jordan’s progress over the years, from pottery, cutlery to means of communications and energy production. 

The ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Raad, HRH Princess Majda Raad and HRH Princess Rajwa Bint Ali.

AMMAN — “Standing next to this picture of me in front of my shop, I return back to life,” said Khaldoun Ali, a shop owner who recently opened his own business in Ruseifeh with the aid of a grant by the LEADERS intiative.

The LEADERS consortium, which is comprised of Oxfam, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), ACTED, Save the Children and CARE, has been spearheading projects in the governorates of Mafraq, Irbid and Zarqa with the aim of supporting the economic resilience of host communities and Syrian refugees.

Around 11 men and women were given the opportunity to start their own business with the support of the consortium, which works in partnership with the EU Regional Trust Fund (“MADAD Fund”) who also financed the projects. 

“This project helped me improve myself as a human and to make enough money to get ‘back to life’,” Ali, who had been unemployed since his trading business collapsed eight years ago, told The Jordan Times.

The entrepreneur, who received JD1,000 as well as vocational training from CARE, made his remark at the inauguration of the “Open For Business” photo exhibition, which sought to highlight the success stories of the LEADERS beneficiaries.

Held on Monday at Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development, the event was organised by Oxfam and JOHUD, in partnership with the EU MADAD fund, which addresses socio-economic, educational, health and psycho-social needs of Syrian refugees and host communities in the region. To date, they Fund has committed some 140 million euros in assistance to Jordan, according to the MADAD website. 

“I am so pleased to see how the partnerships we have created have influenced the lives of so many people, and increased their economic resilience,” said Qais Tarawneh, JOHUD deputy director.

The consortium assisted the local entrepreneurs in setting up their own businesses, supporting them throughout the process of registering, financing and sustaining their projects. 

“LEADERS is a young consortium by many aspects: young because of its age, but also because of the values it conveys: enthusiasm, passion and drive for a better tomorrow,” said Rania Ahmad, deputy regional director at DRC Jordan.

Deema Sabah, a 22-year-old mathematics graduate, was having difficulty finding work after completing her studies. After taking a Save the Children training on employability and skills a few months ago, she secured a steady position as a math teacher in a private school. 

“The skills I gained will help me keep my job and communicate effectively with my colleagues, students and others around me,” she said.

The exhibition, which displayed pictures of the beneficiaries along with short summaries of their success stories, aimed to give voice to the members of the local communities, who have been striving to secure meaningful employment opportunities. 

“As a woman in Jordan, I am aware of the many challenges faced on a daily basis, whether in child care, transportation safety, among many others. But these people have shown us that everything can be achieved with a little bit of support,” said Nivedita Monga, Oxfam country director, adding “you gave us hope and inspired us and reminded us why we are working here.”

She praised Jordan’s generosity towards the Syrian refugees and stressed the importance to keep supporting the local people. “All the word goes to their credit. We were only a helping hand, and this exhibition was a chance for them to tell their stories in their own words,” she said at the event.

Following the event launch, the exhibition is scheduled to rotate through  various venues across the Kingdom, running from November 8 through 16.

The mobile exhibition will include a two-day showcase at the Princess Basma Development Centre in Irbid on November 8 and 9, in Sahab on November 12 and 13 and in Aqaba on November 15-16.

AMMAN —  Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) is launching a photo exhibition on Tuesday that aims to share the organisation’s work and their concern towards the long-term consequences of the regional conflicts, said the head of the MSF Mission in Jordan, Marc Schakal. 

Held at the Ras Al Ein gallery in Amman, the exhibition will showcase photos of MSF patients coming from different Arab countries along with a brief note about their personal stories.

Titled “Dawn of Recovery”, the exhibition highlights the beginning of a new chapter for victims of MSF’s reconstructive surgery programme (RSP) that was set up in 2006 in response to the high numbers of severe casualties from the Iraq war, according to MSF. 

The exhibition is also held to mark the 10th anniversary of the organisation’s work in Jordan, according to Schakal. 

“The idea is not to celebrate 10 years of activities, but rather to use this moment to share a bit of what we are facing in the field. We want to show what our teams are facing at the hospital and what all the patients and the civilians are facing in their home country,” he told The Jordan Times at Ras Al Ein on Monday. 

The MSF project opened its doors to the injured from Syria, Yemen and Palestine and has treated over 4,500 patients so far. Specialised in orthopaedic, maxillofacial and plastic surgery for victims of conflict, the RSP has performed over 11,000 surgeries since its inception 11 years ago, according to MSF.

“We also want to give the space to our patients and, through the pictures to show the reality to the public so they can understand where the patients are coming from and what MSF is able to provide as treatment. This is why we chose photography,” Schakal added. 

The MSF official said that each patient has a story, an injury and a country of origin. He stressed the need to show them not only as victims but also as human beings whose life changed, in some cases dramatically, because of the consequences of the war and their injury. 

The exhibition, which runs through November 9, is organised under the patronage of HRH Prince Hassan. The photos were taken by Alessio Mamo and words attached to the photos were written by Marta Bellingreri.