Local

AMMAN — Jordan’s exports of fruits and vegetables to the Iraqi market are “steadily increasing” since the reopening of the border between the two countries in September, a government official said on Monday.

Around 200 refrigerated trucks carried the country’s agricultural produce across the border since the reopening, according to official figures.

“Jordan has exported more than 5,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Iraq since the borders reopened. The exports were mainly tomatoes and fruits, such as peaches,” Ministry of Agriculture Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

Fruits are currently the main agricultural produce exported to Iraq, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, which indicated that the Iraqi market is scheduled to receive Jordan’s winter produce as soon as the cold weather starts.

The exports are steadily increasing, Haddadin said, expecting the volume of exports to return to normal gradually.

Jordan and Iraq reopened the Karameh-Tureibil border crossing last month after it was closed since the summer of 2015 for security reasons.

Before the border closure, a total of 100 refrigerated trucks carrying 2,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables were travelling daily to the neighbouring country, according to agriculture sector representatives. They also stated that the border closure resulted in a drop of fruit and vegetable exports by 70 per cent.

Iraq mainly imports tomato, eggplant, cucumber, potato and citrus fruits from Jordan, among other produce, according to the Jordan Valley Farmers Union.

Sector representatives said in earlier remarks that the reopening of the Karameh-Tureibil border crossing came at the “right time” as farmers are preparing their land for winter crops, which are Iraq’s main agricultural imports from the Kingdom.

AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Monday stressed the importance of reassessing the programmes related to combatting narcotics, a Royal Court statement said.

During a meeting with top anti-narcotics officers at the Public Security Department (PSD), the Prince said that preventing drug consumption requires a holistic preventive strategy.

He noted the need to adopt plans that reach out to children, youth and families to enhance the awareness of drug hazards, in addition to utilising media and social media outlets to serve the goals of the endeavour.

The Crown Prince voiced appreciation for the efforts of Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) personnel in preventing drugs trafficking and abuse in the Kingdom.  

For his part, Interior Minister Ghaleb Zu’bi emphasised the AND’s role in combatting drug dealing and consuming in partnership with several relevant agencies.

He thanked the Prince for the visit to the AND as it would motivate the personnel to exert increasing efforts in the anti-narcotics drive.

PSD Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sarhan Faqih outlined efforts and preventive measures to curb narcotics.

Faqih noted that the PSD would continue providing the AND with cadres, funds, and technology to enable it to continuing performing its duties with the utmost efficiency.

AND Director Brig. Gen Anwar Tarawneh briefed the Prince on the measures taken by the department to combat narcotics including coordination with local and global paretners.

The briefing also included anti-smuggling efforts through controlling border crossings and airports. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday telephoned Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and expressed his condemnation of the heinous terrorist blast that targeted Mogadishu and caused hundreds of deaths and injuries.

His Majesty, during the call, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery, according to a Royal Court statement.

Agence France-Presse reported Monday that the death toll of Sunday’s massive truck bomb attack in Mogadishu reached at least 276 people, while 300 were injured in the deadliest ever attack to hit the conflict-torn nation.

Residents of the Somali capital have been left stunned by the monster explosion Saturday, which gutted surrounding buildings and left victims burned beyond recognition, the agency said. 

AMMAN — The third edition of the French Week in Jordan was launched on Sunday, announcing a series of cultural, musical and urban art events taking place through October 22.

Organised by the Franco Jordanian Chamber of Commerce (CAFRAJ) in cooperation with the French embassy and the French Institute (IFJ), the week seeks to promote the French presence in the Kingdom and to foster the cultural ties between the two countries.

At the press conference inaugurating the event, French Ambassador David Bertolotti said: “I am delighted to be launching this week, which will be the occasion to share moments of culture and to celebrate modernity.”

“All the events are free of charge, as we strongly believe that access to art and culture should be for all without any exception,” he added.

Commending the bilateral cooperation at the political, economic and cultural levels, Minister of Tourism Lina Annab said: “France is a key partner to Jordan and we are proud to be hosting the French Week as a celebration of our strong brotherly ties.”

French companies, education, culture, sports and gastronomy will be celebrated throughout the week, offering visitors of the Abdali Boulevard an immersion into the French “art de vivre”.

The minister and the ambassador, along with President of CAFRAJ Aqel Biltaji went on to inaugurate “Le French marché” (The French Market) on the Boulevard, which will be the main venue for a number of events throughout the week, “bringing Paris to the heart of Amman”.

“This year, we are shedding light on the exchange between our two cultures,” said Bertolotti, noting that many events will feature collaborations between French and Jordanian artists, in addition to workshops that will see the participation of Jordanian and French youth.

Some of Paris’ landmark monuments including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the iconic Louvres pyramid are showcased at the Boulevard, along with popular French characters such as the mime, the invisible man and accordionists. 

French-made products will be on display every day from 4pm, along with free tastings of typical French foods in a Parisian ambiance.

The week kicked off on Sunday with a live performance by Jordanian artist Galyna Pryklonska, accompanied by her quartet of musicians.

On Monday, the band Noura and Friends will perform a pop music show while a free screening of the French movie “L’Outsider” will be held at TAJ Mall’s cinema. Other free screenings of the French classical movie “Le dernier metro” will be held on Tuesday, offering the public a peek into the French cinematographic art.

The week will see a number of free live performances, including musical shows by the French rap singer Liqid, French/Jordanian DJ SOTUSURA, in addition to a DJ competition for local aspiring artists.

The world renowned French breakdance group “Pockemon Crew” will perform live on the Boulevard. Additionally, breakdancing workshops will be organised along with a hip hop and breakdance battle, inviting the public to reveal their talents.

On Monday, the IFJ will also reopen the doors of its fully renovated multimedia library located in the heart of Jabal Luweibdeh, which marks the addition of a space dedicated to Arabic literature. 

Inaugurated in 1963, the library has the largest French-language book collection in Amman with more than 12,000 titles ranging from the classics to the latest novelties and Francophone literature.

“This week shows the extent of our investments in the Kingdom, which keeps on growing every year,” said the French ambassador, citing the 1.5 billion euros French investments in Jordan. 

He also mentioned that several French investors are currently looking at new opportunities in Jordan, in the fields of transport, health, IT and the green economy.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Monday chaired a Higher Council of the Civil Defence Department (CDD) meeting to discuss state institutions’ preparations for winter. 

Mulki reviewed previous plans that were implemented to deal with accidents and abnormal weather conditions, highlighting the importance of coordinating efforts among all stakeholders to implement such plans accurately, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also called on ministries and public departments to prepare plans to deal with exceptional circumstances and to share them to have one comprehensive plan to be administered and implemented by the CDD.

The premier urged stakeholders to alert people who reside near valleys and rivers in advance to inform them about the potential dangers in their area during winter.

Mulki highlighted the need for emergency services and rescue teams to be present at areas that are prone to difficult weather conditions.

Interior Minister and President of the CDD Higher Council Ghaleb Zu’bi said that the council is tasked with taking all necessary measures to deal with emergency conditions and controlling them under the comprehensive national plan to deal with emergency conditions and disasters. 

The Kingdom is subject to hazards resulting from unusual weather conditions, such as floods and snow accumulation, which may jeopardise lives and public property, Zu’bi said, noting that the possibility of such hazards necessitate to intensify preparations to avoid potential damages. 

CDD Director Maj. Gen. Mustafa Bazaiah noted that the CDD is scheduled to receive several fire helicopters soon as a gift from His Majesty King Abdullah, the first of which is expected to arrive next month.

Bazaiah added that the capacity of each helicopter is of 15 tonnes of water that can be refilled in a short period of time, and stressed that they will be more effective than traditional fire engines in extinguishing forest fires.

Mulki toured the CDD headquarters and had a firsthand look at the command and field control bus, which transfers information and photos directly from the field to the control centre through a drone. 

Council members presented briefings on the preparations of their respective departments in dealing with possible difficult weather conditions, Petra reported.

AMMAN — The song “If music be the food of love”, composed by Syrian and Jordanian children from underprivileged communities, was launched on Saturday, during a joint performance with the Autostrad band.

The launch came during the “Healthy Not Hungry” dinner, organised on the occasion of the World Food Day. The occasion is marked annually on October 16 under the umbrella of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) global campaign against hunger.

WFP’s representative Mageed Yahia stressed the need to continue supporting Jordan in its effort to provide food security for all, in light of the Syrian refugee crisis.

“Conflicts can devastate the economy, disrupt agriculture and lead to forced population movements and we need to work together to address migration through supporting governments and partners,” he said in his opening speech.

Marking the achievement of a 9-month youth project, the show was performed by children aged from 7 to 18, who gave voice to their hopes and dreams in light of the Syrian crisis. 

“I lost my country so Jordan came to save… I said goodbye to my country but I’m coming back because I’m brave,” the 25-strong choir sang, in a "lively and emotional performance" that saw the Opera House’s public cheer and acclaim the young artists.

The project was conducted through a series of collaborative therapeutic workshops held by local professionals and celebrities such as soprano Zeina Barhoum and Autostrad Band, among others.

“This is an initiative very dear to my heart as I have been working with these children for a couple of years now,” Barhoum told The Jordan Times at the event, adding “this is truly a dream come true to see all those talents perform on their own”.

The project started off with a collaboration between Edwina Issa from the Trojan Women Project LTP and Barhoum, who wanted to create a “sustainable and income generating” project that would benefit the children’s education in the long run.

“We were thinking of creating a song of which profits would go to fund the children’s education but, as we began conducting workshops and interacting with the kids, it dawned on us that they were the artists themselves and that they should own the whole project,” Barhoum recalled.

The young Syrians and Jordanians singlehandedly develop the entire creative process: from writing lyrics to composing the music and singing the final piece. 

“These children have the most amazing raw talents, and all they needed was our help to let them flourish,” the soprano said.

A series of therapeutic workshops involving drama, art therapy and music were conducted by a team of specialists who helped the children put their feelings and hopes into words.

“We would meet with them twice a week, and during the art therapy sessions, we would give them drama-centred assignments through which they created their own lyrics,” explained Tamara Ziadat, one of the drama teachers who accompanied the children.

The project was funded by the WFP, which used the opportunity of the “Healthy not Hungry” world initiative to shed light on the importance of children’s livelihoods, under the patronage of HRH Prince Hassan.

On Saturday, Autostrad Band and chef Manal Al Alem entertained the public in an interactive evening of music and food, presented by renowned comedian and singer Amal Al Dabbas, who is also WFP’s national ambassador for fighting hunger in Jordan.

Acclaimed chef Alem presented the audience with a live cooking show, during which she stressed the importance of a sustainable, healthy diet that supports the local production.

“Healthy food is the key to a healthy generation which will develop good and peaceful thinking,” she said at the event, stressing the need to support the local communities by using locally sourced ingredients in everyday’s cooking.

The funds raised by the dinner will be used to support WFP’s school meals project that produces and distributes 380,000 meals per day to students in the camps and host communities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

AMMAN — Jordan's real gross domestic product is expected to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2017, a tepid increase of 0.3 percentage points over the 2016 rate, according to the World Bank Economic Outlook for the country.

Services continued to be the principal driver of gross domestic product growth in 2017 propelled by a robust performance in tourism, which posted a double-digit growth in receipts and arrivals in the first half of the year, indicated Jordan's economic outlook report for 2017, which was e-mailed to The Jordan Times.

"The tourism sector has more than made up for the declines from Gulf Cooperation Council countries by attracting visitors from other parts of the world, especially Asia," the report read.

Jordan’s industrial sector is regaining momentum based on a recovery in mining and quarrying, which grew by 14.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2017 (Q1-2017) in contrast to a contraction of 8.4 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2016. 

Because of these developments, and a resurgence in potash prices, net exports of goods and services are projected to lead GDP growth on the demand side, as they did in 2016, the report showed.

Amidst a challenging regional backdrop, Jordan’s economy remains “sluggish, though it is undergoing a modest pick-up in 2017, owing to a resurgence in tourism and mining and quarrying”.

Yet this is overlaid on continued uncertainty regarding the crises in Syria and Iraq, and the duration of the slowdown in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on the one hand, and the slow pace of structural reforms on the other.

In 2017, Jordan’s fiscal position is expected to improve as a result of the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts in line with the International Monetary Fund programme. 

However, the narrowing of fiscal imbalances is likely to materialise at a slower pace than initially anticipated by the programme due to weaker economic growth. 

The projected overall fiscal deficit, excluding (including) grants, will be largely unvaried from 2016 levels at 6 (3.3) per cent of GDP. 

On the external front, despite a larger energy import bill reflecting higher international oil prices, the large current account deficit is expected to narrow driven mainly by the growth in tourism.

AMMAN — Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State Musa Maaytah met on Sunday with the parties of the centre-right to discuss the economic reform programme, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Maaytah said during the meeting, attended by 16 parties, that the tax reforms will not affect the poor and middle classes, stressing the importance of listening to the views of the parties regarding the economic reform programme when alternatives are discussed.

As for the tax law, Maaytah stressed that the suggested version addresses tax evasion, noting that the penalty of violators might amount to imprisonment. He said that there are many sectors that make extra profits by failing to provide actual statements on income, and this has to change.

He also noted that the prices of rice, sugar, coffee, tea and oil will not be affected by the rise. Also, the health insurance network will remain functional and the age of the individuals covered by free heathcare may be lowered to 65 years, while public university subsidies will remain in place.

As for the austerity measures adopted by the government during this year, Maaytah said that the plan implemented has saved about JD206 million of public funds.

President of the Coalition of Centrist Parties Natheer Arabiyat called for tight control on tax evasion and deterrent penalties for those proven in violation of the rules, along with those who facilitate evasion, especially offices licensed under different names that practise tax evasion. 

The politician emphasised the importance of taking serious measures to channel subsidies of bread, basic foodstuffs and fuel to citizens rather than commodities. He stressed the need to expand cooperation between the public and private sectors, curb corruption, restructure public institutions and optimally utilise Jordan's natural resources.

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday received a phone call from Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in which they discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian issue, especially efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The two ministers agreed on the importance of the reconciliation agreement as a first step towards ending the division and strengthening Palestinian national unity, in order to create conditions for the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Jordan on Sunday celebrated the World Food Day, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Under the theme “Let’s Change the Migration’s Future”, the celebration was held under the patronage of HRH Princess Basma, the president of the National Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (NAJMAH).

The festivity aims at enhancing global consciousness about hunger risks, and to stress the necessity of guaranteeing food security, food systems, and committing to the UN sustainable development goals in order to eliminate hunger by the year 2030.

In her speech, Princess Basma stressed that this year’s slogan expresses the world’s concern regarding the magnitude of the migration phenomenon: whether it was internal migration or forced due to wars, “the effects of such displacement reflect clearly on the food security”.

The princess noted that 80 per cent of those suffering from poverty and hunger in the world live in rural areas, and 43 per cent of the world’s children die because of malnutrition despite food production dominating one-third of the world’s industries.

She also highlighted the various burdens on the Kingdom due to the successive migrations. Despite the lack of resources, potentials and water shortage, she stressed that the instability in the area made millions of people to migrate out of their home country. 

This necessitates the importance of joint action between countries and their people, in order to translate FAO’s slogan in changing the migration’s future, the princess said.

For his part, Labour Minister Ali Ghezawi spoke about the load of the Syrian refugee crisis on Jordan, which calls for the international community to commit to its pledges in providing support to the Kingdom to enable the continuation of services for refugees. 

He also mentioned that Jordan is the only country that gave work permits to Syrian refugees, creating more than 60,000 permits.

UN figures indicate that over 244 million people in the world have migrated through international borders in 2015, while the volume of the internal migration reached more than 760 million immigrants, in a time where forced immigrants have reached 65.6 million all over the world in 2016.