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AMMAN — Ambassador of Malaysia to Jordan Mohamad Nasri Abdul Rahman hosted a reception on Wednesday to introduce the logo and theme of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Malaysian Chairmanship 2025. The event took place at the Malaysian embassy in Amman under the theme “Inclusivity and sustainability.”

Member states of the ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Malaysia will assume chairmanship of this political and economic union on January 1, 2025.

“Today brings us another step closer towards the beginning of an important new role for Malaysia,” said Abdul Rahman, noting that the logo and the theme for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship were officially unveiled by Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and launched by Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Utama Mohamad Hasan on October 22.

“Malaysia is deeply honoured and stands ready to assume this pivotal responsibility,” Abdul Rahman underlined, adding that main priorities for the Malaysian chairmanship are: fortification of the ASEAN centrality; continuation to push for greater commitment to enhance the ASEAN intra-trade and investment; and to ensure that the elements of inclusivity and sustainability, which is the theme for 2025, take centre stage in the regional community-building efforts.

“The convening of the ASEAN-GCC plus China Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2025 is indeed a testament to the ASEAN’s intent of collaborating with the wider global community,” the ambassador said, adding, “It is therefore with great joy that I introduce the logo and the theme of the ASEAN-Malaysia Chairmanship 2025.”

Malaysia will also ensure that the ASEAN will be capable to leverage on advances in sciences, technology and innovation, and harness the benefits of digital transformation and new technologies.

“Malaysia’s vision of the ASEAN will remain immutable, and will continue to reflect the hopes of the ASEAN peoples, for a peaceful, stable and prosperous region that is ready to contribute positively to global affairs,” Abdul Rahman underlined. 

Malaysia is one for the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, a regional bloc established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok. 2025 will witness the fifth times Malaysia hold the ASEAN Chairmanship. The last time Malaysia held the ASEAN Chairmanship was in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.

“The ASEAN’s nuanced and pragmatic approach to managing geopolitical competition between major powers is increasingly seen as a model for the rest of the developing world. The ASEAN’s commitment to neutrality, dialogue, and regional cooperation, has kept Southeast Asia stable amid external rivalries,” the ambassador underlined.

Regarding the economic collaboration, the ASEAN’s trade with China recorded US 696.7 billion in 2023, reflecting China’s position as the largest trading partner since 2009. 

“At the same time, trade with the US, Australia and India – which are among the countries of ASEAN’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, amounted to US 395.9 billion, 183.4 billion and 131 billion respectively,” Abdul Rahman said, noting that the ASEAN is Korea’s second largest trading partner, the largest consummation market and the second largest investment destination. 

AMMAN — The International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2024 celebration in Jordan, held on Wednesday at the Hussein Sports City, showcased the transformative power of youth volunteerism in driving environmental protection and community development. 

Organised by the UN Volunteers (UNV) Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) in collaboration with UNICEF Jordan and the Ministry of Youth, the event brought together key stakeholders, government officials, and over 100 volunteers to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Rooted in a 1985 UN General Assembly mandate, IVD serves as a global platform to promote volunteerism and acknowledge its role in achieving the SDGs at local, national and international levels. 

This year’s event featured impactful activities, including planting 400 trees and enhancing public spaces at Hussein Sports City. Volunteers from Youth Centres, the Youth for Sustainability (Y4S) initiative, and the “Nahno” demonstrated their dedication to creating a greener and more sustainable future. 

Minister of Youth Yazan Shdeifat emphasised the government’s commitment to fostering a culture of volunteerism to address community needs and advance the SDG’s. 

“Jordan has made advanced steps in institutionalising and organising Volunteer work. These include programmes implemented through youth directorates and centres, support for localised youth initiatives, the launch of the Al Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work, and the development of a volunteer work charter to regulate relationships between volunteers and organisations,” the minister said.

Shdeifat also noted the impact of the National Platform for Volunteering and Youth Participation, "Nahno," launched by the Crown Prince Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry and UNICEF, which offers diverse volunteer opportunities across various sectors.

Partnership for impact

The event featured remarks from Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan who highlighted the interconnectedness of volunteerism and national progress. 

"This year’s International Volunteer Day forms a part of a series of event that we have been organising across the country to commemorate the values of the UN and the support for sustainable development of Jordan itself. The UN supports over 200 volunteers international and national in the country, as well as the thousands that he helped mobilise with the Nahno platform, in collaboration with various Jordanian counterparts,” she said. 

Olga Zubritskaya-Devyatkina, UNV Regional Manager for Arab States, told The Jordan Times, “Every year, one billion people volunteer globally. In Jordan, where the majority of the population is young, we want to engage them in national development plans of Jordan. Volunteering helps the youth to develop soft and technical skills while shaping their future.” 

Shairose Mawji, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Jordan reflected on the transformative power of youth volunteerism, stating, "Since 2021, over 180,000 young people have joined the “Nahno” platform. This is what Jordan needs. As the climate is one of the critical issues in Jordan, with water scarcity, volunteerism is crucial for improving the situation.”

“We believe that every young person has the potential to positively influence the society. Today’s event is another illustration of how volunteerism of young people can transform challenges into opportunities for a better tomorrow," she told The Jordan Times. 

Skills for a sustainable future 

For many young volunteers, the event was an opportunity to gain new experience. “Volunteerism is also way to experience various skills, which will result in job opportunities for them. Practical experience and giving back to their own communities provide them with a sense of achievement,” Mawji told The Jordan Times. 

“The thing I learned today was planting. I never planted anything before and I learned a lot today,” said Bira’, a pharmacy student at Al-Zaytoonah University, to The Jordan Times. She added the will to give back what her country gave her. 

For Mustafa, a law student at Al-Zaytoonah University, and Hadi, a 18 year old student at Zarqa University, it is also a way to give back to their community, share their ideas. “It is good to be giving, instead of taking,” said Mustafa.  

All three of them volunteer on a regular basis with the “Nahno” platform. As the first platform of its kind in Jordan, “Nahno” bridges the gap between youth aspirations and community needs, fostering positive change across the Kingdom.

AMMAN — Representing the conference chair, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh, Secretary-General Amani Azzam on Wednesday inaugurated the ministerial meeting on the second day of the Energy Charter Treaty Conference in Brussels.

Addressing delegates from 30 member states and observers, Azzam emphasised the urgency of advancing a sustainable energy future, according to an Energy Ministry statement.

She also highlighted the pivotal role of the modernised Energy Charter Treaty in protecting investments and offering crucial guarantees to investors in clean energy technologies.

Azzam called for leveraging the treaty to create a stable and predictable investment climate that fosters green growth.

She also showcased Jordan’s impressive renewable energy milestones, noting that contributions from solar and wind energy rose from less than 1 per cent in 2014 to nearly 27 per cent in 2024, with plans to surpass 30 per cent by 2030.

The growth is supported by advancements in electricity storage technologies, including a hydroelectric storage project designed to optimise renewable energy management, she added.

Highlighting Jordan’s green hydrogen ambitions, Azzam announced plans to produce up to 0.6 million tonnes annually by 2030, scaling up to 3.4 million tonnes by 2050.

She also outlined efforts to enhance electric transport infrastructure and expand regional power connectivity to establish a sustainable and efficient energy system.

Azzam stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation in addressing climate change, citing COP29’s outcomes, which underscored the need for accelerated transitions to sustainable energy systems.

The conference’s second day featured the release of the 2024 Energy Investment Risk Assessment Report, the Energy Charter Awards ceremony, and a session of the Energy Charter Industry Advisory Committee.

Discussions focused on reducing investment risks in clean energy technologies, protecting investments under the updated treaty, and resolving energy transition disputes within its framework.