Day: February 16, 2025

Amman: Senate President Faisal Fayez met Sunday with Saudi Arabia’s General Court of Audit (GCA) President Hussam Alangari, in the presence of Audit Bureau (AB) President Radi Hamadin, to discuss enhancing cooperation in financial oversight. Fayez highlighted the strong Jordanian-Saudi ties and praised Saudi Arabia’s support for Jordan and Arab causes, particularly the Palestinian issue and opposition to the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.

According to Jordan News Agency, Alangari reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Jordan’s Audit Bureau, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures in financial oversight and performance monitoring of government entities. He noted that the two institutions share a mutual agreement to implement a memorandum of understanding aimed at exchanging expertise.

Hamadin outlined the AB’s strategic plan to integrate modern technology into auditing processes, including automation, to enhance efficiency and align with global standards. Fayez underscored the vital role of audit institutions in safeguarding public funds and called for increased collaboration between Jordan and Saudi Arabia through expertise exchange and adherence to international best practices.

Amman: The King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) has launched the second round of the “Tamkeen” project to support political initiatives, reinforcing its role as a national institution dedicated to advancing the state’s efforts to promote effective political participation, in line with the political modernization process.

According to Jordan News Agency, the project targets civil society organizations and non-profit companies engaged in political awareness activities. It aims to provide support for ideas and initiatives that contribute to enhancing and advancing the political modernization agenda. Winning projects will receive financial grants of up to JD20,000, provided they meet specific criteria, including being a registered Jordanian non-governmental organization and aligning the project’s objectives with the institution’s mission and area of work.

The “Tamkeen” project seeks to promote political awareness within society, increase youth and women’s participation in political life, and stimulate political and partisan engagement within local communities.

Additionally, the initiative aims to highlight youth leadership and equip them with the necessary tools for effective political participation, while also supporting projects that encourage involvement in local administrative councils, including municipalities and decentralization councils.

Applicants interested in seeking financial support can submit their applications between February 16 and March 6 through the following link: https://join.kafd.jo/.

Notably, in its first round, “Tamkeen” provided support to 10 institutions, focusing on spreading political awareness across society and fostering a dynamic environment for political and partisan engagement among diverse societal groups.

Amman: Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi called on Sunday for the formation of a task force comprising the chamber’s economic committees, in partnership with the commerce and industry chambers, to address hurdles posed to the private sector. He spoke in a meeting with heads and members of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Parliamentary Economy and Investment, and Energy and Mineral Resources Committees.

According to Jordan News Agency, Safadi emphasized that the government’s measures, especially in the governorates, demonstrate its commitment to working for the benefit of all. He highlighted the crucial role of the commercial and industrial sectors in sustaining the economy, solving unemployment issues, and increasing growth rates through national competencies and updated technologies.

Jordan and Amman Chambers of Commerce President, Senator Khalil Haj Tawfiq, advocated for an “institutionalized” partnership between the Lower House and the private sector. He proposed the formation of a joint committee to revisit economic laws, including those related to the Bar Association, landlords and tenants, insolvency, social security, and labor legislation. Additionally, he touched on the need to review the billing system, medical wages, and Labor Ministry measures to regulate the labor market.

Head of the Parliamentary Economy and Investment Committee, Khaled Abu Hassan, described the private sector as “a real partner” in economic development. He stressed the importance of removing legal hurdles to enable the private sector to contribute effectively to reducing unemployment and deficit figures while boosting growth rates.

Head of the Parliamentary Energy Committee, Haitham Zayadin, conveyed that private sector achievements require support from the legislative body to dismantle barriers and positively impact the national economy.

Amman: Environment and climate change axis should emerge in the National Social Protection Strategy 2025-2033, given its importance in changing the public’s lifestyles and behaviors, as well as its potential climate change-related risks, Chairman of the Economic and Social Council (ESC), Dr. Musa Shteiwi, said.

According to Jordan News Agency, Shteiwi’s call came during its dialogue, held in coordination with Ministry of Social Development and UNICEF, aimed to present the strategy’s new features and main priorities at the level of policies and procedures, in a bid to release its final version.

Shteiwi, who is also a member of the Strategy’s Supreme Steering Committee, stressed the importance of engaging with the Kingdom’s academic sector for their role in knowledge and innovation and their initial feedback to endorse the strategy.

Shteiwi said the current challenges facing Jordan geographically and politically, the worsening debt and consequences of the Gaza war, and the rapid technological developments, require attention to the social protection network.

Concluding their dialogue, participants noted strategy should feature an “appropriate” working mechanism to support psychological and mental health, while stressing integration of social protection concepts and curricula in Jordan’s higher education programs.

Additionally, they called for focusing on Jordan’s affected and vulnerable groups by harnessing relevant social and economic research and developing “adequate” tools to achieve financing and sustainability goals.

Ajloun: The Jordan Free and Development Zones Group (JFDZ) has entered into a joint working agreement with Wheels Bicycle and Electric Bike Company (E-Ride) to introduce an electric scooter riding service at the Ajloun Cable Car facilities. This collaboration aims to provide a new mode of environmentally-friendly entertainment for both local and international visitors.

According to Jordan News Agency, JFDZ Director General Mohammad Al-Wakid expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, highlighting its potential to diversify the tourism offerings at Ajloun Cable Car. Al-Wakid remarked that the service aligns with the facility’s strategy to enhance the overall visitor experience by integrating various services and attractions.

E-Ride CEO Hussam Daoud also shared his optimism about the agreement, labeling it as a pivotal development in the company’s mission to promote smart and sustainable transport solutions. Daoud emphasized that the introduction of electric scooters would facilitate easy movement for visitors at the cable car facilities. He reiterated E-Ride’s commitment to expanding its services within Jordan, with a focus on modern technology and environmentally sustainable transportation options.

The agreement marks a significant step for E-Ride in solidifying its reputation as a leader in the sustainable transport industry, reflecting its dedication to innovation and eco-friendly solutions.

Amman: Portal of the Jordanian National Integrity Index (NII) is now activated, starting Sunday, until March 17, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC) announced.

According to Jordan News Agency, the NII aims to enable public administration institutions to upload documents and data for measuring their compliance with national integrity standards.

In the same context, the IACC launched an awareness media campaign for all state institutions, public employees, and society at various levels to introduce the NII’s new version and increase compliance to national integrity standards, which would boost efficiency and quality of services provided to citizens.

IACC also called on all stakeholders to support this campaign by cooperating and posting its content and promotional videos on their official websites and social platforms.