Day: April 8, 2025

Al-Muwaqar: Teams from the Central Military Region Command on Tuesday assisted civil defense teams in extinguishing a fire that broke out in an area containing debris and remnants from a company in the Al-Muwaqar district (eastern Amman). The firefighting teams managed to control the blaze until specialized civil defense teams arrived at the scene. No human injuries were reported, and the damage was limited to material losses.

According to Jordan News Agency, the participation of teams from the Central Military Region reflects the ongoing efforts of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF)-Arab Army to support various agencies and ministries in handling crises and emergencies.

Amman: Khaled Abu Hammour, Director General of the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), met with the “Dutch Experts Program” to discuss the next steps toward accrediting the seed testing laboratory according to ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) standards. Abu Hammour stated that the meeting reviewed the progress made by the seed laboratory in collaboration with Dutch expert Harry Nienhuis, and discussed the expert’s future plan to meet all requirements for ISTA accreditation.

According to Jordan News Agency, Abu Hammour highlighted the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts in advancing the seed sector, noting that over 30 companies now export seeds to more than 60 countries. He considered this achievement a national asset that will positively impact the sector, create new job opportunities, and contribute to enhancing food security in Jordan.

In turn, Nienhuis praised NARC’s role in improving the quality of services provided to local and international seed companies in Jordan. He commended the center’s efforts to obtain both local and international accreditation, helping it to stay aligned with global laboratories in this field. He also noted that the seed laboratory had made significant progress in enhancing performance and service quality for seed companies.

Majd Louzi, Head of Seed Technology Research and Jordan’s representative at ISTA, expressed pride in the effective cooperation through the seed laboratory rehabilitation project with the Dutch experts and the Ardi (my land) project. She emphasized NARC’s role in supporting this collaboration, which will positively influence the achievement of ISTA accreditation requirements.

Amman: Major US stock indices registered a new decline on Tuesday, attributed to the ongoing tariff crisis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 320 points, falling to 37,645 points.

According to Jordan News Agency, the Nasdaq, which is heavily focused on technology stocks, plummeted by 335 points, reaching 15,679 points. The Standard and Poor’s 500 (SandP 500) fell by about 79 points, settling at 4,982 points.

Meanwhile, the price of US crude oil, West Texas Intermediate, dropped by more than $2, reaching $58.45 per barrel.

Amman: The Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) announced that eight of its affiliated institutes have received the “Professional Excellence Commitment Certificate” from the European Training Foundation, as part of the international (ISATCOVE) initiative aimed at enhancing excellence and quality in vocational and technical education and training institutions.

According to Jordan News Agency, the VTC indicated that the institutes awarded the certificate are the vocational training institutes in Ain Al-Basha, Mua’b, Al-Qweismeh, the Jordanian-Korean Institute of Technology, Al-Salt Crafts, the Jordanian Academy for Tourism and Hospitality, Occupational Health and Safety, and Vocational Training in Jerash.

The VTC explained that this certificate meets all the required targets for the second phase of the Executive Program for Economic Modernization Vision 2025-2028 (priorities related to the vocational training sector) as part of the VTC’s strategic plan 2022-2025. One of its key components is the establishment of Centers of Excellence in partnership with the private sector, public and private universities, donors, and international organizations to provide quality training services for youth in the governorates.

VTC Director-General Ahmad Gharaibeh stated that the institution’s receipt of the “Professional Excellence Commitment Certificate” aligns with His Majesty’s directives to prioritize vocational training and technical education, equipping youth with skills needed by the labor market. This aims to empower youth towards a dignified professional future and help them join both the local and regional job markets.

He also emphasized the VTC’s commitment to promoting a culture of excellence and enhancing the quality of vocational education and training outcomes in line with the best international practices and standards.

The VTC is working on developing training programs and establishing centers of excellence according to global standards to train for in-demand professions in the labor market. It is also working on drafting and amending training programs and implementing them in partnership with the private sector through employment-based training in various sectors, in cooperation with industry chambers and private companies.