Day: February 22, 2026

Irbid: Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) discussed on Sunday prospects for joint cooperation with a European company, as part of efforts to strengthen academic partnerships and develop its educational programs.

According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting reviewed the latest innovations and advanced technologies in oral and dental health and explored ways to integrate them into practical courses and training for students majoring in Oral and Dental Health Technology. The move aims to enhance students’ practical skills and align learning outcomes with labor market needs.

The meeting also examined the possibility of implementing specialized training programs to qualify staff in modern techniques, particularly guided biofilm therapy, to improve the quality of clinical training and raise graduates’ professional competence.

Dean of the Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Saleem Bani Hani, said the faculty is keen to engage with leading international companies in the medical and applied fields, enabling students to access the latest technologies in oral and dental health practices. He added that integrating advanced technologies into the academic process reflects the university’s commitment to high-quality applied education that keeps pace with rapid developments in the health sector and strengthens graduates’ competitiveness locally and regionally.

Amman: The Public Security Directorate (PSD) on Sunday launched the first Ramadan iftar gatherings bringing together inmates of correctional and rehabilitation centers with their families as part of its annual approach aimed at strengthening family bonds and reintegrating inmates into society. The first event was held at the Juwaidah and Ermeimin Correctional and Rehabilitation Centers, where Ramadan atmospheres prevailed, reflecting the PSD’s attention to its inmates within a comprehensive reform environment that contributes to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society according to an integrated reform approach.

According to Jordan News Agency, these meetings, which will continue throughout the holy month of Ramadan, include a range of recreational, cultural, and religious activities aimed at bringing joy and happiness to inmates and their families and enhancing the family spirit in distinguished Ramadan atmospheres.

Amman: The Jordan Exporters Association (JEA) on Sunday invited local dairy companies engaged in production, processing, and product development, as well as related entities, to apply for the Smart Green Ecosystem for the Dairy Sector (SmartGreenEcos) project under an open call.

According to Jordan News Agency, a limited number of companies will be selected based on clear criteria related to readiness, commitment, and availability of essential data for assessment and follow-up, while ensuring confidentiality of information. The SmartGreenEcos initiative is a regional cooperation project funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED program. It aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the food sector to transition toward smarter and more sustainable practices through digital services, platforms, and practical tools.

Halim Abu Rahmeh, CEO of JEA, expressed that the dairy manufacturing sector holds significant potential for growth and expansion into new export markets but faces challenges, including high production costs and supply chain pressures. He noted the sector needs to enhance quality, innovation, and readiness to meet modern market requirements. Exporting has become a strategic growth path for the sector, requiring improved preparedness in several areas, notably standardizing and stabilizing quality, documentation and traceability, improving efficiency and reducing waste, and developing products and packaging in line with market-specific requirements.

Abu Rahmeh added that applied projects combining digital transformation and green practices present a valuable opportunity for companies to accelerate development and achieve measurable results. He affirmed JEA’s commitment to supporting Jordanian companies in strengthening their competitiveness, growth, and export readiness, and encouraging them to benefit from specialized initiatives linking operational development with digital transformation and sustainability to directly enhance performance and market access.

The project operates under a regional partnership involving four Mediterranean countries: Greece, Cyprus, Tunisia, and Jordan. It supports companies through a practical pathway that begins with assessing the current situation and identifying priorities, followed by integration into digital services and platforms to facilitate implementation, monitoring, and measurable impact. In Jordan, project activities are implemented by Investment World for Development and Technology Company (IWDT) as the national executive partner, with a specific focus on dairy manufacturing. The program aims to engage 25 local companies in an applied support track.

Selected companies will gain access to a package of digital services developed under the project, including a green smart performance measurement and improvement platform supported by artificial intelligence tools to develop action plans and practical recommendations. They will also benefit from a digital skills and smart-green practices platform offering training content, resources, and case studies. The program further provides access to a digital procurement and supply chain platform to enhance collaboration and improve purchasing and supply efficiency, in addition to a collaborative new product development platform to support innovation and prototype development.

The deadline for applications is March 5. Results will be announced within two weeks, and selected companies will be contacted to complete procedures and begin implementation.

Karak: A new agro-industrial project with an investment volume of up to JD5 million will be established at Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II Industrial Estate under the government’s industrial incentives program, and is expected to create 50 jobs upon completion of its production phases.

According to Jordan News Agency, the announcement was made Sunday by the Jordan Industrial Estates Corporation (JIEC), which said in a statement that the project is owned by al-Ufuq al-Jadeed Agricultural Company. Director General of the JIEC Oday Obaidat stated that the agreement underscores the city’s growing investment momentum, driven by the competitive incentive framework designed to stimulate new industrial ventures.

The statement detailed that the number of newly attracted investments to the city has reached 18, with a cumulative capital volume of JD27 million. Of these, eight factories have commenced operations, while another eight remain under construction. The projects are projected to create approximately 400 jobs for residents of Karak Governorate.

With the latest agreement, the total number of industrial enterprises operating in the city has risen to 48, with aggregate investments amounting to JD51 million. These enterprises have generated nearly 977 employment opportunities during their initial operational stages, Obaidat mentioned. He urged investors and business owners to capitalize on the government-backed incentive package, noting that ongoing promotional campaigns target both domestic and international markets, in addition to other industrial estates across the Kingdom.

For its part, al-Ufuq al-Jadeed Agricultural Company said the first phase of the project will establish a fertilizer manufacturing plant serving both local and export markets. Subsequent phases will include facilities for the production of agricultural pesticides, plastics, and agricultural netting.

The incentive package at Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II Industrial Estate includes reducing land prices to JD10 per square meter, compared with JD25, for the first 100 dunams allocated to each project. The framework also provides electricity tariff reductions for a 10-year period from the commencement of operations, ranging between 25 percent and 75 percent. Industrial projects benefit from a 75 percent reduction in electricity costs during the first five years, 50 percent during the sixth through eighth years, and 25 percent during the ninth and tenth years.

Additionally, the package extends wage support for Jordanian workers under the city’s employment program to five years, instead of three. The support covers 50 percent of the minimum wage, in addition to JD25 allocated for social security contributions and JD25 for transportation allowances. Exported goods manufactured in the city and shipped through the Aqaba Container Terminal are granted a 50 percent discount for five years, subject to applicable conditions.

Established under royal patronage in 2000, Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II Industrial Estate spans 1,856 dunams in Karak Governorate, of which 578 dunams were developed during the first phase. The estate is fully serviced with infrastructure, developed plots, and ready-built industrial facilities, offering competitive sale prices and lease rates under flexible payment terms.

Azraq: The Hashemite University and the American Center of Research (ACOR) signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Qasr Usaykhim in Azraq for sustainable cultural tourism and convert the site into a multidisciplinary training hub.

According to Jordan News Agency, the MoU was signed by Hashemite University President Khaled Hyari and ACOR Executive Director Pearce Paul Creasman, in the presence of Vice President Sadeq Shdeifat, Dean of the Queen Rania Faculty of Tourism and Heritage Nayef Haddad, and the researchers assigned to supervise the project, including Head of the Department of Heritage Resources and Museums Management Ali Manaseer and ACOR Deputy Director John Shearman.

Hyari said the MoU represents a strategic step reflecting the university’s commitment to protecting Jordan’s antiquities and heritage, raising awareness of them, and promoting them nationally and internationally. He added that the university will coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Department of Antiquities, the Azraq Municipality, and other partners to ensure integrated national and international efforts in support of sustainable development.

He noted that transforming Qasr Usaykhim into a training and reference center in heritage and tourism will create high-quality training opportunities for university students and further bolster Jordan’s standing as a global destination for cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.

For his part, Haddad said the site lies within a broad cultural landscape rich in archaeological features, including stone hunting structures such as desert kites, as well as other distinctive elements of the basalt desert. He stressed the importance of developing the area’s tourism offering through scientific, participatory, and internationally aligned approaches.

The MoU aims to expand cooperation in cultural heritage protection, sustainable tourism development, academic training, and capacity-building for students and academics through a specialized training platform. It also seeks to facilitate knowledge transfer, improve tourism education, engage the local community in tourism development initiatives, exchange expertise, and develop proposals to secure local and international funding.

The memorandum also provides for the establishment of a joint committee to oversee the project, draft the policies required to achieve its objectives, appoint supervising researchers, and create a documentation database.

Gaza: Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Sunday that since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, 2025, 614 people have been killed in the Strip by Israeli occupation forces’ fire, with 1,643 injured, while 726 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.

According to Jordan News Agency, in its daily statistical report on fatalities and injuries from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, the ministry said 2 killed and 3 injuries arrived at Gaza hospitals over the past 24 hours.

The ministry added that the cumulative toll since the start of the aggression on October 7, 2023, has reached 72,072 killed and 171,741 injured.