Local

AMMAN — The government of Japan has provided a grant of $122,881 to Greater Karak Municipality for the procurement of waste collection trucks under the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP).

The grant contract was signed by Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Asari Hideki and Mayor of Greater Karak Municipality Mohamed Maaitah on Monday.

The initiative aims to improve waste management services in Karak City, which has a population of 130,600, including Syrian refugees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Asari commended the Municipality’s long-standing dedication to public services, noting that the grant will help ensure a healthier and more sustainable environment.

"Greater Karak Municipality has a proud history of serving its people since 1893. This project is another step forward in its continued dedication to building a better future for the community," he said.

Maaitah expressed gratitude for Japan’s support, emphasising that the two new waste collection trucks will significantly enhance service efficiency and reduce operational burdens.

He reaffirmed the Municipality’s commitment to ensuring effective management of the vehicles to maintain high-quality waste collection services.

Since 1993, Japan has allocated more than $10.5 million under the GGP programme, supporting 160 projects across Jordan, benefiting non-governmental organisations, schools, hospitals, and local governments.

AMMAN — President of the University of Jordan (UJ) Nathir Obeidat on Sunday met with Director of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Jordan Kim So Young and the accompanying delegation to discuss the establishment of the Korean Institute for Engineering Training.

Obaidat stressed the university's readiness to provide all necessary facilities to ensure the success of the project and its objectives, expressing his pleasure with the ongoing cooperation between the university and KOICA.

He also underscored the university’s esteemed global reputation, strengthened by its internationally recognised programmes and increasing appeal to students worldwide, positioning it as a forward-looking, globally oriented institution.

Obaidat also emphasised the crucial need to equip graduates with the skills required to thrive in a competitive international market, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Kim So Young said that the next phase would focus on developing an integrated executive plan for the project, ahead of signing the final agreement, expressing pride in the partnership with the UJ.

A representative from KOICA noted that the institute would be established with a $11 million budget from KOICA, as part of a five-year project (2025-2029).

The project aims to develop infrastructure, curricula, and staff training, and to enhance cooperation between the university and industry to improve the skills of engineering graduates.

Project representatives from the university Riyad Kasasbeh and Osama Habahbeh, presented the project's vision and goals, emphasising its aim to bridge the gap between educational outcomes and market demands by providing practical training in advanced fields such as cyber security systems, green energy, industrial automation and artificial intelligence.

They noted that the project was inspired by best practices from countries like South Korea, Singapore and Germany, aiming to build an effective partnership between the academic and industrial sectors to ensure high-quality educational outputs.

The total budget for the project is $16 million, with KOICA contributing $11 million to cover building, laboratory, training, and administration costs, while the UJ will contribute $5 million for land, infrastructure, and management.

AMMAN — Independent Elections Committee (IEC) Chairman Musa Maaytah on Monday announced that the digital identity card will be accepted in the next Parliamentary elections.

“The digital identity via the Sanad application will be accepted in the upcoming elections so that we can ease up the voting process,” Maaytah said.

The minister added that the aim is also to encourage citizens to actively take part in the upcoming elections, according to a statement by the IEC.

The Sanad application, launched by the government in February 2020 as part of the fifth executive package of the government’s economic program, aims to support electronic services and improve the business environment.

“We want to move forward with the digital transformation project and encourage citizens to make use of the electronic services,” Maaytah stressed.

The minister’s remarks were made during a meeting between the Civil Status and Passports Department (CSPD) and IEC officials and the technical team.

The minister added that the IEC worked with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurs and the CSPD to develop a special electronic mechanism that would “show the digital identification information via Sanad application to the election committee members who will be present at polling stations”.

Maaytah added that the IEC is currently working on “substituting paperwork by digitalising the entire election process for the next elections”.

“The digitalising process will hopefully work to ensure more transparency and integrity of the election process and will speed up the voting and result procedure,” according to Maaytah.

The minister also revealed during the meeting that the IEC held several training sessions related to the digital process for individuals who will be part of the committees that will be stationed at polling stations.

Meanwhile, the CSPD Director Ghaith Tayeb said that the use of digital identification in the upcoming election process is part of the National Digital Transformation Strategy.

An official at the IEC told The Jordan Times that both the smart identification card and the digital identification via the Sanad application will be accepted in the next Parliamentary elections.

AMMAN — Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Yarub Qudah on Monday emphasised the importance of establishing an integrated economic relationship and a strategic partnership between Jordan and Saudi Arabia to serve the interests of both countries. 

Speaking at the inauguration of the Jordanian-Saudi Business Forum, organised by the Jordan Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Saudi Export Development Authority, Qudah stressed the need to develop a new economic framework for cooperation.

He added "This comes in response to global changes and economic blocs, as many countries are increasingly adopting protective trade measures and tariffs,"  the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

Qudah highlighted the importance of targeting new markets beyond Jordan and Saudi Arabia, given the significant opportunities available regionally and internationally.

He pointed out that expanding into foreign markets, particularly in African countries which, are "the most economically developed in the world, with the growth rate in Central and East Africa reaching 8 per cent, requires joint efforts and complementary partnerships to capitalize on these opportunities."

The minister said that Saudi Arabia is Jordan’s second-largest trading partner, with the two countries demonstrating a role model for inter-Arab relations.

Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and head of the Jordanian side of the Joint Business Council Khalil Hajj Tawfiq said that Jordan has a clear economic vision that enables the establishment of trade and investment relations and a shared industrial base through seizing opportunities in vital and competitive sectors, such as food industries, agriculture, and tourism. 

Hajj Tawfiq highlighted that trade exchanges between Jordan and Saudi Arabia have reached JD15.3 billion over the past three years.

He said that the Saudi cumulative investments in Jordan are estimated at around $15 billion, covering a variety of sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, energy, finance, trade, and tourism-related construction, Petra said. 

Chairman of the Al Jouf Chamber of Commerce and head of the Saudi side of the Joint Business Council Hamdan Samreen affirmed that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision 2033 reflect both nations' commitment to strengthening economic ties.

On the sidelines of the forum, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Investment Zaher Qatarneh presented the investment incentives offered in Jordan under the Investment Environment Regulation Law.

He also outlined key services provided to investors, the ministry’s role in attracting new investments, supporting existing ones, and public-private partnership projects across multiple sectors. 

During the forum, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation and the Saudi Export Development Authority.

Several agreements were also signed between Jordanian and Saudi companies, along with bilateral business meetings between firms from both countries.

AMMAN — HRH Prince Feisal has been re-elected unopposed as President of the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC) for the 2025-2028 term, the Election Supervisory Committee announced on Monday.

The decision was ratified during an electoral session at Ya Hala Hall in Al Hussein Youth City, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Monday met with Canada’s Special Envoy to Syria Omar Alghabra to discuss ways to boost bilateral relations and coordinate efforts regarding developments in Syria.

The top diplomat underlined the critical need to intensify support for the Syrian people in rebuilding their country through an inclusive, Syrian-led process that brings together all segments of society, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

He stressed that the priority should be on Syria’s unity, security, and stability, the elimination of terrorism, and the protection of its people’s rights after years of hardship and destruction.

Safadi reiterated Jordan’s full support for Syria and its readiness to assist the Syrian people navigate the transitional phase, expressing Jordan’s hope that this period would mark a historic turning point in rebuilding a sovereign, free, and stable Syria that guarantees the rights of all its citizens.

Also on Monday, Safadi met with a delegation from the Executive Senior Course at the Norwegian Defence University College.

The delegation, consisting of representatives from various Norwegian ministries, institutions, the Norwegian Armed Forces, and security agencies, was accompanied by the Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan.

Safadi highlighted the strong, enduring friendship between Jordan and Norway, emphasising the importance of further enhancing bilateral cooperation. 

The minister also stressed the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate, sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid into the war-torn Strip.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, in a phone call on Monday with US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States.

The call also covered regional developments, with His Majesty warning of the dangers of escalation in the West Bank and highlighting the pivotal role of the United States in supporting efforts to achieve peace on the basis of the two-state solution, according to a Royal Court statement.

The King stressed the need to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents, calling for maintaining the ceasefire and the flow of aid to the Strip, the statement said. 

AMMAN — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said that it was closely following up the investigation into the murder of a Jordanian citizen and another Arab national in Texas, USA.

Director of the Directorate of Operations and Consular Affairs Sufian Qudah stressed that the Jordanian Embassy in Washington was actively coordinating with Texas authorities to follow the progress of the investigation, determine the circumstances surrounding the crime and ensure that the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to justice.

Qudah emphasised that the ministry's operations centre was in contact with the family of the deceased Jordanian citizen, noting that the embassy has initiated the necessary official procedures to repatriate the body to Jordan once the investigation is concluded, in coordination with the family, according to a ministry statement. 

The official also extended heartfelt condolences to the families of both victims.