Local

AMMAN — Speaker of the Lower House Ahmed Safadi on Tuesday held official talks with United Arab Emirates Federal National Council Speaker Saqr Ghobash at the council’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

During the meeting, Safadi and Ghobash reiterated the strong historical ties between their countries, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Safadi, accompanied by Jordan’s Ambassador to the UAE Nassar Habashneh, stressed the importance of enhancing Jordanian-Emirati relations, particularly in parliamentary cooperation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Safadi also emphasised the unwavering stance of both countries on key Arab and Islamic issues, particularly the Palestinian cause, reiterating Jordan’s firm position that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty.

He also underscored Jordan’s ongoing humanitarian efforts in Gaza and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people.

Safadi also underscored the significance of the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem in preserving the city's religious and cultural identity. 

On bilateral cooperation, Safadi called for increased investment and trade between Jordan and the UAE, noting that such initiatives would benefit both nations, particularly given the UAE’s remarkable progress across various sectors.

He emphasised that regional challenges require deeper cooperation to sustain development efforts and address common difficulties.

Ghobash commended Jordan’s longstanding contributions to the UAE’s development since its founding.

He also highlighted the vital role of Jordanian professionals, particularly in education and technology, in supporting the UAE’s advancement across multiple fields.

AMMAN — The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), through the Royal Medical Services (RMS), on Tuesday received the sixth batch of medical aid from Germany to support Jordan’s field hospitals in Gaza.

The shipment, consisting of medical supplies and equipment, was officially handed over in the presence of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, HRH Prince Rashid Bin Al Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), and Director General of the RMS Brig. Gen. Yousef Zureikat.

Germany’s ambassador to Jordan noted that with this latest delivery, Germany has provided around 15 tonnes of medical supplies and medicines to Jordan’s field hospitals in Gaza since 2023, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

He also commended the RMS for its dedication to delivering critical aid to civilians and reaffirmed Germany’s ongoing commitment to supporting Jordan’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

On behalf of the JAF, Zureikat expressed gratitude to the German government for its continued support of the RMS’ efforts amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

He also underscored the importance of international cooperation in times of crisis, emphasising the need for timely medical aid to alleviate suffering and provide essential healthcare services in the besieged enclave.

AMMAN — The Canadian embassy is hosting Canada Week, a five-day celebration of Canadian cuisine and consumer goods.

Held at CENTRO Store in Amman between February1 and 5, Jordanians will be able to sample premium Canadian agri-food and other products and watch live cooking demonstrations with Canadian Chef Samuel Lavergne-Fournier.

Throughout the week, CENTRO will be featuring a range of "high-quality" Canadian food and beverage products, including maple syrup, seafood, Canadian beef, pulses, and premium snacks, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

The CENTRO Restaurant will present a rich Canadian menu that includes fresh Atlantic lobster and classics like poutine.

Canada Week also included a lecture on Canadian cuisine to Jordanian students at the Royal Academy for Culinary Arts by Lavergne-Fournier.

The students learnt about Canada’s rich gastronomic heritage, culinary techniques, and ingredients shaped by its geography and place in the world. The week also featured an exclusive Four Hands Dinner at Alee Restaurant, where Lavergne-Fournier collaborated with Jordanian Chef Ali Ghzawi on a gourmet fusion menu that blends Canadian and Jordanian flavours.

This collaboration showed how "high-quality" Canadian agricultural and seafood products come together ingredients in a fine-dining setting.

Canada Week is part of the embassy's ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral trade relations and promote Canada’s agricultural and agri-food sector in Jordan, according to the statement.

"Canada Week is a fantastic opportunity for Jordanian consumers to experience the rich and diverse flavours of Canada," said Canadian Ambassador to Jordan Tarik Khan.

"Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen trade ties between Canada and Jordan by introducing high-quality Canadian food products to the Jordanian market," the ambassador added.

Canada Week is open to the public, and it provide an opportunity for Jordanian food enthusiasts, business, and media to experience Canadian cuisine and explore partnerships, the statement said.

AMMAN — Tucked away in Jordan’s Karak Governorate, the town of Al Mushairfeh is emerging as a site of historical significance, once central to the ancient art of sword-making.

Recent archaeological studies and research suggest that this town was a major production hub for the renowned Mushairfeh swords celebrated for their resilience, widely used across the Arab region.

“Through extensive research, scholars are now revealing the pivotal role Mushairfeh played in supplying warriors with these finely forged weapons, which not only influenced major battles but may also be linked to the swords of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,” Jordanian Historian and Scholar Mohammad Waheeb told The Jordan Times.

Waheeb added that Mushairfeh’s history is closely tied to the ancient civilisation of Madin, with archaeological surveys confirming its role as a centre for iron sword production.

Waheeb who is an expert in Jordanian heritage, also highlighted the significance of these findings, pointing that Mushairfeh was more than just a small town, whereas it was a key industrial centre where swords were forged and traded through well-established routes.

“The historical and material evidence point to its deep involvement in the ancient arms trade,” he revealed.

Beyond the historical texts, physical evidence continues to surface. Field studies shared with The Jordan Times have uncovered remnants of workshops, water installations, and Al Masan, which is an area believed to have been used for sharpening swords and iron weapons.

Also, archaeological findings, including scattered pottery and iron fragments, suggest continuous activity from the Roman to the Byzantine periods.

Historical sources confirm that the Arab tribes of pre-Islamic times favoured Moabite swords (Moab is modern-day Karak), where the town was strategically situated along the ancient trade routes.

Despite its rich history, Mushairfeh remains largely unknown outside academic circles, Waheeb explained.

Experts stress the importance of preserving and recognising it as a significant part of Jordan’s cultural and historical landscape.

As further research and excavation continue, Mushairfeh stands poised to reclaim its place in history, not just as a town, but as a once-thriving centre of sword-making excellence, whose legacy is deeply etched in the heritage of the Arab world.

• EBRD, EU and GCF showcase environmental impact of the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in Jordan
• $90 million in financing committed under the GEFF to enhance Jordanian private-sector investments in energy and resource efficiency
• GEFF has supported more than 40 companies and more than 700 projects in over 10 sectors

AMMAN — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union (EU) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) joined forces to host a Green Growth Conference on Tuesday  to promote the impact of the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) programme in Jordan.

To date, the EBRD, GCF and EU have provided a total of 39.8 million euros in financing under the programme to Housing Bank, Cairo Amman Bank and Etihad Bank, as well two microfinancing institutions, the Microfund for Women and Tamweelcom, for on-lending to the private sector for investment in high-performance technologies and services.

The GEFF programme was launched in Jordan in 2022 to support the country’s transition to a greener economy. Over the past two years, the programme has supported more than 700 projects in more than 10 sectors, according to an EBRD statement to The Jordan Times.

Sixty-eight per cent of loans were to women sub-borrowers. These projects have resulted in energy savings of 2,927 MWh per year, a reduction of 2,866 tonnes in CO2 emissions annually and a decrease of 213 tonnes of waste per year, in addition to water savings of 11,000 m³ per year.

The facility has sparked interest among local banks for its efforts to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and individuals keen to invest in green technology.

Due to its "successful" uptake and a high level of interest among local banks and the private sector, the EBRD, EU and GCF had mobilised an additional 48.5 million euros in funding as at end 2023 to engage more local partner banks in extending additional financing to local MSMEs.

The GEFF programme is designed to address significant climate mitigation and adaptation challenges by encouraging MSMEs and households to invest in green and innovative technologies that promote energy, water and material efficiency solutions alongside renewable energy.

The programme also offers capacity-building to help financial institutions enhance their skills and develop tailored products, ensuring their clients have access to the most effective green technologies.

At the conference, held in Amman, EBRD representatives updated the audience about the impact and achievements of the GEFF in Jordan to date.

The event served as an opportunity for the public, private and banking sectors to discuss their priorities in developing a green, resilient and competitive economy in Jordan, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by the financial sector.

The EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) was also present, taking part in a panel discussion on eligible products and strategies available through TFP partner banks.

The event was attended by EBRD Regional Head of the Eastern Mediterranean Gretchen Biery, Jordanian Environment Minister Muawieh Radaideh and EU Head of Cooperation Patrick Lambrechts.

Since it started investing in Jordan in 2012, the EBRD has provided almost 2.3 billion euros in financing through 74 projects across the country, including financial support for the Jordanian banking sector in the form of MSME loans, subordinated debt and trade finance facilities.

AMMAN — Qatar has launched an air bridge from Jordan to the Gaza Strip to deliver urgent medical aid, supplementing its existing land bridge.

The initiative aims to address severe shortages in Gaza’s healthcare sector by providing essential medicines and medical supplies, according to a statement by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO).

The air bridge was inaugurated in the presence of Qatari Minister of State for International Cooperation Mariam Bint Ali Al Misnad, Qatari Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al Thani, JHCO Secretary-General Hussein Shibli, Qatar Charity CEO Yousef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, and representatives from the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Red Crescent.

The initiative comes amid a worsening health crisis in Gaza, where hospitals and medical centres are struggling due to a 49.6 per cent shortage of essential medicines and a 33 per cent deficit in necessary medical supplies.

Shibli highlighted that the ongoing crisis has placed significant strain on medical teams operating under challenging conditions.

He also stressed the importance of continued cooperation between Jordan and Qatar to ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian aid. He said that JHCO remains committed to facilitating the passage of aid and ensuring its organised distribution, particularly given the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

He also emphasised that JHCO will continue to provide logistical support and collaborate with humanitarian organisations to sustain the flow of aid, alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s residents, and improve their living and health conditions.

Misnad attended the signing of an agreement between Qatar Charity and JHCO to facilitate the transport of Qatari humanitarian aid through Jordan.

Misnad said that since the start of the truce, Qatar has delivered 65 trucks of aid through Jordan.

"In addition to the ongoing land bridge, two helicopter flights carrying critical medical supplies have been dispatched to northern Khan Younis."

She noted that Qatar had provided 20,000 tents, which were transported by land from Qatar to Jordan, with plans to facilitate their entry into northern Gaza in coordination with JHCO.

Al Kuwari emphasised that the organisation, in partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Red Crescent, has been tasked with overseeing the aid efforts.

He noted that medical supplies are being delivered via the Jordanian air bridge, while land convoys are being dispatched through the Jordanian corridor.

"To enhance logistics, a 4,000-square-metre warehouse, including 1,000 square metres of refrigerated storage, has been secured in partnership with the Jordan Armed Forces- Arab Army (JAF) Military Consumer Corporation."