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AMMAN — USAID on Monday signed memoranda of understanding with the Zarqa and Irbid chambers of industry, and the Eastern Amman Investors Industrial Association to establish employment promotion units (EPUs) through the USAID Jordan Workforce Development Project, according to a statement from the agency.

The establishment of the EPUs will fill a “critical gap” in linking Jordanians to locally available jobs, the statement said. As a public-private partnership, the EPUs will help employers identify and recruit trained Jordanians, the statement said.

“It is projected that the three EPUs will help facilitate job placement for over 7,500 Jordanians over the coming four years,” the statement quoted USAID Mission Director Jim Barnhart as saying.

AMMAN — Newly appointed Saudi ambassador to Jordan Khalid Bin Faisal Al Saud arrived in Amman on Monday to assume his duties.

In remarks to the press, he said his mission is to preserve and develop Saudi-Jordanian relations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. According to an embassy statement carried by Petra, the ambassador voiced hope that the relations between the two countries and their peoples will continue to grow. 

AMMAN — Transport Minister Ayman Hatahet on Monday highlighted the importance of the Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian consortium responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of Queen Alia International Airport, in developing services presented to passengers.

He added — during a visit to the airport — that the ministry, in cooperation with stakeholders in the airport, seeks to reach international standards in ground-handling services available for passengers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AIG CEO Kjeld Binger presented a briefing to Hatahet on the group as operators of the airport, reviewing the rehabilitation and expansion processes of the project, Petra added.

Following is the official translation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s Speech from the Throne, delivered at the opening of the 17th Parliament’s third ordinary session on Sunday.

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,

Prayers and peace be upon Our Master Mohammad, the Honest Arab Hashemite Prophet,

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Representatives,

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

In the name of God, and with His blessings, we inaugurate the third ordinary session of the 17th Parliament — a further milestone in the political life of our beloved country.

Despite regional turbulence and crises, Jordan has demonstrated that it is most capable of turning challenges into opportunities. By adopting a reform roadmap that seeks development and progress as a collective national endeavour, we move continuously towards the prosperous future our dear people and country rightly deserve.

Today is an opportunity to affirm our commitment to a comprehensive reform approach that seeks gradual and steady progress, built on our previous achievements and identified national priorities. We consider both the municipalities and decentralisation laws as a cornerstone for broadening the role and responsibilities of local administrations in our governorates. These laws are also crucial for deepening citizens’ participation and empowering them to contribute towards identifying their priorities, in addition to formulating a future vision for their areas’ development plans and distributing developmental gains more equally and effectively.

Moreover, the Political Parties Law contributes to creating an environment conducive to participation in political parties, according to goal-driven national platforms. We also look forward to a more advanced elections law that helps us move forward in developing our democratic life, by providing fairer representation and elevating the quality of parliamentary work in order to realise our vision for forming parliamentary governments. All of these priorities were duly incorporated by the government in the draft elections law presented to your esteemed assembly.

In parallel to ongoing reform programmes, we are enhancing human rights through tangible steps that strengthen integrity and transparency. These efforts require the adoption of the draft integrity and anti-corruption law, so that principles of justice, equality, accountability and equal opportunity are enshrined and well-guarded. This requires complete cooperation between the government and the House of Representatives, assuring highest levels of responsibility.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Representatives,

The economy is our greatest national challenge and our top concern. We, therefore, place the improvement of citizens’ living conditions at the top of our priorities and at the centre of the economic projects we seek to implement. These projects are formulated according to a well-defined, 10-year socio-economic blueprint that has been devised by the government. It encompasses all sectors and seeks to attract private investments in the vital and promising ones. This is the foundation for achieving the sustainable growth we seek, which generates productive job opportunities for Jordanian youth.

The time has come for the government to present draft legislation to your esteemed assembly that establishes a Jordanian investment fund. This fund should attract investments from banks, Arab sovereign wealth funds, private sector enterprises and individuals, targeting national developmental and pioneering projects that yield benefits to the national economy as well as those contributing to the fund.

Equally important, is to always strive to advance our business environment and modernise economic legislation to keep pace with international advancements and best practices.

It is, therefore, important to provide an improved environment for investors with better quality services. Towards this end, we must make sure that those individuals, who place obstacles to modernising the business climate rather than provide solutions to enhance it, are challenged.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Representatives,

We have realised significant accomplishments in various fields, particularly energy. Yet, we strive to continue to build on our success in the energy sector, as well as in the water and transport sectors, and channel investments towards them. It is equally important that we continue to build on what Jordan has achieved in ICT, and keep up with latest international advancements in this field to maintain Jordan’s competitiveness in this important industry, which has a major role in providing opportunities for Jordanian talents.

As for education — a field that defines Jordan’s future — there must be a qualitative leap and radical reform. This requires implementing the government’s programmes and the forthcoming recommendations of the National Committee for Development of Human Resources, all in an effort to boost Jordan’s ranking regionally and internationally. Here, our priorities include teachers’ training, so they are better equipped to assume their instrumental role.

To achieve all of this, it is important to be reminded that our success in realising the goals of the next phase requires the highest degree of cooperation and coordination between all institutions as well as between the private and public sectors.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Representatives,

Jordan will forever remain committed to its historical stances, the causes of Arab and Muslim nations and peace and security across the world.

The just Palestinian cause remains first and foremost on Jordan’s diplomatic agenda, due to its centrality and because it is a higher national interest.

As for Jerusalem, it remains a responsibility we embrace out of historical and religious duty as well as our custodianship over its holy sites. It is a responsibility that was carried proudly by our forefathers — and will continue to be carried proudly by our future generations — in defence of this holy city against violations and attempts to change its character. We are honoured to continue upholding this responsibility.

In regards to the Syrian crisis, we reiterate our position supporting a comprehensive political solution for this protracted suffering. A solution based on the participation of every component of the Syrian society, ensuring Syria’s unity, stability and future.

In Jordan, we have received our brethren Syrian refugees out of humanitarian and national duties. Jordan has provided all possible assistance, medical aid and shelter to ease their suffering, while other countries with far more resources have turned their backs on them.

Honourable Senators,

Honourable Representatives,

Terrorism is the greatest threat to our region. Terrorist groups, especially the khawarej [outlaws of Islam], threaten many countries in the region and beyond, which makes confronting extremism a shared regional and international responsibility. However, this collective responsibility, in its essence, is our fight as Muslims against those who aim to hijack our societies and future generations.

Jordan will continue to fight attempts to tarnish our true righteous religion because the fight against these forces of evil, darkness and terror is our fight, especially since we are the primary target of the enemies of Islam.

And here, we would like to salute our brave members of the Jordan Armed Forces and security agencies, serving in various fields of honour and bravery, and offering their lives to defend our homeland, protect our achievements and safeguard the security of our country and citizens.

We underline our constant support for our brave brothers in arms. It is essential that all state institutions are committed to supporting our armed forces and security agencies, so that they remain — as they are well known to be — up to the highest standards of competency, efficiency and excellence.

Looking ahead, Jordan will remain a stronghold, a safe haven and a stable homeland, providing an example of strength, unity and harmony that binds its sons and daughters — Muslims and Christians — together, united in their belonging for Jordan and commitment to the Great Arab Revolt, as we steadily carry its Hashemite legacy.

The Jordanian flag shall, God willing, forever remain high and Jordanians proud, confident and glorious.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

IRBID — Farmers in the Kingdom’s northern region are hoping for more sunny days so they can harvest their olives. 

The farmers told The Jordan Times they have been unable to properly reap their olive fruits over the past three weeks, because of heavy rain, although the harvesting season started in mid-October. 

Sami Obeidat, who was at an olive press in the village of Hibras in Irbid, said the later the harvest, the worse the quality of olive oil is. 

According to Obeidat, November is the best period to harvest olives because they are riper and have higher oil concentrations. 

But if harvesting lasts until the second half of December, the fruits are affected by rainwater, which ultimately affects the quality of oil, lowering its concentration, he explained.

The same concerns were echoed by Mohammad Bsharat, who owns an olive press, and Ahmad Malkwai, an olive farm owner in Irbid’s Kfarat area. 

“We love rain and we always pray for rainfall,” Malkwai said, but farmers are racing against time to have their crops harvested before December as the weather is expected to become harsher. 

Usually the harvest season runs from October 15 to January 20. 

Bsharat noted that rainfall over the past three weeks disrupted the process, with only limited quantities of olives transferred to presses. 

Farmers have only been able to harvest some olives because it has been dry for almost a week now, he added. 

The price of a 16-kilogramme container of oil in Kfarat, home to hundreds of thousands of olive trees, ranges between JD80 and JD85.

Demand for oil is higher than last year and production is expected to be greater, Bsharat said. 

Olive oil production this year is expected to be around 24,000 tonnes, while it was estimated at 22,835 tonnes last year, according to official figures. 

With more than 20 million trees across the Kingdom, Jordan is listed among the top 10 olive producing countries in the world.

BALQA — Jordan’s “rich cultural heritage” can be a strong platform to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue, a UNESCO official said on a one-day tour of Salt on Saturday to promote tourism in the city.

Nuria Roca Ruiz, acting coordination officer at UNESCO’s Amman office, noted that Salt, some 35km northwest of Amman, is one of the largest communities in which Christians and Muslims coexist in peace and share a “common and beautiful heritage”.

“We wanted... an activity to promote Salt as a tourist attraction and also as heritage itself,” she told The Jordan Times.

The UNESCO official said the tour was organised as part of the #Unite4Heritage campaign, which was launched by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in Iraq on March 28. 

“This campaign started at the University of Baghdad in Iraq in order to give a platform for youth to speak freely and raise their concerns about the destruction of cultural heritage that was going on at the time,” she added. 

The campaign has since become global and was launched in Jordan in May.  

The tour of Salt, which was the capital of Transjordan, included the main attractions of the city, such as old houses, mosques and churches, in addition to visits to Jordanian women who renovated old houses and started their own businesses. 

The event also incorporated a photo activity in which local and foreign participants could take pictures and post them under the hashtag #Unite4Heritage.   

Basem Khawaldeh, who has been to Salt many times, told The Jordan Times that this tour was “special... because it was designed to raise people’s awareness of the importance of heritage”.  

Basem Naouri, who is from Salt but resides in Amman, said he wanted to join the tour in order to show his hometown to his wife, who is from Karak, some 140km south of Amman.

“Officials have to make Salt part of Jordan’s tourism package — they should not only focus on Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum,” he added. Katia Mdanat, Naouri’s wife, said officials should also work to boost domestic tourism. 

“For me the trip was entertaining because I saw many beautiful locations for the first time in Salt,” she added.

Within UNESCO’s #Unite4Heritage campaign, several activities are planned to take place in the upcoming months, according to a statement released by the UN agency, including a visit to the Baptism Site, the fifth site from Jordan to be inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

AMMAN –– “Jordan... Out of This World” is a promotional video of Wadi Rum, which was selected by Hollywood to double for Mars in Ridley Scott’s new blockbuster, “The Martian”. 

Scott told the press after the release of the movie in cinemas that Wadi Rum should be the eighth wonder of the world.

The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) produced the video and posted it on its Facebook page (Visit Jordan) and YouTube channel earlier this month. 

The video is an attempt to promote the red sand desert, which is some 328km south of Amman and a two-hour drive from the ancient city of Petra — one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. 

It shows Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, as if it were Mars, with a spaceship landing in the desert carrying two passengers dressed like astronauts. 

The passengers, a mother and her daughter, later meet with another astronaut, who is the father. The family walks through the desert until they meet a bedouin man on a camel. 

The one minute and 40 second commercial shows the family enjoying sunset in Wadi Rum as they sit outside a tent.

Over 625,000 social media users viewed the video on Facebook, while nearly 650,000 people watched it on YouTube. 

Until Sunday afternoon, 5,430 Facebook users shared the video, which attracted over 9,600 likes and hundreds of comments. 

One user, Bjørn Preben Anfinsen-aRisæ, described the video as this year’s most innovative commercial.

“And I am happy to say, from [one of] the most interesting countries in the world.”

Mamoun Bara said he can’t wait to watch “The Martian”, while Marnelle Solis Jayme said Wadi Rum was one of the best places she has ever been to. 

“My family and I lived there for years and I can only say it’s the most beautiful country in the world and I sorely miss it,” said Arthur W R Cox.

The Martian, starring Matt Damon, was released in theatres in September of this year and has so far made around $203 million in the US box office and some $262 million internationally.

Wadi Rum has been a popular filming destination for other Mars-centred films such as the 2000 features “Mission to Mars” by director Brian De Palma and “Red Planet” by director Antony Hoffman, according to the Royal Film Commission.

AMMAN — Hundreds of job seekers met face-to-face with potential employers on Sunday, with many hoping to nail on-the-spot interviews and secure employment.

With 14,000 positions on offer from 359 private companies, the fourth phase of the National Employment Campaign, titled “My job — My future”, is providing the largest venue in Jordan for young people to land jobs.

Maysoon Abu Dayyeh completed eight applications on Sunday, which marked the launch of the job fair.

Hoping to find a job as “soon as possible”, the 23-year-old accounting graduate said she has been “actively” searching for work for about seven months, but all her efforts have been in vain.

“I think the problem is that so many people hold accounting degrees. I have no previous work experience, so my chances of finding a good job are not huge,” the Sweileh resident added.

For business administration graduate Adnan Jaouni, finding a job was not the main problem he faced, but rather the low salaries offered by many employers.

“I was accepted to work in several jobs, but the salary for each was so low that it would not even have covered my transportation costs to and from work,” said Jaouni, who was holding several copies of his resume.

Ahmad Mahsiri, who graduated with a degree in software programming two months ago, said he felt “confident” about getting a job through the fourth stage of the campaign.”My specialisation is in demand and there is a good chance that the big number of companies here today will help me get a job,” the 21-year-old said.

Companies taking part in the campaign’s fourth phase, which will continue until November 26, operate in 11 sectors: hospitality, fuel, banks, construction, retail, textiles, industry, health, services, ICT and restaurants.

Job seekers interviewed by The Jordan Times expressed their satisfaction with the organisation of the fair and the fact that the list of companies participating on each day of the campaign was posted online.

The National Employment Campaign began in January 2013 with the goal of creating thousands of jobs for Jordanians in cooperation with the private sector.

Labour Ministry Secretary General Hamadah Abu Nijmeh said the campaign also includes training programmes that prepare job seekers to run their own businesses, which is funded through the National Development and Recruitment Fund, the World Bank and the National Company for Employment and Training.

He noted that the ministry has called on companies to provide good salaries above the minimum wage, attractive incentives, and health and social insurance.

Last year, Labour Minister Nidal Katamine announced the results of a study evaluating Jordanians’ satisfaction with the national campaign, which has so far secured employment for over 32,000 job seekers in the private sector.

The study, carried out by a local polling firm, showed that 36 per cent of the 32,000 had quit their jobs six months after recruitment due to low salaries, the impact of work on their studies, incompatibility of their educational background and skills with the job requirements, and transportation challenges.

It also revealed that 62 per cent of those who retained their jobs were satisfied, and that those employed in the construction and telecom sectors were more likely to stay in their jobs than those working in other fields.

The unemployment rate in Jordan stood at 13.8 per cent during the third quarter of this year, according to Department of Statistics figures.

AMMAN — Investments in youth entrepreneurship and education are powerful means to combat violent extremism, US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells said Sunday.

“We’ve seen how violent extremists are exploiting and tapping into the frustration of our youth,” Wells said at a session on US-Jordanian partnership, highlighting job creation as key to shared prosperity and security.

In a region characterised by the highest rate of youth unemployment in the world, the marginalisation of women in the workforce stands as a major developmental and economic challenge, the ambassador noted.

She cited experts’ estimations of a 5 per cent growth in the gross domestic product if Jordan succeeds in raising women’s participation in the labour market to 24 per cent by 2025, in accordance with the “Jordan 2025” blueprint.

Meanwhile, access to finance remains a challenge for several emerging businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the diplomat said.

“SMEs represent 95 per cent of all registered businesses in Jordan, but receive 10 per cent of commercial loans,” Wells said, noting that most banks have not yet considered restructuring their lending practices to facilitate financing this “crucial” sector.

The USAID/Overseas Private Investment Corporation loan guarantee programme, she added, has helped provide financing for entrepreneurial projects, and Bank Al Etihad has already utilised 94 per cent of its $10 million allocation to boost first-time entrepreneurs’ access to finance and is currently awaiting approval to double that amount.

Another challenge is young people’s preference for jobs in the private and public sectors rather than launch “risky” start-ups, she noted, citing “few, if any” new positions for job seekers in the oversized public sector.

“Despite these challenges, entrepreneurship in Jordan is growing.”

The ambassador shared the success story of Fatima, who operates a “successful” in-home repair and plumbing service in Zarqa Governorate, some 22km east of Amman. 

To encourage and support entrepreneurs like Fatima, whose business provides additional income to her family, Jordan and the US are collaborating on several projects.

US support for entrepreneurship in Jordan includes $45 million in USAID funding to the Jordan Competitiveness Programme, and $69 million to the Local Enterprise Support Project, the ambassador said.

“USAID has supported the development of more than two dozen new business ideas in the last six months, more than half of them developed by young women,” she said at the meeting, held by the Young Entrepreneurs Association and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty.

Since not all entrepreneurs are able to create successful start-ups from the first attempts, there is a need to develop a “modern and coherent” bankruptcy law that allows companies to exit the market without any form of punishment, Wells added.

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Sunday appointing Mohammad Allaf as chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission and Iyad Qudah as board member.

A second Royal Decree was issued appointing Wadah Hmoud as director general of the Jordan Customs Department.

A third decree was issued approving a Cabinet decision to appoint Bashar Nasser as director general of the Income and Sales Tax Department, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.