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AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, HRH Prince Feisal presided over the 117th Hashemite Scientific Council on Friday at the Islamic Cultural Centre, affiliated with the mosque of the late King Abdullah I.

The Hashemite Scientific Councils, held annually during the holy month of Ramadan by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, address topics of significance to the Islamic world, promoting moderation and balance. 

This year’s second session featured Grand Mufti Ahmad Hasanat and  Abdel Latif Maimouni, head of the Scientific Council in Morocco. 

They discussed the well-known Hadith: "The Halal is clear, and the Haram is clear."  

The speakers highlighted the Hadith’s objectives and benefits, emphasizing its role as a fundamental principle in understanding Islamic law and preserving Islam. 

The event featured the attendance of Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Khalaileh as well as Muslim scholars and Islamic law professors from Jordan and other Muslim countries, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

AMMAN — The World Bank has confirmed that Jordan has made “significant progress” in developing its entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem through initiatives aimed at supporting startups, enhancing digital transformation, and integrating technology into key sectors. 

The World Bank noted that funding challenges remain a major barrier to the expansion of these companies.  

According to an evaluation report on the project supporting startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the Jordanian Innovation Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF), reviewed by Al Mamlaka TV, the World Bank highlighted that Jordan’s venture capital sector has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, making it one of the fastest-growing markets in the Middle East and North Africa.  

Between 2018 and 2022, Jordan ranked fourth in the region in terms of total venture capital funding, securing $246 million, following the United Arab Emirates ($4.4 billion), Saudi Arabia ($1.9 billion), and Egypt ($1.4 billion).  

As part of efforts to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Jordan launched the ISSF in 2017, playing a vital role in stimulating early-stage financing, investing strategically in local and regional venture capital funds, and providing direct support to promising startups. 

The report cited a 2023 study by the Central Bank of Jordan, which found that only 28 per cent of startups and SMEs had obtained loans from financial institutions, while 50 per cent had bank accounts, highlighting clear gaps in financial inclusion.  

Based on the successes of the ISSF’s first phase, funded by the Central Bank of Jordan and the World Bank, preparations are underway for a second phase with a proposed new funding of $50 million. 

The next phase aims to expand early-stage financing for Jordanian entrepreneurs, increase investments in startups, and leverage strategic partnerships with venture capital funds.  

As of the end of October 2024, the World Bank had disbursed $46.8 million for the project supporting innovative enterprises, accounting for 93.6 per cent of the total $50 million funding. The initiative has created more than 1,760 jobs in Jordan.  

The World Bank approved the project on 23 June 2017, and the program supporting innovative startups and SMEs was launched on 23 September 2018. It is scheduled for completion on 30 June 2025. 

The total project funding stands at $98 million which is jointly financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development with $50 million and the Central Bank of Jordan with $48 million.  

The project has allocated over 82 per cent of the total investable capital within the ISSF, attracting more than $200 million in private capital through multiple fundraising rounds. It has also engaged 19 institutional investors and financed 138 companies, including 31 led by women and 60 led by young entrepreneurs.  

These resulted to the creation of over 1,760 jobs in Jordan.

AMMAN — The Eastern Military Zone thwarted two infiltration and drug smuggling attempts on its eastern front on Friday evening, within its area of responsibility.  

A military source from the Jordan Armed Forces – Arab Army (JAF) said that Border Guard forces, in coordination with military security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department, intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle crystal meth across the border.

 The drone was tracked and dealt with according to the rules of engagement, and ws downed within Jordanian territory, JAF source said. 

Also on Friday, three Syrian nationals, attempting to illegally cross into Jordan, were apprehended, the source added. 

The individuals and seized materials were handed over to the relevant authorities.  

The source reaffirmed that the JAF remain committed to utilizing all available resources to prevent infiltration and smuggling attempts, ensuring the security and stability of the Kingdom.

AMMAN — Relatively hot weather conditions will prevail in the Kingdom over the next few days, with temperatures exceeding seasonal averages by 10-11 Celsius, the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) said. 

The weather will be sunny and warm almost countrywide and relatively hot in the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba, JMD said. 

JMD said that the weather on Sunday and Monday will substantially remain unchanged.

On Tuesday, temperatures will drop slightly, but the scorcher will still blister some regions across the Kingdom, the department said. 

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma, the president of the Goodwill Campaign's higher committee, on Saturday handed over financial support to women-led income-generating projects in Jordan.

 The support was given to the Creativity and Challenge Charity Association in Amman's Al Ashrafieh region, and the Skilled Hands for Empowerment Charity Association in Zarqa's Russeifeh, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

At the Creativity and Challenge Charity Association, the campaign funded initiatives focused on clothing recycling, rooftop gardening and a healthy food kitchen. Meanwhile, the Skilled Hands Charity Association supported a home plumbing project by providing essential tools and materials.

During her visit, Princess Basma met with the women who run the associations and benefit from the campaign's support. She expressed her pride in the resilience of Jordanian women and their ability to turn challenges into opportunities while managing their family affairs independently.

"These projects and their success stories reflect the determination of Jordanian women to play a leading role in society, acquire new skills and improve the livelihoods of their families through sustainable, low-cost initiatives," she said. 

The princess also emphasised that such efforts contribute to greater economic independence for families and communities.

She praised the women's commitment to developing and sustaining their projects, as well as their pursuit of new business ideas in line with their ambitions. She stressed the importance of empowering women through stable employment and income-generating opportunities that improve their financial security and overall quality of life.

The Princess also reaffirmed the campaign's focus on supporting women-headed households with entrepreneurial ventures. She emphasised the role of the campaign in ensuring the sustainability and growth of these initiatives, benefiting both families and society as a whole.

Enam Akayleh, president of the Creativity and Challenge Charity Association, shared the association's journey since its establishment in 2016. She outlined its mission to promote sustainable community development through projects such as home kitchens for healthy food, initiatives for people with disabilities, clothing recycling, and rooftop gardening for both beautification and food security.

Meanwhile, Sarah Abu Hassan, President of the Skilled Hands for Empowerment Charity Association, highlighted the organisation's efforts in vocational training, including plumbing, to equip women with essential skills. She also highlighted challenges such as limited funding and the need for more training and guidance on project management and sustainability.

As part of her visit, Princess Basma toured the Al-Raja Private School for the Hearing Impaired in Ruseifeh, where she observed the educational and recreational activities organised for some 150 children from female-headed households and students. She participated in the distribution of gifts provided by the campaign, as well as food parcels for around 150 underprivileged families in the region.

The visit concluded with the Princess attending the Campaign's Ramadan Iftar, which was organised for the children and students of the school.

AMMAN — Jordanian companies specialising in the food sector are set to begin their first participation in International Food and Drink Event (IFE 2025) next Monday, which is scheduled to be held at the ExCeL International Exhibition Centre in London.

Jordan Exporters Association (JEA) is organising Jordan's participation in the 3-day exhibition.1,500 exhibitors from around the world are taking part, as the event is expected to attract approximately 30,000 global buyers and distributors, representing more than 105 countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

JEA Chairman Ahmad Khudari on Saturday said that this first participation comes within the association's strategy to promote Jordanian exports of food products and expand their presence in global markets.

Khudari added that the IFE 2025 is a "remarkable" opportunity for Jordanian companies to showcase "quality" of their products to the world and contribute to promoting Jordanian exports globally, particularly in Britain, which is witnessing a "growing" demand for international foods, especially from Arab countries.

Khudari noted that the exhibition will be an "important" platform for displaying and promoting various Jordanian products, mainly desserts, baked goods, spices, nuts, and many other food items.

On British market's multiple privileges, he referred mainly to presence of a "large" Arab community, which provides a "great" opportunity for Jordanian companies to expand their businesses and strengthen their presence in this "vital" destination, taking advantage of the free trade agreement signed between Jordan and the UK.

He noted that the exhibition provides a "unique" opportunity for Jordanian companies to network with "leading" international companies in the food sector and highlight the "high" quality of Jordan's food sector, which contributes to boosting exports and expanding their presence globally.

Khudari reiterated that Jordanian exports represent a "solution" to multiple economic challenges, as creating new markets for local products boosts production, supports industrial expansion, and attracts new investments.

In this context, he noted this effort would contribute to providing more job opportunities for Jordanians, in addition to strengthening foreign currency reserves and improving the trade balance.

According to official data, the volume of Jordan-UK trade exchange stood at someJD303 million in 2024, of which JD62 million were Jordanian exports.

AMMAN — President of the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) Khalil Haj Tawfiq said that the chamber is organising a visit for a Jordanian trade delegation to Baghdad, comprising mainly of sectors with a "strong" opportunity to enter the Iraqi market as exporters, importers, or investors.

During a meeting with Vice Chairman of Baghdad Chamber of Commerce (BCC) Raad Breij, Haj Tawfiq highlighted the need to activate the joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) to serve both sides in building partnerships, increasing trade exchange, establishing investments, and building partnerships, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The discussions addressed inauguration of a Jordanian ACC-owned trade centre in Baghdad to serve the commercial, service, and agricultural sectors to export goods and services to the Iraqi market.

Meanwhile, Breiji said exchanging economic delegations and holding exhibitions are the "best" way to enhance trade exchange and increase investment volume, noting the need to activate the memo's provisions.

Breiji underlined the importance of exchanging additional delegations, focusing on "specialised and well-studied" sectors, and building a database, which would facilitate task of business owners in Jordan and Iraq in making decisions and developing a "clear" plan for investment, export, or import processes.

Breiji welcomed the ACC's decision to consider establishment of a trade office in the capital, Baghdad, as an "important" step to enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

In this regard, he affirmed Baghdad chamber's readiness to provide any assistance or facilitation to ensure the office's success.

Breiji called on Jordanian companies to enter Iraqi market and take advantage of "available" investment opportunities and capabilities in the various housing, industry, trade, infrastructure, information technology, construction, contracting, and transportation sectors.