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AMMAN — Two men died on Sunday following the collapse of a retaining wall near Amman’s 8th Circle. In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the Civil Defence Department (CDD) said that its personnel had only retrieved one body, noting that two others were still stuck under the rubble.

In a later statement, the CDD said a second body, of an Egyptian national, had been retrieved, adding that rescue teams are still attempting to rescue the third victim.

The second body has been transferred to the Bashir Hospital, according to Petra. 

AMMAN — Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) CEO Kholoud Saqqaf has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Government’s Shareholding Management Company/the Government of Jordan and the Islamic Awqaf Directorate.

Referring to the MoU with the Government’s Shareholding Management Company, Saqqaf said that this  agreement aims to transfer the fund’s expertise in governance to the company to help it develop “proper criteria” for selecting, monitoring and evaluating the government’s representatives on boards of directors of companies in which the government holds shares, according to an SSIF statement.

After 16 years of institutional experience, the SSIF “spares no effort” to entrench and enhance corporate governance at different levels and adapt the best international practices, the statement quoted Saqqaf as saying. 

According to the CEO, the SSIF has developed a “well-structured governance manual” for its representatives on different companies’ boards of directors, as they are required to monitor the performance of companies and maintain investment revenue and stakeholders’ rights according to clear criteria that account for investment risks. 

The SSIF has also developed a “comprehensive programme” to enhance its representatives’ abilities and performance, read the statement. 

Chairman of the Government’s Shareholding Management Company Yehea Nueimat said that the company is looking forward to benefitting from the SSIF’s “long experience in good governance” to create a comprehensive mechanism that mandates the scope of the company’s representatives’ roles and guarantees their efficient participation in the decision-making process, according to the statement.

Commenting on the MoU with the Islamic Awqaf Directorate, Saqqaf said that the agreement aims to examine the possibility to co-invest in new projects and sectors that align with the fund’s strategic direction.

 This MoU also complements the fund’s efforts as an “anchor investor to build strategic partnerships with public and private entities to explore potential investment opportunities in the national economy based on economic feasibility and returns”, read the statement. 

Saqqaf added that the SSIF has recently signed an MoU with Meridiam/Jordan to identify potential opportunities in infrastructure, healthcare and education in partnership with the private sector. Another MoU was signed with the Investment Commission to attract international businesses and investors.

 “We are keen to partner with the largest investment fund in the Kingdom, which contributes to more than 30 per cent of the GDP and has vast experience in various vital sectors,” Islamic Awqaf Directorate CEO Mahmoud Al Hadid was quoted in the statement as saying. 

The directorate will explore the possibility of establishing new investments with the fund on a BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis.  In addition, the fund will provide specialised training for the Islamic Awqaf Directorate on investment methodologies and corporate governance, concluded the statement.

AMMAN — The Qatar Chamber on Sunday received a Jordanian commercial delegation and discussed means to enhance commercial and economic cooperation, stimulate joint investments and increase trade exchange between the two countries.

Chairman of the Qatar Chamber Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani said that the commercial exchange volume between Qatar and Jordan grew by 18 per cent in 2018 to 1.3 billion Qatari riyals, compared with 1.1 billion Qatari riyals in 2017.

Sheikh Khalifa expressed hope for achieving higher growth rates in the trade volume between Doha and Amman, noting that his country’s private sector looks forward to enhancing cooperation and partnerships with its Jordanian peers in various economic sectors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Qatari market during the first nine months of 2019 witnessed the registration of 175 new Jordanian companies that established partnerships and alliances with Qatari firms, the chairman said.

In this regard, he noted that the number of joint Qatari-Jordanian companies working in the Qatari market stood at 1,725 at the end of the third quarter of 2019, compared with 1,550 firms at the end of 2018.

For his part, President of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Senator Nael Kabariti, head of the delegates, expressed his appreciation for the Qatari initiative, implemented under the directives of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, to employ 10,000 Jordanians in the Qatari market.  

Kabariti highlighted the importance of activating the joint Qatari-Jordanian business council, which can play a role in enhancing communication among both countries’ businesspeople and exploring new cooperation opportunities.

Ali Yafii of the Qatari Ministry of Trade and Industry gave a presentation about investment opportunities in Qatar, reviewing top characteristics and incentives of investing in the gulf country.

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Sunday expressed the Kingdom's keenness to ensure the unity of Syria's territory and people, voicing rejection of a Turkish presence on Syrian soil.

During a meeting with Syrian Chargé d’Affaires in Amman Shafiq Dayoub, Fayez said that Jordan's stances towards the Syrian crisis are "fixed and clear", highlighting the Kingdom's efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that safeguards Syria's territorial unity and ends the large-scale suffering of its people.

Recovering Syria's security and stability is important for Jordan, Fayez noted, highlighting the need to bolster Amman-Damascus ties, while calling for an easing of trade traffic between the two countries. 

The Syrian diplomat, during the meeting, lauded the Kingdom's position towards his country, expressing Damascus' keenness to advance Jordanian-Syrian relations “to the highest level”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Fayez also held a separate meeting with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Jordan Idarbek Tomatov over means of boosting bilateral relations in various fields.

Talks also covered the current regional situation, with the Palestinian cause and the Syrian crisis topping the issues.

The Kazakh envoy expressed pride in the high level of bilateral relations, highlighting his country's endeavors to push forward mutual ties, while praising Jordan's role in enhancing regional security and stability.

AMMAN — The Crown Prince Foundation (CPF) and the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that aims at working jointly to develop the Kingdom’s financial technology sector in a way that serves youth and start-ups. 

The memo stipulates supporting the CBJ’s efforts to enhance the financial technology sector, building upon similar international experiments in regards to youth and developing programmes for enhancing the capabilities of start-ups, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday. 

The MoU also stipulates designing a pioneer action template that seeks to promote an environment that supports financial technology in Jordan. 

CBJ Deputy Governor Adel Sharkas said that the bank has given much attention to financial technology developments and supporting initiatives and innovations, given their large role in enhancing financial inclusion, reaching the digital economy and boosting economic competitiveness on the national level. 

Partnerships and cooperation between the public and private sectors are key to the success of the approach followed by the CBJ to reach its goals in a way that suits all stakeholders in the Kingdom, Sharkas added.

For her part, CPF CEO Tamam Mango said that financial technology in the Kingdom is among the sectors that have witnessed a “great and accelerating development” in the entire world.

Mango noted that the foundation pays special attention to this sector, given its role in enhancing economic opportunities for youth.  

The CPF was established under a special law that was endorsed in 2015 to implement HRH Crown Prince Hussein’s vision towards building a bright future for Jordan’s youth by inspiring and driving engagement to improve community well-being in three main aspects: Innovation and entrepreneurship; leadership and participation and giving and community service.

To foster progress, inclusion and innovation, the CBJ launched the national financial inclusion strategy, which was released in December of 2017, and the bank complemented it by establishing a FinTech regulatory sandbox to foster and promote financial technology and entrepreneurship in the sector.

AMMAN — Job creation is the main aim of the government's comprehensive plan to improve the national economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Rajai Muasher said on Sunday.

"The goal is not to achieve economic growth only, but to ensure it also impacts citizens through providing jobs, which is the top priority of stimulating the economy. The set of regulations we announce today directly impact employment programmes in Jordan," Muasher said.

Muasher delivered his remarks during a panel discussion held on Sunday at the Royal Cultural Centre to announce the government's comprehensive plan to improve the Kingdom's economy, hosting ministers and senior officials from the financial, investment, industry, trade, energy and labour sectors. 

The panellists included Muasher, Chairman of the Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) Khaled Wazani, Finance Minister Ezzeddine Kanakrieh, Minister of Public Works and Housing Falah Omoush, Energy Minister Hala Zawati, Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Tareq Hammouri, Minister of Labour Nidal Bataineh and Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh. 

The panellists discussed the first aspect of the government's plan to improve the economy, which focuses on stimulating the national economy and encouraging investment. 

Investment

Not all businesses require the same incentives, as they vary depending on the nature of the business, Muasher said, noting that businesses must be categorised in order to tailor incentives to their specific needs. 

The current performance indicators include exports, expansion of the production base, employing Jordanians and supporting governorates, Muasher noted, adding that the incentives should be based on commitment to achieving certain milestones, making the government-investor relationship “contractual” in nature.

Wazani said that for the first time in the Kingdom's history, investors are guaranteed incentives for their investments for 10 years.

The article of fixed incentives will be enforced next week, Wazani said, noting that this will resolve many problems and address investors' fears.

The JIC chairman also announced that next week, nine new e-services will be launched for investors.

Real estate

Kanakrieh, for his part, said that economic growth is the way to improve indicators to create more jobs and increase incomes, noting that the government is working on the 2020 budget and will draft it based on the existing priorities. 

The finance minister said that focusing on the real estate sector, the government decided to exempt real estate owners from registration and transfer fees by 50 per cent until the end of 2019. 

In reference to the previous decision to lower building fees by 20 per cent, the minister said that the decisions “complement each other”.

The finance minister reiterated decisions related to the Real State Ownership Law and the exemptions it entails, which are also part of the process to stimulate the economy in general and the real estate sector in particular. 

For his part, Omoush discussed the national housing project, which he said is one of the government's priorities to provide underprivileged, new and middle-income families with decent housing around the Kingdom.

The units will extend over an area of 100 to 120 square metres and will offer access to all services through the Housing and Urban Development Corporation, Omoush said, noting that this project will be implemented in partnership with the private sector.

The project will construct 900 housing units in its first phase, cover the needs of Mafraq, Zarqa, Amman, Tafileh and Maan, and the units will be fully funded by the private sector, Omoush said. 

Amman Mayor Shawarbeh highlighted the municipality's efforts to help people own real-estate and to simplify measures and utilise e-services to help people obtain apartments at affordable prices.

Shawarbeh also reiterated that the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) project's infrastructure will be completed by the end of 2020 and operation will begin in 2021. 

Exports, production 

and energy

Hammouri said that the industry and trade sectors comprise 95 per cent of the national economy, and for the first time in Jordan, there will be financial returns based on the amount of exports in certain sectors. 

Financial returns will stand at 3 per cent this year, Hammouri said, noting that the government lowered taxes in the medicine and clothing sectors.

In the energy sector, there are three new incentives, Zawati said, noting that the first targets businesses in the commercial sector for the first time in the Kingdom.

If a business consumes 50,000 kilowatts per hour this year, for example, and consumes 60,000 kilowatts per hour next year, instead of paying the regular 17.5 piasters for each kilowatt per hour for the additional 10,000 kilowatts consumed, it will pay only 7.5 piasters. 

"The second incentive is aimed at the industrial sector, which has always demanded a reduction in energy costs, as they directly impact the production process," Zawati said.

She noted that the government lowered the tariff for small and medium enterprises at 10 fils for each kilowatt per hour.

The third incentive targets the agricultural sector, lowering the "fine for the peak period" from JD3.79 to JD2, Zawati said. 

Labour

Bataineh said that the government has already created 30,000 jobs in 2019, noting that this is “not enough” and efforts are under way to provide more jobs.

The new incentive in this field is paying businesses that employ a Jordanian in the place of an expatriate worker JD240 each year with an open cap, Bataineh said.

AMMAN — The number of women killed since the beginning of 2019 has reached 20, showing a 186 per cent increase in comparison with the same period last year, the Sisterhood is Global Institute (SIGI)-Jordan reported on Sunday. 

In October, a man beat his wife to death in Russeifa, while in September, three murders including a father killing his two-year-old daughter in Aqaba took place, according to a SIGI statement.

In August, a woman in her 30s died after her brother stabbed her with a sharp tool in Ramtha, and another was found dead in Irbid in mysterious circumstances.

In July, six deaths were reported in family-related crimes, including a 15-year-old girl drowned by her uncle in King Abdullah Canal, as well as a 24-year-old girl strangled and murdered by her 25-year-old brother in Karak Governorate.

The body of a woman in her 50s was found in Jabal Luweibdeh, and an elderly woman in her 80s was found stabbed in her Jabal Amman home, while a third woman was shot dead by her ex-husband, who initially claimed she had committed suicide. 

On June 11, a man killed his ex-wife and her mother and injured her father, after stabbing the victims in their Irbid home. 

On June 10, a man murdered his sister after dousing her in petrol, attributing her death to suicide. The man later confessed to the crime, citing a familial dispute as his motive, the statement said. 

In April, a man in Zarqa stabbed his wife because of familial differences, SIGI said, adding that the woman succumbed to her injuries the next day.

Four murders were committed in March, the first of which took the lives of a woman and her husband, while a young woman in her 20s and two girls, 16 and 13 respectively, were murdered in separate incidents during the month.

In February, a man strangled his wife to death in Quweismeh, according to the statement. 

In the statement, the institute stressed the importance of taking preventative measures to eradicate crimes against women, noting that imposing harsher penalties will not suffice. 

SIGI urged the creation of free-of-charge guidance and support programmes that address aspects of health, law and society, focusing on psychological well-being. 

The institute explained that mental health and well-being have not received enough attention, adding that they can be indicators of an individual’s susceptibility to violence.

Citing difficult economic conditions, SIGI stressed the need for these programmes to also tackle financial and professional counselling on ways to balance between work and family.

October 29 marks the International Day of Solidarity with Victims of Honour Crimes.

AMMAN — Low-cost airlines easyJet and Ryanair have resumed their regular flights from European cities to the King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, according to a Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) announcement on Sunday.

The board, in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and the Aqaba Airports Company, was scheduled to welcome easyJet’s first flight arriving from Milan Malpensa Airport to the King Hussein International Airport on Sunday night,  Director General of the JTB Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat noted in a JTB statement.

The director general said that there will be several flights coming from London, Berlin, Venice, Milan and Vienna to Aqaba via easyJet.

He also said that a Ryanair flight is scheduled to take off from Milan and land at Aqaba airport on Wednesday, noting that Ryanair airlines will continue operating four main direct flights from Athens, Sofia, Rome and Cologne twice a week, in addition to inaugurating this new route from Milan.

In the statement, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Majd Shweikeh was quoted as saying that the easyJet and Ryanair flights will “positively reflect” on the tourism and commercial sectors and contribute to an increased number of tourists to the Kingdom of different European nationalities.

AMMAN — For the 13th year, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GSCP), in cooperation with the Royal Jordanian National Defence College, is holding their orientation course for military officers, diplomats and senior officials involved in defence, diplomacy and international relations in Amman. 

The course, which is being conducted with the support of the embassy of Switzerland, began on Sunday and continues through Friday, according to an embassy statement.

It analyses the major international security issues, covers practical issues of diplomatic protocol and provides instructions on how to apply the Vienna convention, the statement said.

 The aim of the course is to enable participants to have an impact in a “rapidly changing, complex environment”, especially considering the “present threats” in the region. 

The GCSP is an international foundation at the heart of international Geneva. It is a leading executive education centre in global security policy and aims to facilitate dialogue and exchange in support of peace, security and international cooperation, according to the statement.

AMMAN — Governorate municipality workers’ demands for pay raises and better working conditions will be met as of next year in response to the two-week, country-wide strike that took place in October of last year.

The strike, which continued for a little over two weeks, caused sanitation problems in the governorates and ultimately ended in a JD20 raise for all municipality workers as of 2019, with the promise of more reforms.

Waste collectors, in particular, were granted a JD30 to JD45 raise starting in 2019.

A 25-per cent raise for all workers, on the condition of an additional six working hours per week, is to be granted starting in 2020, according to the General Trade Unions of Workers in Municipalities.

“We have not forgotten the workers’ demands since last year, which is why we are trying to make room in the budget for annual raises whenever possible,” President of the General Trade Unions of Workers in Municipalities Hammam Maaytah told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Among the workers’ requests last year was the formation of a savings and real estate fund for them, which Maaytah said “will also be granted soon, after they have passed the same legal channels that the pay raises have”.

Workers at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) did not participate in the strike and are therefore not included in the raises, as Maaytah said that GAM is independent and has its own budget while the governorate municipalities are included under the Ministry of Municipalities.