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AMMAN — The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has welcomed Saudi Arabia’s restructuring of umra visa fees for repeat pilgrims, expecting an increase in the number of Jordanian pilgrims.

“This is a much-awaited resolution which we support. People’s  inquiries about Hajj and umra programmes increased after the Saudi decision, but we are still waiting for the updated procedures,” the Jordan Society of Tourism and Travel Agents (JSTA) Treasury Secretary Kamal Abu Diab told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

The Saudi government scrapped the pilgrimage visa fees of 2000 Saudi Riyals (JD400) for repeat pilgrims.

The decision followed a Royal decree restructuring the umra (the lesser Muslim pilgrimage) visa fees as part of Saudi Arabia’s “outstanding services” for Muslims from all around the world.

The new resolution has been praised by Muslims, travel agencies and other concerned parties and encouraged large numbers of Muslims to go on Hajj and umra again, especially with the huge extensions and infrastructure made there.

Um Mohammad, a Jordanian woman that once used to go on umra twice a year, said that she did not visit Mecca and Medina for the last two years.

“It’s the place where I find peace, so I hope with the new prices I will be able to revisit my favourite place on earth,” Um Mohammad told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

AMMAN — Marble statues found in 2017 probably decorated the Great Eastern Baths in Jerash, said a German scholar.

The statues were found in 2017 during an excavation campaign conducted by the Department of Antiquities, the French Archaeological Mission in Jerash and the German-Jordanian University (GJU).

Back then, German professor Thomas Weber-Karyotakis focused on the nature and arrangement of statuary decoration in Jerash (ancient Gerasa).

“We hoped that the excavated marble statues in their deposit position would allow us to connect them further with the inscribed statue bases of the neighbouring northern hall,” he said in a recent e-mail interview with The Jordan Times, noting that in the course of the 2017 campaign, 109 fragments of marble statuary of different dimensions and provenances were registered.

Some objects preserved faint traces of colours and were cleaned by soft brushing without water in order to allow further research on eventual polychrome (varied colouring) during the restoration process, the expert explained.

The statues probably are in such a bad shape as a result of destructive human activities. People intentionally smashed and accumulated sculptures on the rubble above the limestone pavement for the purpose of burning the marble down to produce lime for domestic constructions, Weber-Karyotakis explained, adding that this is why major parts from the torsos have not been found, such as the heads or body extremities.

An earthquake that happened in 749 AD may have caused further damage to the statues, but also interrupted human destruction “and preserved some larger parts of marble figures,” the scholar said.

Some of the statues may have never decorated the baths, but perhaps were brought from other areas for firing, according to Weber-Karyotakis.

“To our present knowledge, the uncovered hoard of marble statuary must be seen as a testimony for their destruction by firing,” the archaeologist said.

Despite the discouraging circumstances of their deposition, the scholar continued, the statuary findings of the 2017 campaign tremendously enriched the knowledge of the statuary landscape of Gerasa in the Decapolis.

A major fragment of a precisely dated colossal statue of Aphrodite was found. It was donated in 154 AD by a certain Demetrius to the city, and has been preserved to an extent that allows an interpretation and solid future restoration, he stressed.

“The upper body of Aphrodite came to light,” Weber-Karyotakis said, noting that it was found lying on its back preserved from the zone of the navel upwards to the base of the broken neck, but the head and both arms could not be found.

SAN DIEGO, California — Seawater desalination is the “only option” for countries seeking to become more resilient and have reliable water supply, according to an expert in water resource management, who stressed that water facilities should seek diversification of their water supplies.

While acknowledging that desalination of seawater is an expensive, highly technical and long process, the water resource management expert said that “… in some areas you have to make that investment because you just do not have the other sources of supply or resources that you can tap into.”

Jeremy Crutchfield, water resources manager at San Diego County Water Authority, said that by building a desalination plant in San Diego, the authority has a locally controlled supply in terms of quantity and pricing, and a “drought-proof supply coming from the Pacific Ocean”.

“Our weather here is beautiful but also crazy, we can go through long extended droughts, we have intense rainfall, and then you do not see rain for a long time, it is very hard to predict…” Crutchfield told a group of journalists participating in a tour on water, organised by the State Department’s Foreign Press Centre. 

Desalination is expensive, however, the reliability component is what San Diego was seeking when it established the Claude Bud Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, north America’s largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient seawater desalination plant.

San Diego’s water authority buys all the water that is produced at the plant through a 20-year contract, Crutchfield said, noting that the plant is a 1-billion-dollar investment that includes the plant it self, the pipeline that brings the water from the plant to the county’s system and some modifications which had to be done on San Diego’s system to integrate desalinated water into the country’s aqueduct.

The plant daily delivers nearly 50 million gallons of fresh, desalinated water to San Diego County; enough to serve approximately 400,000 people and accounting for about one-third of all water generated in the county, according to the plant’s website, which also indicated that the project originated in 1998 and launched in 2015 with a purchase agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority.

“This is all done through public-private partnership (PPP). It [the plant] is one of the first PPP contracts for water infrastructure here in the US,” Crutchfield said, adding that “desalination does not happen overnight”.

“There were a lot of conceptual designs that needed to take place, you had to get financing in place, but the environmental reviews and the permits required… that is a long process…” Crutchfield said.

The water resource management expert underlined that water desalination is part of the solution to water scarcity, noting that diversification of water supply is key.

“It [desalination] is not a complete stopgap, it is not a saviour for water supply… you need to look at all of your options. In some areas, it is [going to] be your only option if you [want to] become more resilient and have that reliability… Every area is [going to] have a different ranking of [its] optimum or best supply option,” Crutchfield stated.

In Jordan, desalination of sweater and brackish water is a major component of the Kingdom’s strategy to meet the rising demand for water in light of drying water sources, shifting rainfall patterns due to changing climate and exploding population, according to an official at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

Official figures from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation indicate that Jordan has implemented desalination projects worth JD40 million which have generated 3,500 cubic metres of water per hour over the past three years.

The projects included the construction of new desalination plants and the rehabilitation of existing ones, on a build-operate-transfer basis, including the Mashtal Faisal Wells in Jerash Governorate, several wells in the northern region, Maan, Karak, the Jordan Valley and Aqaba, according to the ministry.

While the Kingdom’s first seawater desalination plant opened in Aqaba in March 2017 to produce 500 cubic metres per hour, Jordan eyes the implementation of the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance project as the “ultimate, long-term solution” to its water crisis, according to the official.

Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel and Palestine in December of 2013 to implement the first phase of the Red-Dead Project. Under the first phase, a total of 300mcm of water will be pumped each year, eventually transferring up to 2 billion cubic metres of seawater per year from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.

A total of 85-100mcm of water will be desalinated every year, while the remaining seawater will be pumped out from an intake located in the north of the Gulf of Aqaba.

However, a senior government official told The Jordan Times previously that it was clear that Israel was no longer interested in the Red-Dead Project given repeated news reports casting doubt on its necessity, feasibility and agenda.

The government, nonetheless, announced in December 2018 that the Red-Dead Project was still on the agenda, despite Israeli procrastination.

AMMAN — Jordan Industrial Estates Corporation (JIEC) and the Arab Businessmen Forum in China on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation between the two countries and promote Jordan's investment environment.

The MoU, signed by JIEC CEO Omar Jwaid and the forum's head Arafat Harahsheh, seeks to underpin the promotional efforts of Jordanian industrial zones, according to a JIEC statement.

The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the Jordanian participation in the third China-Arab States Expo and fourth China-Arab States Business Summit, which aimed at intensifying the Kingdom's promotional efforts with a focus on the Chinese market, along with exploring potential investment opportunities, mainly in industrial zones.

The Arab Businessmen Forum in China, with its widespread relations, serves as an umbrella for Arab and Jordanian investors in China, Jwaid said, pointing out that the agreement would promote the Kingdom's investment climate through expertise exchange and holding a variety of promotional activities.

Harahsheh said that the MoU emphasised active public-private sector partnership intended to serve the Kingdom's investment environment, affirming that the forum will make every effort to support JIEC's promotional efforts in the Chinese market.

The memorandum stipulates cooperation in promoting the Kingdom's investment environment and opportunities, as well as conducting training courses for JIEC's employees by linking them with the related bodies in China, through the Arab Businessmen Forum in China.

Under the agreement, the two sides will hold a variety of forums and workshops on promoting investment opportunities available in Jordan's industrial zones affiliated with JIEC, according to the statement.

AMMAN — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Jordan Securities Commission on Tuesday presented the Capital Market Development Strategy and Roadmap, which aims to create a capital market capable of supporting the country’s economic development through better provision of finance for the private sector.

The strategy was presented in Amman under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister Rajai Muasher and included a sequence of 121 action items all aimed at addressing key challenges for the country’s development, according to a statement issued by the EBRD.

Jordan’s key challenges include improving opportunities for the private sector to raise finance and providing more investment opportunities for the public, as well as improving the resilience of Jordan’s financial system, the EBRD statement said.

During the event, Muasher said that the strategy is envisioned to contribute to increasing the capital market capacity and enhancing investments in the market, and, consequently, playing a role in creating real and sustainable job opportunities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He added that regional political conditions and successive economic crises have negatively affected the overall economic indicators and resulted in slower growth rates and higher unemployment percentages, which have required more efforts to avoid despair, mainly among young people.

The Strategy and Roadmap is rooted in the broader “Jordan 2025: A National Vision and Strategy”, which specifies over 400 policies and procedures for the general economy that should be implemented through a participatory approach between the government, the private sector and civil society, the statement added.

The EBRD has invested over 1.3 billion euros through 44 projects in Jordan since it began operations in the country in 2011, the statement said, adding that facilitating non-sovereign financing and promoting direct and indirect financing of private enterprises such as Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises are key priorities for the Bank’s work in Jordan.

AMMAN — On Tuesday, the Centre for Strategic Studies of the University of Jordan hosted a conference to present the main findings of a civil society organisations' (CSOs) needs assessment that was carried out during the first half of 2019.

This study is part of the Qararuna project, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), which aims at deepening the role of civil society in contributing to democratic governance and policy making, according to a statement issued by the EU and AECID.

The study presented during the conference contained an assessment of the current context and main needs of civil society organisations  in the areas relevant to Qararuna’s goals gathering information from 443 Jordanian CSOs, according to the statement.

The main results of the study show that although the number and role of CSOs in the democratic governance process has increased considerably in the political arena in recent years, their influence in the democratisation process in Jordan is still weak and mostly ineffective, read the statement.

Relations between civil society organisations and decision makers also hinder their efforts and CSOs face different obstacles when creating alliances or coalitions, the statement said.

To achieve their goals and activities, CSOs are mostly in need of financial support, assistance in reaching supporters and training and qualifying their cadres, the statement said.

The study also laid the foundation for the design of a comprehensive training programme that the Centre for Strategic Studies will implement in September 2019 to build the capacities of over 200 Jordanian CSOs from across the Kingdom, the statement said, adding that the centre will also design an e-learning programme targeting young Jordanians and activists willing to participate in civil spaces.

The conference was chaired by the Centre for Strategic Studies, the University of Jordan, the European Union Delegation in Jordan and the Embassy of Spain in Jordan.

Qararuna is part of the EU “support to Jordanian Democratic Institutions and Development” (EU-JDID) programme, which is composed of four different but interconnected components: Parliamentary support, electoral assistance, support to the political party system and support to civil society organisations, the statement said.

EU-JDID aims at supporting Jordan's reform process towards consolidating a deep democracy, promoting inclusiveness of national policy and decision-making processes, including women and youth leading to a stronger democratic political culture and deepening the role of civil society, the statement said.

AMMAN — Under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Hussein, the first “What Really Matters” Congress in the region will be held in Amman at the Royal Cultural Palace at Al Hussein Youth City on September 15, according to a statement from the organisers.

The event will host between 1,500 and 1,700 high school students from across Amman, including participants from both public and private schools in the capital as well as students from UNICEF schools and refugee camps in Jordan, the statement said.

A press meet, joined by HRH Princess Lara Faisal, guest speakers and representatives from the Crown Prince Foundation and companies and partners, will be held on Saturday to announce the launch, the statement noted.

What Really Matters congresses are free, non-political, non-religious events open to people of all beliefs, ideas and opinions and held in major cities around the world with the aim of promoting universal human values among the youth through the powerful and inspirational personal accounts and life stories of speakers, according to the statement.

The upcoming congress will be in Arabic, and for the Arab youth.

Since 2007, more than 200,000 youth (mainly high school and first year college students) have attended more than 150 congresses in cities across Europe and Latin America, according to the statement.

They listened to impressive life stories from a diverse community of individuals who have overcome adversity, thrived in the face of challenge, and through example, have demonstrated their commitment to and belief in the values that foster personal growth, social responsibility and human development, read the statement.

The Amman congress will hear from Yusra and Sara Mardini, who fled the Syrian civil war to seek asylum in Europe; Omar Samra, from Egypt, who at the age of 11 was diagnosed with — and within 2 months, successfully overcame — serious chest Asthma by running to improve his health; and Tunisian poet Anis Chouchene, known for his poem Peace Upon You, which achieved great success on social media networks, according to the statement.

AMMAN — UN Women and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland on Tuesday announced a new phase of partnership to promote the resilience and empowerment of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian women and girls.

According to a statement issued by UN Women, the partnership will focus on supporting women to enter and remain in the labour force by providing a combination of livelihood, education and civic engagement opportunities, coupled with gender-based violence prevention and protection services offered through the UN Women “Oasis” model.

Finland’s support of 2 million euros to the new phase is a continuation of Finland’s partnership with UN Women since 2014 to provide vulnerable women in Jordan with economic opportunities, read the statement.

“When women join the workforce, everyone benefits. In economic terms, female participation in work life will not only empower women themselves, but also bring benefits to society as a whole, not least to GDP growth of the country,” Tarja Fernández, Ambassador of Finland to Jordan, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, this initiative will directly engage more than 480 women annually in Zarqa, east Amman, Karak, Maan, and Tafileh, as well as Syrian refugee women living in the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps, according to the statement.

In support of Jordan’s priorities to promote women’s economic empowerment, the initiative seeks to strengthen women’s access to the labour market by addressing some of the key barriers they face, such as the availability of safe transportation and childcare facilities, as well as by promoting access to decent employment conditions and working closely with the community to build support for women’s economic engagement, according to the statement.

“Our goal is not only to ensure access to services for vulnerable women but also to foster their active participation in their communities and opportunities in the job-rich growth sectors of the future, especially around innovation and technology,” Ziad Sheikh, UN Women Jordan representative, said in the statement.

In 2012, UN Women opened its first Oasis centre in the Zaatari refugee camp as a safe space for refugee women and girls, the statement said, adding that the model has evolved over the years “into what is now a centre for building women’s resilience and empowerment through access to multi-sectoral services, while also engaging men and boys in dialogue and mobilisation for social equality.”

As a result of the services accessed in the Oasis centres, women reported they were able to generate an income, increase their participation in household decision-making, improve household nutrition, and increase their sense of leadership, community engagement and empowerment, the statement concluded.

AMMAN — Jordan has taken a lot of action towards developing renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and services, according to Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Deputy Secretary General for Energy and Climate Action Jorge Borrego.

"Jordan has a good perception of the need to develop green energy," Borrego said in a recent interview with The Jordan Times.

Pointing out that the Kingdom is among the five top countries to receive the UfM's support, Borrego said that Jordan has "good ambitions and vision on renewable energy and a supportive action plan".

"Jordan is deeply involved in the union's mandate not only on the political level but in regional policies as well," he added.

Borrego mentioned the Tafileh Wind Farm as a Jordanian success story. Hailing its sustainability, Borrego said that the project is not only of "high importance" when it comes to energy security and clean environment but also in the "immense support" it provides to the local population in terms of job opportunities, education, knowledge and health.

Again re-emphasising that Jordan is a "strong partner" of the UfM on a climate dimension, Borrego expressed hopes that similar renewable projects will be implemented in Jordan.

The Tafileh Wind Farm, which is the first utility-scale renewable project in Jordan, has been recognised as a best practice during the UfM's second edition of the Energy and Climate Business Forum held in Lisbon in July.

According to the UfM, the Tafileh Wind Farm was responsible for almost 25 per cent of the energy produced from renewable sources in Jordan in 2018 and currently powers 83,000 homes with 80 per cent of its employees from the local area.

The intergovernmental union recognised the Tafileh Wind Farm project in 2014 as a leading project that could serve as an example for other promoters and institutions in the region, especially because of the cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Asked if the union has future plans for electric interconnectivity between the northern and southern Mediterranean countries, Borrego explained that it still has “a long way” to go.

Any potential energy interconnectivity between the two sides of Mediterranean requires first the establishment of a "complete electricity integration market between neighbouring Mediterranean countries", he said, adding that nevertheless “we are safely and soundly moving towards that objective”.

Borrego acknowledged that there is a "huge" trade deficit between northern and southern Mediterranean countries that needs to be bridged, explaining that it is 90 per cent from the north to the south, 9 per cent from the south to the north and 1 per cent from south to south.

AMMAN — Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) received 959,560 passengers during July 2019, which constitutes a 4.5 per cent rise compared with the same month in 2018, according to statistics released by Airport International Group on Tuesday.

In addition, QAIA registered 7,927 aircraft movements and 9,672 tonnes of cargo, effecting 2.1 per cent and 13.5 per cent increases respectively, a QAIA statement said.

Since the beginning of 2019, 5,108,561 passengers passed through QAIA, marking a 6.4 per cent rise in comparison with the same period in 2018, the statement said.

“Our positive July performance builds on the steady improvements in passenger numbers recorded during the first half of the year. On this note, we look forward to seeing the promising results anticipated for August following a bustling Eid Al Adha holiday at QAIA,” Airport International Group CEO, Kjeld Binger, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Airport International Group is a Jordanian company that harnesses the airport management and construction expertise of regional and international partners in order to rehabilitate, expand and operate Jordan’s premier gateway, Queen Alia International Airport, read the statement.