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King
calls for efforts to stop war
H.M. King Abdullah II called for efforts to
stop the war in Iraq as soon as possible; highlighting the humanitarian
role Jordan is playing to ease the suffering of the Iraqi people. The King
reiterated that it was regrettable that the Arab and international
communities were unable to avert the war, pointing out that Jordan has
done its utmost “with the UN, the Europeans, the Americans and the
Iraqis” to avert the present war. His Majesty said Jordan would carry
out its humane and brotherly obligations towards the people of Iraq to the
best of the Kingdom's ability. He expressed relief at procedures taken by
the government and other state agencies to provide humanitarian assistance
to the Iraqis.
The King
directed the Cabinet to study the sectors more likely to be affected by
the war in order to consider the assistance they may need. He said the
government's agenda for 2003 should proceed as usual and according to
schedule. He thanked all Arab and foreign states that provided economic
support to the Kingdom during the current situation.
World
Bank President confident in Jordan’s economy
World Bank
President Mr. James D. Wolfensohn was impressed with the emphasis put by
H.M. King Abdullah II on education for the knowledge based economy and on
deepening Jordan’s long-standing efforts to invest in educating its
people and developing its human resources, the World Bank (WB) said in a
press release in connection with Mr. Wolfensohn’s latest visit to
Jordan.
The WB president
held extensive discussions on the economic and social situation with high
Jordanian officials and also met with many representatives of NGO’s and
the private sector. He commended the Kingdom for its commitment to follow
through its economic reform policy. Upon concluding his visit Mr.
Wolfensohn stated that the visit has helped him to “witness once again
the commitment of the Government and the people of Jordan to get on with
their plans for social and economic transformation. They’re doing it
with determination and an eye on the future, in spite of the current state
of uncertainty in the region”.
Mr. Wolfensohn
reaffirmed the WB support to Jordan and “real partnership” to brave
the storm of a war in Iraq and confirmed that the Bank will invest just
under $400 million in development projects in Jordan over the next three
years. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group
private sector arm, currently holds a portfolio of $113 million in 17
companies. Since the beginning of its partnership with Jordan, the World
Bank has invested over $2 billion in the social and economic development
of the country, and the IFC $283 million in 25 companies.
Central
Bank: Dinar's strength can weather war repercussions
Central Bank of
Jordan (CBJ) reserves of foreign currencies stand at record of $3.6
billion, guaranteeing seven months of the Kingdom's import requirements,
according to CBJ Governor Mr. Umayya Touqan. The Governor stressed that
the monetary situation in Jordan is at its best and that all-precautionary
measures have been considered in case of war against Iraq.
“The CBJ is
ready to provide any amount of foreign currencies,” Touqan emphasised.
He indicated that the monetary policy taken by Jordan has been successful
in reinforcing currency stability noting in this regard the stability of
the Dinar’s exchange rate and the inflation level. The good results
achieved last year, such as posting 5% growth in the gross domestic
product, increasing exports by 14% and containing inflation within a 2%
level, are other indications that testify to the right economic reform
measures being taken, the governor said.
Germany
grants $1.3 m for water project
The Ministry of
Water and Irrigation signed a JD950, 000 ($1.33 million) grant agreement
with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) to carry out the
fourth stage of the strategic water planning project. The project is
intended to develop the systematic use of water management. An official of
the Ministry said that the work on the fourth stage of the project is
expected to conclude in August 2004, adding that, by that time, a total
water information network should be available electronically, facilitating
the process of planning, mapping, water management and maintenance.
Industrialists
value decision regarding exemption of production inputs
Amman Chamber of
Industry (ACI) applauded the government's decision to fully exempt all
industrial inputs from customs tariffs, as of beginning of March 2003. ACI
chief Mr. Hatim Halawani valued the step saying, “This decision will
allow better opportunities to compete worldwide and benefit from the Arab
and international trade accords that the Kingdom has signed”.
ICTAC
announces 2003 work plan
The Information
and Communications Technology Advisory Council (ICTAC), a public-private
forum, has defined its key programs of work for the year 2003, all
designed to independently review the Jordan’s ICT core competencies and
niche strengths with the objective of expanding its role as a regional
technology centre of excellence. “The private and public sectors have
all shown solid commitment towards His Majesty’s initiative to build a
knowledge based economy. To bolster these efforts the ICT Advisory Council
will play a major role in guiding the policy makers in the IT sector to
facilitate industry growth in the Kingdom and pave the way for
investors.” said Dr. Fawaz H. Zu’bi, Minister of ICT.
The Council
announced four strategy topics to be studied, with findings and
recommendations published by the end of the year. “The Competitive
Positioning Strategy for the ICT Sector”, one of the selected topics, is
an exercise that aims at developing a strategy to position the Jordanian
ICT industry and identify niche areas to build Jordan’s competitive
advantage that will shape the firms strategies and structures. The Council
will recommend an “IT Export Development Strategy” that will underline
the approach, mechanisms and target markets for Jordanian ICT firms.
Related is a “National Strategy for e-Learning Applications”, a study
designed to build the IT industry’s capability to contribute to the
transformation of the Kingdom’s educational system as articulated by
Jordan’s e-Learning Strategy.
Jordan
and UK sign debt-rescheduling agreement
The British
Government has rescheduled almost one third of all Jordanian debt to the
UK. The agreement is worth approximately $313 million, and will help to
alleviate the burden of debt on Jordan’s budget, by reducing debt
interest payments until 2008. The total amount of debt owed to the UK
under all current Jordanian Debt Agreements is $650 million.
Furthermore,
Jordan and United Kingdom signed another agreement to provide Jordan with
$4.7 million. The British Agency for Overseas Development is financing the
grant to support public sector reform and the enhancement of public
services.
First
female appointed to Criminal Court
Jordan’s
Judicial Council has officially endorsed the appointment of Ms. Taghreed
Hikmat to become the first ever-female Criminal Court justice. Female
judges serving in the Kingdom's various courts now stood at 20. “My
appointment is a clear indication that the Judicial Council supports the
presence of female judges and that it is adopting an open-minded
policies,” Hikmat said. Hikmat was also nominated by the government to
serve on the Tribunal Court of Rwanda at the elections to be held in May
2003, according to the judge.
IMF
applauds Kingdom's economic achievements, reforms
The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave a thumbs-up to Jordan's
reform-oriented achievements last year and maintained optimistic forecasts
for further economic growth in 2003. Wrapping up the fund's first review
of its final economic reforms program with the Kingdom, an IMF delegation
said Jordan managed to achieve tangible growth in 2002 despite regional
uncertainty. "The 4.8% real economic growth realized in 2002 even
surpassed targets set in the country's program with the IMF," Finance
Minister Michel Marto quoted the delegation as saying.
The Kingdom
renewed its program with the fund in July 2002 for two years. The step
enabled the rescheduling of Jordan’s $1.2 billion of its external debt
balance, estimated at more than $7 billion. The fund also praised the
government's efforts, which helped contain inflation, boost exports by
20%, maintain monetary and fiscal stability through record high foreign
reserves and boost confidence in the Jordanian Currency.
Airspace
open for civil aviation as normal
Jordan's
airspace is open for civil aviation as normal, an aviation official said,
adding that the drop in flights of some international airlines is due to
slow demand. The acting director general of the Aviation Authority said
most airlines are operating regular flights to and from Amman, except
British Airways and KLM, which halted their operations due to the war in
Iraq. Alitalia, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Cyprus Airways resumed
operation after a brief halt.
Running
to lowest point on earth
A gruelling 50km
run from the high elevations of the capital Amman, down to the Dead Sea,
encompassing an altitude change of 1300m, will take place on April 11th,
2003. "Run to the lowest point on earth and raise money for The
Society for Care of Neurological Patients" will be the 11th
Dead Sea Ultra Marathon slogan. The race is split into four categories:
Ultra Marathon (50 km), Marathon (42km), Half-Marathon (21 km), and Relay,
which is only allowed for the 50 km category. 730 runners participated in
the 10th Dead Sea Ultra Marathon last year, representing 27 countries,
including Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia, Malaysia, Japan,
Cyprus, the US, the UK, France, Nigeria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain,
Ireland, Sweden, Portugal, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
Russia, Italy as well as Jordan. For more information and registration: www.deadseamarathon.com
or E-mail: [email protected] .
Business
Scene
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Investments estimated at $352
million are underway at the eastern shore of the Dead Sea to develop
the area’s tourist and social aspects. A 10-year state plan would
include building new hotels, tourist villages, public parks and health
spas. The Jordan Valley Authority formed a new unit to conduct these
investments, and supervise the development of the infrastructure
projects in the area. Recently, a British-Jordanian company leased
lands at the area to build a $35 million five-star hotel.
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More
than 1.6 million tourists visited Jordan in 2002 generating $767.6
million in revenues, an increase of 10% over 2001. The Ministry of
Tourism and Antiquities is currently executing the second phase of the
tourism development project at $32 million. Furthermore, $111.2
million are allocated to the renovation plans of all Jordan’s
tourist sites, and the enhancement of their productivity. Tourism
authorities are promoting the “wellness tourism” to take advantage
of a number of sites, including the Dead Sea and Ma’een Spa.
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