Month: May 2023

Jordan’s unemployment rate went down by 0.9 percentage points in the first quarter of 2023 to 21.9 percent, a 1-percent decline from the fourth quarter of last year, according to recent figures. In its quarterly statistical report on the Kingdom’s unemployment rate, the Department of Statistics (DoS) indicated on Wednesday that unemployment among males in the first quarter of 2023 stood at 19.6 percent against 30.7 percent for females, dropping by 0.9 and 0.8 percent, respectively, compared with the same period in 2022. Compared with the fourth quarter of last year, the unemployment rate for both males and females slightly declined by 1 percentage point. Also, unemployment among university degree holders (calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals holding a bachelor’s degree and higher by the number of unemployed persons holding the same qualification), stood at 25.8 percent compared to other educational levels. The figures indicated that 54.9 percent of the total number of those unemployed were holders of secondary school certificates or higher, and that 44.7 percent of the total number of those unemployed had educational qualifications below high school. At the governorate level, the highest unemployment rate was recorded in the Balqa governorate, at 26.4 percent, while the lowest unemployment rate was in the Madaba governorate, at 18.3 percent.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Chairman of the Energy and Minerals Sector Regulatory Commission (EMRC) Ziyad Saaida on Wednesday said the commission decided to keep the value of the fuel price difference item on the monthly electricity bill unchanged at zero for June.

Source: Jordan News Agency

ABU DHABI, 31st May, 2023 (WAM) — Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, today officially inaugurated the second edition of the Make it in the Emirates Forum, which is being held under the theme of “Investment. Sustainability. Growth”. Make it in the Emirates is a one-of-its-kind forum, organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and ADNOC, a trusted and responsible provider of low-carbon energy. The forum takes place from 31st May to 1st June. The Make it in the Emirates Forum convenes local and international industrial companies, government entities, financial institutions, and investors. The opening ceremony on Wednesday was attended by Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology; Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; as well as Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; along with a number of officials from federal and local authorities, as well as various heads of local, regional and international companies. During his address to one of the region’s most prominent industry events, Dr. Al Jaber announced an additional AED10 billion of offtake agreements in the UAE’s industrial sector, building on the previous forum’s AED110 billion worth of procurement opportunities, taking the total value of products targeted for localisation to AED120 billion. “One of the key achievements of last year’s forum was several leading national companies announcing their intention to invest AED110 billion over the next decade to purchase 300 products from local manufacturers,” Dr. Al Jaber said. “I am pleased to share with you that in the first year alone, 28 percent of these offtake agreements have been implemented, representing a total value of AED31 billion.” He also announced more than 30 innovative industrial projects worth more than AED6 billion. “These projects include pioneering initiatives such as setting up the first hydrogen electrolyser plant in the UAE,” he said. ADNOC will also allocate over AED20 billion for the purchase of structures and metal products from national companies, the forum heard. It was also announced that MoIAT will adopt a new standard within the National In-Country Value Programme called Green ICV, to encourage sustainability practices and motivate companies to reduce emissions. Dr. Al Jaber noted that during the forum, competitive financing solutions will be announced for the industrial sector, including AED 5 billion from First Abu Dhabi Bank and AED 1 billion from Mashreq Bank. He also announced the provision of 5,000 sustainable job opportunities for UAE nationals in the industrial sector through the Industrialist Programme that has been supported by Nafis and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Accelerating decarbonisation Taking place in the in the run-up to COP28, the Make it in the Emirates Forum focuses on sustainable industrial development, decarbonisation and increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to climate action. Dr. Al Jaber said, “The UAE will host COP28 with a great sense of responsibility and a full appreciation of its gravity. During the climate conference, we will work to achieve transformation progress in climate action, focusing on finding practical and realistic solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, especially in the Global South. COP28 will focus on inclusion, joining forces, and forging partnerships rather than driving division.” Noting the industrial sector is set to play a crucial role in emissions reduction as it is responsible for approximately 20 percent of global carbon emissions, according to World Economic Forum’s report, Dr. Al Jaber said. “It is our sector’s paramount responsibility to demonstrate the feasibility of working concurrently towards two objectives: reducing emissions and achieving sustainable growth.” He added, “With this in mind, this year’s forum is centered around bolstering sustainable practices, and promoting the adoption of clean energy solutions within the industrial sector.” The Make it in the Emirates Forum also provides a vital platform for corporations and government to explore the competitive advantages available in the UAE, such as incentives, enablers, financing, and partnerships, contributing to the country’s transformation to become a global industrial hub. Leadership directives In his speech, Dr. Al Jaber said, “In line with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology focuses on establishing an integrated legislative and regulatory system that leverages the UAE’s competitive advantages. “In doing so, we aim to foster the growth and sustainability of the industrial sector, and we aim to achieve self-sufficiency in manufacturing essential products, as well as localise vital industries, especially those related to food and medical security.” Dr. Al Jaber expressed gratitude for the valuable support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court. He also acknowledged His Highness’s guidance in prioritising the development of strategies to foster the growth of the industrial sector, enhance its GDP contribution, and promote economic diversification. He emphasised the leadership’s strong commitment to bolstering the strategic role of the industrial sector within sustainable development plans. He highlighted the significant efforts made by H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, who launched the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, which aims to double the size of the manufacturing sector in the emirate to AED172 billion by 2031. UAE industry booming Dr. Al Jaber said, “In pursuit of our leadership’s goals, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology introduced the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, which has several key objectives. These include: supporting our national development by capitalising on the UAE’s competitive advantages and introducing attractive incentives that attract investments; promoting local products; accelerating the expansion of the industrial sector; driving innovation and sustainable technological transformations; and increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to national GDP to more than AED300 billion by 2031.” He noted the milestones already achieved by Operation 300 billion. Under the strategy, the value of the UAE’s industrial exports reached AED175 billion in 2022, compared to AED117 billion in 2020, representing 49 percent growth. The industrial sector’s contribution to GDP increased from AED132 billion in 2020 to AED182 billion in 2022, representing 38 percent growth. In collaboration with the Emirates Development Bank, the ministry offered financing solutions worth AED 3 billion to support and enable the Make it in the Emirates initiative. The ministry also launched the Technological Transformation Programme to accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and contribute to lower emission goals. Dr. Al Jaber stressed the value of the opportunities offered by the forum, which lead to tangible, result-driven outcomes. He noted the example of the Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development launched between the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain. Recently, agreements have been announced for 9 comprehensive industrial projects under the partnership, attracting investments exceeding US$2 billion. He also noted the success of MoIAT’s National In-Country Value Programme, which redirected AED 53 billion into the national economy in 2022, 25 percent more than the previous year, anticipating more entities to join the programme, which will further enhance growth opportunities for local manufacturers. Empowering the industrial sector Dr. Al Jaber said, “Through issuing Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2022 to enhance the UAE’s industrial competitiveness and investment attractiveness, the ministry has streamlined processes, including lowering fees and developing programmes that support and enable innovation, entrepreneurship, and SMEs. It has also facilitated access for our manufacturers to export markets representing more than 2.5 billion consumers, as part of a collaboration with our partners in the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, and various economic departments. “The Make it in the Emirates Forum, which launched last year, has proven instrumental in transforming uncertainties arising from geopolitical tensions, as well as economic, health, and logistical challenges into opportunities for sustainable development. Moreover, it has reinforced the self-sufficiency and localisation of vital industrial sectors.” Made in the Emirates Dr. Al Jaber also announced the launch of the Made in the Emirates brand, a national emblem that brings numerous advantages and opportunities to the companies that earn it. “This brand will be promoted as a symbol of the quality of Emirati products, and their adherence to the highest international standards,” he said. He added, “I invite all attendees and participants to explore through this forum the incentives and enablers provided by various economic development departments, industrial and special zones, financing institutions, and national companies.”

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, 31st May, 2023 (WAM) — The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) is hosting the 15th Annual Seminar for Civil Pension Authorities of the GCC countries, entitled ‘Effective Investment Tools for Pension Funds and Social Security on 5th and 6th June 2023, at the Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island – Abu Dhabi. The seminar will be organised to consolidate efforts amongst the investment and pension sectors, highlight strategic partnerships, and to discuss providing a pioneering platform to exchange experiences and best practices, as well as the pivotal role the investment sector plays in the sustainability of pension funds and in supporting, and promoting the pension sector in general. GPSSA stated that the seminar will cover a number of strategic partnerships, most notably the importance of defining the goals of pension funds to ensure income stability and provide liquidity, as well as the use of effective tools to design investment portfolios. Other important and relevant topics will be addressed in the presence of pension fund representatives and senior investment officials from across the GCC. The GPSSA added that the seminar will help define and design investment portfolio strategies based on returns, asset management and liabilities. The initiative will also focus on the importance of geographical diversification and assets in investment portfolios as effective tools for the sustainability of funds, as well as the role of fixed assets in the pension fund portfolio in light of high interest rates, in addition to the importance of alternative investments and the use of artificial intelligence as an effective investment tool. The annual seminars for GCC civil pension authorities are hosted in a different GCC country each year and target employees in social security and civil pension authorities and/or entities as well as experts in the field of investments. They are organised based on recommendations of the meetings of the committee of pension heads and social insurance authorities in the GCC. Muhammad AamirHazem Hussein

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

Human Rights Minister Ali Al-Dailami briefed on Tuesday on the situation of the international airport in Hodeida that has been suspended for eight years as a result of the bombing of the aggression.

During the visit, Al-Dailami, together with Undersecretary of the Ministry, Ali Taseer, Director of the Human Rights Office in the governorates of Zain Izzi and a number of human rights data collectors, from the airport’s director, Ahmed Taresh, heard a detailed explanation of the extent of the destruction caused by the bombing of the aggression aircraft in the airport infrastructure.

The Minister and his associates also heard an explanation from the Deputy Director of the Airport for Technical Affairs, Engineer Muhyiddin al-Demeshqi and Director General of Legal Affairs of the General Aviation Authority, about the plans for the rehabilitation of the airport and the importance of being the first cargo airport in the Republic to travel to several international destinations for trade and treatment.

Minister Al-Dailami, Undersecretary Tayseer, and the Director of the Human Rights Office also visited the city of al-Mandhar in the Al-Hawk district of the Hodeida city square, to see the humanitarian situation in the city, the extent of the return of the displaced, and the efforts to address the systematic targeting and destruction of homes and services.

He explained that the visits aim to monitor some data related to the human rights aspect and to examine the extent of improvement in the humanitarian conditions related to the service situation, in a way that contributes to diagnosing and evaluating these conditions and updating the database of the Ministry of Human Rights.

Source: Yemen News Agency