Day: June 7, 2023

The UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme (ETA) will cost just £10, making travel to Britain cheaper and more accessible for visitors from the Gulf and Jordan. Nationals from Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states will soon only be required to pay £10 to apply for an ETA, which will allow them to visit the UK multiple times over a two-year period, compared to Gulf nationals currently paying £30 per visit under the current Electronic Visa Wavier (EVW) scheme and Jordanian nationals £100 for a visit visa, said a statement by the British Embassy in Amman on Wednesday. The scheme is set to launch for Qatari nationals in October 2023, and for the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan in February 2024 ahead of a worldwide expansion throughout 2024, it added. Earlier this year, the UK government announced plans to introduce a new ETA scheme as part of digitizing the UK border by 2025 to further enhance border security and the customer experience. An ETA is a digital permission to travel for those visiting or transiting through the UK who do not need a visa for short stays, or who do not currently hold another UK visa. “Visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan make a huge contribution to the UK’s tourism industry and the new ETA scheme will make it easier and cheaper for them to travel to the UK,” said Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick. “The cost of an ETA will be one of the best values in the world compared to similar international schemes. This small additional cost to visitors will enable us to bolster the security of the UK border and keep our communities safe.” Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia Lord Ahmad said: “I’m delighted that our partners across the Gulf and Jordan will be the first to benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. This scheme is further proof of the strong partnership between the UK and countries across the region.” “By cutting costs and visa requirements, the ETA scheme will ensure visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan can enjoy traveling with ease to the UK, boosting business and tourism links between our countries,” he added. Gulf visitors are highly valuable to the UK economy, with over 790,000 Gulf visitors spending £2 billion during their stays in the UK last year, noted the statement. The move to the ETA scheme means that the visa requirement will be removed for nationals from GCC states and Jordan, bringing the requirements for them to visit the UK in line with other visitors, such as those from the US and Australia. The application process for an ETA will be simple and fast to complete, with the process being entirely digital via a mobile phone app. To apply, individuals must provide biographic and biometric details such as a digital photograph and answer a set of suitability questions.

Source: Jordan News Agency

ABU DHABI, 7th June, 2023 (WAM) The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has reported a notable growth in the demand and number of registrants in Muwafaq Package, which was launched in March to facilitate doing business and ensure tax compliance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The FTA held a Customer Council meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss the Muwafaq Package initiative and highlight its role in supporting and encouraging entrepreneurs to comply with tax legislation. The meeting was part of the UAE Government’s Customer Councils initiative, which aims to enhance the quality of government services by engaging customers in efforts to design innovative experiences. During the meeting, a team of FTA experts gave a presentation on the objectives and features of the Muwafaq Package. The experts explained that the package provides innovative solutions to facilitate tax compliance for SMEs, as well as educational materials about tax procedures that are specifically designed for SMEs. SMEs registered in the tax system can access Muwafaq package through the electronic tax services portal EmaraTax, and benefit from the various features and incentives the Package offers to encourage tax compliance. The FTA team answered questions from representatives of SMEs participating in the Customer Councils, noting their opinions and observations about the FTA’s services, especially Muwafaq Package, as well as their suggestions in that regard. The Muwafaq Package offers a variety of features and incentives, including special rates on tax accounting programs and software, booking appointments with account managers who specialize in tax relations, exclusive packages from Tax Agents to Muwafaq registrants, priority in availing services for SME representatives, and workshops to raise awareness among SMEs registered for the Package. The Muwafaq Package is a valuable resource for SMEs that want to ensure they are in compliance with tax regulations. The package offers a variety of features and incentives that can help SMEs save money, get help with tax compliance, and get priority in availing services.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, 7th June, 2023 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), on the occasion of World Food Safety Day, which falls on 7th June, affirmed that its supervisory role is one of the most important mechanisms for achieving food safety in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. ADAFSA indicated that it conducted a total of 33,643 inspection visits to food and agricultural establishments, both plant and animal, operating in the emirate of Abu Dhabi during the first quarter of 2023. Of these, 20,001 visits were in Abu Dhabi, 9,378 in Al Ain, and approximately 4,269 in the Al Dhafra region. Such routine inspections aim to monitor and rectify any malpractices in food establishments and agricultural establishments, employing approved procedures, follow-up visits to ensure compliance, or conducting visits to address administrative orders or closures. During the first quarter of this year, approximately 46 percent of the establishments visited demonstrated full compliance with all food safety requirements. Furthermore, 10,987 establishments, comprising 33 percent of the total, were issued warnings for minor violations. A minimal proportion of 2 percent (703 establishments) were found to have committed violations, prompting the Authority to take appropriate action. In terms of food shipments inspected during the same period, approximately 23,866 shipments underwent examination at the ports of Abu Dhabi. Out of these, 23,860 shipments were released, while there were only 6 rejections throughout the first quarter of this year. ADAFSA recognises that food safety is of paramount importance in serving and delighting the community. To achieve this, it is dedicated to implementing best practices throughout the food chain and adopting effective control systems and comprehensive awareness programmes. These initiatives adhere to international best practices and principles of risk analysis, ensuring the enhancement of community welfare and safety by providing access to safe food. To promote a collective responsibility for food safety and mitigate the risk of foodborne diseases, the Authority actively engages all stakeholders. It plays a vital role in verifying the safety of food consignments, as well as the production and agricultural inputs received through border crossings. Additionally, the Authority endeavors to raise community awareness of best food practices. In addition, the Authority collaborates closely with esteemed global food safety authorities, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This commitment stems from the Authority’s dedication to adhering to the highest global standards in food safety, as well as the protection of human, animal, and plant health. By adopting the standards set by these institutions, the Authority aims to uphold food safety, prevent the transmission of food-related diseases, and enhance its preparedness and response capabilities during food-related emergencies. ADAFSA invites all segments of society to actively contribute to the enhancement of the food safety system. It also encourages the public to communicate with them and report any violations detected in any food establishment, such as non-compliance or suspicion of food content, by calling the toll-free number for the Abu Dhabi Government, 800555.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

The Minister of Investment, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, held a meeting today with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai, along with his high-level delegation.

The meeting underscored the strong relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Thailand, which have witnessed notable progress following the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Thailand.

During the visit, HRH the Crown Prince had a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and both countries agreed to enhance their economic cooperation.

In today’s meeting between the Investment Minister and the Thai Deputy Prime Minister, both parties affirmed their commitment to further strengthening the economic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Thailand. Furthermore, they agreed to address the challenges faced by the private sector in both countries and leverage their respective comparative advantages in priority sectors for mutual benefit.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, discussed in Astana today the relations of cooperation and advancing them to broader horizons in various fields, in a way that achieves the interests of the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on common interests and the most important regional and international developments

Source: Saudi Press Agency

HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Kazakhstan Abdulaziz bin Sultan Al Rumaihi, said that the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Kazakhstan and His Highness’s participation in the Astana International Forum are part of the continuous efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan in all areas of common interest.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency , His Excellency said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a kind invitation from HE President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to attend the Astana International Forum as a chief guest, as the Forum is being held in a new form this year under the auspices of HE the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. His Excellency added that the invitation to HH the Amir to attend the Forum as a chief guest indicates the distinct bilateral relations between the two countries, the importance of the State of Qatar as an essential partner, its prominent role in developing the global economy, and its position as a reliable partner.

His Excellency pointed out that HH the Amir’s visit to Astana coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan, noting that bilateral relations are witnessing remarkable development in the political, economic, investment, and social fields. He stressed that the visit of HH the Amir and his participation in the Astana International Forum confirms the depth of the fraternal relations between HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HE the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and their keenness to shift bilateral relations to new horizons of economic cooperation, which includes increasing the volume of trade exchange and cooperation in priority sectors.

HE the Ambassador explained that the new and distinguished phase of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan began with the state visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in October 2022, as this historic and successful visit contributed to the strengthening and development of bilateral relations between the two countries. His Excellency pointed out that the visit culminated in the signing of a number of cooperation agreements and MoU between the two countries, including the agreement on encouragement and mutual protection of investments, the agreement on cooperation in the field of education and higher education, and the twinning agreement between Doha Municipality and the Astana Governorship, in addition to MoU for cooperation in the field of trade and public health and training diplomatic cadres.

HE Abdulaziz bin Sultan Al Rumaihi revealed expected investment, economic and commercial projects in priority sectors for the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan, namely in the fields of energy and natural gas production, infrastructure, communications and transportation, banking and finance, hospitality and tourism, agriculture and food production. At the same time, His Excellecny said that there are Qatari investments in Kazakhstan in the agricultural sector, and dairy and meat production, in addition to the hospitality sector, adding that Qatar Airways has started operating regular flights since the end of 2021, and it currently operates daily passenger flights from Doha to Almaty. There is interest from Qatari citizens to visit Kazakhstan for tourism, which enjoys the beauty of nature, mountainous areas and distinguished recreational services, His Excellency noted.

His Excellency explained that the direct flight between Doha and Astana is expected to start soon, which will contribute to strengthening economic, trade and investment relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan and the exchange of visits between businessmen and investors from the two countries. His Excellency confirmed that the State of Qatar’s success in hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 contributed significantly to the development of tourism activity in it, as it became one of the favorite tourist destinations for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On a different note, HE the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Kazakhstan pointed out that the establishment of the Astana International Forum came under the initiative of HE the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noting that the Forum is an important international platform for diplomacy, dialogue and exchange of views between political and economic leaders and experts. The Forum’s agenda will focus on the transition to a new era after the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to foreign policy, international security, sustainable development, energy and climate change, and financing and investment in the world. His Excellency Abdulaziz bin Sultan Al Rumaihi pointed out that Astana International Forum is of importance to the State of Qatar due to the discussions it includes, which are foreign policy and international security, international sustainable development, energy and climate change, and the economy and finances.

HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Kazakhstan Abdulaziz bin Sultan Al Rumaihi said, at the end of his interview with , that the State of Qatar has an active participation and a distinguished role in finding peaceful solutions to security issues and mediating in conflicts around the world, especially in the Middle East and African countries, in addition to its efforts to achieve sustainable development and preserve the environment through the use of clean energy sources (natural gas and solar energy), as well as the employment of Qatari investments in fields and sectors that serve common interests with friendly countries around the world.

Source: Qatar News Agency