Day: February 26, 2024

ABU DHABI: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta, discussed bilateral relations and opportunities to strengthen them in all fields.

This came during Sheikh Abdullah reception of Dr. Borg in Abu Dhabi, where the two sides reviewed the UAE-Malta ties and their growth and development.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed welcomed the Maltese minister, praising the continued development of bilateral relation, and the two countries’ keenness to propel joint cooperation towards further growth to meet their development aspiration and benefit their peoples.

During the meeting, the two ministers touched on the recent developments in the Middle East and their security and humanitarian repercussions, and exchanged views on several regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Ahmed Ali Al
Sayegh, Minister of State; and Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh received the Economic and Social Council’s report on the country’s status, focusing on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Jordan’s labor market in 2023.

Upon receiving the report from Council President Musa Shteiwi, the Prime Minister emphasized the council’s vital role in addressing national issues, analyzing sectors, and contributing to progress.

The report delves into the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s impact on Jordan’s labor market, assessing sector readiness, educational alignment with market needs, and adaptation to digital transformations.

Source: Jordan News Agency

ABU DHABI: Eight WTO members deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 26th February at the opening of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), putting the historic agreement for ocean sustainability on track for entry into force at record pace.

Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Malaysia, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Togo, and Trkiye presented their instruments of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in a ceremony at MC13 taking place in Abu Dhabi.

The latest instruments of acceptance bring the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement to 69, with a total of 70 expected during MC13.

“With the 70 we’ll have this week, we’ll now have 40 members to go, so the countdown towards entry into force can now start in earnest,” Okonjo-Iweala said at the MC13 opening ceremony. “I hope remaining members can work fast to help us allow entry into force by my birthday on the 13th of June of this year, which will also mark two years si
nce MC12. When we succeed, it will be the fastest entry into force of any WTO agreement–and I know we will,” she said.

Adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva on 12-17 June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.

The Agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to making recommendations by MC13 for additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement.

Okonj
o-Iweala added, “Completion of ‘Fish 2’ and its rapid entry into force would really put WTO members at the forefront of action on sustainability of our oceans and would safeguard the livelihoods of the 260 million people who depend on these oceans. Ending the estimated US$22 billion per year in harmful fisheries subsidies would free up resources that subsidisers can repurpose, whether to help people domestically or to help the wider world, such as through green financing for poor countries, or support for climate-related loss and damage.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Chair of the Royal Film Commission of Jordan, hosted a pre-screening of the sequel to the American sci-fi film Dune in the presence of princes and princesses last Sunday.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film, based on Frank Herbert’s novel, was partly shot in Jordan’s Wadi Rum. Hollywood stars featured prominently.

Dune depicts a classic struggle of good versus evil, set on a desert planet resisting domination from another world.

The movie showcased Wadi Rum’s stunning natural beauty, bolstering Jordan’s tourism appeal.

Source: Jordan News Agency

ABU DHABI: In his welcoming speech to the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chair of MC13, stressed the historically important role the WTO has played to provide “stability, transparency and predictability for international trade,” contributing to “raising living standards, improving employment opportunities and enabling the expansion of trade in goods and services” around the world.

The opening session saw the adoption of the accessions of the Comoros and Timor-Leste, both least-developed countries.

The President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, and the President of Timor-Leste, José Manuel Ramos-Horta, signed the respective Protocols of Accession to the WTO, which were also signed by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Both governments will now submit their protocols for ratification by their legislative assemblies. In keeping with WTO rules, Comoros and Timor-Leste will become members of the WTO 30 days following the deposit
of their respective instruments of acceptance of the Protocol.

Dr Al Zeyoudi said, “The decisions we have just taken on the accession of the Comoros – an island LDC in Africa – and the accession of Timor-Leste – an island LDC in Asia – testify to the world’s confidence in the WTO and the multilateral trading system. I strongly believe that through their future membership in the WTO, Comoros and Timor-Leste will have stable and predictable frameworks for economic engagement with other nations which will boost trade, growth and prosperity.”

The MC13 opening ceremony also saw a wave of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Eight members deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement, putting the historic agreement for ocean sustainability on track for entry into force at a record pace. Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Malaysia, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Togo and Trkiye presented their instruments of acceptance to Director-General Okonjo-Iweala.

The MC13 Chair added, “This is
a testament to your governments’ commitment to the sustainability of our oceans and to ensuring that multilaterally negotiated outcomes in the WTO are not only agreed – but implemented. As one of the early ratifiers, the United Arab Emirates welcomes the new ratifications as a reaffirmation of this collective commitment.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh hosted Saudi Minister of Information Salman bin Youssef Al Dossary today at the Prime Minister’s House, alongside Minister of Government Communications Muhannad Al-Mubaideen and Saudi Ambassador Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi.

During the meeting, the two sides emphasized the strong ties and mutual commitment to regional stability and Palestinian issues, aligning closely on diplomatic efforts for a two-state solution.

Khasawneh commended Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in regional stability and its support for Jordan’s stance on the Palestinian cause, acknowledging Saudi’s support for Jordan’s custodianship of holy sites in Jerusalem.

He also praised Saudi’s strides in economic diversification, tourism, and media, highlighting potential collaborations between the two nations.

Al Dossary echoed sentiments, emphasizing the depth of bilateral relations and expressing interest in Jordan’s media education initiatives, aiming to replicate them in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Jordan New
s Agency