Day: March 5, 2024

SHARJAH: H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council (SEC), on Tuesday, chaired the Council meeting.

The meeting was held at the office of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council.

During its meeting, the Council discussed topics related to government work policies and the quest to develop government services to keep pace with the growth seen by the Emirate of Sharjah in its vital sectors.

The Council reviewed the first report of the Committee for Removing Encroachments on Farms in the City of Sharjah, which demonstrated the Committee’s efforts in monitoring violations and encroachments. The Council highlighted the most prominent measures taken against violators and violating practices that affect the environmental, health, and s
ecurity aspects, such as sub-leasing violations and practising commercial activities without obtaining licences from the authorities. The Council directed the necessity of redoubling efforts and coordination between local and federal authorities to correct the conditions of violating farms.

The Council discussed the update on economic legislation and commercial activities, which contribute to enhancing economic diversification in the emirate, supporting investors and investment opportunities at the emirate level, and reviving the local market by providing government facilities for small and medium-sized companies.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: The Cities and Villages Development Bank secured accreditation from the Green Climate Fund during a Council meeting in Rwanda on Tuesday, marking it as the first financial institution in the Middle East to achieve this status.

Osama Azzam, the Bank’s General Manager, hailed the accreditation as a significant national milestone, underscoring the institution’s credibility and capability to meet stringent standards, a testament to years of dedicated effort by its staff.

He said that this accreditation, earned through adherence to rigorous financial, environmental, and social criteria, will grant the Bank direct access to concessional climate financing. It heralds a new era for Jordan, enabling the Kingdom to access additional resources and bolster climate action efforts nationwide.

Azzam emphasized that the Bank’s newfound status as the first direct access point for the Fund in Jordan will facilitate the implementation of climate policies throughout the region. It paves the way for securing grants and
soft loans for medium-sized climate projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the Kingdom’s resilience to climate-related challenges, aligning with the Economic Modernization Vision championed by royal directives.

He expressed gratitude to the Global Green Growth Institute, the Ministry of Environment, the Bank’s dedicated workforce, and all stakeholders whose contributions were instrumental in achieving this milestone.

The Green Climate Fund, a key outcome of the Paris Agreement, is the world’s largest climate fund. It endeavors to assist developing countries in transitioning towards low-emission, climate-resilient pathways, aligning with their nationally determined contributions. With a capital of $13.5 billion, the fund seeks to accelerate transformative climate action globally, financing a diverse range of initiatives.

Source: Jordan News Agency

DUBAI: Crowning the successes of the inaugural Dubai Calligraphy Biennale held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced the launch of the virtual biennale. The initiative is aimed at highlighting the importance of calligraphy as an expressive tool that reflects the content of cultures. It underscores the Authority’s commitment to harnessing all its resources and investing in innovative digital capabilities to enrich Dubai’s cultural and creative landscape.

Dubai Culture commissioned Walter Williams to develop the virtual edition, offering the audience a 360-degree angle space to explore 19 art exhibitions showcasing the creations of more than 270 local and international artists. These practitioners have illuminated the art of calligraphy with works representing different cultures. The virtual biennale also presents various inventive cultural design
s and experiences, featuring artworks inspired by traditional and contemporary calligraphy and typography in more than 8 languages.

This digital entry allows art collectors to explore and purchase the artworks they wish to acquire, getting to know the talented artists behind these works. It also permits people of determination to enjoy diverse creative expressions presented in the biennale. At the same time, the public has the chance to visit over 35 heritage and cultural sites activated by the biennale through its diverse programme offerings.

The Dubai Calligraphy Biennale, held in October 2023, attracted a record number of over 1,000 worldwide participation requests through an open call by Dubai Culture earlier this year. The biennale’s programming included 150+ workshops and 25+ talks alongside 19 exhibitions, covering more than 35 locations to show calligraphy masterpieces as well as contemporary and modern visual arts.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: The Jordanian-Kuwaiti Trade Technical Committee convened in Amman on Tuesday to deliberate on key initiatives aimed at bolstering commercial cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two nations.

The meeting was chaired by Dana Zoubi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply, and Ziad Najem, Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Highlighting Kuwait’s pivotal role as a strategic partner, Zoubi emphasized the significance of these deliberations in elevating trade and investment ties to new heights, leveraging existing partnerships across various sectors.

Echoing this sentiment, Najem outlined the committee’s comprehensive agenda, designed to facilitate the development of commercial, industrial, and investment relations, while also addressing pertinent challenges hindering intra-regional trade.

Both parties underscored the vast potential for expanded economic cooperation, particularly in trade, industry, and investment domains, underscoring the i
mportance of regular committee meetings to invigorate bilateral economic and trade relations.

Discussions during the meeting centered on enhancing collaboration across various sectors of mutual interest, including economy, industry, industrial zones, small and medium enterprises, standards, customs, agriculture, transportation, and healthcare.

With high expectations pinned on the outcomes of these deliberations, both sides anticipate strengthened trade and economic ties, streamlined access to each other’s markets, and the formulation of partnerships and agreements paving the way for future collaborative projects.

Source: Jordan News Agency

DUBAI: DXB Live, the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre, is set to organise the globally renowned ‘Future Festival’ in cooperation with Trend Hunter, a top trend platform and innovation accelerator. This ground-breaking summit will be held on 24th and 25th April, 2024, at the Expo City Dubai, bringing together innovators from across the industry and tech enthusiasts from across the globe.

The inaugural hosting of Future Festival in the Middle East, themed ‘The Year AI Changes You!’, highlights Dubai’s and the UAE’s commitment to embracing technology for innovation, excellence, and sustainable growth. It will serve as a unique platform for visionaries, AI enthusiasts, and industry leaders, to share valuable insights and explore the dynamic impact of AI, as well as work together to reshape the future.

In addition to highlighting the pioneering potential of artificial intelligence, the summit will also shed light on the emerging trends that are poised to rewrite the
future of various industries across the spectrum as well as society as a whole. It will provide a comprehensive platform for participants to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, as well as the plethora of dynamic trends that will propel future innovations and advancements, through numerous engaging discussions and insightful sessions, such as Trend Talks. By doing so, the event aims to keep companies at the forefront of technological developments and push them to adapt their strategies according to these new trends and enter an era of unlimited industry opportunities.

Abdulaziz Al Jaziri, Deputy CEO and Chief Operations Officer of Dubai Future Foundation, said, “Hosting the ‘Future Festival Summit’ will contribute to strengthening Dubai and the UAE’s global position as a hub for innovation and technology. The UAE embraces a proactive approach in adopting and integrating AI across key sectors. The ‘Future Festival’ complements our approach to harnessing technologies of the future, which include
s leveraging the immense potential of AI. By bringing together talented minds in technology and innovation, we are setting the stage for groundbreaking discussions and collaborations that will shape the future of industries and society at large.’

The summit seeks to delve deep into the untapped potential of artificial intelligence. It aims to encourage attendees and foster meaningful discussions through activities, including Trend Talks, Tech Demos, Customised Workshops, Trend Panel Discussions, and Keynotes on Policy and Governance. The summit will additionally feature speakers, such as Jeremy Gutsche, the award-winning author, CEO and Innovation Expert, to discuss AI and the Inflection Point. This is expected to provide attendees with a more comprehensive picture on how AI can serve as catalysts for further advancements and innovation in the future.

Jeremy Gutsche, award-winning author, CEO and Innovation Expert at Trend Hunter, stated, ‘As the host city, Dubai is demonstrating its unwavering commitment t
o technological advancements as well as building a platform to generate discussions that provide a glimpse into the future of artificial intelligence. We are confident that this summit will transform the innovation landscape, and we are truly honoured to be playing a significant role in encouraging global efforts and cooperation.’

The UAE has demonstrated its commitment to fostering and advancing the growth of artificial intelligence by launching the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, which seeks to enhance the adoption of this transformative technology across numerous vital sectors, including education and government services. This strategy aims to position the country as a global hub for AI. Similarly, Dubai has also embarked on various initiatives to promote AI and its potential as a revolutionary technology. The emirate has been rightfully named the ‘City of Future’ as its technological and innovation leadership across numerous key sectors, from health and hospitality to retail, has been rem
arkable, fostering an environment conducive to growth. In the coming years, it is projected that the AI market in the Middle East would expand considerably as more and more companies have started to integrate AI into their operations. PwC research has found that artificial intelligence would account for about 14 percent of the UAE’s GDP by 2030, while the Middle East would reap 2 percent ($320 billion) of the total global benefits of AI.

DXB LIVE, being one of the fastest-growing event agencies in the Middle East, will deliver its extensive expertise in planning and organising large-scale events, while Trend Hunter, the world’s largest community for trend spotting across industries, will offer its valuable insights into the constantly changing world of technology. Together, they represent a powerful combination that promises a significant meeting platform.

The summit will serve as an ideal arena to journey through the uncharted territory of artificial intelligence, sparking global discussion on this disrupt
ive technology and assisting companies to navigate the complexities of this new frontier. It promises to be a landmark gathering that unites top innovators from around the world to shape a better future.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: Jordan’s economic ties with the United States demonstrated resilience in 2023, with the trade balance registering a surplus of JD814 million, according to recent data released by the Department of Statistics.

Figures revealed that the volume of trade between the two countries amounted to JD3.150 billion in 2023, marking a slight increase from the JD3 billion recorded in 2022.

Jordan’s exports to the American market experienced a modest growth of 1.4 percent, totaling approximately JD1.982 billion in 2023 compared to JD1.954 billion in 2022.

Conversely, imports from the US surged by 9.7 percent, reaching about JD1.168 billion, up from JD1.065 billion in 2022.

Key sectors driving Jordanian exports to the US include clothing, jewelry, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, IT services, foodstuffs, livestock products, and engineering industries.

Meanwhile, imports from the US encompass a diverse range of commodities such as metal products, transportation equipment, machinery, electrical appliances, grains, che
mical products, medical devices, food products, wood pulp, animal products, furniture, iron, used clothing, and vegetable oils and fats.

The bilateral trade relationship between Jordan and the US, fortified by the free trade agreement signed in October 2000 and fully enacted in January 2010, has played a pivotal role in fostering economic growth.

Since its implementation, the agreement has substantially boosted bilateral trade exchange, witnessing an approximate eightfold (800%) increase.

Source: Jordan News Agency