Author: Web Desk

The Vocational Training Corporation (VTC), as a representative of the Kingdom, joined the WorldSkills Organization and the WorldSkills Asia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), aimed to enhance excellence levels in the field of competencies development and efforts to disseminate awareness of the importance of high-quality vocational education, youth training and Asian economies.

During the VTC’s participation in the WorldSkills Asia Competition, its Director, Ahmed Gharaibeh, highlighted its training programs and its strategic plan for the coming years in line with WorldSkills goals.

Gharaibeh said Jordan’s ascension to the organization and the global competition comes in line with the priorities of the Kingdom’s Economic Modernization Vision (EMV) to develop Jordan’s vocational education and training system and with support of the Ministry of Labor, to move forward in implementing the VTC’s strategic plan.

This scheme, he noted, features steps to launch future skills and digital transformation, and
support training outcomes and build “distinguished” centers, in accordance with international standards.

Jordan’s participation aims to learn about the best international practices in the field of vocational and technical education and training, and transfer knowledge to the Jordanian side by raising efficiency of trainers and managers of the vocational and technical education and training process, he pointed out.

Additionally, Gharaibeh added that presence seeks to benefit from the professional standards and training programs of member states, apply the competition model locally, exchange ideas about innovation, technical and vocational education and training, and discuss possibilities of partnership with member states.

Gharaibeh noted the Jordanian delegation sought to highlight capabilities and skills of “distinguished” Jordanian workers and market them regionally and globally.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Minister of Investment Kholoud Saqqaf engaged in discussions with Irish Ambassador Marianne Bolger on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation in the investment sector and strategize events aimed at promoting investment in Jordan.

As per a ministry statement, Saqqaf showcased diverse investment opportunities across sectors in the Kingdom, highlighting incentives for investors and pivotal economic reforms that have spurred significant developments.

She emphasized the successful enactment of legislation regulating the business environment, including the Investment Environment Law, approval of the Public-Private Partnership Law, activation of the comprehensive investment service platform, and the full automation of services related to licensing and economic activities.

Saqqaf urged an expansion of bilateral cooperation with Ireland, expressing Jordan’s openness to investment from Irish companies. She emphasized the importance of reinforcing collaboration between economic and investment institutions in both countr
ies, advocating for reciprocal visits between business people and private sector representatives.

In response, Bolger underscored the robust and deep-rooted relations between the two nations, citing cooperation and coordination across various levels. Bolger expressed Ireland’s keen interest in further developing these ties for mutual benefit.

Commending Jordan’s efforts in enhancing the business environment through impactful reforms, Bolger praised the reforms for fostering investment flow and sustainable development.

Irish investments in Jordan currently stand at approximately 25 million US dollars, with a focus on the services and industrial sectors.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Minister of Education Azmi Muhafza, deputizing for His Majesty King Abdullah II, presided over the launch ceremony of the “JAIP Connect” platform, themed “Together we can shape a better future for research and innovation.”

The platform, initiated by the JAIP-Academia Industry Platform, seeks to fortify the collaboration between academic research and the industrial sector, fostering synergy to benefit the national economy.

Former Prime Minister Adnan Badran emphasized the necessity of establishing a platform to bridge the trust gap between academia and industry in Jordan and the Arab world. He highlighted the importance of directing Jordanian scientific research toward key areas like water, energy, food security, environmental climate change, genetic research, nanotechnology, and information technology. Badran stressed that creativity is the pathway to invention and innovation.

Redha Khawaldeh, President of the Jordan Society for Scientific Research, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity, hailed the platform’s
launch as a pivotal moment for innovation and development.

He noted that the platform aligns with His Majesty King Abdullah II’s vision outlined in the Economic Modernization Vision, which emphasizes a bright future with strengthened security and stability.

Khawaldeh underscored the significance of academic research as a crucial driver of innovation, citing Jordan’s historical commitment to science and learning through the Hashemite civilizational program.

He highlighted the nation’s continued focus on scientific research since the establishment of the University of Jordan in the 1960s, with over 35 public and private universities in the Kingdom to date.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amid the UN Climate Conference “COP28” in Dubai, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources penned nine pivotal agreements and memoranda of understanding, solidifying the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy initiatives.

These agreements, unveiled during the conference, signify a crucial stride toward fostering green energy partnerships and embracing renewable energy sources, according to a statement by the Ministry on Wednesday.

Among the prominent agreements, five memoranda specifically focus on the production of green hydrogen and green ammonia in collaboration with various reputable companies. Additionally, a significant accord was reached to jointly develop a wind energy project alongside Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), exemplifying Jordan’s proactive approach in fostering renewable energy collaborations.

Minister of Energy Saleh Kharabsheh elucidated the specifics of these agreements inked during the climate conference, noting that the agreement with Masdar aims to establ
ish a 1-gigawatt wind energy station accompanied by a battery energy storage system (BESS) within Jordan’s borders.

Furthermore, alliances with Aqua Power Saudi Arabia, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Xenel International, Ossur India/Emirates Energy, and Catalyst Investment Management Company were solidified. These collaborations intend to initiate preliminary studies for projects targeting annual production ranging from 100,000 to 1 million tons of green ammonia, demonstrating Jordan’s phased approach towards scaling up green energy production.

Kharabsheh highlighted that the initial memorandum, focusing on green hydrogen production alongside Masdar, endeavors to initiate a feasibility assessment, with a primary goal of establishing a green hydrogen facility adjacent to the Aqaba port, to enable an annual production capacity of up to 50,000 tons. “This ambitious venture relies on desalinated seawater and renewable energy sources, ensuring competitive cost-efficiency in the production process,” he
added.

Furthermore, alliances with Aqua Power Saudi Arabia, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Xenel International, Ossur Energy India/Emirates, and Catalyst Investment Management Company were solidified. These collaborations intend to initiate preliminary studies for projects targeting annual production ranging from 100,000 to 1 million tons of green ammonia, demonstrating Jordan’s phased approach towards scaling up green energy production.

The Minister emphasized the government’s resolute efforts to position Jordan as a regional hub for green energy production. He highlighted leveraging the country’s abundant renewable energy resources and strategic geographic location to ensure access to European markets for high-quality, competitively priced green hydrogen fuel.

He also commended the collaborative efforts both regionally and nationally, emphasizing the significance of partnerships forged with signatory allies. These alliances are in harmony with the ministry’s strategic objectives and resonate w
ith Jordan’s recently unveiled Economic Modernization Vision (2023-2033). Integral to this vision are substantial investments directed towards green hydrogen production initiatives, emblematic of Jordan’s overarching commitment to transitioning towards clean energy practices and striving for carbon neutrality.

Mohammed Al-Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, echoed these sentiments, accentuating Jordan’s potential as a global player in green energy due to its substantial wind and solar energy resources. He underlined the strength of long-term partnerships, providing expertise in clean energy technologies to support Jordan’s ambitious carbon reduction plans and harness its vast energy potential.

In addition to these agreements, collaborations with the Italian Ministry of Environment and the Canadian Climate Change and Clean Growth Fund were announced. These initiatives aim to fund renewable energy encouragement projects and enhance energy efficiency in Jordanian government buildings, aligning with Jordan’s commitments to
reduce carbon emissions.

The culmination of these agreements reflects Jordan’s concerted efforts to attract investments and bolster energy efficiency across sectors by 2030. The Ministry envisions facilitating the transition to eco-friendly cooling systems in the Middle East and North Africa, as evidenced by discussions held during the Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Jordan’s national youth boxing team returned from the World Championship in Armenia, proudly carrying a bronze medal achieved by athlete Akram Ziyad.

The team’s arrival was met with a warm reception, commemorating the significance of this groundbreaking medal. This achievement not only highlights the team’s success but also signifies the notable progress observed across all national boxing teams.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation announced that the weather depression late Tuesday resulted in a substantial influx of rainwater into dams and valleys. As of Wednesday morning, the accumulated volume stands at approximately 4.3 million cubic meters.

In a statement, the Ministry highlighted that the collective storage across the country’s 15 primary dams has reached 76 million cubic meters. This represents 26 percent of their total storage capacity, which amounts to 288.128 million cubic meters.

Addressing the precipitation rates, the statement noted an increase of 24.2 percent of the long-term annual average. The highest recorded rainfall within 24 hours was noted in Zarqa, reaching 27.4 millimeters.

A breakdown of rainfall across various governorates is as follows: Amman experienced 13.7 millimeters, Balqa 10.9 millimeters, Madaba 15.3 millimeters, Zarqa 13.2 millimeters, Jerash 9.1 millimeters, Mafraq 10.6 millimeters, Irbid 10.2 millimeters, Ajloun 10.7 millimeters, Karak 8 millimeters, Tafilah 5.
1 millimeters, Ma’an 1.7 millimeters, and Aqaba 0.9 millimeters.

Source: Jordan News Agency