Latest news with #JafarHassan
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Cabinet approves amendments to urban planning bylaw, launches major water projects in Irbid, Zarqa
AMMAN — The Cabinet, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Saturday, approved the rationale for a draft amendment to the Building and Urban and Village Planning Bylaw for 2025, to be submitted to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for formal issuance. The proposed amendments include extending the grace period for licensing existing buildings until the bylaw is officially endorsed, according to a Prime Ministry statement. The amendments also seek to facilitate the establishment of investment projects outside designated zoning areas by reducing the required road width for tourism-related developments located along multiple roads. Additional proposed amendments include increasing the permissible building ratio on small plots of land outside zoning boundaries and establishing front setbacks for secondary buildings on agricultural land holdings. The Cabinet also approved the issuance of necessary authorisations to proceed with a tender for the water management, distribution, and wastewater project in Irbid Governorate. The project's first phase would include the construction of main pipelines serving the areas of Irbid, Aydoun, Al Sareeh, Huwwarah, Bushra, Sal, and Hakamah. It will also cover the implementation of distribution networks, a transmission pipeline, and a main reservoir in Ramtha, the statement said. The Cabinet gave the green light for the implementation of the Zarqa Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant project. Once completed, the new facility would become the second-largest wastewater treatment plant in Jordan, after the Khirbet Al Samra plant, with a total design capacity of 365,000 cubic meters per day. The project would be executed in two phases, with the first scheduled for completion in 2030 and the second in 2035. Upon operation, the new plant would allow for the decommissioning of several pumping stations in western and eastern Zarqa, resulting in an estimated JD5.6 million in annual electricity savings, the statement said. The station is expected to significantly enhance wastewater infrastructure in Zarqa Governorate and parts of Amman, while boosting the network's capacity to handle increasing water volumes delivered through the National Carrier Project. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Roya News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Jordan Prime Minister Jafar Hassan begins 4-day leave
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan left Jordan Saturday for a four-day private leave – the Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported today. A Royal Decree was issued, tasking Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Al-Saud to serve as acting prime minister and minister of defense during this period.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Jordan signs near-$200m foreign investment agreements in health sector
AMMAN: Jordan has signed two major foreign investment agreements in the health sector, worth a combined $187 million, in a move hailed as a significant step toward modernizing healthcare infrastructure and digital services. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan witnessed the signing ceremony on Saturday alongside Saudi Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, chairman of KBW Investments, and Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Jordan News Agency reported. The first agreement, between the Jordanian government and KBW Investments, will see the construction of the new Madaba Government Hospital. The second, a digital transformation project in Royal Medical Services hospitals, was signed between the Jordanian Armed Forces and Farah Jordan Smart Cities Company, in which KBW holds a 49 percent stake. The agreements represent the first wave of new foreign investment in the sector, with the government indicating plans to expand similar partnerships into areas such as transportation, infrastructure, and additional hospitals. 'This is the first government hospital built in partnership with the private sector after a delay of about 10 years. It is absolutely essential for the people of Madaba Governorate,' said Hassan. He confirmed that the hospital would be fully government-run, with an initial capacity of 260 beds, expandable to 360, and is scheduled to open within three years. The agreement to build the hospital was signed by Minister of Investment Muthanna Gharaibeh, Minister of Health Firas Hawari, and KBW's CEO Ahmad Sallakh. It falls under the Jordan Investment Fund Law and marks the first partnership of its kind in the country between the government and private sector in this domain. The 13-story hospital will span 54,000 sq. meters and include a wide range of medical facilities such as eight main operating rooms, 60 outpatient clinics, and 18 dialysis units. It will also house emergency and intensive care departments, lithotripsy and endoscopy units, medical laboratories, catheterization laboratories, and offer 830 parking spaces for visitors and staff. Construction will begin this year, with KBW handling all building works. The government will take on full operational responsibilities, including staffing and equipping the facility. Payment to the company will begin only after the project is completed, in installments over a 10-year period. The second agreement focuses on the digitization of RMS facilities, including hospitals, health centers, warehouses, and other medical sites. It aims to enhance efficiency in drug inventory, reduce waste, and modernize the management of medical assets and supplies. It also targets improved performance in laboratories and radiology services. The deal was signed by the Assistant Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Planning, Organization and Defense Resources Brig. Gen. Ammar Al-Sarayrah, and KBW's CEO Sallakh. Prince Khaled reaffirmed KBW's commitment to investing in Jordan, calling it 'our second home,' and added that KBW had been investing in the kingdom for over 10 years and was keen to expand across multiple sectors.
Jordan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Jordan Times
Gov't, KBW sign JD133m deal to build Madaba hospital, digitise military medical services
AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Saturday oversaw the signing of two agreements aimed at boosting Jordan's healthcare sector, in the presence of Saudi Prince Khaled Bin Alwaleed, Chairman of KBW Investments, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti. The first agreement, signed between the government and KBW Investments, paves the way for the construction of a new public hospital in Madaba, according to a Prime Ministry statement. The second agreement, between the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) and Farah Jordan for Smart Cities, an army-affiliated company partially owned by KBW, focuses on advancing digital transformation in hospitals run by the Royal Medical Services (RMS). The agreement to establish the Madaba Government Hospital was signed by Minister of Investment Muthanna Gharaibeh, Minister of Health Firas Hawari, and KBW CEO Ahmad Sallakh. The digital services agreement was signed by Assistant Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Planning, Organisation and Defence Resources Brig. Gen. Ammar Saraira and Sallakh, on behalf of KBW, which owns 49 per cent of Farah Jordan's shares. The two agreements represent a significant foreign investment in a vital sector, with a total value of JD133 million, marking the beginning of broader public-private partnerships in areas such as transport, infrastructure, and healthcare, the statement said. Following the signing ceremony, Hassan emphasised the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors in enhancing the Kingdom's healthcare system. He also welcomed further investment with KBW, expressing appreciation for the company's contributions to corporate social responsibility, particularly in the education and health sectors. 'This is the first time a public hospital will be constructed in partnership with the private sector, after a delay of nearly a decade,' Hassan said. 'It is a much-needed project for the people of Madaba. The hospital, which will be fully government-run, will initially provide around 260 beds, expandable to 360. We expect citizens to benefit from its full services within three years.' Prince Alwaleed reiterated the company's long-term commitment to investing in Jordan. 'We consider Jordan our second home,' he said, noting that KBW has been operating in the country for more than 10 years and aims to expand across multiple sectors. Both projects are aligned with the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), particularly the pillar focused on quality of life, attracting foreign investment, and promoting digital transformation in the public sector, the statement said. The Madaba hospital project is classified as a major initiative under the Jordan Investment Fund Law and would be developed by KBW Investments and Infrastructure. It is the first partnership of its kind between the government and the private sector in the healthcare domain. The hospital would be built to the highest technical specifications, aiming to significantly improve healthcare services in Madaba and surrounding areas. The facility would consist of 13 floors, with a total built-up area of 54,000 square meters and an initial capacity of 260 beds, expandable to 360, according to the statement. It will also include eight main operating rooms, 60 outpatient clinics, 18 dialysis units, emergency care, lithotripsy and endoscopy units, intensive care, medical laboratories, catheterisation labs, and 830 parking spaces. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with the public-private partnership expected to reduce the original estimated timeline from seven years to just three. KBW would be responsible for construction, while the Ministry of Health will operate the hospital and provide staffing, equipment, and medical supplies. The government will begin repayments to the company after project completion, spread over a 10-year period. Hassan had announced plans for the hospital earlier this year during a Cabinet session held in Madaba in March, the statement said. As for the second agreement, the digital transformation project aims to modernise services across hospitals, health centres, warehouses, and other facilities affiliated with the RMS. The initiative would enhance inventory governance, reduce medicine and equipment waste and improve the management of medical supplies and fixed assets such as hospitals and clinics. It would also help streamline operations in labs and radiology units. The project is expected to raise the quality of care provided to citizens and patients at RMS hospitals. Cost savings generated by the digital transformation will be used to cover the agreement's expenses, the statement said. The project is expected to raise the quality of care provided to citizens and patients at RMS hospitals. Cost savings generated by the digital transformation would be used to cover the agreement's expenses. The agreement also includes training and certification of technical staff to manage the digital system and ensure high-quality data input. The final value of the agreement, estimated at around JD45 million, would be determined based on the digital services identified by a joint technical committee from RMS and other relevant departments. Founded in 2013, KBW Investments operates across a range of sectors, including energy, real estate, finance, media, engineering, and technology. It maintains a broad international presence through affiliated companies in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Italy, Romania, and other countries, the statement said.
Roya News
5 days ago
- Health
- Roya News
Jordan inks $187M health sector deal for new hospital in Madaba
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and Prince Khalid bin Alwaleed Al Saud, chairman of KBW Investments, along with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, witnessed the signing of two foreign investment agreements totaling 133 million Jordanian dinars (approximately $187 million) for the health sector. The agreements include the construction of the new Hospital in the governorate of Madaba and a digital transformation project for hospitals under the Royal Medical Services Directorate. Prime Minister Hassan emphasized that this marks the first time a government hospital will be built in partnership with the private sector, a crucial collaboration to enhance the efficiency and quality of health services in the kingdom. Hassan noted that the Madaba Hospital project has been delayed for over 10 years and is essential for serving citizens, particularly in the Madaba governorate. The prime minister clarified that the new Madaba Hospital will be entirely government-managed and will feature approximately 260 beds, expandable to 360. He added that the hospital is expected to be completed within three years, allowing citizens to benefit from its integrated services. Prince Khalid bin Alwaleed expressed pride in KBW Investments, which has been investing in Jordan for over a decade, and indicated the company's desire to expand investments into various other sectors. "We are always ready to invest in Jordan because we consider it our second home," Prince Khalid said after the signing. The prime minister highlighted that this initiative is part of the government's strategy to improve the health system and develop hospital infrastructure, contributing to the provision of high-quality medical services for citizens.
