Latest news with #ParliamentaryCommitteeonEconomyandInvestment
Jordan Times
25-03-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Lower House approves 2025 Customs Law amendments
The Lower House on Monday approves the 2025 draft amended Customs Law by a majority vote (JT file) AMMAN — The Lower House on Monday approved the 2025 draft amended Customs Law by a majority vote and referred the 2025 Buildings and Lands Tax Bill to the Parliamentary Committee on Economy and Investment. During a session chaired by Speaker Ahmed Safadi and attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the government team, Articles 13 to 25 of the amended Customs Law were approved, following the approval of Articles 1 to 12 in a previous session. According to its validating reasons, the amended Customs Bylaw aims to enhance efficiency, streamline procedures, and improve Jordan's investment climate and economic competitiveness, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. It also grants the Customs Department greater flexibility by allowing specialised personnel to handle clearance and cargo release, enforce relevant regulations and conduct post-clearance audits in line with international standards. The amendments also accelerate clearance procedures, ensure access to necessary information while maintaining banking confidentiality, and introduce electronic notifications for customs-related decisions. Additionally, customs officials can now conduct inspections remotely if electronic systems allow monitoring without requiring the physical presence of the concerned party. Lawmakers also raised a series of parliamentary questions, with government responses on several key issues. MPs inquired about the Attarat project agreement, which was directed to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh. They also requested information on the progress of genetic mapping, directed to Health Minister Firas Hawari. Lawmakers questioned the government regarding plans to establish a wastewater treatment plant in the Zarqa River area, requesting specific details on its exact location. In addition, MPs raised concerns about the use of smart applications in public transportation, to which Minister of Transport Wissam Tahtamouni responded that the government is currently reviewing the licensing regulations for the sector. MPs also sought information on efforts to address traffic congestion in Amman. The minister explained that traffic-related issues are within the ministry's jurisdiction. Regarding the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project between Zarqa and Amman, the minister noted that it is still in the trial phase and has shown encouraging passenger numbers. On the Hejaz Railway project, she confirmed that feasibility studies are currently underway.
Jordan News
16-02-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Speaker of the House of Representatives Meets with President and Members of Jordan Chamber of Commerce - Jordan News
Amman – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Al-Safadi, called for the formation of a team comprising members from all economic committees in Parliament, in partnership with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to address the challenges facing the private sector on an ongoing basis. اضافة اعلان This came during his meeting on Sunday with the presidents and members of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, the Parliamentary Committee on Economy and Investment, and the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources. Al-Safadi emphasized that government measures, particularly in the governorates, reflect a genuine commitment to working for everyone. He stressed that the commercial and industrial sectors are crucial for driving economic growth, reducing unemployment, and increasing development rates, given the presence of skilled national talents capable of adapting to technological advancements, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. For his part, Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq, President of both the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Commerce, called for institutionalizing the partnership between the House of Representatives and the private sector, in line with Royal directives emphasizing collaboration between the public and private sectors. He also urged the formation of a joint committee to review and amend economic laws and regulations, including those governing the Bar Association, landlords and tenants, insolvency, social security, labor laws, invoicing systems, and medical fee regulations, as well as procedures set by the Ministry of Labor to regulate the market. Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy and Investment, Khaled Abu Hassan, affirmed that the private sector is a key partner in achieving economic development, necessitating the resolution of legal overlaps that hinder its operations. He stressed the importance of addressing these challenges to reduce unemployment and fiscal deficits while boosting economic growth. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Engineer Haitham Al-Ziadin, highlighted that the private sector's achievements require support from legislative representatives, ensuring the removal of all obstacles that hinder its progress and creating a real impact on the national economy. During the meeting, the participants discussed various challenges affecting their businesses across different governorates and explored ways to resolve them, thereby enhancing support for the commercial sector in all its branches.
