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Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: In bid to boost investment, Cabinet announces incentives at Tafileh Industrial Estate
The Cabinet approves a package of investment incentives for the Tafileh Industrial Estate aimed at attracting businesses and creating job opportunities for local residents(Petra photo) - Incentives include free electricity for 3 years, land price cuts - Cabinet unveils set of service, development projects in Tafileh - Projects include environmental park, justice palace, public-private agricultural venture to empower youth, create Jobs AMMAN — Minister of Government Communications Mohammad Momani on Monday announced a series of Cabinet decisions taken during its session held in Tafileh Governorate, as part of the government's decentralisation and development drive. At a press conference following the meeting, Momani, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the Cabinet approved a package of investment incentives for the Tafileh Industrial Estate aimed at attracting businesses and creating job opportunities for local residents, according to a Prime Ministry statement. Momani said that the incentives include a full exemption from electricity tariffs for new investors whose projects are registered or established within one year of the decision. "Eligible investors will receive free electricity for three years from the start of operations," he added. "Land prices in the estate were slashed by 50 per cent, with the cost per square metre reduced to JD5, down from JD10 and previously as high as JD25, to encourage investment and reduce production costs." Momani also announced that the Cabinet tasked the Ministry of Justice with launching design and study tenders for the new Palace of Justice in Tafileh, with implementation scheduled to begin next year. As part of the government's environmental and tourism efforts, the Cabinet approved the establishment of the Aabel Environmental Park, which will include service facilities at a total cost of JD660,000. The Cabinet also approved the temporary leasing of the Al Tuwana Agricultural Station, located in Jurf Al-Darawish and spanning 224 dunums, to the Jordanian Engineers Association for five years, renewable upon approval. The lease is part of a public-private partnership project aimed at introducing modern agricultural technologies, boosting high-value crop production, and creating over 50 permanent jobs, in addition to seasonal employment opportunities. The project aligns with the goals of the Economic Modernisation Vision, particularly in empowering young agricultural professionals. To support the freight transport sector, the Council of Ministers endorsed a decision allowing the import of truck heads manufactured less than eight years before the clearance year, provided that an older registered vehicle is scrapped or re-exported. The move aims to reduce operational costs, enhance competitiveness, and ensure sustainability under the 'Quality of Life' pillar of the Economic Modernisation Vision, the statement said. Addressing long-standing contractor dues, the Cabinet approved procedures to settle municipal tender claims estimated at JD50 million, with payments scheduled for June. Contractors will be allowed to borrow up to JD50 million collectively from local banks, backed by government-issued guarantees. The total outstanding municipal debts to contractors currently stand at JD70 million. Additionally, the Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to implement the road leading to the Yarmouk Forest Eco-Lodge in Bani Kinanah District, Irbid Governorate, and allocate the necessary funding. The project aims to support local communities, generate job opportunities, and promote eco-tourism. As part of international cooperation, the Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian government to enhance cooperation in the health sector through knowledge exchange and mutual benefit. Momani opened the press conference by congratulating Jordanians on the 79th Independence Day, expressing national pride and unity on the occasion. He noted that the Tafileh session was the eighth Cabinet meeting held outside the capital and reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing all announced projects, with funding allocated in the general budget. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Al-Majali Sworn In Before Prime Minister - Jordan News
Al-Majali Sworn In Before Prime Minister Shadi Al-Majali, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, was sworn in before Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan on Tuesday, following the Royal Decree endorsing the Cabinet's decision to appoint him. اضافة اعلان The swearing-in ceremony was conducted in accordance with Article 13 of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Law No. (32) of 2000. The ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Abdullah Al-Adwan and Secretary General of the Prime Ministry Abdul Latif Al-Najdawi. —(Petra)
Ammon
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Ammon
How Strategic Messaging Boosted Hassan's Ratings
Ammon News - Earlier this May, the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan published the results of a public opinion poll on the performance of the Jafar Hassan government after 200 days. The poll indicated that the Jordan citizens and public elites view the government's performance favourably, believe it is well-equipped to lead Jordan to the next stage, and have skillfully navigated current geopolitical crises. These results were published as the Hassan government was facing challenging and ambiguous geopolitical and international realities. In the region, the onslaught on Gaza continues, Syria consistently has rapid developments on a significant magnitude, and Trump's executive orders and statements have shifted public policies on tariffs, sanctions, aid, and security. Accounting for all these factors, the question of whether the high ratings Hassan has received, the highest since 2011, are due to positive development in aspects of Jordanian life, or other factors. I argue that academic works, such as Weinberg (2024), can help shed some light on one of the reasons for this success: a successful public communication approach. In this article, I take the Instagram account of the Prime Ministry in its first week as a sample for analysis of the strategy followed by the PM's public communication team, examining commonalities and methods used to drive 'authentic trust' and appeal to the masses. While the timeframe is limited, it offers a useful snapshot of the government's communication approach. The first aspect of building authentic trust is regular outreach, which I will asses through post frequency. In the sample under review, the Prime Ministry's account posted 13 posts, nearly twice a day. Most importantly about these posts: each post was unique, and they emphasised the content, instead electing to choosing the most 'catchy' soundbites. As an example, on September 22nd, the account posted two videos from the same speech tackling one subject. However, each video had a separate identity: one on the role of the government, the other on consulting public opinion, and these differences were reflected in their respective thumbnails. In comparison, within the first week of the Khasawneh government, the same Instagram account posted seven videos in the span of three days, with all 7 videos having the same formulation, and being direct videos from the PM's remarks to parliament. The second aspect of gaining public trust is message framing. The posts within the period did not intend to serve as an outline of the technical details or share the political jargon common in speeches. Instead, the posts emphasised content that appeals to the public, with the first post's caption being:Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan chaired the first Cabinet meeting after taking the constitutional oath, telling his ministers: 'You must understand that every hour of work is a duty you owe to the nation, so do not fall short—not even for a minute.' Hassan also announced during the session that Cabinet meetings will be held once a month in the governorates. (Jordan [@primeministryjordan], 2024) The rest of the posts in the sample tackle three main themes often considered as the main concerns among Jordanians: national economic reform, economic growth in the governorates, and genuine awareness. The first two, although tackled by the previous government through publicising the Economic Modernisation Vision, were more directly addressed by the posts in question, through highlighting directives on accelerated completion of economic projects, and healthcare service expansion in governorates. The third theme, and perhaps the most interesting, is not being disconnected, which is the most common complaint about political classes and political elites. This theme is addressed through posts documenting field visits. Legitimacy of posting on field visits is solidified through the third aspect, often the most overlooked, visual messaging. The underlying message of these visits, that the PM is close to the people and listens directly to them, is conveyed by framing him as an active listener in these posts. In contrast, media covering the PM position as head of government, whether addressing his cabinet, meeting foreign dignitaries, or making statements in parliament, always frame him as the dominant speaker. The culmination of these three aspects in creating authentic trust explains, in effect, the record-breaking approval ratings for the current government, even though there is some overlap in membership between the current and previous government, economic indicators are yet to show improvement, and the region is at low levels of stability. Although political commentators argue that economic performance is trending upwards and that the regional instability helped Hassan achieve these numbers, I argue that the public affairs strategy, which I showcased a sample of in this article, plays a relatively larger part in garnering this authentic trust.
Jordan News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Prime Minister, Palestinian Vice President Discuss Strengthening Ties, Gaza Developments - Jordan News
Prime Minister, Palestinian Vice President Discuss Strengthening Ties, Gaza Developments Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Sunday received Vice President of the State of Palestine and Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) / Vice President of Palestine, Hussein Sheikh, at the Prime Ministry. اضافة اعلان Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Ayman Safadi attended the meeting, during which both sides reaffirmed the strength of Jordanian-Palestinian relations and the mutual commitment to further enhancing cooperation across all fields. The Prime Minister underscored that Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, remains fully committed to supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people chief among them the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. He stressed the ongoing political and diplomatic efforts led by His Majesty to end the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, ensure the immediate and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid, and stop all illegal Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank. The Prime Minister had reiterated that supporting the steadfastness of Palestinians on their land and resisting displacement efforts remains at the forefront of Jordan's priorities. For his part, Sheikh commended Jordan's firm and principled stance, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in supporting the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people. He expressed appreciation for Jordan's ongoing efforts to halt the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and its pioneering role in delivering aid to those affected. He emphasized the urgent need to intensify international efforts to ensure the entry of life-saving humanitarian assistance into the besieged Strip, given the catastrophic humanitarian conditions. //Petra// AJ
Jordan Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Cabinet approves major incentives to boost film industry
The Cabinet on Sunday endorses a new package of financial incentives to support the local film industry, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan (Photo courtesy of Prime Ministry) AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday endorsed a new package of financial incentives to support the local film industry, aiming as it said at turning Jordan into a premier destination for film production and enhancing the country's competitiveness in the creative industries. A Prime Ministry statement said that the new support package also seeks to capitalise on the country's diverse filming locations, trained local workforce, and advanced infrastructure. Chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, the Cabinet announced that the new measures include expanded cash rebates ranging from 25 per cent to 45 per cent of expenditures within Jordan, depending on the size of the project and the extent to which it incorporates local cultural elements. Productions spending over $10 million and incorporating Jordanian cultural content will be eligible for the maximum rebate, based on a points system evaluating artistic, cultural, and economic impact. The initiative is part of a broader push to enhance Jordan's competitiveness in the creative industries, in line with the Economic Modernisation Vision. The strategy focuses on increasing the sector's contribution to GDP through infrastructure development, talent support, and investment attraction, the statement said. The package also increases support for domestic productions. Local projects exceeding $500,000 in spending will now qualify for a 30 per cent rebate, up from the previous 10 per cent, in a move aimed at empowering Jordanian filmmakers and stimulating homegrown content. These incentives are expected to increase employment in the sector by 35 per cent, generate over $32 million in direct foreign spending annually, and support film tourism by promoting Jordanian locations featured in productions. They will also contribute to promoting Jordanian culture globally by integrating local heritage into artistic narratives, and strengthening technical infrastructure, thus boosting Jordan's readiness to host major productions, according to the statement. Jordan has already hosted major Hollywood blockbusters, including The Martian, Aladdin, and both Dune films, solidifying its reputation as a preferred destination for global filmmakers. Page 2
