Trump Exempts Jordan from U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts - Jordan News
She noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided to continue military funding to all beneficiary countries following a comprehensive aid review.
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Jordan News
17 hours ago
- Jordan News
Key Decisions of the Cabinet – Full Details - Jordan News
The Cabinet, in its session held today, Wednesday, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan, approved new criteria for granting Jordanian citizenship or residency through investment, in accordance with the recommendations of the committee on investors. اضافة اعلان Under the new criteria, Jordanian citizenship will be granted to investors who purchase new shares in Jordanian companies worth no less than one million dinars. These shares must not be mortgaged, lent, or borrowed and must be purchased within four months from the date of approval issued by the Ministry of Investment. The full amount must be traded through licensed financial brokerage firms, with a concentration limit of 20% per company of the total required investment. The investor is not allowed to withdraw or dispose of any funds from the investment account, including trading profits, for a period of three years from the date of purchase. Citizenship will also be granted to investors who establish and register investment projects in any productive economic sector with a minimum paid-in capital of 700,000 dinars inside the capital governorate or 500,000 dinars outside of it, provided they create 20 jobs in the capital or 10 outside it for Jordanian nationals, according to records from the Social Security Corporation (SSC). The investor will be given a four-month grace period to complete the required job creation after the project becomes operational. During this period, a residency permit will be granted. Once the conditions are met, the investor will be issued a temporary Jordanian passport valid for three years, after which a recommendation for full citizenship will be made, contingent upon adherence to the stated conditions throughout the three-year period. Citizenship will also be granted to investors who purchase new shares in existing productive sector projects with a minimum paid-in capital of one million dinars, provided the project's new fixed tangible assets are worth at least 500,000 dinars. A feasibility study outlining expansion plans and a certified audited financial statement from the previous year must be submitted. The new investment must be reflected in fixed assets and inventory. The investor must create 20 new jobs for Jordanians, as per SSC records and specific job creation conditions set by the Cabinet. The shares must be held for three years, and the investor will receive a temporary passport for this period. Full citizenship will be granted after verifying compliance with the terms. For existing investments, investors who are partners or owners of one or more projects inside the capital governorate may be granted citizenship if their average share of fixed and tangible non-current assets over the past three audited years is no less than 700,000 dinars, and if they maintain at least 90% of the required Jordanian workforce monthly over three years, with an average of 20 Jordanian employees per month. Workforce from multiple projects within and outside the capital may be combined. For investments outside the capital, the average share of the investor's fixed and tangible non-current assets must be no less than 350,000 dinars, with at least 90% of required Jordanian employment achieved monthly over three years, averaging 10 Jordanian workers. In cases where a partner is introduced or ownership is transferred to a first-degree relative, citizenship may be granted to the new partner or owner, provided the original investor's shares are not disposed of for three years. If the investor has not yet completed the three years but meets all other criteria, they will be granted a temporary passport for the remaining duration until full eligibility is met. Citizenship may also be granted to investors in sectors such as pharmaceutical and medical device warehousing and logistics, with a minimum investment of 3 million dinars and at least 20 Jordanian employees (or 10 outside the capital), all registered with SSC and employed in the pharmacy profession. Citizenship will also be granted to investors employing 150 Jordanians in the capital or 100 in other governorates, registered with SSC for at least one year prior to application, and maintaining this employment for two consecutive years after receiving citizenship. Investor spouses, unmarried daughters, widowed or divorced daughters living under their care, and unmarried sons under 24, as well as dependent parents, may also be granted citizenship. If the investment exceeds two million dinars, male children under 30, their wives, and children may also receive citizenship. For residency, investors or non-investors can obtain or renew a five-year residency permit, regardless of prior residency duration, if they purchase real estate worth no less than 200,000 dinars (according to the Land and Survey Department's estimate) from a registered developer and retain it without selling or mortgaging it for five years. The permit is issued following a recommendation from the investors' committee at the Ministry of Interior. For residency renewal, the applicant must still own the same property or a newly purchased one of equal value. The application is reviewed by the technical committee and then referred to the Interior Minister's delegate at the investment window without requiring property freezing. The criteria specify that no investor may receive citizenship if they acquired shares from another investor who previously obtained citizenship through those shares. The policy will be applied to a maximum of 500 investors annually, following security vetting and financial solvency checks. If any condition is violated, the citizenship or residency may be revoked. These criteria will be reviewed and evaluated every six months. Additional Cabinet Decisions: Green Hydrogen Projects: The Cabinet approved a general framework and mechanism to develop green hydrogen projects. This includes assigning government entities to fund and build shared infrastructure in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone after entering binding agreements with developers. Ministries of Energy and Mineral Resources, Investment, and Finance are tasked with reviewing incentives and exemptions for green hydrogen components inside Aqaba to extend them nationwide. Self-Employment Loan Rescheduling: The Cabinet approved granting an additional grace period for group loan beneficiaries from the Development and Employment Fund (2016–2017), allowing them to separate liabilities and reschedule debts not previously addressed by past Cabinet decisions. Customs Service Fees: The Cabinet approved the justification for amending the 2025 customs service fee system on imported goods, including asphalt rolls, to protect local industries producing similar products and reduce dependence on imports. The move aims to level the tax burden on local and imported goods. Tax Settlements: The Cabinet approved the settlement of 858 pending tax cases between taxpayers and the Income and Sales Tax Department, continuing efforts to ease economic burdens and improve the business environment. Tourism Infrastructure: The Cabinet allocated funds to construct a road to the eco-lodge in the Yarmouk Forest Reserve (Bani Kenanah, Irbid) to enhance tourism infrastructure and promote eco-tourism investments. New Health Regulations Approved: Anesthesia Practice Regulation (2025): Sets conditions for licensing, roles of practitioners, and procedures for revoking or suspending licenses. Respiratory Therapy Regulation (2025): Establishes a legal framework for the practice of respiratory therapy, required following Cabinet recognition of it as a healthcare profession. Birth and Death Surveillance Regulation (2025): Establishes a national electronic system for tracking births and deaths to improve early maternal and infant care. Nutrition Practice Regulation (Amended – 2025): Regulates nutrition practice, enhances service quality, and specifies requirements for managing licensed nutrition centers. International Cooperation: The Cabinet approved a €5.5 million grant agreement with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation to implement the 'Raya Initiative' to improve access to non-communicable disease (NCD) care in Zarqa. This includes rehabilitating health centers, providing equipment, and conducting awareness campaigns over four years. It also approved a second additional financing agreement worth $7.5 million with the World Bank for the 'Jordan Reform Management Support Project,' to support the implementation of economic reforms and public investment management under the Economic Modernization Vision.
Jordan News
17 hours ago
- Jordan News
Major Deals Are Forged in Moments of Exhaustion… What Does the Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Hold for the Region?
Every time a political meeting draws near between figures like U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I find myself asking the same question: Are we witnessing a routine political move, or a pivotal moment in the region's ongoing conflicts? اضافة اعلان This time, in particular, the upcoming meeting between the two men—expected next week—seems to go beyond media theatrics or mere rapprochement. What is being prepared behind the scenes of this meeting extends far beyond Gaza; it touches on the future of the confrontation with Iran and the restructuring of the Syrian scene through what appear to be major geopolitical bargains. For weeks, I've been closely monitoring Tel Aviv's fluctuating stance between de-escalation and escalation. Notably, the Israeli mood appears increasingly inclined toward military resolution, especially following its open confrontation with Iran. In my view, Israel will not let that clash pass without a more impactful response—not necessarily a large-scale strike that could ignite a regional war, but through precise, calculated operations that would weaken Tehran's capabilities and redraw red lines. I am almost certain that Trump, with his aggressive political nature, will not oppose this direction; rather, he will provide it with the cover it needs. What grabs my attention even more is the growing discussion around Syria. Talk is beginning to circulate within regional decision-making circles about a different kind of deal: a peace treaty between Syria and "Israel" in exchange for a full lifting of sanctions on Damascus. In my opinion, what once seemed far-fetched is now increasingly plausible. Given Syria's crushing economic crisis and the waning of Iranian influence in the region, Moscow could play a new mediating role—provided its interests in Syria and the broader region are secured. Some may see this notion as far-fetched, but I believe that Middle Eastern politics is used to forging grand bargains in times of exhaustion—when parties become willing to make concessions that were once unthinkable. I believe Syria may be approaching such a moment regarding the issue of peace, which could offer a glimpse of hope to break free from a crisis it has been trapped in for years. From this perspective, I see the upcoming Trump-Netanyahu meeting as one that will go beyond Gaza, diving directly into the Iran file, Syria, and perhaps even the future of the rules of engagement in Lebanon. The coming days will reveal whether we are on the brink of a new military escalation against Tehran, or on the verge of major understandings that will reshape the regional balance of power. In either case, I believe the Middle East is heading toward a critical turning point—where the logic of power intersects with strategic calculations, and where the outcome of upcoming unannounced meetings will determine the fate of wars and crises that have persisted for years.
Roya News
18 hours ago
- Roya News
Jordan approves changes to grant investors citizenship, residency
The Jordanian government on Wednesday approved new regulations to grant Jordanian citizenship or residency to investors, based on recommendations from the special committee for investors. The decision, made during a cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, aims to stimulate investment and economic activity in the kingdom. New Citizenship Regulations for Investors The new regulations outline several avenues for investors to obtain Jordanian citizenship: Stock Market Investment Investors can gain citizenship by purchasing at least 1 million Jordanian dinars (JOD) in new shares of Jordanian companies. These shares must be held for three years and cannot be encumbered, loaned, or borrowed. The purchase must occur within four months of the Investment Ministry's approval, with no more than 20% of the total investment concentrated in a single company's shares. New Investment Projects Citizenship is granted for establishing new investment projects in productive economic sectors. The paid-up capital must be at least 700,000 JOD within the capital governorate or 500,000 JOD outside it. These projects must create 20 jobs for Jordanians within the capital or 10 jobs outside, verifiable through Social Security Corporation records. Investors meeting these criteria will initially receive a temporary Jordanian passport for three years, with full citizenship recommended after sustained compliance. Acquiring Shares in Existing Projects Investors can secure citizenship by purchasing new shares in existing productive economic projects with a paid-up capital of at least 1 million JOD. The project's new fixed assets must be at least 500,000 JOD. The investment requires a feasibility study, audited financial statements, and must create 20 new jobs for Jordanians (or as specified by Cabinet decision based on investment type). These new shares must be held for three years. Like new projects, a temporary passport is issued for three years, followed by a citizenship recommendation upon compliance. Existing Investments For investors with existing projects, citizenship may be granted if their average share of the total fixed and tangible non-current assets (calculated from audited annual statements over the past three years) is at least 700,000 JOD within the capital, maintaining 90% of the required 20 Jordanian jobs per month for three years. Outside the capital, the average share must be at least 350,000 JOD, maintaining 90% of the required 10 Jordanian jobs per month for three years. Sector-Specific Investments Citizenship is also available to investors in pharmaceutical, medical device, food logistics, storage, and large warehouse sectors. Companies must have an investment of at least 3 million JOD and employ at least 20 Jordanian workers in the capital (or 10 outside) registered with the Social Security Corporation for the last three years, specifically in pharmacist roles. High Employment Generation Investors who employ 150 Jordanian workers in the capital or 100 in other governorates, registered with the Social Security Corporation for at least one year and maintained for two consecutive years after obtaining citizenship, are eligible. Family Inclusion The investor's spouse, unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughters living under their care, and unmarried sons under 24 years old at the time of application are eligible. For investments exceeding 2 million JOD, male children under 30 years old, their spouses, and children are also eligible. Five-Year Residency Through Real Estate Investors or individuals can obtain or renew a five-year residency by purchasing real estate from a developer valued at no less than 200,000 JOD, as appraised by the Department of Lands and Survey. The property must be retained for at least five years without disposal or encumbrance. Residency is issued upon recommendation from the special committee for investors by the Ministry of Interior. Renewal requires continued ownership of the same property or a new property of equivalent value. Conditions and Limitations Jordanian citizenship will not be granted to investors who acquire shares from another investor who previously obtained citizenship based on those same shares. These regulations will apply to a maximum of 500 investors annually, subject to security checks and financial solvency verification. In the event of non-compliance with any conditions, Jordanian citizenship will be withdrawn, or residency canceled. These regulations will undergo review and evaluation every six months.
