Amman, February 18 (Petra) -- The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved legislation related to the energy sector under the Economic Modernization Vision, measures to enhance public services, agricultural sector development, national export support, and agreements with international organizations and friendly nations.

In service enhancement, the Cabinet approved the first phase of structuring the public transportation network between governorate centers and Amman. This phase focuses on high-demand routes, including Irbid-Amman, Karak-Amman, Jerash-Amman, and Salt-North Complex in Amman, with 121 buses targeting approximately 10 million passengers annually.

The project, costing approximately JD 4.5 million, aims to improve transportation services with scheduled departures and modernized buses equipped with electronic tracking and fare systems. It will be carried out in partnership with the Greater Amman Municipality to provide reliable and cost-effective transportation services.

The Cabinet endorsed the draft Electricity Law for 2025, aiming to replace the temporary law No. 64 of 2002 with a permanent framework. The proposed law outlines the responsibilities of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in developing general policies for the electricity sector, promoting competition, and attracting investment in line with international best practices. It also seeks to harmonize with the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission Law No. 8 of 2017, empowering the Commission to regulate the electricity sector and issue relevant licenses.

To stimulate investment in clean energy, the draft law includes provisions to support green hydrogen projects and introduces the concept of electrical energy storage to enhance energy security, diversify sources, and reduce electricity costs. This initiative aligns with the Kingdom's ambition to become a regional hub for renewable energy production and export.

The Cabinet also approved the draft Gas Law for 2025, reflecting the priorities of the Economic Modernization Vision and the National Energy Strategy. The legislation is designed to diversify energy sources, lower energy costs, and promote investment in the gas and green hydrogen sectors, both locally and internationally. It also outlines regulatory frameworks for the gas market to ensure competitive practices and sustainable growth.

The Cabinet approved the executive action plan for the National Strategy for Future Stations 2025, following its recent endorsement of the overall strategy. The initiative seeks to restructure, manage, and operate Future Stations previously known as Knowledge Stations to provide a conducive environment for delivering digital services to all community segments across the Kingdom.

The action plan outlines a phased timeline for the development and operation of Future Stations, with an emphasis on enhancing digital transformation and facilitating access to government e-services. It includes a directive to integrate these stations with youth centers in various governorates to optimize existing infrastructure and empower young people to leverage the provided digital services.

Aimed at advancing digital inclusion, the plan seeks to provide comprehensive digital solutions that enhance user experiences, activate the digital identity for seamless government transactions, and offer technical support while ensuring the highest standards of digital security and privacy. It also aims to streamline government procedures, reducing time and effort for citizens.

To ensure the effective implementation of the action plan, the necessary financial resources will be allocated and monitored through the budget of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. A budget of one million Jordanian dinars annually has been earmarked for the initiative, starting this year and continuing through 2028.

In climate resilience, the Cabinet approved the National Strategy for Adapting the Health Sector to Climate Change (2024) and its Action Plan (2025-2027). The strategy aims to address climate change's impact on public health, including awareness campaigns and research initiatives.

The Cabinet has approved the exchange of memoranda between the governments of Jordan and Japan to establish a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for water supply in Ma'an Governorate.

Under the terms of the memoranda, a grant of $8.7 million will be provided to fund the project, which is aimed at enhancing the operational and management systems of water supply facilities in Ma'an. The project will involve the installation of SCADA systems and the rehabilitation of key infrastructure, contributing to the overall improvement of water service quality in the region.

The SCADA system will play a pivotal role by linking directly to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation’s emergency control center. This connection will allow for the immediate identification of issues in water lines, facilitating a swift response to disruptions. Additionally, the system will help detect and prevent water theft or unauthorized access, which is critical in minimizing water loss and ensuring efficient water distribution.

The Cabinet also approved agreements to strengthen the agricultural sector and national exports, including establishing the Food Security and Nutrition Observatory for the Levant region, funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization's Technical Cooperation Program. Furthermore, it endorsed the draft system for registering new plant varieties for 2025, aligning with international standards set by the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

The Cabinet has approved the rationale for the draft amended system for Tax Returns, Records, Documents, and Profit Rates for 2025. The draft is now set to be submitted to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau to complete the necessary procedural steps for its issuance.

The proposed system is designed to mitigate any potential increase in the tax burden on national export services. It also seeks to maintain the current income tax rate of 3% on the maritime shipping sector, aiming to support the competitiveness of the sector and enhance the growth of national exports.

In international cooperation, the Cabinet has approved several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in various sectors with international partners.

Among these, an MoU between the Kingdom and the State of Qatar will be signed during the 51st meeting of the Regional Committee for the Middle East of the United Nations Tourism Organization in Doha. This agreement seeks to foster tourism exchange and promote business events such as exhibitions and conferences that attract tourists, through coordination between the respective authorities of both nations.

In addition, the Cabinet approved an MoU between the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) to enhance bilateral cooperation in statistics. This memorandum aims to boost statistical development, facilitate the exchange of statistical achievements, and foster the use of big data and data governance to enhance public trust and safeguard data privacy.

Furthermore, an MoU was approved between the National Cybersecurity Centrer and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This agreement includes a £3 million grant to strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity, enhance protection against cyberattacks, and improve digital security through the exchange of expertise and the development of the Kingdom’s cybersecurity systems.

The Cabinet ratified the statute of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Labor Center, finalizing a decision made during the third session of the Islamic Conference of Labor Ministers in Jakarta in 2025.

//Petra// AJ

18/02/2025 15:13:17