AMMAN (Petra) -- His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday launched a programme to support scientific research in applied sciences in order to boost local industries.
During a visit to King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), the King, who donated the necessary funds for the project, said the programme should target teaching staff at universities and higher education students who carry out research aimed at developing products to advance the Kingdom's industrial sector.
The King called on the KAFD to cooperate in these efforts with universities and the army-run King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau, which mainly develops military vehicles and equipment for the region's market.
Moreover, he urged KAFD executives to open channels of cooperation with international research institutions and "institutionalise this cooperation to provide Jordanian students studying abroad with opportunities to conduct research in Jordan and assist technology transfer."
He referred to meetings he had held with Jordanian youth studying in the West who had made remarkable research achievements.
The King said KAFD's board of trustees should find ways to attract these students to return home and serve the country's development process.
The programme, he said, should target young people who lack the financial capabilities to complete their higher education, by offering them scholarships in the Kingdom and abroad.
Chairman of the KAFD Board of Trustees Faisal Fayez underlined the achievements of the fund over the past five years.
KAFD Director Tareq Awad said the number of scholarships for excelling students are expected to reach 1,200 this year, adding that more funds will be appropriated to support scientific research.
KAFD was established by a Royal Decree in 2001 as a non-governmental organisation.
The fund serves all segments of the Jordanian community in order to achieve developmental goals in all 12 governorates and elevate the standard of living.
Since its inception, KAFD has extended financial assistance to 50 scientific projects, three of which have won patents.
According to Awad, KAFD has so far spent a total of JD27 million on its projects and is expected to channel JD7 million to beneficiaries this year.
KAFD boasts nine major projects that support development plans in the Kingdom, including the National Microfinance Bank, the Integrated Olive Products Company, the Red Sea Fishing Company and the King Hussein Ben Talal Convention Centre, among others.
Also on Thursday, the Monarch met with Moroccan Parliament Speaker Abdul Wahid Radi and the accompanying delegation.
At a meeting, the King underlined the need to intensify efforts at the Arab and international levels to push forward the Middle East peace process.
He said the coming stage is expected to witness important developments with regard to the future of the Palestinian issue.
Renewing Jordan's support for the Palestinian people, King Abdullah said the Arab nation is facing another challenge in Iraq, which requires joint Arab action to help the Iraqi people achieve security and stability.
The King said Jordan and Morocco can cooperate to present the world with the true image of Islam and should join ranks to defend Islam in the face of unjust campaigns. In this context, he referred to the Amman Message, which Jordan issued in 2004 to outline its understanding of traditional Islam.
The King commended Morocco's success in its experiment regarding political parties, saying Jordan wants to see national parties with solid platforms, which can help the Kingdom's pursuit of political and economic development.
King Abdullah also discussed bilateral ties and ways to activate Arab joint action with Radi.
He said the two countries could also cooperate in the field of youth support and the fight against poverty and unemployment, noting that youth below 18 constitute almost half of the population in both countries.
The Moroccan parliament speaker also held separate meetings with Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and Senate President Zeid Rifai. Talks in both meetings focused on bilateral relations and ways to enhance them.
In the meeting at the Senate, the visiting delegates engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue with senators attending the meeting. They discussed issues related to developments in the Middle East and the Arab Maghreb region, in addition to bilateral ties.
© Jordan Times 2006
