November 2016 Royal Court Chief Lectures on Jordan in its Arab and Regional Neighborhood Abu-Ghazaleh: I am a knowledge worker in the process of transforming Jordan into a knowledge society Donor Organizations Honor Abu-Ghazaleh with the Creativity in Innovation and Digital Transformation Decoration 1
Royal Court Chief Lectures on Jordan in its Arab and Regional Neighborhood (Petra) Royal Court Chief Dr. Fayez Al Tarawneh stated that Jordan managed thanks to its wise leadership and the awareness of its citizens, to safeguard its security and stability, in spite of its position in a burning geographical location, which made it a role model at the region and world level. In a lecture entitled Jordan in its Arab and Regional Surroundings, organized by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum last Thursday, Al Tarawneh said that Jordan is strong and firmly united within its social texture that is founded on tolerance, and mutual respect. He affirmed that Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the determination of its Jordan Armed Forces the Arab Army and the security apparatus are able to defend and protect its borders without interfering in the internal affairs and sovereignty of other countries. Al Tarawneh reviewed challenges Jordan passed through since its establishment in 1921 and its ability to deal with the region s crises that incited its determination to go forward with its process of construction, progress and reform and its ongoing pursuit to achieve peace, enhance security and stability for the region and its peoples. He pointed out that the King s Sixth Discussion Paper entitled Rule of Law and Civil State is an unprecedented step for a head of a state to lay out perspective papers 1
for discussion that encompass ideas for all, and aim at introducing more comprehensive reform procedures based on the rule of law within the frame of the civil state. In this regard, he stressed that educational organizations, associations, and civil society institutions should bear the responsibility of organizing discussion sessions to address the angles of this paper to encourage dialogue and contribute in drawing mechanisms for implementation. On the implications and repercussions of the so-called Arab Spring on the region, Al Tarawneh said that it s inappropriately named and it s evident by the outcomes of destruction and civil wars that affected the countries in the region and which we don t know when will stop. He noted that Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty, is standing by its Arab brothers for a way out of these crises, and HM constantly calls for political solutions that put an end to the suffering of the peoples in these countries and guarantee security and stability. And about the dangers of terrorism on the region and globally, he affirmed that Jordan works with regional and international effective parties to encounter this danger and its extreme bunches of criminals that came to a point where they threaten global security and stability. On the Kingdom s efforts in defending Islam, Al Tarawneh noted that His Majesty King Abdullah is doing his utmost to defend the bright image of Islam that is being continuously tarnished by the extreme radicals as well as his defense of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. While concerning efforts to achieve peace, he stated that Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty is doing its utmost to revive the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis to establish an independent Palestinian state according to the two state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative and the international legitimacy resolutions. Dr. Al Tarawneh also tackled the economic challenges that encounter Jordan due to the implications of the crises witnessed in the Middle East region in addition to the further growing burdens as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. During the lecture, Al Tarawneh answered questions and inquiries raised by political, economic and social personalities and the audience that mainly on economic challenges including energy problem, indebtedness, poverty and unemployment. 2
As the guest of honor of ALIF and Commonwealth Group of Ambassadors Abu-Ghazaleh: I am a knowledge worker in the process of transforming Jordan into a knowledge society AMMAN- HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) was invited as the guest of honor by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia HE Mr. Teguh Wardoyo to deliver a keynote speech at the ALIF and Commonwealth Group of Ambassadors lunch meeting. The event held at the Hyatt Amman Hotel was attended by the majority of Ambassadors of the 26 member group. The Indonesian Ambassador thanked Dr. Abu- Ghazaleh for accepting the invitation and for his significant role in changing the world. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh has dedicated a lot of effort and time in helping and supporting the economy, the Palestinians, the refugees and we admire his dedication and courage in reaching the goals he set for himself and for the society surrounding him, he said. In his speech, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh focused on various global, regional and local issues. Globally, the two camps: China -Russia and US-UK are fighting for economic interest and in the past we were taught that capital, labor and raw material are what made countries superpowers but in today s world and as a result of the knowledge revolution the sources of wealth are labor, labor and labor, he said. I mean knowledge labors- the source of wealth in this world. It is expected by the end of 2030 the top 100 richest people in the world will be in the field of knowledge, he added. 3
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh praised the Internet as the only source for equality and democracy and there will be a new world map of interest and not boundaries. Meanwhile, regionally and what is happening is not only a manifestation of the struggle in the world but a renaissance, according to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh. We are now facing the same period Europe faced long time ago; Europe was plagued by the dark ages but look at where Europe is now and this is what will happen in this part of the world, the age of renaissance will soon come and life will change for the best, he said. I am happy to say that TAG-Org is part of this change and I just came from Cairo after meeting with the secretary general of the Arab League and we have developed a program to help promote the process of development of the Arab world to become a knowledge society, he added. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated that from destruction we will go to construction. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh who is a member of the Jordanian Senate focused on Jordan which is facing a lot of challenges and in his point of view the only solution is for the Kingdom to become Finland. HM King Abdullah II is putting a lot of effort in the development of Jordan and I believe the only way for Jordan is to become Finland. Finland has the same population of Jordan, Finland does not have any natural resources like Jordan but Finland decided to become a knowledge society to produce knowledge and sell it, he said. He added: Finland never borrowed money and never had a deficit or a problem with unemployment that is what I like Jordan to be. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said that soon Talal Abu- Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum will be launched in Amman which will be focusing on how to transform Jordan into a knowledge society. He concluded by saying that with dedication and will we can succeed. I see myself a knowledge worker in the process of transforming Jordan into a knowledge society, he said. It is worth noting that Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh embarked on a state visit to Pakistan in which he met with the Pakistani President and Prime Minister to develop an action plan regarding online education and information technology. 4
Donor Organizations Honor Abu-Ghazaleh with the Creativity in Innovation and Digital Transformation Decoration MANAMA - In recognition of HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh s role in professionally and technically supporting, encouraging and developing societies, the Technical Creativity in Charity Work Conference honored the chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) with the Creativity in Innovation and Digital Transformation Decoration, the first recognition granted from regional donor organizations, in a special ceremony held in Manama. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh was honored in acknowledgment of his global role in social initiatives, his support to the information society and his chairmanship of the Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (GAID) in addition to his leadership in the media and Information Technology sectors regionally and globally and his specialized institutions role in the social development and human capacity building around the world. The organizers also confirmed that this recognition comes for the part played by Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh in supporting and encouraging social and corporate responsibility activities. Deputizing for HE Mr. Jameel Bin Mohamed Hmaidan, Minister of Labor and Social Development, Khalid Ishaq, Assistant Undersecretary for Community Development inaugurated the Conference which was attended by around 400 personalities representing more than 100 organizations and regional donor organizations and held under the theme Digital Change in Charity Work. 5
Meanwhile, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh extended his gratitude for this honor in his keynote speech at the Conference entitled Social Creativity in the Digital Age, stating that we should not exclude ourselves from the digital evolution process. He also suggested that one of the Conference s recommendations is the formation of a permanent follow-up committee chaired by the Conference organizers which aims at developing the digital transformation process in charity work. At TAG-Org, we have many tools to accomplish this mission. Furthermore, all Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International University programs are digital through which we offer a program to educate refugees at camps in cooperation with the European Union. Accordingly, refugees are granted the opportunity to acquire academic certificates whether bachelor or master s degrees from well-recognized universities. He also noted that TAG-Org is currently working with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States to transform the Arab society into a digital-based one by fighting illiteracy at three angles: Arabic Language, Digital Language and Knowledge in a period that does not exceed ten years. Introducing TAG-Foundation for charity work, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said I don t give money to needy people, however, I qualify them and their skills so they will not ask for anyone s help. He also underlined the significance of transformation to digital, stating that the future of wealth making will be for the knowledge inventions, anticipating that the richest people in the world will be knowledge creators. Studies state that by 2050, we will enter the Age of Singularity, where the man, machine and tool will be one. We are currently using the Internet among us. By 2050, the machines will operate more than human beings. We will move to The Internet of Things, that is why work should get closer to the technical work. 6
Abu-Ghazaleh Adopts Three Projects from Next Level Initiative at a Cost of JD45000 AMMAN- Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) adopted three winning projects from the Next Level Competition at a cost of JD45000 out of 20 projects that qualified for the finals. The competition was held at Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) where the 20 innovators presented their ideas and projects which were selected out of 100 applications focusing on information technology, E-Commerce and smart applications sectors. Speaking to the youth, HE Dr. Talal Abu- Ghazaleh stressed that innovation does not need support or excuses as there is nothing that can stop success and creativity. Future is knowledge which will solve problems relating to unemployment, poverty and budget deficit. Youths are the ones who will create the future and what we are going through in our Arab world will soon end and it is a start of a new dawn, he added. He stressed that the youth should not wait for an opportunity and should grab chances in a knowledge age and all they need is E-Communication provided by TAG-Org in all its 120 knowledge stations spread around the Kingdom and equipped with computers and free Internet connection in addition to professional programs that they may study and receive a certificate subsequently. TAG-Org has supported the competition through Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Society (TAG Knowledge) with JD15000 for each winning project in cooperation with Next Level and Impact Organization. 7
In order to set up a comprehensive housing plan Jordan s Ministry of Public Works and Housing Assigns Talal Abu-Ghazaleh & Co. Consulting to Prepare a Comprehensive Study on Housing Sector AMMAN The Ministry of Public Works and Housing and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization / Talal Abu-Ghazaleh and Co. Consulting (TAG-Consult) signed an agreement at the Ministry s headquarters to prepare a comprehensive evaluation study of the housing sector in order to pave the way for drawing a housing plan at the Kingdom s level with the participation of the World Bank. The significance of this study is attributed to the three aspects of this sector: housing is a human basic need that affects the life of every citizen, because housing is an essential sector in terms of what it contributes to the gross domestic product (GDP), and housing is one of the country s main key resources. As a social and national need, it is imperative to study the housing needs of citizens, deal with the imbalance in supply and demand, to provide secure, healthy, sustainable and feasible housing for citizens. In terms of the economic aspect of housing, it is evident through the engineering and construction services, trading in construction materials, financing procedures, employment and recruitment, rent and sale, among others. Mostly, housing activity is considered the first indicator to the economic growth or recession in a country. Meanwhile, housing is a resource of revenue to the country through fees and taxes before, during and after construction, and during the process of selling and renting of housing units, and through the income tax, and services provided to houses among others. The study will be interactive and citizens will participate in it through workshops that address laws, supply and demand, demographic planning, financing systems, construction patterns, matching between needs and availability, infrastructure, construction industry, in addition to the environmental considerations. HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh said that he is proud of the confidence by the Jordanian government headed by Prime Minister HE Dr. Hani Al Mulqi, considering this entrustment 8
a national duty due to its significance and not a mere professional assignment. He also expressed his pride in signing this agreement with HE Engineer Sami Halaseh, stating that TAG-Org and the Ministry will work together as one team to serve this country under the leadership and guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II. Chairman of the Board of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation, Minister of Housing Engineer Halaseh said that the study will be of great importance to the housing sector mainly in defining the trends of the sector in the coming period. He added that the decision of the Ministry to implement this study aims at analyzing the status quo of the housing sector in Jordan to draw a clear action plan to develop it, stressing that the decision to implement the study comes in response to the directives of HM King Abdullah II to provide the best services to citizens and it s an implementation of the Higher Committee of National Housing Strategy, formed in virtue of Prime Ministers Council decision No. (709) dated July 24, 2016, as per the letter of the Prime Minister No. 6/11/1/32299 dated July 23, 2016. It s worth mentioning that Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization has vast experience in preparing strategic studies submitted to the governments of the Arab region throughout 45 years since its inception. 9
Abu-Ghazaleh and EMPHNET Sign MoU to Cooperate in Training Health Sector Staff AMMAN Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Professional Training Group (TAGI-TRAIN) and the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the patronage of Chairman of the group (TAG- Org) HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, and the Executive Director of EMPHNET Dr. Mohannad Al-Nsour, to cooperate in providing training services for staff working in the health sector. The MoU stipulates the cooperation between the two parties by providing joint training in the field of epidemiology and also offering certification to health professionals completing the proposed training program. The two parties will also be providing TAG-Org s services that include translation and ICT. These services will be provided through TAG-Org s offices in countries where the Network has no offices. TAG-Org has offices in 85 countries around the world, while the Network has presence in Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, the KSA, Morocco, Jordan in addition to Afghanistan and Pakistan and 14 countries around the world. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh highlighted the importance of the professional services TAG-Qrg Provides in various fields and particularly in the health domain. He also stressed the keenness of TAG-Org on providing its professional services in all fields that enhance the skills and efficiency of staff. This cooperation between both parties will be reflected in various training programs. These programs will focus on leadership and management in the health field and especially Emergency Management. The programs will be offered in Arabic and English and the training methods used will include academic in-class training, field work and online activities. The joint program will target all staff working in the health field including doctors, nurses, midwives, and medical inspectors. Moreover, the needs of the health sector locally and regionally will be studied to provide the bestfitting training. Experiences of other entities working in the public health field will be taken into consideration, whereby they will be studied, assessed for their relevance, and adapted to fit the health needs of the region. From his end, Dr. Al-Nsour stated that the EMPHNET relentlessly seeks to provide health needs while contributing to the capacity building of public health professionals working in the field. EMPHNET always seeks to establish strategic partnerships with individuals, governments, and organizations locally and internationally as well as networks working in public health. Dr. Al-Nsour further added that the Network cooperates with countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region to enhance public health systems towards the prevention and control of diseases. It also contributes to conducting research and practically communicates its research findings to decision makers in order to improve the health status of the region s communities. 10
TAG-Org and Jerash University Announce BA (Accounting) with Washington University & Jefferson College AMMAN- Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) and Jerash University signed two cooperation agreements in the field of professional training and granting specialized professional certificates. According to the agreements signed by HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman of TAG- Org, and HE Prof. Abed Razaq Bani Hani, Jerash University president, the two parties will cooperate in providing the latest services in the field of education to cope with the technological advancement in the world. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated: We seek through TAG-Org to provide the best services in the field of education by adopting the latest technology and targeting the youth in the governorates, he added that the fast paced world of technology is crucial to the development of business. Meanwhile, Bani Hani said: We seek to cooperate with the Organization in various fields and Jerash is a governorate that needs all the support. Cooperation in both training and BA degree provides unique services with the support of TAG-Org. According to the first agreement, a bachelor s degree in Accounting will be launched in cooperation with Washington & Jefferson College that will qualify students for the CPA certificate in which students will study this program at Jerash University for two years then if successfully completes it and receives the minimum total in the TOEFL will be able to join Washington & Jefferson College in Washington Pennsylvania in the US to receive the BA in Accounting. Meanwhile, the teaching halls at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh University which are designed similar to the Harvard University Halls will host the English language classes which is a prerequisite to be accepted. The second signed agreement is between the International Arab Society of Certified Accountants (IASCA) and Jerash University in which both parties will cooperate in organizing courses in four fields: the International Arab Certified Public Accountant (IACPA) program within the curriculum of the University s Economics and Administrative Science Faculty. This agreement signals the key role that the Society plays in developing local commercial and industrial societies through its various activities in this field and in the Administrative Sciences in particular and through seminars, lectures and different preparatory courses, as well as cooperation with other institutions, corporations, companies and societies of common goals. 11
Abu-Ghazaleh: Our participation in the World Standard-Setters Conference in London is for serving Arab Countries LONDON - Representatives of the International Arab Society of Certified Accountants (IASCA) participated in the annual conference of World Standard-Setters (WSS) held by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation. HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh said that the participation in the WSS Meeting comes in line with the Society s vision and its chairman HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh in providing the Arab market with Arab certified accountants by setting the rules to provide them with internationally recognized qualifications. Mr. Hans Hoogervorst, Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), opened the conference stressing on the dire need to define more subtotals in the income statement. We may need to provide a principle- definition of operating income which does not allow for obfuscating restructuring or impairment charges. The conference shed light on a number of professional issues, including International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9 Financial Instruments which has been replaced with International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 39 Financial Instruments: recognition and measurement. IFRS 39 was developed to meet the demands of the concerned parties to improve financial instruments rapidly. The Board replaced International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 39 through three key phases, upon completion of each phase, the Board issued chapters in the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9, which replaced the requirements of the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 39. This participants also discussed issues relating to translation, adoption and publication of these standards worldwide, practical cases on financial performance reports, the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 15, revenues generated from contracts concluded with clients (such as: insurance contracts, lease contracts, accounting standards for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is worth mentioning that the IASB organizes an annual conference for world standard-setters to Exchange experiences in the areas of accreditation, adoption and application of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS); discuss the IASB Agenda, and to review the latest developments of international standards. 12
UNWTO, Abu-Ghazaleh and JOrchestra Present PETRA Concert at World Tourism Organization s Regional Conference PETRA Upon the directives of HE Dr. Talal Abu- Ghazaleh, the Jordan National Orchestra Association (JOrchestra) ensemble and the Luca Aquino s Italian trio performed the music of PETRA album on the occasion of the World Tourism Organization s Regional Conference held in the rock-carved rose-red city of Petra. The event was held under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Jordan, HE Mr. Hani Mulki and in the presence of HRH Princess Dana Firas, in addition to the distinguished participation of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, HE Ms. Lina Annab, Secretary-General of UNWTO, Mr. Taleb Rifai and the Managing Director of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Mr. Mattia Romani. HE Ms. Annab, introduced the concert held at the archeological site of Little Petra to the international audience with a special gratitude to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh saying: I want to say few words about this concert, there is one person who is not sitting with us today due to his traveling schedule; this person is Dr. Talal Abu- Ghazaleh, who embodies what a passionate citizen should be. Today s concert is a good example about his passion. She added: when we decided to have this conference here, Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh immediately proposed to have the PETRA concert on this occasion. The Jordanian National Orchestra and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization organized this event today and I would really like to thank their team for making this concert a reality. The PETRA music project event was part of a broad project that aims to promote Petra as a safe and incomparable charming touristic destination to support tourism in Jordan internationally, within the framework of the UNESCO global campaign #Unite4Heritage. The unique site inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985 hosted the performance of the eight musicians of PETRA project, for an unforgettable concert. The PETRA album music is gaining the enthusiastic response of the European musical critics, especially in Italy and France. The album is available on itunes for download, and its proceeds go to support the Petra s local community and the Non-profit Jordanian National Orchestra Association. 13
RIPE NCC, TAG-Org and MENOG Invite Jordanian Network Operators to Training and Members Meeting Meeting discussed how operators could benefit from tools and support provided by the RIPE NCC AMMAN, Jordan - The RIPE NCC, in cooperation with Talal Abu- Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) and in coordination with the Middle East Network Operators Group (MENOG), organized a technical training in Amman October 17 19, 2016. As a neutral, not-for-profit membership association, the RIPE NCC provides a range of tools and services to support the operations of its 14,500 members who are enterprise networks, ISPs, telcos and other organizations. With over 20 years of experience as the secretariat to the RIPE community, the RIPE NCC speaks the Internet community s language and knows what kind of support network administrators and operators find valuable. This visit to Jordan was part of the RIPE NCC s strategy of closer engagement with its members across the Middle East, following the establishment of its Dubai regional office in 2014. A total of 40 private and governmental bodies participated in the training. As a neutral, not-for-profit membership association, the RIPE NCC provides a range of tools and services to support the operations of its 14,500 members who are enterprise networks, ISPs, telcos and other organizations. With over 20 years experience as the secretariat to the RIPE community, the RIPE NCC speaks the Internet community s language and knows what kind of support network administrators and operators find valuable. HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman of TAG-Org said: We are always ready to give support to all entities working in the field of technology as we strongly believe that the world must embrace the digital future through the young generation who will be forming the leadership of tomorrow. Paul Rendek, Director of External Relations at the RIPE NCC, said they were committed to supporting network operators in Jordan with technical expertise and services. We provide training in a range of subjects, including IPv6, and we have unique tools like RIPE Atlas and RIPEstat that have been developed in close consultation with the technical community over a number of years. 14
Abu-Ghazaleh Presents 30 TAGITOPs to Faculty of Ma an University College MAAN - HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh presented 30 Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Laptops (TAGITOPs) to faculty of Ma an University College as part of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) s ongoing support to education and Corporate Social Responsibility. In a special ceremony held by the College with the attendance of Maan Mayor HE Majed Al Sharari, member of the Lower House HE Abdullah Al Qaramseh, and the College faculty, Dean of College Dr. Sattam Al Khatib extended his gratitude to HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh and highly commended his contributions and the efforts he exerts for the development of education in Jordan. He also highlighted the immediate response of TAG-Org to the College s demand for support. Moreover, Dr. Al Khatib congratulated Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh for his appointment to the Jordan Upper House. Representing the faculty, Dr. Mohammad Al Nawafleh welcomed Mr. Loay Abu Osbeh, executive director of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum who represented Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh in the visit expressing the faculty s sincere gratitude to TAG-Org for the services it offers to all the institutions in the country. Meanwhile, Mayor Al Sharari praised the support presented by Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh to the city of Maan mentioning the projects the Organization established in the city and the benefits gained by the people of Maan. Al Sharari referred to Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Business & Culture Radio also known as Ma an from Amman radio channel stating that this step will contribute in introducing all the economic and social challenges endured by the people of Maan to the audience throughout the Kingdom. Deputy Al Qaramseh thanked Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh for what he already presented and all the services that will be presented in the future stressing the need for the private sector to carry out similar initiatives to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh s from which people of Maan will benefit from. Abu Osbeh thanked the attendees for their generous hospitality saying that all the services and projects provided are only part of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh s mission in supporting the local community, reaffirming that he does not wait for gratitude or appreciation as he believes that whatever he presents is part of the duty towards the country he loves. At the end of the ceremony, Abu Osbeh presented the TAGITOPs to the faculty of the Ma an University College and received the Shield of the Faculty on behalf of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh. 15
Abu-Ghazaleh Affirms ASCA (Jordan) Readiness to Serve Jordan Audit Bureau and other Government Institutions AMMAN The Arab Society of Certified Accountants ASCA (Jordan) concluded a professional course for a group of auditors at Jordan Audit Bureau. The course included training on the Audit Manual for the State- Owned Enterprises through which an audit plan and program was set up that enables auditors to collect evidence to issue an opinion on the fairness of the financial statement in conformity with the international audit standards. The course was held within the framework of implementing the Bureau s capacity building project funded by the World Bank to develop audit methodologies. HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh highlighted the effort of Jordan Audit Bureau in developing the skills of government employees thanking the Bureau for the confidence in ASCA s work and affirming the readiness of ASCA to serve Jordan Audit Bureau and other Government Institutions. The graduation ceremony was held in the presence of the Bureau s President and Secretary General, HE Dr. Abed Kharabsheh and HE Waleed Rahahleh, respectively. Dr. Kharabsheh highly commended the ongoing cooperation between the Bureau and the Society and underlined its pioneering role under the leadership of HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh. During the course, a field audit was implemented to apply the manual to the unified financial statements 2016 of the Jordanian Airports Company, through which all the steps of auditing process were systematically applied, different disclosures were examined, the report of the external (independent) auditor was read, the updated report to form an opinion to be applied to financial statements issued starting from the closing year December 31, 2016 was also reviewed. Moreover, every participant worked on the analysis of the 2012-2015 financial statements, and defined the most risky accounts. ASCA (Jordan) continuously seeks to develop the accounting and management sciences and other relating principles that are entirely or partially applied to professional services. It also seeks to develop the level of practice and competence to the highest professional levels by its keenness issuing accounting publications and following up on the latest developments in the audit and accounting professions. 16
TAG-Org Media Newsletter Prepared by: Media Department Executive Director: Roufan Nahhas Designed By: Design Department For any inquiries, please email us at: media@tagorg.com 17