jordan pulse -
"Rum News Agency and Al-Shahed Media Group hosted the former Minister of Labor, Nayef Istitieh, in a meeting characterized by a high degree of frankness and clarity at our offices. During the meeting, Istitieh revealed a number of unforgettable positions and events that he experienced during his tenure in the official position and others in his professional and personal life.
Istitieh began his dialogue with Rum by talking about the Business Development Center (BDC) and said, “I was fortunate in choosing the Business Development Center despite starting alone, and there were many experiences I learned from.” He continued, “I decided that there should be a completely Jordanian project, founded by Jordanians, to be non-profit with the aim of establishing an integrative institution that does not compete with institutions or consulting companies and only works in integration with government departments. This was the launch of the Business Development Center. To ensure transparency and sustainability for the Business Development Center, a foundational system was put in place so that it is not owned by a specific person and that there is a board of directors for this center from national figures, with the goal of serving Jordanian youth and small and medium enterprises in all governorates of the kingdom.”
He continued:
"We started small, we were just four employees, and initially, we focused on qualifying youth for the labor market. The main goal was not only to job opportunities but to sustainable job opportunities.
After a while, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah visited us and met with the students more than once, requesting a type of training in the same manner and then requested that we expand the training of youth to all governorates. From there, our launch into all governorates began, and the visit of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah gave us a very big incentive.
Regarding investment and attracting investors, Istitieh said:
“Today, through the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein in the field of economic modernization and the efforts made by the government and the new investment map and the new investment environment law, it has become an attractive law for investment, and today the opportunity is great for investors to come and invest in the governorates. Today, in some governorates, there are significant advantages for investors through exemptions and support from the government.”
Istitieh referred to the meetings chaired by Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, where the Prince focused on introducing the technological aspect in qualifying and supporting youth, focusing on providing job opportunities for youth and developing vocational training centers.
Regarding his statement, “I do not belong to those with trembling hands,” Istitieh commented: "Our master said it, ‘Any official must have the ability to make decisions and bear the consequences of making decisions,’ adding, ‘I have never succumbed to intimidation to please anyone, and I was never willing to accept any mediation because mediation comes at the expense of one person against another.’
Regarding being honored with the King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein Order of Excellence in 2018 on the anniversary of the kingdom’s independence, Istitieh said: "All my life, I have been working and never expected there to be a return for this work. The honor of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein in granting me that medal was a motivation for me to increase my efforts in supporting youth and projects. It was another starting point for me through reaching the largest number of youth in the peripheries. After receiving the medal, I did not leave a village in Jordan that I did not visit, work in, and help some people in it, and this is the pinnacle of satisfaction for me in helping our youth and being with them, especially during the coronavirus pandemic when I was able to get support from different entities and help the youth.
Istitieh talked about his time as Minister of Labor and said: “His Majesty the King’s vision for any official was to be present in the field, and this is what I translated into reality during my time as Minister of Labor. I was in the field at least three days a week, and I never closed my office door to any visitor, and my phone number was available on the ministry’s page for anyone who needed help.”
Istitieh mentioned that during his time as Minister of Labor, he went to the Karak governorate twice to follow up on a transaction for someone.
Istitieh said that in every governorate of Jordan today, the King has honored individuals from the graduates of the Business Development Center BDC.
Istitieh noted the King’s request to help youth establish their own companies and added: "His Majesty had a significant role in steering the helm of the Business Development Center towards the King’s vision of supporting youth and their projects.
Regarding what wealth means to him, Istitieh said, “Some people say that money is not the most important thing, and some say that money is not important, and I say money is one of the means of happiness but not all of it, and it is important but not the most important.”
Istitieh recalled his father, Zakaria Istitieh, and said, “My father was not only my father but also my guide and friend. Today, there is a letter from my father in my office that I keep, which was on the occasion of founding my first companies. He gave me advice through his fifty years of experience, and his advice was precious, and I still and will continue to work by it because it was one of the reasons for my success.”
Istitieh mentioned a story that happened during his tenure as a minister in the Karak governorate and said: "I had been a Minister of Labor for a month when a problem occurred in one of the factories in the Karak governorate that wanted to close and lay off seven hundred employees. There was a demonstration at the door of the Karak governorate, despite some people advising me not to go to Karak. I met with the demonstrators and their families and told them I wouldn’t say anything except that I am with you. Give me a month, and I promise to solve the issue, and if I don’t, I’ll come and sit-in with you. Thank God, I brought the investor, put a travel ban on him, and told him if you can’t continue your investment, I’ll bring someone new in your place, but the 700 employees must stay in the company. I managed to bring a new investor for this company within the month and kept the 700 and employed forty more people on top of that.
Istitieh expressed his great love for southern Jordan as well as his love for all the governorates of Jordan and continued, “I am a son of all the governorates of Jordan.”
Istitieh chose “I Dreamed and Achieved” as a suitable title for his life story.
Istitieh concluded his interview with Rum by talking about Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Al-Khasawneh and said: “All respect and appreciation, and he is one of the people who played a role in nominating me, and I have a relationship of respect, appreciation, and affection with him. About the Minister of Labor, Nadia Al-Rawabdeh, he said: “May God grant you success in your journey and witness for her when she was in social security,” and about the Governor of the Central Bank, Adel Sharkas, he said: “A distinguished person and expert, and I have all the respect for him, and he is one of the people who were supportive of small and medium projects and supportive of his employees in the bank.””
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