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Opening its office in Amman in 1976, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has a long history in Jordan compared to other international companies. MC has been engaged in a variety of infrastructure projects, including the introduction of electricity generation facilities, the establishment of Jordan's telecommunications network and the development of cement plants.
Jordan is rich in raw materials used in fertilizers. Utilizing its worldwide office network, MC has been dealing these materials since it began doing businesses in Jordan. Two core materials of this business are phosphate and muriate of potash.
Jordan has approximately 1.7 billion tons of phosphate ore reserves. It is mined solely by the Jordan Phosphate Mines Co. Ltd. (JPMC) at four different mines. As of 2005, Jordan was the world's sixth largest producer of phosphate rock and its second largest exporter.
Muriate of potash is one of the most widely distributed raw materials for fertilizers and it is present among the minerals found in the Dead Sea. This business is developed by the Arab Potash Company PLC (APC) along the south edge of the Dead Sea, using an evaporation and refining process.
Based on long-term relationships with JPMC and APC, MC has established a joint venture, Nippon Jordan Fertilizer Company (NJFC), with JPMC, APC and Japanese partners to produce fertilizers for export to the Japanese market.
The abundance of valuable raw materials allows Jordan to maintain a strong position in the fertilizer industry and, with MC as an important partner, promises the nation a bright future in this field.
The Dead Sea is one of Jordan's biggest tourist attractions, with large numbers of visitors coming from Europe every year. Renowned for its healing powers, the Dead Sea attracts many visitors seeking relief from psoriasis and other ailments. These visitors are especially important to the tourism industry because they stay longer than regular tourists do, often for several weeks.
One challenge facing the development of tourist attractions and accommodations is the Dead Sea's changing water level. The water level along the northern basin drops by nearly one meter every year, while the level along the southern basin rises by an average of 20 cm. As a result, new shore areas are exposed and the water gradually recedes away from tourist facilities. These changes in water level also endanger the natural balance of the environment. Stabilizing the water level of the Dead Sea is one of the objectives of the proposed Red Sea-Dead Sea Canal.
The meaning of security enforcement was recently expanded when Jordan's Public Security Department (PSD) formed an environmental police unit. Acting under the directives of King Abdullah II, the PSD proceeded to establish the first environmental police force in the Arab world. Working in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the PDS established the new department to protect air, water and land in Jordan by monitoring activities that could adversely affect the environment and taking legal action to reign in harmful practices. The unit will also be on the look out for illegal activities related to hunting, fishing, and wood gathering. In addition, the unit will support government ministries with efforts to educate people about the environment, utilizing TV, radio, and other media.
Jordan is very proud to have established the first environmental police force in the Arab world.
Wadi Rum is the largest and most magnificent of Jordan's deserts. This vast, quiet, timeless place of beauty resembles a moonscape, making visitors feel like they have been transported to another world.
Granite and sandstone form the uniquely shaped mountains and cliffs that rise up from the desert sands. Numerous canyons or siqs lead into—and sometimes through—the mountains. Their walls are often decorated with ancient inscriptions and drawings.
With its fresh springs and small oasis of palm trees, Wadi Rum has been inhabited for generations by several Bedouin tribes. Low-slug black tents and pack camels can be found among nomadic camps scattered throughout the area. Hospitable desert people often invite travelers to share mint tea or cardamom-flavored coffee alongside the fire under the stars. You can also see desert police, mounted on brightly decorated camels, with their beautiful uniforms and headdresses.
In springtime, the hills turn green with vegetation and many species of wild flowers grow along the roadside. In secluded areas, you may also see the Black Iris, Jordan's national flower. Wadi Rum is also home to many desert creatures, including the distinctive long-horned ibex and the Arabian sand cat. Visiting Wadi Rum is a unique and unforgettable experience.
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