Jordan: Between a rock and a hard place

As I walk down through the old city of Amman negotiating my way through the hassle of street vendors and small shop keepers - all of whom are inviting me with a tired smiles - I get a sense of the fault lines that have the potential to rock this small and vulnerable country.

First, let’s look at the population within Amman. The majority of those living in the City are of Palestinian origin, of whom the vast, vast majority would love to back their bags and head back to Palestine. Not too dissimilar to other Arab nations, more than 50% are under the age of 25, most do not have formal qualifications, and nearly all have very poor job prospects for the future – even tourism, a pillar of their informal economy, has been hit by the unrest of the wider region.

Next, let us examine the perception held by many on the street. In talking to people, either who are trading or just living in these areas, they are utterly convinced that the standard of living in the rest of the World is far superior to that which they endure in Jordan. In addition, many are also convinced that the present system of Government in Jordan is actively seeking to concentrate the best of the country’s resources into the hands of the privileged few. Needless to say, it is neither here nor there whether they are accurate in their beliefs; as we have seen throughout the Arab world, a widely held perception or negativity can be a very dangerous catalyst.

Finally, but no means least, let’s consider the external influences on this Arab nation. To the North, Syria remains to be in an increasingly disturbing and bloody turmoil; to the West, the Israeli-Palestine conflict continues to simmer; and to the East we have Iraq, which is looking more and more unstable by the day. No doubt, such extreme unrest on the doorstep of Jordan will be both uncomfortable for the Government and unsettling for the country’s people.

I hope the King holds good council at this dangerous time.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Written by Fadel Takrouri.

Fadel is a businessman and the Chairman of the British Arab Federation (BAF)

The BAF is an organisation committed to enabling the British Arab Community of the UK. We conduct research, hold seminars and events concerning Arab Business, Arab Culture and Arab News.

Relief for internet Start Ups, opportunities for the Young

As Budget day approaches, the debate between cutting expenditure versus cutting taxes looks set to overheat.

One thing, regardless of Party ideology, I hope we can all agree on is that at any given time we need government to create conditions that encourage further trade and also new businesses to open. The more businesses that open and succeed, the more taxes the government has at its disposal to maintain public services – some of which in turn could be instrumental in helping many back to work.

At a time when opportunities for the young are an upmost priority for policy makers; I am advocating a tax break (or policy) that could benefit this and other groups with few prospects at present. In talking to business owners and young budding entrepreneurs, both within the British Arab community and outside of it, my suggestion focuses on allowing new internet business start ups to develop before being strangled at conception.

To elaborate, one option the Chancellor could adopt in the coming Budget is to allow a 100% five year tax relief for all internet start ups.

Such a move would not just encourage the unemployed or underemployed young people of Britain to set up their own business, but, in allowing flexibility regarding the location of these new internet start ups, it could also attract entrepreneurs from around the world too. The benefit to government, or the UK economy, could be several fold; job creation (more money put into circulation and fewer on benefits), increase our export of goods, greater eventual tax revenues and a more diverse, reinvigorated business sector.

This simple tax measure would be relatively inexpensive to implement and, as these are yet to be created ventures, the public purse would not be left short. In the long term, making it easier and more affordable for people to start businesses will pay dividends in the future.

____________________________________________________________________________

Written by Fadel Takrouri. 

Fadel is a businessman and Chairman of the British Arab Federation (BAF). 

The BAF is an organisation committed to enabling the British Arab community of the UK. We conduct research, hold seminars and events concerning Arab Business, Arab Culture and Arab News. 

British Arab Bloggers Wanted

Calling all bloggers (or people who have interesting opinions and like to write!). The British Arab Federation is all about the big picture; and what better way to get a better view of the big picture, than to allow many people to contribute to it.


With this in mind the British Arab Federation is throwing its doors open and actively inviting guest bloggers to submit their written opinion and news to our blog. To write for us you don't need to be ethnically British or Arab but your blog does need to have an appeal that resonates with our community.


So to re-cap what we're all about; you could write about British Arab relations (internationally or nationally UK-wise) concerning Arab Culture, Arab Business or Arab News. Or, alternatively you could flip that around and write about British Culture, British Business or British News from an Arab point of view.


Whatever your chosen topic, it must have relevance to our community and, importantly, not be offensive to other communities! We're interested in all kinds of new and unique proposals, so get in touch at media@britisharabfederation.org with new work or questions.


______________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
Unfortunately, we are unable to pay people for submitting blogs, but if we feature your work we are more than happy to promote you and your work.


The BAF is an organisation committed to enabling the British Arab community of the UK. We conduct research, hold seminars and events concerning Arab Business, Arab Culture and Arab News. 

We must stand up for the NHS

As the NHS reformbill bounces its way between the Commons (who appear to be lacking a bit of common sense at the moment) and the Lords (who it seems have common interest at heart), we hear the voices of visited interests arguing the case for stronger private sector involvement in health care delivery. Such arguments, which masquerade themselves with themes regarding efficiency and productivity that are actually about self interest and greed, make my stomach turn.

What makes me nervous is that to date the role of private sector health firms has only resulted in providing those with better means with better access. Whether we like to acknowledge it or not; it’s a badly kept, inconvenient secret but those with better resources can gain access to the top NHS consultants quicker via the private sector backdoor. One example of private sector efficiency that we ordinary folk could do without! 

Further, it is an even worse kept secret about how the top NHS consultants can and have practically monopolised the supply of private sector health care to create an effective closed shop! This manifests itself in such features as limited access, preventing open market forces from operating in the normal way and keeping costs artificially high. 

Recently, many in the UK were shocked by the news that a possible 40,000 women who had had defective breast implants fitted were going to be left unsupported by the private sector to face up to the realities of a future of illness and poor health. While health companies can hide from their responsibilities behind limited liability it seems quite mad to consider involving them further in our public health service.

There’s an additional contradiction that concerns me about involving private health care firms with the NHS – this being one of personal interest of NHS employees. The NHS must be the only organisation in the world that allows its employees to work for the competition. Imagine the outcry if, in the name of profit and the open market, one day we discovered that a retired army general had set up a consultancy advising an enemy! Will a greater role of the private sector result in opportunism among tax payer trained health care professionals?

If we pursue this much talked about NHS reform bill, I fear the private sector will first look to serve its own interests. The NHS was created to serve all equally from the cradle to the grave; we must stand up and fight to keep it that way.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Written by Fadel Takrouri. 


Fadel is a businessman and a Board Member of the British Arab Federation (BAF). 


The BAF is an organisation committed to enabling the British Arab community of the UK. We conduct research, hold seminars and events concerning Arab Business, Arab Culture and Arab News. 

New Middle Eastern Governments need a Master-Plan

In any society, whether it is in the Western Developed World or in developing countries that have recently experienced a change of leadership and move towards a democratic society, it is important not to ignore fundamental principles linked to key issues that require investment and improvements related to Healthcare, Education, Housing, Employment and general economic vitality and stability.

At the heart of any successful society lays economic development and the creation of continuous employment opportunities for our youth. One of the key components or drivers of successful economies is the ability to provide integrated transport facilities which enable the various chains of society, such as businesses and employment, to link up efficiently.

If you take a look at two emerging democracies in the examples of Libya and Yemen, the approach to starting up an economically stable society will differ. It is clear from looking at Libya that before the new government rushes into a series of projects, a serious injection of expertise into Institutional Strengthening is required. This implies the need to assess how government departments run and how, for example, they could make best use of the funds that may be available to invest in the various sectors of society described above.

That would be the starting point for Libya while for The Yemen, on the other hand, it is more a case of ensuring that existing institutions work together to bring forward cohesive plans for this vast country.

One key aspect to ensure that the country functions as one is the need to be very focussed on what infrastructure will be required. For example, rather than just go ahead and start building roads and major highways a master-plan ought to be formulated that will combine land use planning and transport requirements which will set the fundamental requirements of over say short, medium and long term horizons.

This master-plan would take into account existing population locations and requirements, future new land use locations such as new towns and cities, and will thereby provide recommendations for appropriate infrastructure provision.


___________________________________________________________________________________________
Written by Johnny Ojeil. 


Johnny is a Director of Arup Consulting and a Board Member of the British Arab Federation (BAF). 


The BAF is an organisation committed to enabling the British Arab community of the UK. We conduct research, hold seminars and events concerning Arab Business, Arab Culture and Arab News. 

Introducing the British Arab Federation

It is believed there are now over 750,000 British Arabs living in the UK. This community is even greater when taking into account the number of visiting professionals and students, from the Middle East, that also currently work in Britain.

Despite the economic and cultural contribution of this group, the community is largely hidden and underrepresented in many aspects of British society. In response, a new organisation, the British Arab Federation (BAF) has been launched.

This organisation seeks to bring together and encourage the British Arab community within the UK to play a more active and prominent role within the society of Britain. Primarily concerned with affairs relating to Arab Business, Arab Culture and Arab News, the BAF conducts research and implements community work.

Whether you’re an individual or company, and interested in any aspect of British Arab relations concerning Arab Business, Arab Culture or the Arab News, email media@BritishArabFederation.org to get in touch for advice.