Amman, Sept. 23 (Petra) – The Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF) on Tuesday launched the region’s first interactive Arabic glossary of sustainability and circular economy terms in an event attended by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah.

Developed over a year in cooperation with local and international experts in environment, sustainability and Arabic language, and aligned with key international standards, the glossary has been formally registered with the National Library. It will serve as an open, free reference to unify terminology across sustainability and circular economy issues, supporting Jordan’s and the region’s transition to more sustainable economies.

Qudah praised the glossary as a national reference supporting government policies and initiatives, stressing the need for a strategic shift "from investment to sustainability" to strengthen economic competitiveness. Since 2022, he noted, the forum has developed practical tools for policymaking in Arabic, with the glossary bridging policymakers and stakeholders and ensuring government decisions align with economic impact studies before new laws or regulations are issued.

He highlighted that 95 percent of Jordan’s private sector consists of small and medium enterprises, which will benefit from the glossary in accessing finance and competing in global markets, particularly in the EU, where adopting circular economy principles is no longer optional but essential. He added that Jordan will seek Arab League Economic and Social Council endorsement for the glossary as a joint Arab project, and the ministry will circulate it to international consultancies working with the government.

Forum Executive Director Nisreen Barakat said the glossary was developed in response to a pressing need for a unified Arabic reference on sustainability and circular economy terms, which had long posed challenges for government bodies, companies and universities in preparing sustainability reports, drafting policies and conducting research. She emphasized that reliable knowledge is the foundation of sustainable transformation and that Jordan can be a regional pioneer in providing such a tool.

Amman Stock Exchange CEO Mazen Wathaifi said the glossary would be gradually rolled out across listed companies and accredited trainers, boosting disclosure accuracy, improving annual and sustainability reports, and enhancing regulatory oversight and market appeal to sustainable investors.

Al Hussein Technical University President Ismail Al-Hinti underlined its importance for academic content, noting that incorporating the glossary into curricula would strengthen students’ ability to use precise scientific Arabic terminology and reduce reliance on ad hoc translations.

Fadi Khalil, Head of Corporate Banking at Jordan Kuwait Bank, said a unified glossary enhances communication within financial institutions and with regulators and investors, improving the quality of financial and non-financial disclosures and enabling the design of sustainable finance products.

A panel discussion, sponsored by Jordan Kuwait Bank, brought together representatives of capital markets, education and banking to explore the glossary’s role in transparency, curriculum development and sustainable finance tools.

Futurist and AI innovation expert Rami Al-Karmi, who moderated the session, said the glossary is an institutional innovation that strengthens Jordan’s leadership in adopting green economy tools. "By unifying terminology, Jordan positions itself as a regional model for turning sustainability from slogans into practical applications rooted in clear, shared language," he added.

//Petra// AF