Al-Ahliyya Amman University hosted the activities of the Third Balqa Cultural Conference, which was launched by the Salt Cultural Forum in cooperation with the Balqa Directorate of Culture under the Ministry of Culture, under the theme "Cultural Investment as a Building Block in National Development and Construction".
His Excellency Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh, the Minister of Culture, affirmed during his patronage of the conference's opening, the importance of the city of Salt as the hub of Balqa and a cradle of education and knowledge. He highlighted its pioneering role manifested by its prestigious school, Salt Secondary School, and its contribution to producing leaders in the fields of science, politics, education, and literature.
He added that the conference's theme intersects with current cultural axes that include cultural industries and the role of youth, media, and development, highlighting the importance of these issues amidst contemporary economic, technological, and cultural transformations.
Al-Rawashdeh explained that culture has become an active element in supporting local production and stimulating the economy, noting that creative industries now account for more than 12% of global income.
He also reviewed the role of cultural industries in the sectors of cinema, music, literature, visual arts, gaming, and knowledge economies, noting the efforts of the ministry in establishing training centers for the arts in the provinces, including Salt, to empower youth with skills that qualify them for the labor market and enhance their aesthetic and creative sense.
In turn, Professor Dr. Sari Hamdan, President of Al-Ahliyya Amman University, emphasized that culture is a significant pillar in enhancing knowledge and awareness, insisting on the need to enhance the integration between culture and tourism, especially in academic circles, to enable students to discover the cultural and civilizational heritage of their nation, noting that the university is a primary partner in supporting cultural and developmental activities in Balqa Governorate.
The president of the Salt Cultural Forum, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Al-Nsour, affirmed that culture has always been and continues to be a fundamental lever for development and human building, drawing on the visions of His Majesty King Abdullah II in promoting national identity and establishing Jordan as a center for knowledge and creativity.
He pointed out that culture is an investment in awareness and society, not a luxury, as it contributes to preparing individuals who are capable of innovation and competition.
The first day of the conference included the presentation of discussion papers on investing in heritage, architecture, and handicrafts as an economic heritage, presented by engineer Safaa Al-Kafawin with the participation of students from the Faculty of Architecture at the university, a paper on the role of craft and cultural industries in achieving development presented by Director General of the All of Us Jordan Youth Commission Abdel Rahim Al-Zawahreh, and another on the
