His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday reiterated his support for the private sector, commending its role in pushing the socio-economic development forward and enhancing the national economy.

During a visit to three national institutions, King Abdullah also underlined the social responsibility of the private sector and its role in alleviating unemployment and poverty.

During the King's visit to Fastlink, Asaad Banwan, CEO of the Kuwait-based mobile telecommunications company, which owns 96.5 per cent of Fastlink, announced the company will increase its annual grants to university students from 22 to 42, of which 20 will be allocated for residents of poverty pockets.

According to the company, they will be distributed in coordination with the King Abdullah II Fund for Development.

Fastlink also announced it would create, within the coming two years, two handset maintenance training centers located in poverty pockets to provide free mobile phone maintenance training to young people.

Upon completion of the course, the trainees receive certificates that enable them to open mobile phone maintenance shops.

During the King's visit to the Arab Bank, the Bank's Chairman and General Manager Abdul Hameed Shoman announced an initiative to combat poverty in the southern part of the country.

According to Shoman, the bank would contribute JD2 million to the King's project of building housing units for needy citizens.

King Abdullah also visited Rubicon, a Jordanian company specializing in multimedia e-education and 3D animation.

Rubicon CEO Randa Ayoubi said Rubicon's future plans entail the creation of institutes in the field and cooperation with concerned authorities in the country such as the Vocational Training Corporation to train students on this industry.

The Jordan Times