Jordan: Hazem Nasser nominated Minister of Water and Irrigation and Minister of Agriculture

A royal decree was issued on Saturday approving the new 19-member government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour in which the ministers of foreign affairs and industry and trade retained their posts.

The premier and ministers, including one woman, took the oath before His Majesty King Abdullah II at a Royal Court ceremony attended by the royal court chief, a number of princes, the director of the King's officer and the king's advisers. The decree, citing article 35 of the constitution, said that based on the resignation of Ensour and upon his recommendation, "We Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan order the appointment of the following": 1. Dr. Abdullah Ensour, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

2. Dr. Amin Mahmoud, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

3. Mr. Nasser Judeh, Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs.

4. Mr. Hussein Hazza' Majali, Minister of Interior and Minister of Municipal Affairs.

5. Dr. Mohammad Al Wahsh, Minister of Education.

6. Dr. Hatem Hafez Al Halwani, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply and Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

7. Dr. Hazem Al Nasser, Minister of Water and Irrigation and Minister of Agriculture.

8. Dr. Umayyah Touqan, Minister of Finance.

9. Dr. Khleif Al Khawaldeh, Minister of Public Sector Development.

10. Dr. Mohammad Nouh Qudah, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.

11. Dr. Nidal Mardi Qatamin, Minister of Labour and Minister of Transport.

12. Dr. Ahmad Zeyadat, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.

13. Mr. Walid Al Masri, Minister of Public Works and Housing.

14. Dr. Ibrahim Saif, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

15. Dr. Mohammad Hussein Moumani, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs.

16. Mrs. Reem Mamdouh Abu Hassan, Minister of Social Development.

17. Dr. Mjalli Mheilan, Minister of Health and Minister of Environment.

18. Mr. Malek Atallah Al Kabariti, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

19. Dr. Barakat Awajan, Minister of Culture.

Born in 1962 in Fuheis, Hazem Nasser holds a PhD in water resources from Technical University Munich. He has served as secretary general of the Water Ministry in 1997 and 1999. Nasser was minister of water and irrigation between 2001 and 2003, and minister of water and irrigation and minister of agriculture between 2003 and 2005. Nasser is recipient of the Kawkab Medal of the First Order and the Istiqlal Medal of the Second Order.