Governorate Development Fund readies JD53.4m to 119 projects

AMMAN — One hundred and nineteen industrial and service projects in Jordanian governorates will be receiving JD53.4 million in financing, following endorsement from the Governorate Development Fund (GDF).

According to a Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply statement e-mailed on Sunday to The Jordan Times, the projects are expected to create 3,312 jobs when completed at an estimated JD115 million investment value.

The statement indicated that the GDF financing will benefit 100 new projects and  help expand and upgrade 19 ongoing schemes. 

Karak topped the list as JD14,146,257 will finance  21 projects that are expected to create 1,043 job opportunities, with an investment volume of JD23,974,799.

Tafileh came second as JD3,724,031 will finance 19 projects that are expected to create 295 jobs, with an investment volume of JD10,855,766.

Irbid ranked third with 13 projects slated to receive JD6,523,739 in financing. The projects, expected to provide 322 jobs, carry JD11,970,864 in overall investment.

In fourth place, JD5,037,816 will finance Maan's 13 projects that carry JD8,415,356 investment volume and expected to provide 277 new jobs.

Balqa's 11 projects, estimated to have a JD20,252,176  investment volume and to create 481 employment opportunities, will benefit from JD7,095,257 in financing.  

Madaba's 10 projects, valued at an investment volume of JD7,551,632 and projected to provide 196 new employment opportunities, are to receive JD3,460,483 in financing.

The GDF approved JD685,998 in financing for Ajloun's nine projects whose investment volume was projected at JD1,198,139 with 71 new jobs.

Mafraq came in eighth place with seven projects carrying an investment volume of JD6,983,465 with 171 new jobs. Financing was set at JD3,813,285.

Jerash ranked ninth with seven projects whose investment volume was estimated at JD2,380,218 with 74 new employment opportunities.

Four projects in Amman will get JD4,461,500 in financing. With  an investment volume of JD12,471,000, these enterprises were expected to create 184 jobs.

Zarqa came in eleventh place with three projects that were projected to provide 150 new employment openings. With an investment volume of JD7,209,992, the enterprises will receive JD1,926,043 in financing.

Aqaba trailed the list with JD1,458,665 in financing for two projects, whose investment volume was estimated at JD2,450,235 with 48 jobs.

Also on Sunday, Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Hatem Halawani attended the ceremony held to celebrate signing agreements of the last phase of the European Union-funded Jordan Services Modernisation Programme (JSMPII) run by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation.

This phase, which includes 51 new and old service companies, carry a financing volume exceeding 3,44 million euros, with a total expected investment reaching around 5,79 million euros.

These projects are expected to provide 484 job opportunities in Mafraq, Jerash, Ajloun, Zarqa, Madaba, Tafileh, Karak, Maan and Aqaba, due to the importance of the service sector that contributes to 67 per cent of the national gross product.