Cabinet economic taskforce meets Maan leaders over area development

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Jafar Hassan on Wednesday highlighted the importance of governorate councils in identifying development priorities.

Hassan's remarks came during a visit by the ministerial economic team to Maan, some 220km south of Amman, where the ministers met with officials and local community leaders, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Hassan, who heads the taskforce, said that the meeting reflected the government's willingness to work jointly with stakeholders towards serving Maan residents and detecting opportunities in the area that can stimulate economic growth, expressing the government's support for governorate councils to enable them to contribute to the development process.

The minister noted that this year will witness the start of the first phase of the railway connection between Aqaba Port and Wadi Al Yutom, adding that the second phase will commence next year to connect Wadi Al Yutom with the Maan land port.

Governorate representatives highlighted development, logistic and investment challenges that need to be addressed in the district. In response, Hassan stressed that these issues would be discussed with concerned parties, and demands would be met whenever possible.

As for the rights of workers at the Aqaba Railway Corporation, where many Maanis are hired, the minister stressed that employees’ rights are protected and that the government is keen on and committed to safeguarding these rights.

Maan Governor Ahmad Omoush said that the 2018 budget endorsed by the governorate council included 153 capital projects with a total value of JD19.121 million, in addition to four Royal initiatives’ projects, funded and overseen by the Royal Court, at a cost of JD4.594 million.

The official added that the projects listed in the 2017 budget with a funding from the general budget and external grants amounted to 78 schemes whose value stood at about JD35 million, noting that 61 per cent of the projects were completed.

Issues addressed in the meeting included investments of the Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) in the region. 

Labour Minister Samir Murad said there are no changes to the work mechanism of the SSIF and no planned amendments to the Social Security Corporation Law.

He added that the ministry is closely following up with the private sector in Maan to find jobs for residents, calling on young people and entrepreneurs to present their ideas to the several entrepreneurship-supporting funds affiliated with his ministry.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Nayef Fayez said that the ministry would not tolerate any environmental violations, underlining cooperation with the water ministry in implementing wastewater networks, monitoring ground water resources and examining pollution levels in line with the best international standards.

Public Works and Housing Minister Sami Halasa said that 60 per cent of the rehabilitation project of the Grand Maan Mosque has been completed, while work was still under way in the Palace of Justice project, while construction would start soon to rehabilitate the King Abdullah I Palace, an old monument in the city.

Work in the military hospital in Maan will also start in two months, Halasa added, noting that the ministry would soon embark on revamping several roads in the governorate and providing them with lighting. 

Minister of State for Investment Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh said that six projects in Maan have benefitted from investment incentives since July last year, while two investment projects in the fertilisers and leather-tanning fields have obtained licenses and are expected to start construction soon.

Tourism Minister Lina Annab said that the ministry has several projects designed to develop the sector and diversify tourism products in Maan, including the establishment of a visitor centre in Othroh, a town on the Maan-Petra road, and holding cultural activities to attract tourists.