JEDCO signs 100 grant agreements to boost rural development

AMMAN — Under the patronage of Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah, Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) on Sunday signed 100 grant agreements through the Rural Finance Development and Employment Programme (REGEP), which is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

The implementation of the activities of development and support of saving and credit groups and association, business mentoring and technical support will be conducted in cooperation with the Jordan River Foundation (JRF), according to a statement by JEDCO e-mailed to The Jordan Times on Sunday.

“REGEP is a promising initiative for the development of economic projects that align with the strategy titled 'The reduction of poverty and unemployment in Jordan for 2013-2020', which focuses on the reduction of poverty, vulnerability and inequality in rural areas," Qudah said.

He stressed the great importance has been given by the Jordanian government to the agricultural sector, in order to develop a sustainable agriculture and rural development in coordination with all governmental institutions which will provide direct and indirect support to workers.

For his part, JEDCO CEO Maher Al Mahrouq said: ”REGEP aims to develop agricultural projects to integrate small-scale farmers in value chains and improve their opportunities to get the needed funding in rural areas. It also seeks to improve their capacity building and competitiveness."

Mahrouq said that the JRF has worked to implement the activities of development and support to small projects by developing training manuals and awareness sessions. It also selected participants to establish 117 saving groups and build their capacities, in addition to implementing training programmes in project management.

"Seventy of the agreements were granted as a group and 30 were granted to individuals to support productive agricultural projects in the governorates of Balqa, Ajloun, Jerash, Mafraq and Madaba," he continued, noting that the grants amount to a total value of $250,000, with a $3,000 grant allocated to each group while individuals will receive $1,500 each.

Director General of JRF Enaam Al Barrishi stressed the foundation's commitment to enhance the role of beneficiaries by finding opportunities to establish viable enterprises that contribute to local and national economic development.