Mulki announces package of job-generation projects in Ajloun

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Saturday conducted a field visit to Ajloun where he met with representatives of various sectors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Mulki checked on the work progress of the productive units of a garment company that employs hundreds of women in the governorate, and he also checked on a project to install a chairlift, a conferences palace and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.

During the meeting with the representatives and officials, Mulki delivered the greetings of His Majesty King Abdullah to the residents of Ajloun and highlighted the previous visits of Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury, during which the latter presented the government's development programme based on the needs of each governorate. 

The premier said that the government works on meeting the demands and needs of citizens through such field visits, conducted in implementation of His Majesty's directives, which highlight the importance of direct contact with people. 

There is a package of job-generating development and infrastructure projects in the pipeline, the premier announced, adding that these projects are on the agenda of this year and 2017.

The most significant project is improving the infrastructure of the Ajloun University College, Mulki noted, adding that the allocations to establish small enterprises will be increased to address poverty and unemployment. 

Mulki said that the government would soon approve reducing the minimum portion of land ownership to two dunums instead of four, adding that the Cabinet on Sunday would discuss earmarking this year’s allocations to maintain and rehabilitate the sports complex and build a stadium.

He said the Council of Ministers would discuss securing the necessary allocations to establish a central market after necessary studies and designs have been wrapped up, in addition to building a four-star hotel next year, the designs for which are expected to be ready by the end of 2016. 

Mulki added that the chairlift plan has been reactivated after an agreement has been reached on the land that will house the project. 

The prime minister highlighted the importance of focusing on top priorities when spending is discussed, stressing in this context the importance of the public-private sector partnership. 

For his part, Labour Minister Ali Ghezawi said that Ajloun is one of the poorest governorates and in the Kingdom has one of the highest joblessness rates, noting that it hosts 4,000 guest workers. 

Ghezawi said the government had allocated JD25 million for crowd-employment programmes and JD20 million as loans to social security retirees. 

Ajloun has five productive units, each providing 200 jobs, the minister said, adding that more land plots were allocated to build more units. 

Fakhoury said that his ministry focuses on the governorate’s environmental, agricultural and tourism identity, noting that feasibility studies are being funded to promote and attract projects.

Municipalities will be supported with JD800,000 to develop productive projects to address poverty and unemployment, the minister said, adding that the ministry was also working to secure grants to governorates affected by the Syrian refugee crisis, including $8 million earmarked for health, education and sewerage upgrades.

The other Cabinet members took turn to outline the efforts of their ministries in supporting the governorate and their future plans to improve its tourism sector, living conditions, education, transportation and access to technology. 

The governorate is inhabited by around 167,000 residents, Ajloun Governor Falah Sweilmyein, said citing the 2015 population census, adding that 51 per cent of the population are males. 

He said that the poverty ratio in the governorate stands at 25.6 per cent and unemployment reached 14.2 per cent.

Attendees at the meeting said that the five municipalities in Ajloun suffer from debts amounting up to a JD30 million.

Their demands included increasing Ajloun municipality’s share of fuel revenues, establishing a crafts zone and a slaughterhouse, to protect the environment and preserve public safety.