PM highlights importance of supporting underprivileged areas

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Wednesday reiterated the importance of supporting underprivileged areas and creating more job opportunities, especially in the badia and rural areas. 

He made the remarks while visiting the Development and Employment Fund (DEF), accompanied by Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani.

At a meeting with DEF Director General Abdullah Freij, Ensour highlighted the importance of fair distribution of loans and support for women since unemployment rates are higher among females. 

Labour Minister Nidal Katamine, who is also DEF chairman, noted that the ministry will launch the third phase of the National Employment Campaign during the holy month of Ramadan, which will target the governorates with high unemployment.

Freij noted that the DEF has financed 68,000 projects with more than JD200 million since its establishment in 1991 and up till the end of 2013. 

Also on Wednesday, the premier visited the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MoICT) and called for exerting more efforts to integrate ICT in citizens’ daily lives and public administration.

At a meeting with ICT Minister Azzam Sleit, Ensour noted that since technology is expanding rapidly, Jordan must keep pace with these developments. 

Sleit said the ministry is currently working on the e-government project and the National Broadband Network project. 

MoICT Secretary General Nader Thneibat noted that the ministry initially referred a JD22-million tender for the southern region, and a JD23-million tender for the central region.