ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The government is spending JD199.3 million on development programmes in Amman governorate this year, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said on Monday.

Accompanied by a government team, the minister briefed the local community and official representatives on the government’s measures to implement the Amman development programme 2016, a ministry statement said.

The minister outlined the achievements of the government following up on the development programme of the capital where the Planning Ministry, coordinating with the various partners and through available financing tools, has worked on determining the priorities in the development programme of the governorate.

Projects in Amman include the establishment of a productive branch in Jizah in cooperation with the Labour Ministry, worth JD990, 000, and the provision of JD500, 000 to be distributed as loans to unemployed graduates, in cooperation with the Development and Employment Fund (DEF), according to the minister.

He added that the government had increased financial allocations to national credit corporations for 2016-2018 to help job opportunities.

The ministry has coordinated with donors on the priorities in each governorate, Fakhoury said.

As for priority infrastructure projects, the ministry has worked with various government institutions including the General Budget Department to allocate JD5.5 million to development priorities in Amman, which was not listed in the ministries’ budgets for 2016.

Essential finance has also been made available to municipalities to establish productive projects and improve incomes.

An investment map has been presented in all governorates, including Amman, Fakhoury said, adding that feasibility studies were under way to identify the most important investment opportunities to jobs for young people in the most promising sectors such as agriculture and tourism.

Financing for the Syrian refugee crisis has been directed in line with the Jordan Response Plan, including JD53 million earmarked for the education, health sectors and sewerage sectors in 2015-2016, Fakhoury said, adding that the government would continue to urge the international community to meet its responsibilities in this area.

Also during the meeting, Hatem Habahmeh, the ministry’s governorate development department director, delivered a briefing on the progress of the Amman development programme.