JD213.101m earmarked for Karak development — Fakhoury

AMMAN — Public expenditure on the Karak Governorate development programme between 2016 and 2018 is expected to stand at around JD213.101 million, Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury said Monday.

At a meeting with representatives of various sectors in the governorate, some 140km south of Amman, Fakhoury said the estimated cost of development projects for 2016 is JD66.746 million, while it stands at JD68.763 million for 2017, and JD77.592 million for 2018, according to a ministry statement.

Stressing that the development programme should take the challenges facing the governorate into consideration, the minister said these problems include having three poverty pockets in the governorate — Ghour Al Safi, Mujib and Ghour Al Mazraa districts — in addition to having a high rate of unemployment which stands at 12.6 per cent in Karak compared with 11.9 per cent nationwide.

Fakhoury also highlighted the government’s commitment to adopting the outcomes of the 2016-2018 Karak development programme.

As a southern governorate affected by the Syrian refugee influx, Fakhoury said around $3.57 million in funds has been approved in the Jordan Response Plan for projects in Karak, adding the ministry is still contacting the international community to urge donors to contribute further to alleviate the refugee burden.

To benefit from investment opportunities in Karak, according to the investment map for the southern governorates, he said the government will cooperate with funds and microfinance institutions to direct their funding towards these potential investments.

The ministry will also work with the Jordan Investment Commission to promote these opportunities and draw in investors, Fakhoury said, highlighting plans to raise young people’s awareness of microfinance institutions and means to obtain funding from them.

Also speaking at the meeting — which brought together lawmakers, local community leaders and representatives of the youth, women’s and private sectors —  Karak Governor Abdullah Al Khattab stressed the need to focus on economic development first and foremost, since it is the way to establish a modern state.

He noted that comprehensive development can only be achieved with the participation of all components of society.