Royal initiative: Issawi opens cooperative development projects in northern Badia

AMMAN — In implementation of Royal directives, Royal Court Chief Youssef Al Issawi on Sunday attended the opening of the first phase of a Royal initiative meant to activate the role of the cooperative sector in the development process.

The initial phase focused on the development of five productive projects operated by cooperative associations in the northern Badia region of Mafraq Governorate, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

This pioneering initiative aims to promote sustainable development in local communities, improve living standards, create employment opportunities, raise awareness of the significance of cooperative work, and foster its developmental role. By maximising the economic and social impact, the Royal initiative seeks to establish a robust foundation for inclusive growth and prosperity.

The initiative, the first of its kind  that will later include the other Badia regions, also aims to promote sustainable development in local communities.

During his visit to the project sites, Issawi, who is also head of the follow-up committee for the implementation of Royal initiatives, received briefings from the administrative heads of the beneficiary associations. 

The projects included the development of a dairy factory, an agricultural nursery, a beekeeping project, a dried tomato manufacturing project, and a hydroponic agriculture project.

The inaugurated projects have created more than 30 new job opportunities and generated income for the families of cooperative association members, totalling 290 families, in addition to supporting five needy families in the local community. 

These projects were implemented through agreements recently signed in the Royal Hashemite Court, with four of them in partnership with the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia and the fifth with the Jordan River Foundation.

The Royal Initiative is implemented in partnership with the Jordan Cooperative Corporation, serving as the official umbrella for cooperative associations, the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia, and the Jordan River Foundation.

The National Agricultural Research Centre provides technical support for the implementation of agricultural projects. The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation's Centre for Productivity Enhancement conducts economic feasibility studies for the projects. The Royal Hashemite Court's Management of Royal Initiatives oversees the coordination with relevant entities in the implementation of the initiative's projects.