This volume of investments reflects the importance of continuing to work on attracting new projects, enhancing the investment environment, and linking available opportunities with the needs of the governorate's residents, which contributes to expanding the production base and opening new horizons for job seekers, in addition to strengthening the partnership between official authorities and the private sector.
In the context of supporting projects, the spokesperson for the Development and Employment Fund, Saad Al-Hadid, said that the volume of funding provided during the period from the first of January until
July 31, 2026, reached 668,508 dinars, benefiting 99 projects and contributing to the provision of 146 job opportunities.
These figures highlight the role of funding in empowering project owners to launch or develop their businesses, and enhancing their ability to provide job opportunities in their local communities, in addition to stimulating economic movement through small projects that constitute one of the important tools in confronting unemployment and improving income levels.
For his part, the Director General of the "Erada" program, affiliated with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Engineer Sami Al-Olimi, confirmed that the initiative supports owners of entrepreneurial ideas and projects, and enhances opportunities for innovation and growth through an integrated system of consulting, training, technical, and marketing services.
He explained to "$" that the initiative, which was launched by the Ministry through the Development Initiatives Funding Unit and is managed and implemented by the Royal Scientific Society, provides services for preparing economic feasibility studies, guidance, counseling, training, and specialized consultations to help project owners develop their ideas and turn them into applicable and sustainable projects. He added that the entrepreneurship and innovation component, since its launch in 2024, has contributed to the implementation of 9 hackathons in a number of the Kingdom's governorates, which allowed participants to develop their ideas and build innovative models and solutions, in addition to providing support in the fields of intellectual property, patents, trademarks, and networking with supporting entities.
Al-Olimi pointed out that "Erada" also provides marketing opportunities through bazaars, exhibitions, and the "Yadawi" electronic platform, which helps projects reach new markets and enhance the presence of their products.
The next phase requires, according to economic experts, observers, and analysts in Mafraq Governorate, expanding the scope of funding programs, simplifying the procedures for benefiting from them, and directing support towards sectors in which Mafraq possesses competitive advantages, especially industry, agriculture, logistics services, and entrepreneurial projects, in addition to strengthening public-private partnerships and linking funding with clear plans for employment and production.
They confirmed to "Alrai" that measuring the developmental impact of these programs depends on following up on projects after they are funded, monitoring their continuity and the job opportunities they maintain, and the extent of their contribution to improving family incomes, so as to ensure that funding and investment are transformed into tangible results that reflect on the lives of citizens and the future of development in Mafraq Governorate.
