Momeni: 120 developmental projects in Ma'an Governorate at a cost of a quarter billion dinars

The Minister of Government Communication and the official spokesperson for the government, Dr. Mohammad Al-Huseini Al-Momeni, revealed that the completion rate of about 120 projects launched by the Council of Ministers last year in Ma'an Governorate has reached 81%, with a value of about a quarter billion dinars.

Momeni said during a press conference held after the Council of Ministers session in Ma'an Governorate, that the session comes within the second phase of the Council of Ministers sessions in the governorates, which began in Karak, then Irbid and Zarqa, reaching Ma'an, indicating that the government will continue to hold these sessions successively in all governorates of the Kingdom.

Momeni added that the Prime Minister had conducted five field tours in Ma'an Governorate over the past period, and that the Council of Ministers session in Ma'an comes as a continuation and follow-up of many tours and projects that have been worked on and followed up.

Momeni explained that the Council of Ministers session does not only include presenting what was proposed during the previous session, but also includes following up on the progress and completion rates of the projects, along with discussing the next stage.

Momeni clarified that the government will continue to follow up on the projects in Ma'an Governorate, work on determining the budgets associated with them and their implementation plans, and provide the necessary allocations for them, affirming that the Council of Ministers session addressed the regional situations and escalation in the region, indicating that Jordan, thanks to its institutions and capabilities, is able to deal with various regional repercussions.

Momeni noted that the sectoral plans are in place and are being updated continuously, with the aim of reducing the impact of regional situations and escalation on the Kingdom, its economy, the lives of citizens, and the general course of life.

Regarding the development region in Ma'an Governorate, Momeni revealed that the government has put in place a number of incentives to attract investments to the region, including reducing land prices by 50%, and supporting electricity prices for five years, at a rate of 75% during the first two years, 50% during the next two years, and 25% during the fifth year.

Momeni explained that the incentives also include supporting the wages of local workers, as the Ministry of Labor will pay 50% of the minimum wage to support the employment of Jordanian workers in factories established in the Rawdah Industrial City, in addition to a monthly allowance of 25 dinars for social security subscription, and another 25 dinars for transportation allowance.

Momeni touched upon the need to rehabilitate and develop the entrance to Ma'an City, and remove works and appearances that are not appropriate for the main entrance of the city, stressing the need to deal with the entrance in a professional and expert manner, in a way that reflects the status of the city and is appropriate for it and its people.

Momeni noted that if the approval is obtained to support the cost of handling containers in Aqaba Port, the government will bear 50% of the fees for handling the products produced by the industrial city and exported through Aqaba Port.

Momeni talked about focusing on the industrial sector, indicating that the Rawdah Industrial Area will contribute to attracting industries, pointing to the importance of Aqaba Port and "Amman Land," which has been talked about for many years.

He explained that work is ongoing on the Aqaba-Shidya-Ma'an railway project, expecting to lay the foundation stone for the project soon, along with studies to connect Ma'an with the Karama Crossing, which will contribute to facilitating external trade movement.

Momeni pointed out that the military hospital project in Ma'an is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, while the Prime Minister inaugurated the expansion of the blood bank and outpatient clinics at Ma'an Hospital.

Momeni explained that the value of water projects in Ma'an Governorate amounts to about 50 million dinars, in addition to other projects worth about 26 million dinars included in the current year's budget, indicating that some of these projects will be completed by the end of 2026.

Regarding the tourism sector in the governorate, Momeni confirmed that the government is working on a package of decisions to address the challenges facing the archaeological city of Petra and the tourism sector.

Momeni explained that a park will be established in Ma'an Governorate as part of 6 parks announced by the government to be established in a number of governorates, to be completed by 2027, along with the rehabilitation of King Abdullah II Tourist Park, and the modernization of Ma'an Model Park and equipping it with the necessary facilities.

He pointed to the approval of a comprehensive and immediate rehabilitation of the Teachers' Club building in Ma'an, which will be completed within three months; as part of a plan to improve the infrastructure of teachers' clubs in various governorates at a cost of 3 million dinars, and the establishment of new buildings in some governorates where they are not available, within the framework of the keenness to support teachers and provide services to them in the governorates.

Momeni said that the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of a development zone on an area of 13,000 dunums owned by the state treasury in the Abu Ammoud Al-Sharq area of Ma'an Governorate, to establish 3 strategic industrial projects for the production of phosphoric acid, pure phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid, with the Jordanian Phosphate Mines Company being the main developer of the region.

He affirmed that these projects will have a direct impact on the development of Ma'an Governorate, employment of manpower, and strengthening the national economy.

Momeni added that the Council of Ministers approved the unification of the registration age for imported tractors (trucks), allowing the import of those that have been manufactured for less than 5 years before the clearance year, and allowing the clearance, registration, and licensing of tractors that have been manufactured for less than 8 years before the clearance year, according to the mechanism agreed upon between the Land Transport Regulatory Authority, the Customs Department, and the Drivers' and Vehicles Licensing Administration.

Momeni continued that the Council of Ministers approved the exemption of the "UNRWA" Agency from the prices of textbooks for the current academic year, amounting to more than 3.3 million dinars; as a continuation of supporting the agency and enabling it to continue providing its basic and essential services to its beneficiaries, the Palestinian refugees on the land of the Kingdom.

According to Momeni, the Council of Ministers approved the reasons for the draft system of conditions for granting licenses to practice activities in the gas sector, their terms, procedures for issuance, renewal, modification, transfer, and cancellation for 2026; in preparation for sending it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau to complete the procedures for its approval according to the rules.

The Council of Ministers also approved the sustainable financing plan for the National Strategy for Municipal Solid Waste Management for the years 2026-2041, and tasked the Ministries of Local Administration and Environment with taking the necessary measures to implement it in coordination with the concerned authorities according to the rules.

Momeni stressed that the government is keen to follow up on the completion of all the projects it has launched, in a way that ensures their implementation in the best manner, and provides the expected services to citizens in all parts of the governorate.

Momeni expected that the package of projects being implemented and to be implemented in Ma'an will contribute to making a qualitative leap at the economic and service levels, especially since Ma'an has a strategic location and is close to Aqaba Port, in addition to being a link with neighboring countries.