Prime Ministry Announces Economic Incentives for Agricultural Businesses in Karak

KARAK: The Prime Ministry has announced a new initiative to bolster agricultural industries by establishing a development zone in Ghor Al-Mazra"a and Al-Haditha in Karak, which includes significant incentives such as subsidised electricity for small and medium businesses. According to Jordan News Agency, the decision was made during a meeting held by the Prime Ministry on Tuesday. The development zone's focus will be on enhancing the agricultural sector's productivity and sustainability. The approved incentives aimed at supporting this sector include subsidized electricity prices specifically tailored for small and medium-sized industrial businesses. This move is part of a broader productive branches programme that falls under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour. The incentives extend beyond electricity subsidies. They also include financial support for local workers, either by paying their salaries or a part of them through the National Employment Programme or other related programmes. Additionally, there is a provision for supporting the cost of handling containers at the container port. Goods exported through the port of Aqaba will see a 50% subsidy on these costs, funded by the Industrial Support and Development Fund or through programmes provided by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation, effective for three years. In additional developments, the Council of Ministers also ratified the administrative organisation bylaw for the Department of Statistics for 2024, aimed at establishing a robust organisational structure for the department. Furthermore, the Food Security Council bylaw for 2024 has been amended to include the Director General of the Department of Statistics as a member, enhancing the council's data-driven approach to food security. The session also saw the approval of a cooperation memo with Italy focused on cybersecurity, aiming to build technical expertise, facilitate information exchange, and increase awareness in combating cyber threats. A memorandum of understanding was also s igned with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration, focusing on standardization, conformity assessment, and accreditation in trade practices.