‘JD53.3m spent on governorate development projects in 2015’

AMMAN — The governorate development programme for 2013-2016, implemented by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, provided JD53.3 million in 2015 to implement key development projects, the ministry announced on Tuesday.

The 2014 allocations funded 105 schemes worth JD830,000 to support the needs of local communities in governorates, which were identified through field visits by ministerial teams, according to a ministry statement.

In 2015, the education sector received JD17.2 million, and the healthcare sector received JD10 million, while JD8.777 million was allocated for the municipalities sector, and JD4.27 million was directed to the tourism and antiquities sector.

In terms of fund distributions at the governorate level, Tafileh received JD5.358 million, Balqa got JD4.993 million and Karak obtained JD4.887 million, followed by Maan with JD4.055 million, the statement added.

Also in 2015, the government paid field visits to the governorates on two phases to discuss governorate development programmes for the years 2016- 2018, the first of which was carried out between May 10 and June 7 by a team from the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

A ministerial team headed by Planning Minister Imad Fakhoury with the membership of ministries’ secretaries general paid the second phase of the visits between August 19 and September 6, the statement added.

The ministerial team held 12 meetings, one in each governorate, with representatives of various sectors and lawmakers from each governorate, and the discussions resulted in issuing 12 documents detailing local communities’ needs and priorities to be financed according to available funds.