PDTRA signs JD1m loan agreement to support hard-hit projects

AMMAN — The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and Development and Employment Fund (DEF) on Wednesday signed an indirect loan agreement worth JD1 million for tourist projects in the Petra Archaeological Reserve that have contracts with the authority and were hard-hit by the pandemic.

PDTRA Chief Commissioner Suleiman Farajat and DEF Director General Mansour Wreikat signed the agreement that aims to provide the PDTRA with the sum to relend it to service providers inside the reserve, according to a PDTRA statement.

Farajat said that the authority was “greatly” affected by the pandemic. The agreement seeks to offer support to service providers affected by the pandemic, he added.

Wreikat said that the deal is part of the government’s efforts to contain the negative repercussions of the pandemic and preserve jobs. Loans range between JD5,000 and JD75,000 and target small- and medium-sized enterprises in Petra District, according to the statement.