AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said on Monday that holding Cabinet sessions in governorates is not a “symbolic gesture but a strategic move to accelerate development, ensure effective execution of government programmes, and strengthen local accountability.”

Chairing a Cabinet session in Tafila, the first of its kind to be held in the southern governorate, Hassan said, “This is not a procedural step, but a necessary tool to ensure fast implementation, clear local priorities, and effective oversight of government performance at the local level.”

The session is part of a broader government push to institutionalize development efforts and partner with local bodies, a Prime Ministry statement said.

“We are here to establish a framework for cooperation with local councils based on achieving results for all key projects and priorities,” Hassan said. “This is our duty and a mandate from His Majesty the King, who continues to emphasise its importance.”

The prime minister announced that more Cabinet sessions and field visits to the governorate will follow, underlying the government's commitment to working directly with communities. “National resilience starts at the grassroots level and is strengthened when we unite around the goal of keeping Jordan strong, dignified, and forward-looking.”

He also unveiled plans to launch large-scale investment projects this year across key sectors, including water, energy, rail, infrastructure, transport, and housing. These initiatives, to be implemented over the next four years, aim to boost economic growth, create job opportunities, and enhance the competitiveness of Jordan’s industrial and productive sectors, the statement said.

“These are essential projects for the success of economic modernisation and are among our top priorities this year,” Hassan said.

The prime minister said that the government will support the expansion of industrial zones in Tafileh to attract investment and generate employment.

Hassan also cited his recent visit to Jerash Garment Manufacturing Company in Al Hasa in Tafileh, a Royal Initiative project, confirming plans to expand one of its production branches, potentially creating 500 new jobs over the next two years.

He also highlighted the strategic importance of the recently launched expansion project of the Arab Potash Company, calling it one of the most significant mining initiatives in the coming period. He emphasised the need to train young people in southern governorates for future employment opportunities in this sector.

He also emphasised Tafila’s diverse natural and cultural attractions, including Dana Nature Reserve and Sela archaeological village, saying these sites represent “untapped tourism potential that the government aims to promote both locally and internationally.”

“The government plans to fast-track the construction of an environmental park and rehabilitate several tourist sites, including heritage village trails. Road infrastructure, particularly the vital Tafila-Karak (King’s Highway), will also be upgraded to support tourism,” he said.

Hassan announced projects worth JD25 million over the next two years to improve water supply in the governorate, including rehabilitating pumping stations, upgrading water networks, and constructing two new transmission lines in Qadisiyah and Irhab.

He also said that the government will also invest in education and healthcare infrastructure in Tafila, with new schools and the renovation of existing schools and health centers planned for 2025–2027.

To strengthen the agricultural sector, the prime minister said the government has already allocated JD2.3 million this year for agricultural lending programmes, with the same amount planned for 2026, in addition to a JD1 million to be dedicated to enhancing women’s economic participation in agriculture.