King meets with Wadi Araba community members

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday urged cooperation with the local community in Wadi Araba on investments in the area to ensure direct benefits.

Speaking at a meeting with the Wadi Araba Development Company team and local community members as part of his southern region tour, King Abdullah called for a master plan for the south, drafted in partnership with all, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty also called for building the capacities of Wadi Araba youth and training them on utilising modern technology so that they would be ready to benefit from investments in the area.

The King said he would be closely following up on the implementation of plans on the ground, according to the statement.

Speaking at the meeting, Water Minister Raed Abul Saud highlighted projects by the government-owned Wadi Araba Development Company, including building Rahmah and Feidan dams, extending 350 agricultural units over an area of 7,200 dunums to benefit 640 families, and distributing 6,340 plots of land to local community members.

Also during the meeting, other speakers from the local community thanked His Majesty for his outreach efforts to hear public concerns and highlighted challenges facing Wadi Araba, while suggesting solutions.

They also commended the King’s position on the Palestinian cause and his support for the Palestinian people in seeking their just and legitimate rights, the statement said.

Also on Tuesday in Wadi Araba, His Majesty visited Rahmah Agricultural Cooperative’s farm, a project supported by the Wadi Araba Development Company that extends over 60 dunums of farmland cultivated with grapevines and palm trees.

 The King was briefed on the farm, which will be expanded to cover 100 dunums and currently benefits 290 local community members, and commended the efforts underway to administer and sustain it, according to the statement.

His Majesty stressed the need to continue these efforts and expand agricultural projects in the area, through partnership between the local community and the Wadi Araba Development Company.