Among wide Arab, regional, and international attendance, the Rural Economic Enhancement Forum was launched today, Sunday. The forum is organized by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) through the Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project (REGEP), funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Dutch government, and will continue until Monday.

Speakers and experts participates in this Forum on key topics related to rural development, including representatives from The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), the Union for the Mediterranean, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (Sharaka) in Oman, the Ajman Center for Entrepreneurship, the Qatar Development Fund, the Saudi Fund for Development, Monsha'at Saudi Arabia, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Dutch Embassy, The Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (“ISSF”) , Cities and Villages Development Bank, the Ministry of Environment, the Central Bank of Jordan, the Agricultural Credit Corporation, the Business Development Center(BDC), the Association of Banks in Jordan, the National Agricultural Research Centre, the Development and Employment Fund, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Tourism, and others.

On the first day, the forum sessions- which were an open dialogue between local and international partners- discussed the role of regional and international partnerships in rural development, entrepreneurial visions in rural communities in terms of technology and innovation, and access to financing.

The second and final day's sessions, scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, will cover gender issues and the role of youth in rural empowerment, sustainable investment in agriculture and climate change, ways to achieve sustainable food security, and agricultural marketing and tourism strategies.

Over the two days, the forum will present a comprehensive view of policy approaches related to rural development, linking them with international best practices, and reaching knowledge, experience exchange and idea sharing at both international and national levels. This includes relevant Jordanian ministries and institutions, regional and international donors, civil society organizations, local and international experts, the Central Bank of Jordan, and financing institutions.

Mr. Abdelfattah Al-Kayed, JEDCO's CEO, stated that the forum represents an initial step to focus on rural development and promote innovation projects in these areas. This is crucial for achieving economic balance and creating job opportunities, which positively impacts the future of youth and women in rural communities and the national economy in general.

Mr. Al-Kayed, during the opening ceremony representing Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply H.E Youssef Al-Shamali, highlighted that rural development is a challenge that involves not only the government and institutions but also individuals and partners committed to the luxury and stability of the community.

He emphasized that empowering rural entrepreneurs and developing innovation go hand in hand with leading entrepreneurship, where innovation serves as a crucial driver for investing in green technologies, providing a competitive edge in terms of production quality and export ability.

He noted the government's efforts, in collaboration with its partners, to provide farmers with access to best practices related to agricultural systems, both technical and managerial, to enhance their ability to face challenges. This includes encouraging research and development at universities and research centers, involving Jordanian agricultural sector components in regional and international exhibitions, launching support programs for entrepreneurs, and adopting initiatives and programs with partners aimed at enhancing modern agricultural capacities and preparing infrastructure for international certification.

He added that the forum aims to find common solutions, exchange experiences, and launch initiatives related to crucial issues and contribute to the development and enhancement of the rural economy in our countries.

Mr. Al-Kayed also mentioned that one of the challenges the government is working on solving it ,is related to rural project financing, where accessing fund is a major challenge for project owners in terms of securing and facilitating available funding sources, providing guarantees to financing parties, and managing financial risks and liquidation.

Kon Vin Kessel, Second Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Dutch Embassy in Amman, stated that the Dutch strategy in Jordan until 2026 focuses on sustainable refugee hosting, and contribution to sustainable and inclusive economic growth, protecting human rights and civil domain, water issues, climate change, and agriculture.

He added that his country aims to contribute to sustainable water supply management, develop water-efficient agricultural practices, and make the agricultural sector competitive in water use and climate friendliness.

Kessel noted that the Dutch government supports the Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project (REGEP), in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), the Jordan River Foundation, and the Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruit and Vegetables (JEPA), which, in turn, supports farmers in enhancing their production and accessing markets fairly.

Mrs. Dina Saleh, Regional Director for the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia, and Europe at IFAD, stated that the fund is a UN agency and it is a financial institution investing in sustainable rural development by identifying and understanding its needs, increasing productivity, utilizing key resources, and facilitating access to facilitated finance.

She emphasized that regional and international partnerships are the only way to build strategic unions that help facing several challenges, especially during crises.

Zaid Al-Nsour, Economic Development and Employment Program Manager, explained that the idea of the forum came from the achievements and success stories implemented by JEDCO through the program since 2015.

He added that "the program is one of the most promising initiatives and programs fulfilled by JEDCO, aligning with many strategies related to poverty reduction, water scarcity response in Jordan, national climate policy, and food security strategy."

He highlighted that the program provides technical support by building the capacities of agricultural producers through the adoption of modern agricultural techniques to increase productivity and income, in addition to developing entrepreneurial projects and assessing the quality and safety of food products through support for obtaining quality certifications and good agricultural practices.