His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, on Monday met with key figures from Jordan’s southern governorates at Al Husseiniya Palace.

During the meeting, which covered a number of domestic concerns, King Abdullah commended Jordanian tribes and noted the agricultural potential of lands in the southern region, according to a Royal Court statement.

Stressing the importance of investing in agriculture, His Majesty said an agricultural map is being developed to identify arable lands and available water resources.

The King said agricultural projects will be implemented in cooperation with local communities to ensure they benefit from these investments, which would boost food security and reduce poverty and unemployment.

Noting the potential of involving the private sector in agricultural investments, His Majesty also stressed the importance of harnessing Jordanian capabilities to support agriculture in the Kingdom.

Turning to the security campaign against unlicensed firearms, the King noted the importance of upholding the rule of law and holding to account those who put people’s lives in harm’s way.

Speaking at the meeting, attended by a number of senior officials, Prime Minister Bisher Al Khasawneh said the higher committee drawing up the agricultural map will be meeting soon to discuss it further, noting that the goal is to enable citizens to utilise arable lands while efficiently using water resources and employing modern agricultural technologies.

Prime Minister Khasawneh added that the government is working on a package of measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on a number of sectors, especially private sector business owners and employees to protect jobs and create new opportunities.

The prime minister highlighted efforts to build the health sector’s capacities, noting that the number of beds has been doubled and work is under way to open field hospitals across Jordan.

The meeting’s attendees noted that the state marks its centennial next year, paying tribute to the sacrifices made in service of the nation.

They commended His Majesty’s vision to develop the agricultural sector, calling for attracting investments in agriculture to enhance food security.

The attendees also urged focus on mitigating the current epidemiological situation, stressing the importance of abiding by safety regulations.