Irbid, Jan. 20 (Petra) The Permanent Exhibition for Agricultural and Rural Products in Irbid Governorate represents one of the leading development projects contributing to the support of the local economy and the empowerment of productive projects, particularly those led by youth and women, by providing a permanent marketing platform to display agricultural, rural, and homemade products throughout the year.

The project, inaugurated on Tuesday by His Majesty King Abdullah II, was implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Irbid Development Corporation, and the Greater Irbid Municipality, within the Economic Modernization Vision and the framework of the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture. The foundation stone was laid in December 2022, and construction work began in April 2023.

The total cost of construction, equipment, and furnishing of the exhibition amounted to approximately JD3 million, with contributions from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Royal Hashemite Court within the framework of royal initiatives, in addition to support from national institutions and community donations and contributions.

The exhibition aims to support small farmers, rural producers, and cooperative associations, in addition to home-based productive projects, by providing a fair and sustainable marketing environment that contributes to improving income, creating job opportunities, and enhancing reliance on local products.

Executive Director of the Irbid Development Corporation and Head of the Governorate Council, Munther Bataineh, said the project represents a model of integration in vision and objectives, transforming from an idea into a tangible developmental reality, to become today a developmental, cultural, and economic landmark that enhances the presence and status of productive women. He stressed that royal support was a decisive factor in the completion and sustainability of the project.

He added that this support reflects His Majesty King Abdullah II’s interest in strengthening productive projects with a direct impact on citizens’ lives and empowering local communities, particularly in the northern governorates, by providing modern infrastructure and fair marketing opportunities for local products, in a manner that entrenches the approach of sustainable development and enhances confidence in the national economy.

Bataineh noted that the Greater Irbid Municipality donated a plot of land measuring five dunums for the establishment of the project, which was completed with a built-up area of about 4,550 square meters. The exhibition consists of three fully equipped and furnished floors, including two large halls for rural, agricultural and seasonal products, in addition to semi-permanent exhibitions for handicrafts and charity bazaars, as well as gallery wings for arts and various spaces for artistic performances.

He emphasized that the exhibition constitutes an integrated community and developmental center to host marketing festivals, exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and cultural and community events, serving primarily the governorates of the northern region and enhancing Irbid’s position as a hub for productive and developmental projects.

Visitors to the exhibition can observe many stories of success and perseverance by productive women and ambitious youth striving for the sustainability of their productive projects, which have become a source of income for many families.

Iman Abu Rabaa said she manages her productive project based on utilizing the aloe vera plant she grows in her home garden, which has many medicinal benefits, to produce health products such as soaps, aromatic oils, creams and others. She noted that the project, which began four years ago, is continuously being developed through appropriate and hygienic product presentation in order to ensure its sustainability as a source of income for her family.

Maha Al-Marashdeh, who displays her products of traditional and heritage embroidery, praised the opening of the permanent products exhibition and the royal support behind its completion, saying it will meet the needs of many owners of productive projects, especially women, by providing a fixed location and wide spaces to display and market their products in a suitable environment for both producers and shoppers.

Accessory maker Abdul Qader Samer, a young man with disabilities, expressed his ambition that the permanent exhibition, with the services it provides to project owners and its expected attraction of thousands of visitors throughout the year, will enhance opportunities for him and his peers with disabilities to market their products and motivate them to continue managing their small projects.

For her part, member of the Women’s Committee at the Irbid Development Corporation, Firdous Al-Shabbar, affirmed that the permanent exhibition represents a qualitative shift in supporting productive women and women-led projects, providing a real platform to market their products in an organized and sustainable manner.

Al-Shabbar said the exhibition contributes to economically empowering women and enhancing their participation in the labor market by providing the opportunity to display their agricultural, rural and handicraft products to a wide audience from within and outside the governorate. She noted that the project reflects a comprehensive national vision aimed at transforming small projects into productive success stories capable of competing in the local market.

The exhibition is located within King Abdullah II Gardens in Irbid on a plot of land measuring about five dunums. The total built-up area is approximately 4,500 square meters distributed over three floors. It includes exhibition halls covering 2,000 square meters, production kitchens of 400 square meters, a gift shop, a cafeteria, cold storage and dry storage warehouses, in addition to administrative offices, meeting rooms, and integrated service facilities for visitors.

//Petra// AF