Irbid, Aug. 11 (Petra) The Irbid Shopping and Entertainment Exhibition and Carnival, and the Productive Kitchens and Handicrafts Festival, opened in Irbid on Tuesday, featuring around 50 booths showcasing national companies, factories, products, handicrafts, home-based businesses, and productive kitchens.
Organized by Afaq Group Events Management, the events will run through Aug. 15 in partnership with the Irbid Development Corporation and the Irbid Culture Directorate and in cooperation with the Amman and Irbid Chambers of Industry, the Irbid Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Irbid Municipality and Bani Obeid Municipality.
The events bring shopping and promotion of national products together with cultural and entertainment activities, supporting commercial, economic, and tourism activity in the city and giving companies, factories, craftspeople, and productive households a chance to showcase their products and connect directly with consumers.
Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply Secretary-General Dana Al-Zoubi, who opened the exhibition in the presence of Irbid Governorate Council Committee Chairman Munther Bataineh, Irbid Chamber of Commerce President Mohammad Al-Shouha and community representatives, said such exhibitions and events represented an important opportunity to stimulate commercial, economic, and tourism activity, encourage small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthen the presence of Jordanian products in domestic markets.
She stressed the importance of continuing efforts to strengthen Jordanian products and enhance their competitiveness, saying the current stage required concerted efforts by government institutions, civil society, and the private sector to support the national economy and local products amid the economic challenges and crises affecting the region.
Al-Zoubi said national exports grew by more than 5.5% during the first five months of this year compared with the same period last year, despite economic challenges and regional conditions affecting trade and markets.
She praised Afaq Group for organizing the exhibition and carnival, as well as the efforts of the various supporting and participating institutions, stressing the importance of continuing such initiatives to give producers opportunities to promote their products, reach consumers, and boost economic activity in the governorates.
Afaq Group Director-General Khaldoun Nasser said the exhibition and carnival brought together shopping, economic activity, tourism, entertainment, culture, and heritage at a single venue, providing companies, factories, and national producers with a direct opportunity to engage with the public, promote their products, and sell them to consumers.
The exhibition features around 50 booths, as well as display tables and dedicated spaces for handicrafts, handmade products, productive households and kitchens, along with traditional and heritage products and foods characteristic of northern Jordan, Nasser said.
The event offers visitors an experience that goes beyond shopping to include an introduction to aspects of local heritage and products, he added.
Nasser said organizers had sought to make the exhibition and carnival more than simply a commercial or entertainment event, turning it into a contribution to stimulating economic and tourism activity in Irbid and attracting visitors to the city, which would benefit markets, restaurants, cafes, and various commercial and service sectors.
Irbid Chamber of Industry President Hani Abu Hassan said Irbid had diverse advantages and resources that made it an attractive environment for various economic and investment activities, including industry, agriculture, and tourism.
He stressed the importance of investing in and promoting these assets through specialized events and exhibitions.
Such exhibitions contribute to strengthening economic and commercial activity and provide a platform for promoting national products and industries while helping attract investment and showcase opportunities available in Irbid Governorate, supporting economic development and broadening the number of beneficiaries from commercial and tourism activity, Abu Hassan said.
He said Jordanian products had demonstrated their ability to compete in global markets thanks to their quality, noting that Jordanian factories were committed to international standards and specifications, which had strengthened the presence of national products in overseas markets and enhanced their competitiveness.
The Irbid Shopping and Entertainment Exhibition and Carnival features a diverse program of artistic, entertainment, and cultural activities, along with booths showcasing national products, handicrafts, and traditional foods.
The event is open to visitors free of charge daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
//Petra// AF
