Minister of Environment Dr. Ayman Suleiman announced a national initiative to distribute subsidized cloth bags instead of plastic ones, explaining that the first phase will include producing around six million bags and distributing them to Jordanian households—three bags per family—at a subsidized price not exceeding ten piasters.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking during a dialogue session held by the Jordanian Economic Forum under the title “The Contribution of the Environmental Sector in Supporting Economic Modernization Pathways”, the minister noted that revenues from these fees will be reinvested in sustainable environmental programs and nationwide cleanup campaigns.
He explained, according to the forum’s statement issued Saturday, that 10 million trees have been planted over the past ten years under the National Afforestation Project, alongside the launch of smart agriculture programs to enhance food security. He also highlighted the development of investment opportunities in the blue economy in the Gulf of Aqaba, which he described as an “untapped treasure” due to its valuable natural and biological resources.
The minister pointed out that Jordan currently benefits from only 10,000 tons out of 69,000 tons of annual electronic waste, despite its content of precious metals such as gold and silver.
He stressed that the waste sector represents “a promising economic opportunity to create green jobs,” as part of the ministry’s efforts to strengthen the concept of a circular economy and turn environmental challenges into investment opportunities.
Dr. Suleiman added that “the environment is not an obstacle to investment but rather a guarantee of its continuity,” citing the example of Aqaba’s special economic zone, where effective environmental management has contributed to safeguarding investments and reducing risks.
He affirmed that the coming phase will witness greater integration between environmental and economic policies to achieve sustainable development and preserve the future of coming generations, calling on the private sector to play an active role in implementing environmental programs.
For his part, Deputy Chairman of the Forum, Senator Issa Murad, emphasized that the forum has become a solid dialogue platform bringing together the private sector, the government, and international institutions. He noted that hosting the Minister of Environment reflects the importance of integrating the environmental dimension into economic policies, especially as global markets now require adherence to environmental standards to ensure investment sustainability.
The session concluded with a wide-ranging discussion among participants, focusing on mechanisms for Jordan to benefit from the global transition toward a green economy and the role of the private sector in supporting national environmental initiatives.
—(Petra)
