Amman, Feb. 19 (Petra) - HRH Princess Sumaya bint Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan signed a cooperation agreement Wednesday to implement and manage the "IRADA" program for 2025, backed by a JD2.95 million funding commitment.

IRADA, a national government initiative launched by the Ministry of Planning in 2002, has been implemented by the RSS since 2006 as part of the Economic and Social Productivity Enhancement Program. The program embodies the Royal vision to address Jordan's development challenges.

Princess Sumaya emphasized that the agreement builds on IRADA's nearly 20-year track record of success under RSS management.

She highlighted the program's recent expansion to include an entrepreneurship and innovation component, initially targeting the governorates of Ajloun, Zarqa, and Aqaba.

The new component aims to empower youth to develop innovative entrepreneurial ideas addressing economic and environmental challenges, particularly in sectors aligned with the target regions' comparative advantages.

Minister Toukan reported significant achievements through IRADA's 27 centers across all governorates in the past year. The centers prepared 2,266 economic feasibility studies and supported the establishment of 1,567 projects.

The program connected 354 recent graduates with public and private sector training opportunities, issued 75 compliance certificates for various project products, and organized three entrepreneurship hackathons.

The program provides technical support services for individual projects and technical specifications for charitable associations, cooperatives, and youth clubs. It also introduces quality concepts and applications for SMEs in areas such as Global Gap, HACCP, and ISO standards, while developing a fellowship program.

Additionally, IRADA implements a food product quality control project enabling home-based businesses to develop their products, enhance marketing capabilities, and boost competitiveness through laboratory testing at RSS facilities and compliance certification.

//Petra// AA

19/02/2025 13:06:01