Amman, June 28 (Petra) – The Cabinet Saturday sanctioned a series of significant economic and policy measures, signaling sweeping governmental action across vital sectors.

In a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, the government acted to alleviate the impact of current regional conditions on the tourism sector.

It approved a decision to subsidize the interest costs on new bank loans for tourism agencies and hotels (excluding five-star establishments).

This support, channeled through commercial banks and aligned with the Central Bank of Jordan's economic financing framework, is designed to stabilize financial liquidity, guarantee salary continuity, and sustain social security contributions for their workforce.

Eligibility for this government-backed scheme requires the new loans to be exclusively allocated to covering three months of employee salaries, wages, or social security contributions. These loans are repayable over 24 months, including a six-month grace period from financing disbursement. Applications for this initiative will be accepted until the end of September.

Beyond tourism aid, the Cabinet endorsed a strategic amendment to the Food Security Council System for 2025. This revision will reconstitute the council under the direct chairmanship of the Prime Minister, a shift from the previous ministerial leadership. This elevated oversight reflects the council's critical strategic importance and cross-ministerial mandate, aligning with national directives to bolster food security through streamlined policy-making and enhanced inter-agency coordination.

The Cabinet also ratified an amendment to the New Plant Varieties Registration System for 2025. This reform aims to streamline registration procedures for new plant varieties, allowing applications, data, and declarations to be submitted via registered mail or designated electronic channels. The update ensures the system's compliance with the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) convention.

Finally, the Cabinet formally endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Jordanian Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) and Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency. This agreement facilitates vital cooperation and knowledge transfer in halal product quality assurance, aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.

//Petra// AA

28/06/2025 18:45:57