Aqaba, June 30 (Petra) – The Aqaba Chamber of Commerce hosted a coordination meeting on Monday to advance the “Towards a Plastic-Free Aqaba” campaign, held in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The meeting aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of environmental protection and to encourage a gradual shift toward using paper and cloth bags as eco-friendly alternatives to harmful plastic bags.

Deputy Chairman of the Aqaba Chamber of Commerce, Ahmad Salem Al-Kisawani, said the campaign, in its various phases, is designed to increase environmental awareness among the local community and educate citizens on the health and ecological risks of plastic bags particularly their impact on marine life and food safety. He emphasized the campaign’s goal of motivating all community sectors to reduce plastic use and embrace sustainable alternatives.

Al-Kisawani noted that the chamber has created eight WhatsApp groups representing different commercial sectors across the city to facilitate communication and relay feedback and concerns to the chamber’s board for follow-up with the relevant authorities. He underscored the board’s commitment to addressing every issue raised in pursuit of practical solutions.

Representing ASEZA, Muhannad Al-Nuaimat explained that the campaign is part of the authority’s 2024–2028 strategic plan aimed at achieving a “Green and Plastic-Free Aqaba” by fostering an integrated ecosystem that protects human health and the environment.

He added that the campaign targets manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, with the goal of enforcing environmental legislation. Al-Nuaimat affirmed the authority’s ongoing efforts to instill a community-based environmental culture that reduces plastic consumption and promotes the use of biodegradable paper and cloth alternatives.

He also highlighted the vital role played by civil society organizations and environmental stakeholders in Aqaba, which are working to reinforce sustainability principles and implement policies to curb excessive plastic bag usage.

Mamoun Irshaidat, the UNDP representative, said the initiative aligns with ASEZA’s environmental protection framework and supports efforts to make Aqaba a city that relies on paper bags. He noted that the shift offers significant environmental benefits, especially for the coastal and marine ecosystem, while also easing economic burdens on the commercial sector.

//Petra// AF
30/06/2025 21:09:59