Amman, November 26 (Petra) — The Council of Ministers extended Tuesday cash support to bakeries to keep bread prices from increasing and stem the impact of rising global wheat and barley prices, which affect bread production costs.
Government support for wheat in 2025 is expected to reach JOD139 million with necessary budget allocations already set aside.
The ministers approved regulations and decisions to support economic activity, enhance investment and foster an attractive business environment.
The Council will grant additional incentives to new industrial projects in the Hussein bin Abdullah Development City in Karak and Tafila Industrial City to encourage investment in the two cities, which have seen lower-than-expected demand, and to enhance their competitiveness.
To qualify for the incentives, projects must meet several conditions: products must achieve at least 40% added value from locally sourced materials and employ a minimum of 150 Jordanian workers – with at least 70% of the workforce from local communities. Money invested must be no less than JOD15 million.
Under the new incentives, qualifying projects will benefit from reduced electricity and water bills for ten consecutive years at gradual rates. They will be exempt from sales tax for the first five years of production. The government will extend support for local workers from three to five years.
The Council approved an amendment to the schedule issued under the Investment Environment Law 2022, which subjects certain production assets and requirements to a zero-rate tax.
The newly exempted materials cover construction and building supplies, household appliances, food industry components and equipment for scientific and educational research.
The exempted materials will be added to the list of fixed assets, production inputs and spare parts essential for conducting economic activities.
The Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the Expenditures, Allocations, Consumption and Exemptions Bylaw 2024.
The amendments aim to ease the tax burden by automating services and creating a unified electronic system for collecting financial data. The goal is to combat tax evasion, improve tax compliance and encourage registering with the National Electronic Billing Programme.
The Council endorsed the recommendations of the Committee for Settling Outstanding Cases between Taxpayers and the Income and Sales Tax Department to settle tax disputes with 33 companies and individuals. The Committee for Considering Outstanding Claims between Taxpayers, Violators and the Customs Department will resolve 22 cases.
The Council approved procedures to settle labour-related violations for Syrian workers who were employed before June 30, 2024, and collect work permit fees and fines for the period after July 1, 2024.
The Council approved an agreement to finance establishing five vocational schools as part of a project to develop the infrastructure of public education, in cooperation with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
Under the agreement, JOD30 million will be earmarked to build five vocational schools in Karak, Amman, Zarqa, Ajloun and Irbid.
The Council approved a JOD26 million grant agreement with UNICEF to fund educational projects and address educational loss at public schools and higher education institutions.
The Council appointed Ghaith Tayeb as the Director General of the Civil Status and Passports Department.
// Petra // AK
26/11/2024 18:34:53
