Irbid, Aug. 11 (Petra) The Irbid Shopping and Entertainment
Exhibition and Carnival, and the Productive Kitchens and Handicrafts
Festival, opened in Irbid on Tuesday, featuring around 50 booths
showcasing national companies, factories, products, handicrafts,
home-based businesses, and productive kitchens.

Organized by Afaq Group Events Management, the events will run
through Aug. 15 in partnership with the Irbid Development Corporation
and the Irbid Culture Directorate and in cooperation with the Amman
and Irbid Chambers of Industry, the Irbid Chamber of Commerce, the
Greater Irbid Municipality and Bani Obeid Municipality.

The events bring shopping and promotion of national products together
with cultural and entertainment activities, supporting commercial,
economic, and tourism activity in the city and giving companies,
factories, craftspeople, and productive households a chance to
showcase their products and connect directly with consumers.

Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply Secretary-General Dana
Al-Zoubi, who opened the exhibition in the presence of Irbid
Governorate Council Committee Chairman Munther Bataineh, Irbid
Chamber of Commerce President Mohammad Al-Shouha and community
representatives, said such exhibitions and events represented an
important opportunity to stimulate commercial, economic, and tourism
activity, encourage small and medium-sized enterprises, and
strengthen the presence of Jordanian products in domestic markets.

She stressed the importance of continuing efforts to strengthen
Jordanian products and enhance their competitiveness, saying the
current stage required concerted efforts by government institutions,
civil society, and the private sector to support the national economy
and local products amid the economic challenges and crises affecting
the region.

Al-Zoubi said national exports grew by more than 5.5% during the
first five months of this year compared with the same period last
year, despite economic challenges and regional conditions affecting
trade and markets.

She praised Afaq Group for organizing the exhibition and carnival, as
well as the efforts of the various supporting and participating
institutions, stressing the importance of continuing such initiatives
to give producers opportunities to promote their products, reach
consumers, and boost economic activity in the governorates.

Afaq Group Director-General Khaldoun Nasser said the exhibition and
carnival brought together shopping, economic activity, tourism,
entertainment, culture, and heritage at a single venue, providing
companies, factories, and national producers with a direct
opportunity to engage with the public, promote their products, and
sell them to consumers.

The exhibition features around 50 booths, as well as display tables
and dedicated spaces for handicrafts, handmade products, productive
households and kitchens, along with traditional and heritage products
and foods characteristic of northern Jordan, Nasser said.

The event offers visitors an experience that goes beyond shopping to
include an introduction to aspects of local heritage and products, he
added.

Nasser said organizers had sought to make the exhibition and carnival
more than simply a commercial or entertainment event, turning it into
a contribution to stimulating economic and tourism activity in Irbid
and attracting visitors to the city, which would benefit markets,
restaurants, cafes, and various commercial and service sectors.

Irbid Chamber of Industry President Hani Abu Hassan said Irbid had
diverse advantages and resources that made it an attractive
environment for various economic and investment activities, including
industry, agriculture, and tourism.

He stressed the importance of investing in and promoting these assets
through specialized events and exhibitions.

Such exhibitions contribute to strengthening economic and commercial
activity and provide a platform for promoting national products and
industries while helping attract investment and showcase
opportunities available in Irbid Governorate, supporting economic
development and broadening the number of beneficiaries from
commercial and tourism activity, Abu Hassan said.

He said Jordanian products had demonstrated their ability to compete
in global markets thanks to their quality, noting that Jordanian
factories were committed to international standards and
specifications, which had strengthened the presence of national
products in overseas markets and enhanced their competitiveness.

The Irbid Shopping and Entertainment Exhibition and Carnival features
a diverse program of artistic, entertainment, and cultural
activities, along with booths showcasing national products,
handicrafts, and traditional foods.

The event is open to visitors free of charge daily from 4 p.m. to 10
p.m.

//Petra// AF