His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday met with the Hashemite Fund for Badia Development board of trustees and reiterated his support for the fund’s economic and social initiatives.

King Abdullah emphasized his commitment to the Badia’s development and the improvement of Badia residents’ living standards through the establishment of development projects there.

During the meeting, the King was briefed on the projects currently implemented by the fund and its future plans for the Southern, Central and Northern Badia.

The fund is working with local communities through 12 cooperative societies on several agricultural projects, Sharifa Zein Bint Nasser, the president of the fund’s board of trustees, said.

Twenty-five dunum plots of land are distributed among the societies for fodder cultivation, provided that they hire Jordanian workers, she said, adding that proceeds go to the society and the local community.

Sharifa Zein noted that the fund’s projects have provided 100 permanent and 200 seasonal job opportunities to date.

She said the main challenge facing the fund is the vast area of land under its jurisdiction, in addition to the distances between residential areas.

Established in 2003, the fund seeks to improve the socio-economic conditions in the Badia by contributing to poverty alleviation and reducing unemployment.

It utilises the Badia residents’ skills and works to build their capacities through implementing development projects, and supporting various scientific, cultural, social, sports and capacity building activities, according to the fund’s website.