Amman: Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply, Yarub Qudah, announced a series of government measures to prepare for the upcoming month of Ramadan.
According to Jordan News Agency, Qudah revealed in a press conference on Wednesday that the government has decided to extend a decision made at the beginning of last year, which involves exempting shipping charges from customs fees and general and special sales tax for an additional three months. This decision comes as maritime shipping costs remain higher than usual due to the consequences of the Red Sea navigation crisis, aiming to reduce the costs of importing goods and minimize the impact on citizens’ prices.
The government has also decided to extend a measure implemented earlier last year, which tasks the Silos Company with providing incentivized storage prices to private sector importers of essential goods. This initiative aims to mitigate inflationary effects and positively impact the prices of goods sold to citizens.
The new prices reflect reductions of up to 40% compared to previous rates. For instance, the incentive price for refrigerated storage at the Al-Juwayda Complex is JD5,100 for 1,000 tons, down from JD8,000, and JD3,200 for 500 tons, down from JD5,200. Similar reductions apply to other storage facilities across various regions.
Qudah emphasized that the strategic reserves of various essential goods are secure and exceed the required safe levels by far. Despite significant challenges facing supply chains, including large humanitarian aid to Gaza and increased exports to Syria, the kingdom has managed to ensure an ideal supply that will last for an additional five months beyond its safe limit.
Furthermore, the ministry has intensified its monitoring efforts over the past few days and has been actively disseminating awareness messages to both consumers and suppliers. He also noted a 50% increase in container shipments to Aqaba Port in January, compared to the same month last year, with most goods being designated for Ramadan.
Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat affirmed that the agricultural sector is at its peak production, exceeding demand significantly. He pointed out that the main challenge is the surge in consumption patterns during the first week of Ramadan, which typically normalizes in the following weeks.
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply, Dana Zoubi, highlighted that preparations for Ramadan began about two months ago in collaboration with various concerned entities. She confirmed that there is a sufficient stock of goods to cover all needs and maintain safe supply periods.