Traders in the city center raise their issues before the ACC Board

07/09/2023

Traders in the city center raise their issues before the ACC Board

 

Traders in the center of the capital presented to the Board of Directors of the Amman Chamber of Commerce many challenges and issues facing them, most notably the stalls spread along the streets and entrances to commercial markets.

They pointed out during the regular meeting of the Amman Chamber of Commerce that the spread of random stalls has negative repercussions on the commercial sector and the environmental, health and traffic reality, calling for the necessity of providing suitable alternative places for their owners.

The traders called for increasing the services that some streets in the region need, such as lighting, establishing public facilities such as public restrooms, and enhancing cleaning services in markets and around tourist sites.

During the meeting, which was held at the Al-Hussein Cultural Center in the Greater Amman Municipality building, they highlighted the importance of providing waiting seats and umbrellas in some markets in a civilized manner that contributes to attracting shoppers, tourists and the elderly.

They called for an increase in the number of foot security patrols and security points, and the reorganization of some streets to allow the vehicles of market visitors to be lined up, and the allocation of places for the purposes of loading and unloading goods in some streets, to avoid being exposed to traffic violations, stressing that traffic solutions in the center of the capital must serve and take into account the requirements of everyone.

They pointed out that the central area of the capital includes a number of archaeological sites, such as the Roman amphitheater, the Citadel Mountain, and the archaeological site of Sabil al-Huriyat, pointing out the need to pay attention, develop and improve the environment surrounding these sites, and exploit them to attract more tourists to visit the area.

 

The traders proposed the possibility of conducting a study to close some streets in the region to car traffic, and allocate them to pedestrian traffic only, similar to some streets in city centers in brotherly and friendly countries, which will contribute to attracting citizens and tourists to these streets and stimulating commercial activity.

He called on traders to reconsider the unfair exemptions for postal parcels, demanding the issuance of legislation and regulations that apply and govern this trade, and that postal parcels be made equal with merchant imports from the taxes imposed on the one hand, and that postal parcels be controlled and subjected to all the procedures and checks to which goods imported by traders and importers are subjected.

In turn, Chamber Chairman Khalil Haj Tawfiq confirmed that ACC is following up on the issues, challenges and concerns facing traders in the central area of the capital, and listening to the comments and suggestions of traders that contribute to reviving the region and revitalizing the commercial movement in it, as it is the commercial and tourist heart of the capital.

He explained that the Chamber seeks, through a series of field meetings it holds with the commercial and service sector in Amman and by geographical regions, to identify the challenges and problems facing the sector throughout the capital.

He stated that solving the problems and challenges facing traders in the center of the capital is a priority for the Chamber’s Board of Directors to restore commercial activity to the region as it was before, pointing out that the downtown is considered the economic, commercial and tourist center of Amman, in light of the diversity of shops, old restaurants and markets.

Haj Tawfiq confirmed the chamber’s readiness to hold events, activities and festivals in coordination with traders in the region in a number of streets that contribute to attracting shoppers, tourists and citizens, which will reflect on commercial activity and preserve the downtown area as a vital and effective commercial center.

 

During the meeting, which was attended by the Vice-Chairmen of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, Nabil Al-Khatib and Bahjat Hamdan, and members of the Board of Directors, Khattab Al-Banna, Alaa Al-Din Deiraniyeh, and Amjad Al-Suwailimeen, who is also a member of the Amman Municipality Council, and a number of representatives of the commercial sectors in the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and the heads of unions and employers’ associations, it was agreed to form a committee. It represents traders in the central area of the capital to follow up on the issues they face with the relevant authorities.