Minister of Investment Dr. Tareq Abu Ghazaleh affirmed that the success of development zones is not measured solely by the volume of investments attracted, but rather by their ability to generate real and sustainable developmental impact within surrounding local communities.
He called on developers of development zones to strengthen their corporate social responsibility roles, support local employment, build capacities, and improve service levels, in a manner that positively contributes to the development of local communities across the governorates.
These remarks were made during the second quarterly meeting of development and free zone developers, hosted by the Ministry of Investment, and attended by Minister of Agriculture Dr. Saeb Khreisat, along with directors of development and free zones.
During the meeting, Dr. Abu Ghazaleh emphasized the role of development zones, industrial cities, and industrial complexes as key partners in driving economic growth and development. He noted that the Ministry of Investment will continue its efforts to attract investments by improving the business environment, streamlining procedures for investors, and enabling them to benefit from incentives and advantages provided under the legislative framework, particularly within development and industrial zones and cities.
Dr. Abu Ghazaleh also pointed to the continued growth witnessed by development zones in terms of investment volumes, stressing the importance of sustaining higher growth rates and increasing employment and newly created job opportunities in line with the objectives of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision. He added that the Ministry of Investment will adopt periodic performance evaluations for development zones through follow-up mechanisms and key performance indicators to ensure the achievement of set objectives.
During the meeting, attendees listened to briefings delivered by directors and developers highlighting key opportunities and challenges, ways to enhance investment in development and free zones, as well as a review of development visions, executive plans, and future projects for each zone.
The meeting concluded with a set of decisions and recommendations aimed at strengthening coordination among relevant ministries and institutions to support development zones. Development and free zones were also urged to enhance their responsiveness to economic changes, operate in line with the specific characteristics of each zone, and strengthen cooperation and integration among them, thereby enhancing their investment attractiveness and maximizing their economic and social impact.