Aqaba, Aug 11 (Petra) – The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) has signed 16 cooperation agreements with private-sector companies and institutions to provide 310 training opportunities for job seekers in the city.
The agreements, concluded during World Youth Week and in line with ASEZA’s 2024–2028 strategic vision, aim to empower young people and align educational outcomes with labor market needs by creating practical training environments. These settings will equip trainees with advanced technical and vocational skills tailored to the activities of participating companies and institutions, improving their prospects for securing permanent employment in the future.
Shadi Al-Majali, Chairman of ASEZA’s Board of Commissioners, said during the signing ceremony that the initiative reflects the authority’s commitment to supporting and empowering Jordanian youth by forging strategic partnerships with the private sector. He said the program delivers practical solutions that help generate real job opportunities, reduce unemployment, and bridge the gap between academic learning and market-demanded skills.
Al-Majali noted that ASEZA is targeting 900 job opportunities this year under its workplace training program, which encourages companies to host trainees and provide them with the experience needed to integrate into the labor market. Previous rounds, he said, have proven successful in enabling youth to perform specialized, modern roles that match evolving market needs.
He praised the efforts of all partner companies and institutions, as well as ASEZA’s Employment Support Directorate team, for their role in implementing and ensuring the success of the program.
Representatives of participating companies and institutions commended ASEZA’s efforts to launch the workplace training and qualification program, saying past experiences had shown its effectiveness in supplying the labor market with skilled, job-ready professionals who can directly contribute to institutional development.
They stressed that the program not only meets current corporate staffing needs but also helps build a qualified human resource base for future demands, especially in fast-growing sectors.
Tourism and Youth Commissioner Thabet Al-Nabulsi said the agreements span a broad range of key sectors, including tourism, industry, logistics, information technology, healthcare, medical laboratories, and hospitals. This diversity, he added, ensures opportunities for candidates from various fields and skill sets.
Al-Nabulsi noted that the multi-month training period offers participants exposure to real work environments, familiarizes them with their rights and responsibilities, and allows employers to assess trainees’ performance before making final hiring decisions, with ASEZA providing direct oversight.
In addition to technical training, the program includes life and interpersonal skills to boost self-confidence, adaptability, and teamwork, as well as English-language instruction to enhance competitiveness locally and regionally.
It also provides social security coverage and a wage-sharing arrangement between ASEZA and host companies during the training period. At the end of the first training month, companies will sign one-year employment contracts with trainees who meet program requirements, paving the way for job stability and full market integration.
//Petra// AF
11/08/2025 21:32:34
