Amman, Aug. 3 (Petra) — Minister of Investment Tareq Abu Ghazaleh
said the Cabinet’s recent decisions on industrial estates reflect the
government’s strategy of directing investment toward governorates
while ensuring it delivers tangible benefits through job creation,
economic activity and local development.

Speaking in a televised interview on Jordan TV, Abu Ghazaleh said the
decision to extend investment incentives for industrial estates in
Madaba, Salt and Tafileh for an additional three years is intended to
give serious investment projects sufficient time to complete
implementation and enter the production phase.

He noted that eligibility for the incentives is tied to actual
project implementation, the employment of Jordanian workers, and the
creation of industrial value added, ensuring that government support
is directed to genuine and productive investments.

Abu Ghazaleh said the incentives were originally introduced to
encourage investment in the three industrial estates, adding that the
extension followed field assessments showing that some projects had
been delayed due to market conditions, regional crises and other
challenges. The move, he said, will allow viable projects to complete
construction, begin production, make efficient use of industrial
land, and create room for new investments.

He said the three industrial estates had attracted 105 companies with
investments exceeding JD162 million by the end of June, generating
more than 3,400 jobs. He added that the impact of these investments
extends beyond direct factory employment to supporting sectors across
the economy.

Regarding the Al Rawdah Industrial Park in Ma’an, Abu Ghazaleh said
the newly approved incentive package directly implements directives
issued by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan following his visit to the
governorate and meetings with investors and residents.

He said the Ministry of Investment worked in coordination with
relevant authorities to translate those directives into a
comprehensive package that addresses key industrial investment costs,
including energy, land, employment, and exports.

The package includes electricity subsidies for industrial projects
over five years, covering 75% of electricity costs during the first
two years of operation, 50% during the following two years and 25% in
the fifth year. It also provides support for employing local workers
for three years through contributions toward wages, social security
payments and transportation allowances, in addition to covering 50%
of container handling costs for exports shipped through Aqaba Port
for three years, helping reduce production and export costs while
enhancing the competitiveness of Jordanian products.

The incentives further include reducing the price of industrial land
from JD15 to JD7.5 per square meter for plots exceeding 20 dunums, up
to a maximum total area of 120 dunums, enabling investors to allocate
more capital toward factory construction, equipment purchases and
production.

Abu Ghazaleh said eligibility for the Al Rawdah incentives is subject
to conditions designed to ensure serious investment, including
commencing operations within the specified timeframe, achieving at
least 30% local value added, and employing local residents in
accordance with minimum employment requirements for each project.

He stressed that the Ministry of Investment views industrial estates
as development hubs that create opportunities for residents of
Jordan’s governorates and support economic stability in local
communities.

“The success of these decisions will ultimately be measured by the
number of factories that enter production, the jobs they create, and
the positive impact they have on people’s lives,” he said.

//Petra// AF