Amman, Aug. 4 (Petra) — Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher
Abul Samen on Tuesday inaugurated the 14th Jordan Construction Forum,
organized by the Jordanian Construction Contractors Association
(JCCA), alongside the opening of the 19th International Exhibition
for Building Technology and Engineering Industries (Jordan Build
2026) at the Jordan International Exhibition Center (JIEC) at Mecca
Mall in Amman.

The opening ceremony was attended by official Arab and foreign
delegations, diplomats, government officials, and representatives of
the public and private sectors, reflecting the forum’s growing
regional and international standing as a platform for knowledge
exchange and investment promotion in the construction industry.

Abul Samen said the forum provides an important platform for experts,
policymakers, and public- and private-sector representatives to
exchange expertise and showcase the latest technologies and
innovations in construction, thereby strengthening regional
cooperation and supporting the sector’s development.

He described the construction sector as one of the pillars of
Jordan’s economy, highlighting its role in promoting sustainable
development, creating jobs, attracting investment, and enhancing
infrastructure. He stressed the need to keep pace with global
advances in modern construction, digital transformation, artificial
intelligence, and green building to improve the sector’s efficiency
and competitiveness.

The minister said the Ministry of Public Works and Housing remains
committed to strengthening partnerships with the Contractors
Association and other national institutions by updating legislation
and regulations, supporting innovation, and raising quality and
safety standards in line with international best practices.

He also commended the JCCA, the organizers, sponsors, speakers, and
participants for hosting the event, expressing hope that its
discussions would produce practical recommendations to advance the
construction sector at both the national and regional levels.

JCCA President Fouad Al-Duwairi said the forum has evolved into a
strategic platform for shaping the future of the construction sector
in Jordan and the wider region, rather than serving merely as an
annual event.

He said the next phase requires bold decisions, stronger
public-private partnerships, accelerated digital transformation, and
the adoption of advanced artificial intelligence and sustainable
construction technologies to enhance the competitiveness of Jordanian
companies in regional and international markets.

Al-Duwairi noted that the contracting sector is one of the country’s
largest economic drivers, generating direct and indirect employment
while supporting dozens of related industries and services. He added
that strengthening the capabilities of Jordanian contractors,
investing in human capital and modern technology, and expanding
access to foreign markets remain key priorities for the association.

He said the association has continued in recent years to improve the
legislative environment, strengthen the position of Jordanian
contractors, enhance workforce skills, and expand cooperation with
national and international institutions, contributing to higher
project quality and increased competitiveness.

According to Al-Duwairi, this year’s forum focuses on strategic
issues including legislation, construction technology, artificial
intelligence, digital transformation, green building, reconstruction,
vocational training, arbitration and dispute resolution, and
public-private partnerships, with the aim of developing a
comprehensive vision for the sector.

He also highlighted construction waste recycling as a promising
national initiative, saying Jordan could recycle construction debris
for reuse while exporting its expertise in the field through
Jordanian contractors to neighboring countries. Such efforts, he
said, would support the circular economy, promote sustainability, and
create new investment opportunities.

Al-Duwairi called on the Ministry of Local Administration, the
Greater Amman Municipality, and municipalities across the Kingdom to
establish dedicated sites for receiving, sorting, processing, and
recycling construction waste. He noted that international experience
has demonstrated the environmental and economic benefits of such
projects, including reducing illegal dumping, conserving natural
resources, lowering construction costs, and supplying recycled
materials for roads and infrastructure.

The forum features specialized sessions on the future of construction
and technology, modern building methods, green construction,
rehabilitation and structural safety, the circular economy and
reconstruction, artificial intelligence applications in engineering
and contracting, mining, vocational training and professional
regulation, and the role of the Contractors Association in advancing
the sector.

On the sidelines of the forum, Abul Samen also inaugurated the 19th
Jordan Build 2026 Exhibition, which features broad participation from
local, regional, and international companies.

//Petra// AF