Amman, Aug. 31 (Petra) — The Jordan Academy for Government
Administration and the Higher Council for Science and Technology,
through the Scientific Research and Innovation Support Fund, signed
on Monday an agreement to support an applied research project aimed
at identifying Tafila’s most promising investment opportunities and
developing an evidence-based local investment map.

The project will assess the governorate’s comparative advantages and
investment potential in the energy, agriculture, industry and tourism
sectors, identifying areas with the strongest growth prospects and
translating available resources into viable investment opportunities
and projects.

Academy CEO Mustafa Hamarna highlighted the project’s role in
strengthening the capacity of institutions and personnel involved in
investment planning and management, particularly in analyzing and
evaluating investment opportunities and turning them into viable
projects.

He stressed the importance of basing investment decisions on data and
scientific evidence rather than general estimates, noting that this
would improve the quality of local investment planning.

Council Secretary-General Mashhour Rifai underscored the Council’s
focus on supporting applied national research with direct benefits
for society, emphasizing the role of scientific research in
developing practical solutions to national challenges and promoting
balanced development across the Kingdom’s governorates.

Fund Director Tariq Muqattash noted that the project’s support
reflects the Fund’s focus on financing research with economic and
social returns and linking research priorities to the Economic
Modernization Vision and national development priorities.

He added that the project’s impact will ultimately be measured by its
ability to generate actual investment opportunities and projects that
contribute to Tafila’s development and create jobs for local
residents.

The project is aligned with the research priorities for the next
decade recently approved by the Higher Council and is expected to
produce a methodology that can be updated and replicated in other
governorates, supporting a national, evidence-based approach to
identifying local comparative advantages and investment
opportunities.

//Petra// AJ