Irbid, Sept. 16 (Petra) — The Irbid branch of the Jordan Engineers
Association (JEA) and the Irbid Chamber of Commerce agreed on
Wednesday to form a joint working group to spur economic development,
boost local investment, and tackle stalled infrastructure projects in
the northern governorate.

During a bilateral meeting, head of the JEA Irbid Branch Mahmoud
Rababah and president of the Irbid Chamber of Commerce Mohammad
Al-Shoha discussed strategies to deepen cooperation between the
engineering and commercial sectors to stimulate the local business
environment.

Rababah proposed establishing the “Irbid Governorate Investment
Advisory Council,” a body that would bring together representatives
from the economic, engineering, industrial, municipal, banking, and
academic sectors, alongside private investors. The proposed council
aims to identify high-priority investment opportunities, conduct
feasibility studies on stalled developments, and streamline
regulatory hurdles facing investors.

He also highlighted the need to support young engineers and recent
graduates through specialized training programs aligned with local
market demand, calling on both organizations to establish a joint
task force to draft a clear timetable for priority initiatives.

Al-Shoha outlined key urban infrastructure initiatives currently
monitored by the chamber, including the redevelopment of the downtown
central market, the auto-park municipal parking project, and the Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) system. He also emphasized the importance of
optimizing idle commercial land plots in downtown Irbid to revitalize
trade and business mobility.

Both officials agreed to roll out joint professional development
programs aimed at upskilling young professionals and aligning
educational output with evolving labor market demands.

The discussion also addressed challenges in the housing sector and
rapid urban expansion across the governorate. The two sides
underscored the need to review and modernize local building
regulations and zoning laws to accommodate population growth while
executing practical, public-private partnership (PPP) development
projects.

//Petra// AF