His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday called for a clear strategy to bring new investments to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, thus cementing its stature as a gateway into international markets.

At a meeting with the chief commissioner and members of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) board of commissioners, attended by Prime Minister Hani Mulki, King Abdullah stressed the importance of bolstering the investment climate to generate job opportunities for Jordanians.

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone, His Majesty noted, will be given ample attention despite the challenges facing the Kingdom, calling for building on achievements and utilising Aqaba’s advantages to attract quality investments that benefit the industry and trade sectors.

The King said the new strategy for Aqaba should be implemented in accordance with the Jordan Economic Growth Plan 2018-2022, urging progress in enhancing the ease of doing business and the investment climate.

His Majesty also called for expediting the implementation of development projects by establishing new industrial estates and building the new Aqaba port.

It is also imperative to promote Aqaba as a major international tourist destination by securing regular flights to the city from major cities around the world, the King stressed.

Partnering with and reaching out to investors and the local community are key to ensuring the success of efforts to develop the Aqaba Special Economic Zone and implement projects that will benefit the people of Aqaba, His Majesty said.

The King was briefed by ASEZA Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh on plans to attract more investments to Aqaba and turn it into a major international tourist destination and a model in sustainable development.

ASEZA’s strategy for 2025 entails attracting more investments and tourists, generating job opportunities, and establishing more logistics centres to serve the region.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.

In remarks to the press, Shraideh highlighted projects underway to promote tourism and investments, noting that logistics centres will be designated as free zones to ease transit trade and re-exporting.

Also on Thursday, His Majesty visited the Aqaba International Industrial Estate (AIIE), which extends over 1.7 million square metres, and was briefed by its CEO, Sheldon Fink, on the investments it houses and the services it offers to investors.

During the visit, the King toured a number of factories at the AIIE.

In remarks to the press, Fink said the AIIE has an office in China, in a bid to attract more investments.

New investments will raise the number of job opportunities generated by the AIIE to 5,000 over the next three years, he added.

Managers of factories at the AIIE said they chose Aqaba due to the Kingdom’s stability and its free trade agreements with several countries around the world, which make it easier to export products to regional and international markets.