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