Zarqa, Oct 21 (Petra) – Zarqa Free Zone increasingly establishes itself as "a vital strategic economic pillar" with an impact on the flow of goods into both the local market and countries across the region, according to officials.
The growth in commercial activity recorded by the zone since the start of the year highlights the government’s efforts to foster an attractive investment climate that bolsters the zone’s commercial and industrial infrastructure, facilitates the movement of goods, and enhances overall economic activity, they said.
Zarqa Free Zone indicators underscore its pivotal role within the regional and international trading ecosystem, said Abdul Hamid Al-Gharaibeh, Director General of Jordan Free and Development Zones Group.
He noted the zone’s capacity to attract investments and create a business environment backing commercial, industrial, and logistical activities.
The Group constantly develops infrastructure, enhances the efficiency of services to investors, expands digital transformation, and automates procedures, he pointed out.
These efforts aim to simplify business operations, improve operational efficiency, and bolster the competitiveness of Jordan’s free zones, enabling them to keep pace with economic shifts and market demands, he added.
The next phase requires leveraging existing resources to attract high-quality investments and broaden the scope of economic activities, thereby boosting Jordan as a regional hub for trade, re-export, and logistics, while supporting economic growth and job creation, said Al-Gharaibeh.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of the free zone at Queen Alia International Airport as an aerial gateway for export-oriented industries, particularly for high-value, precision, food, pharmaceutical, and electronic goods, benefiting from its proximity to air cargo facilities and its role in facilitating re-exports to regional and global markets.
Zarqa Free Zone is a cornerstone of the international trade ecosystem and regional supply chains, said Fares Hamoudeh, President of the Zarqa Chamber of Industry.
The total trade volume recorded in the zone has reached JD2.789 billion since the start of the year, underscoring its significance to trade activity both in the Kingdom and across the region, said Hamoudeh.
The importance of the Zarqa free zone transcends commercial activity as it hosts leading factories across various sectors, notably in food production and engineering that export to a wide range of Arab and international markets, he said.
This places it as a catalyst for national economic growth and a platform for industrial exports, he said.
The growth in investment contracts and trade volume, whether destined for the local market or intended for re-export, demonstrates the Zarqa Free Zone’s resilience and an ability to maintain operations despite regional and international challenges, such as supply chain disruptions and regional tensions, Hamoudeh pointed out.
He added that the shifting dynamics offer new opportunities for industrial and commercial firms to boost their presence and expand operations in the future.
Ayman Hanandeh, head of the Zarqa Chamber of Commerce committee, said re-exports reached about JD58 million in September, compared to about JD38 million in the same month last year.
During this period, the Chamber, along with its office located within the Free Zone, issued 568 certificates of origin, covering a total value of 57,994,297 dinars, he said.
Hanandeh said automobiles and automotive accessories topped re-exported goods, followed by construction materials, pharmaceuticals, food products, apparel, and electrical and electronic appliances.
//Petra//SS
