Amman, Aug. 3 (Petra) -- Minister of Investment Tareq Abu Ghazaleh said the Cabinet's recent decisions on industrial estates reflect the government's strategy of directing investment toward governorates while ensuring it delivers tangible benefits through job creation, economic activity and local development.

Speaking in a televised interview on Jordan TV, Abu Ghazaleh said the decision to extend investment incentives for industrial estates in Madaba, Salt and Tafileh for an additional three years is intended to give serious investment projects sufficient time to complete implementation and enter the production phase.

He noted that eligibility for the incentives is tied to actual project implementation, the employment of Jordanian workers, and the creation of industrial value added, ensuring that government support is directed to genuine and productive investments.

Abu Ghazaleh said the incentives were originally introduced to encourage investment in the three industrial estates, adding that the extension followed field assessments showing that some projects had been delayed due to market conditions, regional crises and other challenges. The move, he said, will allow viable projects to complete construction, begin production, make efficient use of industrial land, and create room for new investments.

He said the three industrial estates had attracted 105 companies with investments exceeding JD162 million by the end of June, generating more than 3,400 jobs. He added that the impact of these investments extends beyond direct factory employment to supporting sectors across the economy.

Regarding the Al Rawdah Industrial Park in Ma'an, Abu Ghazaleh said the newly approved incentive package directly implements directives issued by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan following his visit to the governorate and meetings with investors and residents.

He said the Ministry of Investment worked in coordination with relevant authorities to translate those directives into a comprehensive package that addresses key industrial investment costs, including energy, land, employment, and exports.

The package includes electricity subsidies for industrial projects over five years, covering 75% of electricity costs during the first two years of operation, 50% during the following two years and 25% in the fifth year. It also provides support for employing local workers for three years through contributions toward wages, social security payments and transportation allowances, in addition to covering 50% of container handling costs for exports shipped through Aqaba Port for three years, helping reduce production and export costs while enhancing the competitiveness of Jordanian products.

The incentives further include reducing the price of industrial land from JD15 to JD7.5 per square meter for plots exceeding 20 dunums, up to a maximum total area of 120 dunums, enabling investors to allocate more capital toward factory construction, equipment purchases and production.

Abu Ghazaleh said eligibility for the Al Rawdah incentives is subject to conditions designed to ensure serious investment, including commencing operations within the specified timeframe, achieving at least 30% local value added, and employing local residents in accordance with minimum employment requirements for each project.

He stressed that the Ministry of Investment views industrial estates as development hubs that create opportunities for residents of Jordan's governorates and support economic stability in local communities.

"The success of these decisions will ultimately be measured by the number of factories that enter production, the jobs they create, and the positive impact they have on people's lives," he said.

//Petra// AF