Amman, Nov. 18 (Petra) - Environment Minister Ayman Suleiman said Monday that Jordan’s environmental framework is being reshaped to support investment and economic growth, with updated policies designed to protect natural resources without slowing business activity.

Meeting the Jordan Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, Suleiman said the ministry is shifting toward a "service-oriented, risk-based" model that accelerates procedures, clarifies requirements, and removes administrative bottlenecks. Environmental approvals, he noted, are meant to safeguard projects from future liabilities, not stand in their way.

Suleiman pointed to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone as evidence that sound environmental planning strengthens - not weakens - major industrial, tourism and service-sector projects. He said consistent impact assessments and monitoring systems have helped sustain long-term investment in the area.

The minister said the ministry is undertaking a full review of the Environment Protection Law and its regulations, including technical standards such as industrial buffer distances, many of which he said require scientific re-evaluation. He stressed that the ministry is open to private-sector proposals and that projects will receive environmental clearance whenever no material risk is identified.

On waste management, Suleiman said Jordan has significant untapped opportunities in recycling and resource recovery, adding that 2026-2027 will focus on establishing an integrated national system that treats waste as an economic resource rather than a cost. Modernising collection, transport and reuse pathways, he said, will reduce environmental pressures and open new investment and job-creation channels.

He added that the Economic Modernisation Vision sets a national path toward a green economy, with cleaner energy, improved waste systems and green industries positioned as future growth drivers. The ministry, he said, is working to ensure the regulatory environment is ready to host green investments and strengthen Jordan’s role as a regional hub.

Jordan Chamber of Commerce President Khalil al-Haj Tawfiq welcomed the ministry’s direction, calling for closer coordination, unified inspection procedures and practical guidance for businesses to meet environmental requirements. Board members also urged expanding recycling initiatives, supporting youth-run environmental enterprises and improving municipal handling of construction waste to reduce pollution.

//Petra// AA