Maan, August 12 (Petra) His Majesty King Abdullah II, during a meeting with leading figures and representatives of Maan Governorate on Wednesday, affirmed that safeguarding national interests and upholding Jordan’s stability is the absolute priority, noting that "the land of the Nashama has nothing to fear." According to a royal court statement, during the meeting, held at Al Hussein bin Talal University, His Majesty said the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and security agencies stand ready to counter any threats to the Kingdom’s territory or airspace.
The King noted that his visit to Maan is aimed at exploring opportunities to develop local infrastructure and services, and directed the government to make this a top priority.
His Majesty also urged officials to continue field visits to serve citizens and identify their needs.
The King discussed his recent visit to the United Kingdom, aimed at boosting investment in Jordan, and emphasised the need to strengthen the national economy and build global economic partnerships.
In this context, His Majesty outlined plans for upcoming visits to several key countries, aimed at establishing new market access for Jordanian exports and attracting high-value investments.
Speaking at the outreach meeting, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said the government is moving ahead with the Aqaba-Maan Dry Port, which will serve as a logistics and industrial hub linked to the Aqaba-Shidiyeh railway project. Hassan said it will receive government support to ensure private sector viability, stressing the need to integrate Aqaba Port and the Maan Dry Port under a unified development framework.
The prime minister outlined government decisions aimed at addressing investment challenges in the Maan Development Zone, such as reducing land prices and electricity costs. He also highlighted new steps to support the revival of Petra’s tourism sector and restore it as a top global tourism destination, including hosting events to drive tourism and bolster the local economy.
Prime Minister Hassan announced that work on the first comprehensive school transportation project, connecting Maan and southern governorates, will commence at the start of the next academic year, with future expansion plans linking it to central and northern governorates. He highlighted the completion of five new schools in Maan, and ongoing work on a further six expected to be completed next year.
Regarding Maan Military Hospital, the prime minister said work on the main building has concluded, with the Royal Medical Services in the process of supplying equipment, and that it is expected to be operational next year. He added that the blood bank and outpatient clinic building at Maan Public Hospital have been completed, and construction has begun on a diabetes and endocrinology centre, at a cost of five million dinars.
For his part, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi spoke about the implementation of a number of key Royal initiatives in Maan, particularly in the education, youth, health, social development, tourism, income-generating projects, and municipal services sectors.
During the meeting, speakers outlined the governorate’s most pressing needs and challenges, and urged key upgrades in health, education, agriculture, water, transport, infrastructure, and local development, as well as support for military retirees and women’s empowerment. They also expressed their appreciation for the King’s continued support of the governorate and its people.
Prior to the meeting, His Majesty visited Al Qantara Centre for Human Resources Development and was briefed on its programmes and services, which have served around 51,000 people across Maan and the Southern Badia region.
The King toured the centre’s facilities, which include English language classrooms, a music room, and technical training labs for electronics, programming, and smart systems design.
Speaking with youth who use the centre, His Majesty heard how they are benefitting from its programmes and services, and building on their experiences for the advancement of their local communities.
Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, and Adviser to His Majesty for Tribal Affairs Kneiaan Bluwi attended the meeting at Al Hussein bin Talal University.
//Petra// AK
