Ma'an, May 31 (Petra) – Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Sunday directed that the al-Rawdah Industrial Zone in the Ma'an Development Zone be granted the same incentives and advantages available to investors in the King Hussein Bin Abdullah II Industrial City in Karak Governorate, including preferential electricity tariffs, land incentives, and employment support programs, until the zone is connected to the Arab Gas Pipeline.

The directive is intended to accelerate investment activity and enhance the competitiveness of the industrial zone.

During a visit to the Ma'an Development Zone, Hassan also stressed the importance of completing the comprehensive master plan and the technical and economic feasibility studies for the Aqaba-Ma'an Dry Port project before the end of this year.

The dry port project will be developed on an initial area of 4,000 dunams, with capacity for future expansion. The project will be implemented in phases and integrated with the Ma'an Development Zone to serve as the foundation of a new logistics, customs, and industrial hub.

The project is closely linked to the Aqaba Railway initiative, a joint Jordanian-Emirati investment valued at $2.3 billion. Construction of the railway is expected to commence following financial close in early 2027. The dry port will be connected to the railway through a 42-kilometer branch line extending from the Shidiya route.

Hassan underscored the need for close coordination among relevant ministries, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and the Ma'an Development Zone to ensure the timely implementation of the project and maximize its developmental and economic impact on Aqaba, Ma'an, and the Kingdom as a whole.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister toured Arab Falcons For Electronics Industries Company and Robina Fertilizer Company, both located within the al-Rawdah Industrial Zone.

Arab Falcons Company operates on a 12-dunam site and employs 70 workers. The facility includes four production lines dedicated to manufacturing household appliances. The company recorded exports worth JD2.7 million last year, supplying markets across several Arab countries in addition to Turkey.

Robina Fertilizer Company exported products valued at JD7 million last year, accounting for 90% of its total output. The company operates a quality-control laboratory and has an annual production capacity of 15,000 tons. Its products are exported to Arab and African markets, as well as Albania, China, and India. The company is among the beneficiaries of government support programs provided through the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply.

During the tour, Hassan directed the provision of the necessary facilitation measures to resume operations at Sanam Glass Company in Qasabat Ma'an, following government efforts to address challenges that had hindered the factory's operations in recent years. Once operational, the facility is expected to create 200 jobs.

The al-Rawdah Industrial Zone spans approximately 2,500 dunams and is designed to accommodate heavy, construction, chemical, and engineering industries of various scales. The development will feature advanced infrastructure, integrated internal and external road networks, an electricity substation, and a wastewater treatment plant. Plans also call for its future connection to the Arab Gas Pipeline.

The zone hosts a range of industrial investments and offers investors customs and tax incentives, flexible land and facility acquisition options, and access to workforce training and skills development programs, including government-supported employment initiatives.

//Petra// AJ