Amman, July 9 (Petra) – Minister of Investment Tareq Abu Ghazaleh on Thursday said recent amendments to the Investment Environment Regulation Bylaw have reduced licensing procedures in development and free zones, allowing complete applications for construction licenses and occupancy permits to be processed within up to 72 hours.

The minister made the remarks during the ministry’s periodic coordination meeting with development zone developers for the second quarter of 2026, which reviewed operational updates, regulatory amendments, developer performance evaluation results, and success stories.

Abu Ghazaleh described the recent regulatory amendments as a major shift aimed at improving the business environment through simplifying procedures, reengineering workflows, and reducing the time required to obtain approvals and permits. He said the amendments introduced a fast-track mechanism, for the first time among regulatory authorities, for issuing construction licenses and occupancy permits inside development and free zones, enabling fully compliant applications to be completed within 72 hours.

The minister said the measure was made possible through the restructuring of procedures and the reduction of multiple committees and approval channels, which would help curb bureaucracy, improve regulatory efficiency, and accelerate the transition of investment projects from approval to implementation. He added that the amended bylaw introduced licensing based on compliance, allowing investors to begin operations under a self-compliance approach followed by post-licensing oversight.

The minister said the new approach reflects a shift toward greater regulatory flexibility and efficiency while maintaining legal compliance and ensuring an attractive investment environment.

Abu Ghazaleh said the ministry is continuing efforts to support and empower development zones, strengthen coordination with developers, improve investment performance, enhance investor services, and boost competitiveness in line with the Economic Modernization Vision.

He noted that the reforms would enhance the competitiveness of development and free zones by creating a faster, more flexible, and efficient business climate, strengthening Jordan’s investment appeal and improving its standing in international competitiveness indicators.

Abu Ghazaleh urged development and free zone developers to expand their community role through stronger engagement with local communities, effective partnerships, and enhanced communication with media outlets to showcase achievements, initiatives, and success stories.

The ministry also reviewed the second-quarter performance evaluation results of development and free zone developers as part of its institutional approach to performance measurement, transparency, and continuous improvement.

The meeting included a presentation by the King Hussein Business Park on its "Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Development" initiative, which was presented as a model for integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into the development and management of development zones.

The initiative includes corporate social responsibility programs targeting youth, supporting sustainable development, and reinforcing the economic and developmental role of development zones in serving local communities.

The meetings are held regularly as part of the ministry’s follow-up on the performance of development and free zones, addressing challenges and opportunities, and using feedback to improve the investment environment and services provided to investors.

//Petra// AO