AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday approved the establishment of a development zone spanning 13,000 dunums of state-owned land in the Abu Amoud Al Sharqi area of Ma’an Governorate.

 

Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani said during a press conference following a Cabinet session held in Ma’an that the zone will host three strategic industrial projects for the production of phosphoric acid, purified phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid.

 

The Jordan Phosphate Mines Company will serve as the master developer of the zone, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

Momani, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the decision is part of government efforts to stimulate investment in Ma’an and the southern region, support local development and create employment opportunities.

 

Momani also announced incentives for Al Rawda Industrial Estate in the Ma’an Development Zone to enhance its investment competitiveness, attract capital and create jobs.

 

Under the measures, the Ministry of Labour will implement the support mechanism of the Productive Branches Programme to promote local employment at newly established factories in Al Rawda Industrial City.

 

The ministry will cover 50 per cent of the minimum wage for Jordanian workers at the factories, in addition to JD25 per month towards Social Security contributions and JD25 for transportation allowances.

 

The measures follow the Cabinet’s approval last month of investment incentives for Al Rawda Industrial Estate similar to those offered to the Karak and Tafileh industrial cities.

 

The package includes electricity tariff subsidies from the Electricity Distribution Company, with a 75 per cent discount during the first two years of operation, 50 per cent during the following two years and 25 per cent in the fifth year.

 

It also includes incentives under the small- and medium-sized enterprise definitions adopted by the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission, as well as the electricity bill support programme operated by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation.

 

Al Rawda Industrial Estate will also be included in the Ministry of Labour’s Productive Branches Programme, providing wage subsidies, Social Security coverage or transportation allowances for three years.

 

The package also provides a 50 per cent reduction in container handling fees at the Port of Aqaba for exports originating from Al Rawda Industrial City for three years.

 

Land prices at the industrial city have been reduced from JD15 to JD7.5 per square metre for plots exceeding 20 dunums, up to a maximum area of 120 dunums.

 

Momani outlined the government’s development plans for Ma’an Governorate across several sectors and responded to media questions.

 

In a separate decision, the Cabinet terminated the services of three members of the Board of Commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority: Vice President Shaker Adwan, Commissioner for Reserve and Tourism Management Yazan Mahadin and Board Member Fatima Hilalat.