PM inspects projects in Aqaba

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) was a success story that should be further built upon to achieve even more accomplishments and attract investments that would reflect on the national economy and the local community. Ensour made the remarks as he inspected several investment and services related projects currently being implemented in the southern city of Aqaba. He was accompanied by a ministerial team, president of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Kamil Mahadeen and Aqaba Governor Fawaz Irsheidat. The prime minister also checked on the ongoing expansion work at the Aqaba Container Terminal inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah II last week and reviewed plans to develop the Aqaba Port by 2018. The port’s handling capacity stands at 1.5 million containers annually. An agreement was also signed in the presence of the prime minister to establish a port for liquefied and natural gas at a total cost of JD64 million. Ensour also laid the foundation stone of the 700-dunum Northern Trade Zone and was briefed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) Ghassan Ghanim about the project that includes laying down of services roads, and providing electricity and water network for investors at a total cost of JD12 million. At the Marsa Zayed project, the prime minister praised the project which reflected the strong ties between Jordan and the UAE. CEO of Jordan’s Al Maabar Emad Kilani reviewed various stages of the $10 billion project as well as the infrastructure work of Al Raha Village, which will be the first residential neighbourhood in Marsa Zayed. He also visited other tourism projects and factories in the city and checked on their future plans and the services they offer to the citizens.