Health, education and public transportation projects that enhance development in the governorate
The industrial city project supports investment and creates thousands of job opportunities
Economic experts confirmed that the visit of His Majesty the King to Zarqa Governorate, in light of the current regional circumstances and challenges, indicates the pivotal role of Zarqa Governorate, being a military city, in addition to its important role in industrial development.
In interviews with Al-Rai, the experts pointed out that the visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to the city of Zarqa came to enhance national cohesion and direct communication with citizens, which in turn confirms His Majesty the King’s style of direct meeting with notables and representatives of the people of Zarqa Governorate.
On Tuesday, His Majesty King Abdullah II visited Zarqa Governorate and was briefed on the industrial city project there, which is the first green and environmentally friendly industrial city in Jordan. His Majesty directed the government to accelerate the implementation of all stages of the project.
When meeting with notables and representatives of the people of Zarqa Governorate at the Hashemite University, His Majesty the King pointed out the importance of the industrial city as one of the largest industrial cities in the Kingdom, stressing the necessity of providing facilities and services to attract investments for the project.
During the communication meeting, His Majesty the King spoke about the symbolism of the city of Zarqa as a “military city,” indicating that its role is well known in the history of the Jordanian Armed Forces – the Arab Army, and that its people embody the values of chivalry, sacrifice, and love of the homeland.
His Majesty directed the government to establish a comprehensive health center to serve Zarqa Governorate and reduce the amount of pressure on health services there.
His Majesty the King touched on regional developments, saying that the past period was difficult, but Jordan is moving forward and is continuing to protect its interests despite the circumstances in the region.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan pointed out that the government is working, in accordance with the directives of His Majesty the King, to implement projects and programs to serve Zarqa Governorate and its residents.
Dr. Hassan pointed out that the government’s executive program for the next three years includes projects allocated to Zarqa whose cost is estimated at about half a billion dinars in various sectors, most notably health, education and public transportation, “which are the basic sectors to serve the citizen.”
The Prime Minister confirmed that the government has expanded the cardiac surgery department in the new Zarqa Hospital, and will work to implement the directives of His Majesty the King to establish a comprehensive health center on the grounds of the old Zarqa Hospital, pointing out that work will begin soon to establish a new building for Prince Faisal Hospital in Rusaifah at a cost of 9 million dinars.
The head of the Zarqa Chamber of Industry, Engineer Fares Hamouda, said that the visit of His Majesty the King to Zarqa Governorate, in light of the current regional circumstances and challenges, indicates the pivotal role of Zarqa Governorate, being a military city, in addition to its important role in industrial development, as the repeated visits of His Majesty the King to Zarqa contributed to accelerating achievements and directing capital and development projects, as the demands of the governorate’s notables were translated into reality, including, with regard to the development and economic aspect, the project to rehabilitate the Wadi Al-Ash Industrial Zone, under a royal initiative, Completing the infrastructure of Zarqa Industrial City, which has been a major demand of the governorate for many years.
Hamouda said that His Majesty the King began his visit to Zarqa Governorate by inspecting the industrial city and reviewing the completion of the first phase of the city, which confirms His Majesty’s focus on developing the infrastructure for qualitative industrial investment in Zarqa, which contributes to strengthening the local economy and providing more job opportunities for Jordanians.
Hamouda confirmed that His Majesty the King, while the Zarqa Governorate was honored by his visit, sent many directives and messages directed at the importance of developing the investment environment in the governorate, as His Majesty the King’s speech during his meeting with the notables and economic and civil figures of the Zarqa Governorate reflected the royal interest in the industry by focusing on the importance of attracting investments to the governorate.
Hammouda stressed that Zarqa Industrial City, with the blessing and direction of His Majesty, will be the largest industrial city in Jordan, especially after his royal directives to the government to accelerate the completion of all stages of the city’s development, in addition to providing incentives and facilities to attract investments and promote the city locally and internationally, especially since Zarqa Industrial City will be the first green and environmentally friendly city in the region, which gives it comparative advantages and enables it to attract non-traditional industrial investments in technical and digital industries, which enables it to enter new export markets such as European Union countries.
Hammouda pointed out that the strategic location of the Zarqa Industrial City increases the city’s potential in serving the Jordanian economy and integrating with its surrounding environment, especially since the city is in the middle of the densely populated areas in Zarqa and the more distant areas in Al-Hallabat, Azraq, and the city of Amra, which is located south of the industrial city, which makes it a major factor for horizontal integration with its surroundings and a contributor to local and national economic development.
He also added that Zarqa Industrial City is considered one of the largest qualitative projects in the Kingdom, which is expected to provide thousands of job opportunities and move the wheel of the national economy, in addition to its presence near three major Arab countries to which it exports, namely Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria, which qualifies it to lead industrial investment in the region.
The representative of the clothing and knitwear sector in the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Engineer Ihab Qadri, said that the visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to the Zarqa Industrial City project reflects a clear economic message that the industrial development file is still at the core of the state’s priorities, not only from the perspective of urban or investment expansion, but from the perspective of building a modern production environment capable of attracting new industries and raising the competitiveness of the national economy.
He added that the fact that the project is being proposed as the first green and environmentally friendly industrial city in Jordan, with His Majesty directing to accelerate the implementation of its stages, means that Jordan no longer views industry only with its traditional logic, but with a logic that combines production, sustainability, environmental efficiency, and attracting qualitative investment.
Qadri pointed out that this visit also reflects a trend towards decentralized development, because Zarqa has a demographic weight and a logistical and industrial location that makes it qualified to be one of the engines of growth and employment in the next stage. If the project is implemented with the required speed and efficiency, it can achieve a double effect of creating job opportunities, expanding the industrial base, attracting new investments, and linking Jordanian industry to more advanced standards in energy, environment, and production.
He pointed out that the visit should not be read only as a field follow-up, but rather as an indication that the next stage requires transforming major industrial projects into practical tools to support the vision of economic modernization and promote sustainable growth.
Economic expert Wajdi Makhamra, in his comment on the visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to the city of Zarqa, indicated that it came to enhance national cohesion and direct communication with citizens, which in turn confirms His Majesty the King’s style of direct meeting with notables and representatives of the people of Zarqa Governorate. This visit also provides symbolism to the military city, as Zarqa holds a historical status linked to the Jordanian Armed Forces, enhances national loyalty and belonging, and sends a message of unity and steadfastness in light of the current regional challenges.
He added that this visit highlights Jordan’s ability to focus on internal development and social cohesion, with an emphasis on protecting national interests despite the regional challenges that Jordan suffers from.
Makhamra pointed out that the visit of His Majesty the King reinforced a strong impetus for industrial investment, as the main focus of this visit was on the Zarqa Industrial City project, which is the first green and environmentally friendly industrial city in Jordan. His Majesty the King was briefed on this project and directed to accelerate the implementation of all its stages, and stressed the importance of promoting it locally and internationally, and providing facilities to attract investments.
Makhamra also added that the project is considered one of the largest industrial cities in Jordan, and aims to attract new investments, support the industrial sector, and provide thousands of job opportunities, which contributes to reducing unemployment in a governorate that is considered one of the largest labor governorates. The visit will also contribute to the implementation of accompanying development projects, such as establishing a comprehensive health center in Zarqa to improve services, and other projects in health, education, public transportation, and rehabilitating areas such as Rusayfa.
Makhamra also pointed out that the visit carries double connotations, as it enhances stability and social cohesion through direct communication with His Majesty the King, and represents a strategic push towards industrial investment and sustainable development, and this reflects the vision of His Majesty the King in linking political stability with economic progress, with a focus on all governorates of Jordan.
