The Chief Commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Kamel Mahadin, on Monday underlined the importance of promoting trade and economic exchange between Jordan and the Republic of Turkey in order to serve mutual interests and promote economic growth in the two countries.
Receiving a Turkish economic delegation, Mahadin said that projects worth about $100 million have been completed in ASEZA over the past two years.
He added that the Turkish economy has started occupying a prime position globally as being among the largest global economies, and should aspire for more foreign investment in Aqaba.
In this regard, Mahadin said that during the last two years, more than four visits were arranged for Turkish businessmen and investors who came to Aqaba looking for investment opportunities offered by the Special Zone. Also, a direct air link between Istanbul to Aqaba has been set up with two flights per week. The frequency will be increased to three flights every week in the coming months.
The Turkish delegation praised ASEZA related accomplishments, pointing to the Turkish businessmen's and investors' growing interest to invest in Aqaba, which has become a major trading center in the region, thanks to its strategic location and the advantage of free trade agreements that Jordan has signed with the world's economies.
Chairman of the Jordan and Aqaba Chamber of Commerce Nael Al Kabariti, who extended the invitation of the Turkish investors to Aqaba said that bilateral trade was still below optimum level , notwithstanding the a free trade agreement signed between the Kingdom and the Republic of Turkey to allow trade in goods manufactured and semi-manufactured.
Kabariti called for activating joint cooperation between the public and private sectors in Aqaba, which would draw clear and incentive based investment policies, describing the Turkish market currently as the most important market for global and Mediterranean basin trade.
The CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) Ghassan Ghanem, highlighted his company's role as a developmental arm which create a suitable developmental environment for various investments and land allocations that are commensurate with the creation of modern investment opportunities in Aqaba, in order to increase its ability to attract and resettle investments.
The CEO of Al Maabar Aqaba, Emad Kilani stressed the vitality and importance of the Marsa Zayed project in Aqaba, which is being executed by the company as part of its real estate development projects that only add to Aqaba's pro- investment environment.
Kilani pointed out to the Marsa Zayed project's work stages, including its first stage, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque project, that has already opened.
He said the Al Raha Village project, one of the most important real estate investment projects in Aqaba, will also open in the coming months.
The CEO of Aqaba Airports Company, Munir Asad, underlined the various development stages through which Aqaba's airport (also known as King Hussein International Airport) underwent, and also its open skies policy that has strengthened charter flights and positively impacted international tourism to Aqaba.
He pointed out that all airport facilities will also be further developed during the next two years.
The Turkish delegation will tomorrow visit a number of economic projects being implemented in ASEZA and will meet the managers of these projects. The delegation will also visit Aqaba International Industrial Estate , which includes a number of Turkish light industries projects.