H.E. Dr. Tareq Abu Ghazaleh:
- The amended Investment Environment Regulation marks a new phase for development and industrial zones by making services more flexible and efficient.
- The Ministry remains committed to supporting and empowering development zones to enhance investment performance and improve service quality.
- A fast-track process has been introduced to issue construction permits and occupancy permits in development and industrial cities within approximately 72 hours.
- The "Licence Subject to Compliance" model is a modern regulatory concept that balances investment facilitation and the immediate commencement of operations while ensuring compliance with licensing requirements.
- The Minister of Investment called on development cities to strengthen community partnerships, support local communities, and engage with the media to showcase achievements and success stories.
Minister of Investment, H.E. Dr. Tareq Abu Ghazaleh, affirmed that the Ministry remains committed to supporting and empowering development zones and strengthening coordination with their developers to enhance investment performance, improve the quality of services provided to investors, and increase the competitiveness of these zones, in line with the objectives of Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision.
His remarks came during the Ministry's second quarterly coordination meeting for 2026 with developers of development zones, which was held to review the latest developments, discuss key regulatory amendments, present the results of developers' performance assessments, and exchange expertise and success stories among zone developers.
Dr. Abu Ghazaleh stated that the Ministry is keen to hold these meetings regularly as part of its approach to continuously monitor the performance of development and free zones, align efforts with their developers, discuss challenges and opportunities, and build upon stakeholders' feedback to further improve the investment environment and enhance the quality of services provided to investors.
He added that the recent amendments to the Investment Environment Regulation represent a significant regulatory milestone that will bring about a tangible transformation in the business environment within development and industrial zones. The amendments simplify procedures, re-engineer workflows, and significantly reduce the time required to obtain approvals and permits, thereby creating a more flexible and efficient investment environment, strengthening Jordan's competitiveness, and enhancing its attractiveness to both domestic and foreign investment.
Dr. Abu Ghazaleh explained that, for the first time among regulatory authorities, the Ministry has introduced a fast-track procedure for issuing construction permits and occupancy permits within development and free zones. Under the new process, complete applications can be processed in as little as 72 hours following the re-engineering of procedures and the reduction of multiple committee reviews and approval stages. This initiative reduces bureaucracy, enhances regulatory efficiency, and accelerates the transition of investment projects from approval to implementation.
He further noted that the amended Regulation introduces the concept of "Licence Subject to Compliance", a modern regulatory framework adopted by the Ministry that allows investors to commence operations based on the principle of self-compliance while maintaining post-licensing regulatory oversight. This reflects a shift towards a more flexible and efficient regulatory approach that strikes an appropriate balance between facilitating investment and ensuring compliance with legal and licensing requirements.
The Minister emphasised that these reforms constitute a genuine driver for enhancing the competitiveness of development and free zones by providing a faster, more efficient, and more flexible business environment. This will further strengthen Jordan's investment appeal, improve its standing in relevant international indices, and enable zone developers to market and promote their zones under a more advanced and investor-responsive regulatory framework.
Dr. Abu Ghazaleh also urged developers of development and free zones to strengthen their role in serving local communities by maintaining continuous engagement with surrounding communities, building effective partnerships, and enhancing cooperation with media outlets to highlight achievements, initiatives, and success stories. Such efforts, he noted, reflect the economic and developmental impact of these zones and reinforce investor confidence.
The Ministry also presented the results of the second-quarter performance evaluation of development and free zone developers as part of its institutional approach to performance measurement, transparency, and continuous improvement. The assessment aims to enhance operational efficiency, improve the quality of investor services, and strengthen the competitiveness of development and free zones.
The meeting also featured a presentation by the King Hussein Business Park on its "Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Development" initiative, highlighting it as a leading model for integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into the development and management of development zones. The initiative also includes community responsibility programmes targeting young people, reinforcing the concept of sustainable development and highlighting the economic and developmental role of development zones in supporting local communities.