AMMAN - Amman Mayor Omar Maani on Saturday said the recently announced Phase III of the Master Plan will provide land for the capital's industrial sector for the next 30 years.
The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) last week unveiled the third phase of the Master Plan, which designates three zoned areas for light, medium and "prestige" industries.
The three selected zones include the Sahab-Muwaqqar, Qastal and Jiza industrial areas, according to Master Plan Director Samir Sobhi.
GAM will announce the designated areas for heavy industries by next month, the mayor said.
Meanwhile, Maani told reporters during a press conference yesterday that most of the new industrial projects will focus on southeastern Amman. "This area will witness random development in its industrial zones," Maani said.
Phase III, the "Interim Industrial Land Policy (ILP)", will be geared towards attracting industrial projects into the capital.
Previous phases of the Master Plan, released earlier this year, focused on designating areas for high-rise buildings in the capital and the corridor intensification strategy.
ILP has made the industrial sector a priority, as industry creates more jobs compared to other sectors, Maani said.
"Studies show that employment opportunities in the coming years will be generated by the industrial sector, which would increase demand on industrial land to 15,000 dunums," he added.
With the ILP, the land designated for industrial use in the capital will increase to 40,000 dunums, Maani said, adding that this by far meets the expected demand.
Maintaining balance between residential and industrial areas is another challenge that the ILP has tackled successfully, Maani added.
During yesterday's press conference, President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry Hatem Halawani said planning and organising land usage is a government responsibility.
He added that such measures avoid unjustified increases in land prices, particularly in the industrial sector.
GAM will unveil the "Airport Road Land Use Concept Plan and Residential Compound Policy" next month, the mayor said.
By Khalid Neimat
© Jordan Times 2007
