AMMAN - Preparations are under way to open up the northern Governorate of Ajloun to investments in all sectors, according to officials.
Minister of Municipal Affairs Shihadeh Abu Hdeib on Sunday reiterated the importance of coordination in following up on implementation of the Ajloun Special Development Zone (ASDZ), which was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah last month.
During a meeting with Saleh Kilani, chief commissioner of the Development Zones Commission, Munir Nassar, CEO of the Ajloun Mountain Development Corporation (AMDC), and Environment Ministry Secretary General Fares Junaidi yesterday, Abu Hdeib stressed the need to take into account the area's history and heritage in regards to the zone.
"The ministry has completed the Ajloun Governorate master plan, which takes into consideration the heritage of the city while focusing on attracting investments," the minister said, adding that the ministry is cooperating with the commission and the AMDC in order to ensure that all projects include the participation of local citizens and authorities.
Abu Hdeib said that the ministry will carry out a study regarding land ownership within the governorate's borders in order to issue a comprehensive guide detailing all properties open to investment.
Echoing Abu Hdeib, Kilani said coordination is needed "at all levels" to ensure that proposed projects meet their goals while safeguarding the area's natural sites.
Junaidi, for his part, highlighted the role of Ajloun Municipality in licensing projects, noting that projects in the zone should include the establishment of a comprehensive handicrafts city in order to streamline investments.
Meanwhile, Nassar said coordination is important to avoid random development in the tourist and agricultural sectors, adding that Ajloun has "all the potential to attract substantial investments if done in a planned and organised manner".
He highlighted that the commission has identified 23 locations within the governorate suitable for development within the zone, which is expected to attract billions of dollars worth of investments and create thousands of jobs over the next 15 years.
The ASDZ entails 24 proposed tourism projects, including a 2,000-dunnum "tourism city" which will include 900 hotel rooms, restaurants and other entertainment facilities.
The tourism city is to be built with environmental considerations taken into account, particularly since Ajloun Governorate is home to a large portion of the Kingdom's limited green cover, according to officials.
The development zone is to cover more than 70 villages and includes around 280,000 dunums of forest areas, extending to Jerash and Irbid governorates.
By Hani Hazaimeh
© Jordan Times 2009