logo
Al Muwaqqar Industrial Estate attracts JD10m food manufacturing investment

Al Muwaqqar Industrial Estate attracts JD10m food manufacturing investment

Jordan Times08-03-2025
The agreement, which will establish a 33-dunum facility in Al Muwaqqar Industrial Estate, is expected to create some 150 jobs during its initial operational phase (Photo courtesy of the Jordan Industrial Estates Company)
AMMAN — The Jordan Industrial Estates Company (JIEC) and Al Mithaliah Arab Company for Juice and Beverage Manufacturing on Saturday signed a JD-10 million investment deal for a new food production facility.
The agreement, which will establish a 33-dunum facility in Al Muwaqqar Industrial Estate, is expected to create some 150 jobs during its initial operational phase, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
"Jordan's industrial cities, particularly Al Muwaqqar, have become the premier destination for manufacturers looking to establish operations in the Kingdom," said JIEC Director General Omar Juwaid, who signed the agreement with Zaid Bazzaz, General Manager of the Al Mithaliah Arab Company.
Juwaid attributed this growing interest to the competitive investment environment created through tax and customs exemptions, payment facilities, and other incentives provided under Jordan's Investment Law.
"This partnership with Al Mithaliah Arab Company represents one of our most significant investments in the food sector and will showcase Jordanian product quality in markets throughout the region and beyond," Juwaid added.
Al Muwaqqar facility continues its rapid growth trajectory, attracting 26 industrial companies with investments totalling JD95 million in 2024 alone.
The industrial estate now hosts 103 companies across food manufacturing, engineering, packaging, textiles, and other sectors, with a cumulative investment of JD641 million that has generated more than 4,700 jobs.
Bazzaz described Al Mithaliah Arab Company as "a leading regional beverage manufacturer committed to developing local production capacity to serve both domestic and export markets."
"We selected Al Muwaqqar after careful evaluation of the incentives and logistics advantages that will enable us to reach global markets efficiently," he said, noting that the agreement demonstrates a shared commitment to enhancing Jordan's industrial ecosystem through modern infrastructure development.
Established in 2011, Al Muwaqqar Industrial Estate spans 2,500 dunums developed across three phases, with its most recent expansion adding 305 dunums to accommodate growing demand, according to Petra.
The facility is strategically located east of Amman near the international highway connecting Jordan with Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Reframing economic reform: A Central Bank perspective on Jordan's transformation
Reframing economic reform: A Central Bank perspective on Jordan's transformation

Ammon

time9 hours ago

  • Ammon

Reframing economic reform: A Central Bank perspective on Jordan's transformation

Raad Mahmoud Al-Tal In a rapidly evolving global economic landscape, the recent remarks by the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, Adel Sharkas, offer a clear signal that Jordan has embarked on a fundamentally new path of economic reform. The country has shifted away from reactive, short-term policy adjustments toward a proactive and strategic reform agenda, guided by the Economic Modernisation Vision. This transition has not only redefined national economic objectives but has also introduced a new set of tools and implementation mechanisms. This transformation can be understood through three interrelated pillars. First, Jordan has adopted a forward-looking approach that prioritises economic resilience in the face of external shocks. Second, macroeconomic stability has been reestablished as the cornerstone of long-term, sustainable growth. Third, the coordination between fiscal and monetary policy has evolved into a coherent, integrated framework designed to support reform over the medium and long term. Jordan's recent growth performance, averaging 2.9 per cent during 2021–2024, is not simply a rebound, it signals a structural shift. The growth trajectory has become broader-based and more externally driven, with investment contributing around 40 per cent and the external sector 38 per cent to overall growth during this period. This indicates that the economy is gradually becoming less reliant on domestic consumption and public expenditure and more rooted in productive, scalable sectors. This shift reflects the cumulative impact of structural reforms that have enhanced productivity and invested in human capital—key components of what economists refer to as potential output. In effect, Jordan is building the capacity to sustain growth without triggering inflationary pressures. On the external front, the economy has shown notable resilience. Non-traditional exports have increased their share of GDP from 16.2 per cent in 2016 to 20.9 per cent in 2024. The energy bill has been significantly reduced—now at 7 per cent of GDP—due to long-term gas agreements and a diversified energy mix. Additionally, workers' remittances, a vital source of foreign exchange, have remained strong, totaling $3.6 billion in 2024. Monetary policy has played a crucial role in this stabilization. Inflation has been contained at approximately 2 per cent in the first half of 2025, despite global price pressures. Foreign currency reserves, now exceeding $22 billion, provide more than eight months of import coverage. The decline in dollarization to 18.1 per cent further underscores growing confidence in the Jordanian dinar. The banking sector, too, has emerged as a pillar of stability and growth. Bank deposits have reached 47.7 billion dinars, while credit facilities have expanded by over 7 billion dinars since 2020. Jordan has also made significant strides in digital financial services, with digital payment volumes now equivalent to 146 per cent of GDP a reflection of improved access, efficiency, and innovation in the financial ecosystem. Importantly, the Central Bank of Jordan is no longer functioning solely as a regulator, it has become a strategic partner in the country's reform agenda. Its leadership in promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and monetary stability reflects a proactive institutional role aligned with national development priorities. Governor Sharkas's address is not just a summary of economic metrics; it is a clear statement that Jordan is gradually breaking free from its historic vulnerabilities. The country is laying the groundwork for a more resilient, self-sustaining economic model capable of withstanding future uncertainties. However, the road ahead is not without challenges. Sustaining this progress requires institutional continuity, deeper public-private collaboration, and a cultural shift toward long-term economic thinking. Ultimately, it is not just reform policies, but a broader economic mindset that will define Jordan's ability to navigate the next decade.

Central Bank of Jordan Holds Key Interest Rate Steady - Jordan News
Central Bank of Jordan Holds Key Interest Rate Steady - Jordan News

Jordan News

time12 hours ago

  • Jordan News

Central Bank of Jordan Holds Key Interest Rate Steady - Jordan News

The Central Bank of Jordan's Open Market Operations Committee has decided, during its fifth meeting of the year, to maintain the key interest rate and all other monetary policy instrument rates at their current levels without change. اضافة اعلان This decision followed a comprehensive assessment of recent economic, monetary, and financial developments both locally and internationally. Economic indicators point to the resilience and robustness of the national economy amid ongoing regional geopolitical tensions. Jordan's GDP grew by 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025, a 0.5 percentage point increase compared to the same period last year, driven by growth across nearly all economic sectors. The central bank projects overall GDP growth of 2.7% for the full year 2025, supported by improvements in both domestic and external demand. Monetary stability in the Kingdom remains strong, bolstered by foreign currency reserves exceeding $22 billion as of the end of June 2025—enough to cover 8.4 months of the country's imports of goods and services. Inflation remained stable at 2% during the first half of the year, with expectations for it to remain around 2.2% for the full year, helping preserve purchasing power and support the competitiveness of the Jordanian economy. Likewise, the banking sector continues to show solid performance, with total customer deposits increasing by 7.1% year-on-year to reach JD 48.2 billion by the end of June 2025. Credit facilities granted by banks also rose by 3.9% year-on-year, reaching approximately JD 35.5 billion. Financial soundness indicators show the Jordanian banking sector is robust, with a capital adequacy ratio of 18.0%—one of the highest in the region—and a legal liquidity ratio of 144.7%, well above the Central Bank's required 100%. Jordan's external sector continues to perform positively. Tourism revenue increased by 11.9% in the first half of 2025, reaching $3.7 billion, compared to the same period last year. Total exports grew by 8.6% during the first five months of 2025, amounting to $5.6 billion. The Central Bank of Jordan reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to closely monitoring economic, monetary, and financial developments at both the domestic and international levels and taking all necessary measures to maintain monetary and financial stability in the Kingdom. These efforts aim to ensure moderate and stable inflation rates and support sustainable economic growth.

JD 92.4 Million in Trade Exchange with Syria in Four Months - Jordan News
JD 92.4 Million in Trade Exchange with Syria in Four Months - Jordan News

Jordan News

time12 hours ago

  • Jordan News

JD 92.4 Million in Trade Exchange with Syria in Four Months - Jordan News

The volume of trade exchange between Jordan and Syria during the first four months of this year reached JD 92.4 million, including JD 72.1 million in exports and JD 20.3 million in imports, resulting in a trade balance surplus of JD 51.8 million in favor of Jordan, according to the Amman Chamber of Commerce as reported by Al-Mamlaka. اضافة اعلان The Chamber noted that Jordanian products currently showing strong export potential to the Syrian market include iron, cement, insulation materials, paints, and electrical cables. In comparison, trade between the two countries last year amounted to JD 115.9 million, with JD 55.1 million in exports and JD 60.8 million in imports, placing the trade balance in Syria's favor at that time. According to the Chamber, Jordan's exports to Syria last year totaled JD 55.076 million and included food products, chemical industries, leather, live animals, and other goods. Food industry products ranked first among exports, with a total value of JD 14.654 million—accounting for 26.6% of total exports. As for Jordan's main imports from Syria last year, they included plant products such as Aleppo pistachios and animal products such as live sheep. Total imports from Syria in 2023 amounted to JD 60.849 million.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store