AMMAN — An official source at the
Ministry of Investment has said that the proposed “Jordan Gate” project is a private free
zone undertaking that will be set up near the northeastern town of Al-Mashari.
اضافة اعلان
The idea of an
industrial park dates back to 1998; it is a project to be run by the private
sector. Currently there are two working
factories belonging to the private sector at the site, the source was quoted as
saying by Hala News.
In a press
statement on Monday, the source said that the project was never completed,
having hit a roadblock on the Israeli side.
According to
him, the media reports about recent announcements by Israeli officials may be
an initial step toward completing the project, but “we are waiting to know more
details about it through official channels”.
On Monday, The
Jerusalem Post said that Jordan and Israel finalized plans to revive the Jordan
Gate project during Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s visit to Amman last
week. It added that former prime minister Naftali Bennett had put the project
on hold, after Jordan’s prime minister praised Palestinians “who assaulted
Israelis in April”.
According to statements made by the Israeli government in recent years, the project is estimated to cost about $59 million.
The project
includes an already-constructed bridge between the Jordanian and Israeli sides
of the park. Israel wishes to come up with medium- and long-term plans to
attract business to the proposed industrial zone.
“This is an
initiative that will bring employment to both countries, will advance our
diplomatic and economic relations, and will deepen the peace and friendship
between the two countries,” Lapid was quoted as saying.
“It will allow
Israeli and
Jordanian entrepreneurs and business people to communicate
directly. It will create shared initiatives for trade, technology and local
industry.”
The decision
about the project came during an Israeli government Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
According to
statements made by the Israeli government in recent years, the project is
estimated to cost about $59 million.
It will include
Israeli and Jordanian factories on the Jordanian side of the park, while a
logistics wing and a base will be built on the Israeli side for transferring
goods out of Israeli ports on the Mediterranean Sea, Al Jazeera reported.
Some 700 dunums have been
allocated in Jordan for the project, and about 245 dunums on the Israeli side.
Read more Business
Jordan News