The place to be and grow

His Majesty King Abdullah’s tour of Al Hassan Industrial Estate should raise awareness about the role of entrepreneurs and pilot industrial projects in promoting the national economy and creating job opportunities for Jordanians.

Small businesses, including innovative industrial projects, are the backbone of the country’s economic future.

Al Hassan Industrial Estate is affiliated with the Jordan Innovation Centres; the two work together to help the industrial base of the country move forward.

This is how other industrial countries started their long path towards industrialisation, and this is what Jordan aims to do as well.

The King’s visit to the site highlights its importance.

It should encourage many other small industries to follow suit and spring roots in the country.

The Kingdom has done a lot in this direction and most of the production of our small businesses and industries has successfully found markets, both domestically and in neighbouring countries.

This is how Jordan can become self reliant and gradually free itself of the need for foreign aid and support.

The country is witnessing high rates of poverty and unemployment. The best way to combat these is to build a strong national base for industrialisation, the kind that is competitive, particularly in international markets.

Jordan has made significant inroads in this direction, due in part to the several free trade agreements with major industrial countries, including the US, Canada, EU and some Arab states.

The more Jordan produces — of excellent quality, no less — the more it can benefit from the favourable trade agreements it enjoys.