The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) is the financially and administratively autonomous institution responsible for the management, regulation, and the development of the

Aqaba Aqaba ( , ; , ) is the only coastal city in Jordan and the largest and most populous city on the Gulf of Aqaba. Situated in southernmost Jordan, Aqaba is the administrative center of the Aqaba Governorate. The city had a population of 148, ...

Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).

History

The Aqaba

special economic zone A special economic zone (SEZ) is an area in which the business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country. SEZs are located within a country's national borders, and their aims include increasing trade balance, employment, increas ...

or ASEZA () was inaugurated in 2001 as an initiative by the government of

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

to ensure that

’s commercial and cultural prominence develops to be a regional hub for trade, tourism, and culture. Six ministerial-level commissioners, each responsible for a major area of regulatory or operational activity, govern the ASEZ. ASEZA is a service–oriented organization offering one-stop assistance covering all investment needs.

Mission

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) is the autonomous ASEZ management, regulation, and development institution. It offers integrated services and assistance to every concerned business and ensures all governing laws and regulations of ASEZ are made public.

Master plan

In 2002, ASEZA adopted a comprehensive master plan that encompasses development activities in the Zone for the promotion of portal, urban, tourist, commercial, academic, and other investment sectors. Developed planning already covers five special areas: Aqaba Town *

Modern architecture Modern architecture, also called modernist architecture, or the modern movement, is an architectural movement and style that was prominent in the 20th century, between the earlier Art Deco and later postmodern movements. Modern architectur ...

is to complement the old city traditional elements, thus creating a unique cultural environment, and which is more, new opportunities for investors especially in the tourist, commercial, and residential areas of development Port Areas *The Aqaba Port Areas include the Main Port, the Container Port and the Southern Industrial Port. According to the Master Plan, a common location—the Main Port—is established to merge the three existing port area activities into one expanded entertainment, residential, hotel and cruises service center. Coral Coastal Zone *The Coral Coastal Zone is undergoing a wide residential, hotel and entertainment facilities construction process for the development of an advanced community resort, with respect to relative beach and coral reef protection requirements. Southern Industrial Zone *The Zone extends along the Southern Industrial Zone Port and consists of reorganized and expanded current sites. New transportation systems, including a

railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...

terminal, will serve the developed area. Airport Industrial Zone *Ideal for industrial facilities, permitted land uses in the Zone include logistics and distribution, high-tech industries, warehousing, light manufacturing, showrooms, office complexes and airport-related business activities. The Master Plan aims at preserving natural resources within the construction frame. It comprises several zones and reserves for the protection of Aqaba's cultural,

archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

, historical and natural heritage and diversity. Areas include: Five environmental zones, coral reserves, archaeological reserves, natural area reserves and a Beach Protection Zone.

Aqaba International Laboratories

Aqaba International Laboratories - BEN HAYYAN was established under the EU funded programme “IS-ASEZA”, to support ASEZA in guiding the Aqaba Special Economic Zone towards becoming a dynamic and attractive engine of economic growth, enhancing public health and streamlining trade in the zone, Jordan and the region. The Ben Hayyan Aqaba International Laboratories offer analytical and advisory services for food and environment, operating under two interdependent units: the

food safety Food safety (or food hygiene) is used as a scientific method/discipline describing handling, food processing, preparation, and food storage, storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. The occurrence of two or more cases of a simi ...

and practical environmental science laboratories.

Aqaba Development Corporation

Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) was launched by ASEZA and the Government of Jordan at the beginning of 2004, ADC owns Aqaba's seaport,

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

and strategic parcels of land as well as the development and management rights for these assets in addition to key infrastructure and utilities. The Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) was launched with the objective of unlocking the potential of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone by accelerating its economic growth and development.

Chief Commissioners

As of 2019, Aqaba Special Economic Zone has had 8 chief commissioners: * June 2016 – present:

Nasser Shraideh Nasser Sultan Shraideh (born 1967) is the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Public Sector Modernisation. He was appointed as minister on 27 October 2022. Previously he had served as Minister of Plannin ...

* Nov 2014 - Jun 2016:

Hani Mulki Hani Fawzi Mulki (also known as Hani Mulki; ; '; born 15 October 1951) is a Jordanian politician who held several ministerial and diplomatic positions, and he was Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority before his design ...

* Aug 2012 - Nov 2014:

Kamel Mahadin Kamel Mahadin (Arabic: كامل محادين; born June 24, 1954) is a Jordanian architect, landscape architect, professor, author, and artist. He was the Chief Commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and was a Jordanian se ...

* 2011 - Aug 2012: Nasir Al Madadha * 2010 - 2011: Mohammed Saqer * 2007-2010:

Husni Abu Ghaida Hosni (also spelled Husni, Hosny or Housni, or Persian: حُسنی) may refer to: Places * Husni, Iran, a village in Isfahan Province Given name * Husni al-Barazi (1895-1975), Syrian politician * Hosni Mubarak (1928-2020), Egyptian politician, ...

* 2004-2007: Nader Dahabi * 2002-2004: Akel Biltaji

References

External links

ASEZA

Aqaba
{{Authority control Aqaba Economy of Jordan Divisions and subsidiaries of the prime ministry (Jordan) Special economic zones