Amman: The Cabinet approved on Sunday a package of investment incentives, tax exemptions, regulatory reforms, and public relief measures to boost industrial investment, support key sectors, and advance the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV).
According to Jordan News Agency, the Cabinet's strategy focuses on enhancing industrial competitiveness and attracting high-value investments. Special incentives equivalent to those provided to Karak and Tafilah Industrial Zones have been granted to the Rawda Industrial Zone in the Ma'an Development Area (MDA). Industrial investments will benefit from a five-year sliding discount on electricity rates, with an initial 75% discount for the first two years. Additionally, the area will participate in the Ministry of Labor's Productive Branches Program to support local employment.
The Cabinet introduced export incentives, such as a 50% discount on container handling fees at Aqaba Port for goods originating from Rawda and reduced land purchase prices to JD7.5 per square meter for larger plots. Similar land-price reduction incentives were extended to Madaba, Tafilah, and Salt Industrial Zones for three years.
In efforts to establish the Kingdom as a regional technology hub, the Cabinet approved sales tax and customs duty exemptions for semiconductor manufacturing inputs. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship will handle the technical evaluations for these exemptions. To strengthen the insurance sector, a draft amendment to the Policyholders and Insurance Beneficiaries Guarantee Fund Regulation for 2026 was approved, encouraging mergers among insurers.
Financial relief measures have also been implemented to alleviate economic burdens. Drivers with traffic violations before March 27 can receive a 30% discount on fines if paid within 60 days. The agricultural sector will see a 50% waiver on accumulated fines for debtors of the Jordan Cooperative Corporation if they settle their principal loan balances by year-end, with collected funds supporting new rural programs through the Cooperative Development Fund.
Additionally, the administrative structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates was updated. The changes include splitting operations and consular affairs into distinct directorates, establishing a unit for local mission staff oversight, and creating an accomplishment and compliance unit for strategic project monitoring.