Construction sector vital for Jordan’s economy, security — PM

AMMAN — The construction sector is not only of remarkable economic significance to the Kingdom, but is also an integral part of the security system, Prime Minster Abdullah Ensour said Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of the International Conference and Exhibition of Mass Construction, Ensour commended the move to build partnerships and boost cooperation in the construction sector in a region plagued with destruction and killing.

“The Arab world needs a great deal of construction work as the volume of destruction is great,” he said at the opening of the three-day event, organised by the Arab Contractors Union and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.

The premier called on Arab construction unions to work together to provide job opportunities for young people and engage them in the building process so they do not become occupied elsewhere. 

He highlighted the construction sector in Jordan as being “the largest and most effective”, in addition to being a catalyst for several other sectors. Nonetheless, the sector’s challenges must be addressed, a matter of priority for the government, Ensour said.

The conference and the exhibition are an embodiment of the efforts to put Jordan on the map as a regional hub for construction and engineering, according to Minister of Public Works and Housing Sami Halaseh. 

Several local, regional and international construction companies are taking part in the exhibition, which is taking place at Zara Expo Centre at the Grand Hyatt Amman Hotel.

Halaseh said the event is a chance to build bridges of communication between the private and the public sectors and for exchanging expertise, noting that the Jordan 2025 vision counts on the sector to increase its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) and to enhance development.

The minister cited Jordan’s security and stability as a key factor that enables further improvement of the sector’s performance, adding that “modern” laws and an “encouraging” investment climate are also beneficial.

Arab Contractors Union President Fahad Al Hamadi said holding the conference in Jordan is a sign of the country’s stability and its suitable environment, commending the Kingdom’s “remarkable” efforts in the field.

Through conference sessions and presentations of specialised papers, the union seeks further cooperation between Arab countries in construction, as the Middle East is one of the regions with the highest volume of construction, worth $27 trillion, Hamadi said.

He added that up to 60 per cent of investment projects in the region are in the construction sector, which constitutes around 33 per cent of the regional GDP and employs around 30 per cent of the labour force.

Speaking at the conference, Jordan Engineers Association President Majid Tabba stressed the need to facilitate the export of engineering consultation services and to promote the potential of Jordanian engineers to international and non-traditional markets, including Morocco, Kurdistan and former Soviet Union countries.

Jordanian engineers are “distinguished” in knowledge and skills, he said, noting that there are around 120,000 engineers in Jordan and 40,000 working abroad.

Tabba called for building “genuine” partnerships among Arab countries, highlighting that Jordanian engineers contributed to building in several countries in the region. 

Jordan Construction Contractors’ Association President Wael Toukan agreed with Tabba, citing the sector’s role in developing the economy and serving the public.

The Ministry of Public Works and the Jordan Housing Developers Association (JHDA) have been working on developing a draft law that regulates the housing sector to guarantee providing quality residential units at reasonable prices, JHDA President Kamal Awamleh said, noting that the volume of investments in the housing sector stands at $15 billion.