Free zones' exports value reached JD1.091b in 1st half of 2021— JFDZG

AMMAN — The value of exports from the Kingdom's duty-free zones amounted to JD1.091 billion in the first half of the current year, the Jordan Free and Development Zones Group (JFDZG) announced on Tuesday. 

The increase was driven by a 4 per cent increase in the exports of Queen Alia International Airport's free zone, which went up to JD131 million from the JD126 million recorded in the same period of 2020, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported, citing JFDZG data. 

Around 57 per cent of the Kingdom's total exports in the January-June period came from free zones across the Kingdom, said Amjad Wedyan, director of investment at the JFDZG, adding that the value of imports by the Kingdom's free zones stood at JD953 million in the first six months of 202.

Wedyan, during a symposium at Aal Al-Bait University on the development role of the JFDZG, noted that the trade volume of companies working under the JFDZG totalled some JD2.044 million.

The incentive packages granted at free zones contributed to increasing the attractiveness of the free zones in the industrial, commercial, service, agricultural and tourist activities that provided some 27,600 jobs in free and development zones, Petra said.

Wedyan noted that “the sound political approach”, the geographical location, the efficiency of the workforce, the availability of infrastructure, and legislative and legal factors, are among the top elements that contributed to enhancing investment in free zones.