Where are they now?

A cursory review of the many initiatives launched in the past decade would show that the majority have suffered one of two fates: failure to launch or early death. Such state of play requires that a follow-up body be established to not only monitor outcomes, but also to establish feasibility prior to commencement. 

Let’s start for example with Aqaba. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, established in February 2001, continues to enjoy financial and administrative autonomy and is responsible for the management, organisation and development of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. Eight years ago, the folks in charge of Aqaba announced that it became a hub for foreign direct investment inflows. In 2006 alone it boasted of attracting $7 billion, well ahead of its objective of attracting $6 billion by 2020. Where did the investments go? Should we not ask who was (is) responsible for squandering the dreams?

The Ayla Plaza, Saraya Aqaba, the relocation and mechanisation of the container terminal, the redevelopment of the King Hussein International Airport, and the Arab world’s first film school, the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts (RSICA), created by the Royal Film Commission in partnership with the prestigious School of Cinematic Arts of the University of Southern California are but few of the projects that were supposed to materialise. Why did they not materialise? 

One of them, the RSICA, did materialise, it was inaugurated in September 2008 as a fully-accredited graduate school offering a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Cinematic Arts. It graduated its first class in 2010. However, in 2012, the school moved its premises to Amman and has been effectively downsized to only one class. It is doubtful that RSICA will be sustained. Imagine the size of blow this would be to the emergence of a creative economy in Jordan.

There have been many other initiatives that fizzled or somehow mortally derailed, prime among those were the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Housing City, which sits at the outskirts of Zarqa like a ghost town, and the Decent Housing for Decent Living initiative, which failed miserably. 

Yes, Aqaba was not alone.

It is absolutely abysmal that a country would come up with so many humongous projects and then forget about them or never see them to fruition. Who follows up on all the claims, ideas and initiatives? Should there not be some accountability regarding where the $7 billion of Aqaba went? Should we just forget about RSICA? I can’t and no one should. 

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