Chairing a meeting for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) commissioners council, King Abdullah expressed satisfaction with development in Aqaba.

Emphasising the importance of working to transform the port city into a regional economic, tourist and financial hub, King Abdullah called for more efforts to attract investments by developing comprehensive, scientifically studied proposals able to convince investors of the feasibility of investing in the almost decade-old economic free zone.

The King also stressed the need to provide Aqaba residents with better services and to work according to clear plans to improve living standards and basic services as well as infrastructure.

He said there should be an advisory committee from the private sector in Aqaba in order to update the ASEZA council on investors' needs, speed up achievements and overcome obstacles facing investments in the Red Sea city.

King Abdullah was briefed by ASEZA Chief Commissioner Mohammad Saqer on the authority's achievements in attracting investments as well as its efforts to involve local community in the development process.

Saqer said that the ASEZA strategic plan envisions attracting $6 billion in investments during the first years of its establishment but ASEZA's achievements exceeded expectations, attracting projects valued at $18 billion.