His Majesty King Abdullah II affirmed his support to Qualified Industrial Zones QIZ being one of the basic pillars of economic growth and a mainstay to move forward to the world markets. The King also stressed the necessity to enhance performance of these zones and increase their productivity and to find effective mechanism to overcome challenges facing investors at these zones.

King Abdullah was speaking during a meeting at the Royal Court ion Tuesday with a delegation representing investors at QIZ.

The qualified industrial zones should by supplied with well-trained and well-qualified Jordanian cadres, who can develop work at these zones, King Abdullah said during the meeting, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Industry and Trade Minister Mohammad Halaiqa, Executive Director of Jordan Investment Board JIB Reem Badran and Director of the Royal Court Economic Department Mohammad Rawashdeh.

King Abdullah listened to a briefing by the delegation on the challenges facing investors in QIZ how these challenges can be better addressed.

There are 11 qualified industrial zones in Jordan employing over 21,000 Jordanian workers and have so far brought about $200 m. in investment to Jordan.

Tariff-free exports of the zones to the U.S. market stood at $650m. last year.