His Majesty King Abdullah visited on Thursday the Ministry of Industry and Trade and stressed the need to draw up a unified strategic investment plan within a specific and well-defined time frame in order to attract more investments to the Kingdom and ease related procedures.

King Abdullah indicated that higher investment volumes will help achieve "our aspirations" in providing more work opportunities, combating poverty and unemployment and ameliorating citizens' standard of living.

During the visit, the King called for reconsidering and improving legislations regulating investments.

The King highlighted the role of the Free Trade Agreement signed with the US in enhancing the national economy.

In stressing the necessity to provide investors with all services they need, His Majesty called for giving greater attention to the Qualifying Industrial Zones and urged that problems facing these zones be resolved.

During the visit, Industry and Trade Minister Ahmad Hindawi briefed His Majesty the King on the domestic and external promotion plan noting that a data system programme would enable the ministry to follow up on investments in Jordan and abroad. He outlined the present investment situation in the country and spoke about means to overcome investment challenges in order to achieve the King's vision of transferring Jordan into a destination for direct foreign investment.