His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday called for capitalising on the strategic location of the northeastern Mafraq Governorate and bringing investments to its King Hussein bin Talal Development Area to provide job opportunities for youth.

During a visit to King Hussein bin Talal Development Area, affiliated with the Mafraq Development Corporation, King Abdullah, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, was briefed on progress in turning the area into a logistical, industrial, and services hub.

His Majesty, also accompanied by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, stressed the importance of connecting King Hussein bin Talal Development Area—which extends over an area of 21 square kilometres and is located on the network of highways linking Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia—to the national freighting and commercial transport network.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Hneiti briefed the King on the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army’s readiness to expand the services of the military airport at the King Hussein Air College to become an international commercial airport.

His Majesty was also briefed by Transport Minister Khalid Saif on plans for the national freighting and commercial transport network.

The minister said all studies on the national railway project have been updated, and outstanding issues have been resolved.

According to the Mafraq Development Corporation, King Hussein bin Talal Development Area has attracted 47 factories, with investments worth JD270 million, and 1,003 job opportunities, with over 50 per cent going to Mafraq residents.

During a tour of the Jordanian-German Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy, located in the development area and established in 2017, the King was briefed on training programmes offered to young men and women to enable them to secure employment in the labour market.

The centre has provided training for 259 graduates since its establishment.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Khasawneh, and a number of Mafraq officials accompanied His Majesty on the visit.