AMMAN — The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the Creative Circular Economy Centre, the first facility of its kind in the Kingdom.

 

The ceremony was held under the patronage of ASEZA Board of Commissioners Chairman Shadi Majali, with the participation of Aqaba Governor Ayman Amaysheh, EU Representative Anna Pires, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Jordan Randa Aboul-Hosn.

 

The project is part of a broader initiative aimed at advancing the circular economy in Aqaba. It is being implemented by ASEZA in cooperation with UNDP and funded by the EU, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

 

Majali said the project reflects ASEZA’s vision of establishing a balanced development model that links economic growth with environmental sustainability while creating quality employment opportunities. He added that Aqaba is well positioned to become a leading national and regional hub for the circular and blue economies.

 

Pires said the project demonstrates the EU’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s transition towards a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

 

Aboul-Hosn said the centre would serve as an integrated platform for innovation, training and support for environmental entrepreneurship, providing a model that can be replicated across the Kingdom.

 

The centre will be built on an area of more than 5,000 square metres, with an investment exceeding JD1.2 million. It will include specialised facilities for sorting, processing, repairing and manufacturing, in addition to training spaces, environmental business incubators and renewable energy systems.

 

Aqaba currently faces growing challenges in solid waste management due to rapid population and economic growth, with around 90,000 tonnes of waste buried annually. The centre is expected to improve recovery and reuse rates and help develop a local market for recycled materials.