Jordan Times
Sunday, July 11, 2004

First research by specialised think-tank to focus on QIZs

AMMAN (JT) — A specialised think tank focussing on public policies will be inaugurated today, at the same time that it submits its first research on the external trade policies and exports activities, specially from the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ).

According to a statement released by the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST), HRH Prince Hassan Ben Talal will announce today the opening of the Jordan Centre for Public Policy Research and Dialogue, during a roundtable dialogue about the foreign trade policy.

The centre will be an independent think tank, with objectives including reinforcement of the civil society's participation in public policies and serving as a scientific research centre for issues of public interest. The research outcomes would be provided for policy makers to enhance the criteria of decision making, the statement said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Halaiqa will be heading a session focussing on the Kingdom and the region's trade agreements.

The session and the research to be presented would explain the benefits of the QIZ agreements, and the areas that need to be improved, especially increasing the hiring of Jordanian labour at the QIZs instead of the currently increasing foreign labour.

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