Industrial Investment in Ma'an Governorate, Obstacles, Opportunities and Successful Projects

Abstract

Industrial investment is one of the most important factors that help achieving sustainable economic development. This study aims to explore the obstacles, which constrain industrial investments in Ma'an Governorate (located in south Jordan) and the incentives to promote these investments. It also aims to explore investment projects with successful future opportunities. A survey on government and private departments’ managers, individual entrepreneurs, and professionals in Ma’an Governorate was conducted for data collection. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed. Out of this number, only 186 were returned. The response rate was about 58%. One-sample t-test and descriptive statistics showed that there are obstacles facing industrial investments, on the other side it showed that there are real incentives for industrial investments. The research findings show that the Governorate of Ma'an is eligible to attract various industrial projects, which have opportunities to be highly successful in the future such as glass factories, plastics, marble, clothing, and construction materials industries. This study recommends Jordanian government to improve basic infrastructure, promote private industrial investments and exploit the opportunities in the area through directing industrial investments towards the available resources. It also recommends promoting the governorate of Ma'an through media and highlights the prospects of success in various fields of industrial investment in a positive way.

Keywords: Industrial Investment, investment obstacles, investment opportunities, future investment projects, Ma’an Governorate.