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Al-Hindawi: Aqaba translates its urban vision into smart projects in partnership with "JICA"

Amman3 min read

Al-Hindawi: Aqaba translates its urban vision into smart projects in partnership with "JICA"

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed an agreement for the "Enhancing Aqaba's Capacity as a Smart City" project, aiming to develop the city's management system, improve service efficiency, and utilize data and technology to enhance the quality of life for residents and improve the visitor experience, in line with the goals of the Economic Modernization Vision.

The Commissioner for Infrastructure and Urban Affairs at ASEZA, Dr. Al-Moatasem Al-Hindawi, said in an exclusive interview with Alrai that the project constitutes an important milestone in developing the urban work system in the city by employing technology and data to improve service efficiency and raise the level of responsiveness to the needs of residents and visitors. He pointed out that the project focuses on building institutional and technical capabilities capable of keeping pace with the rapid transformations in modern city management and enhancing the integration between urban planning and sustainable technical solutions.

Al-Hindawi added that the project, which spans four years, will contribute to translating Aqaba's planning directions into practical applications by preparing a comprehensive master plan for the smart city and implementing pilot projects in vital areas including transport, environment, energy, governance, and disaster management, alongside living, tourism, and the economy. He emphasized that the cooperation with JICA represents an extension of the partnership in preparing the Aqaba Comprehensive Urban Master Plan 2024–2040, and supports the Authority's efforts to build a more efficient and sustainable city, enhance its attractiveness for investment and tourism, and improve the quality of life within it.

The project includes developing technical and institutional capabilities, preparing a comprehensive master plan for smart city development, and implementing three pilot projects to test smart solutions and evaluate their impact on improving services and enhancing the efficiency of managing various urban sectors.

The pilot projects cover seven key areas, including governance, mobility, environment, living, tourism, economy, energy, and disaster management, allowing for the development of solutions that respond to the city's needs, support the optimal use of resources, and enhance sustainability in the management of facilities and services.

This cooperation comes as a continuation of the partnership between ASEZA and JICA in preparing the Aqaba Comprehensive Urban Master Plan 2024–2040, as the project aims to transition from planning visions to practical implementation through applications and pilot projects that contribute to developing urban performance and enhancing integration between different sectors.

ASEZA continues its efforts to develop the city and raise its competitiveness as an investment and tourism destination by updating the service and infrastructure system and adopting sustainable solutions and modern technologies, in line with national trends for economic modernization and enhancing Aqaba's position as an attractive city for living, working, investing, and tourism.

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