B-Design and Marketing holds press conference for PropertyLink09 exhibition

The Exhibition & the Conference will be held under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister Nader Dahabi on May 10 for four days at Zara Expo, affiliated with Grand Hyatt Amman, while the conference's proceedings will take place at Grand Hyatt Hotel for two days.

Present at the press conference, held at Grand Hyatt, were H.E. Mr. Saleh Al-Kilani, Chief Commissioner at the Development Zones Commission (DZC), H.E. Eng. Imad Fakhoury, CEO of the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC), H.E. Dr. Maen Al-Nsour, CEO of Jordan Investment Board (JIB), Mr. Bilal Matarneh, director of Projects at Limitless LLC, the diamond sponsor of PropertyLink09 Mr Bilal Mattarneh, and B-design and Marketing Managing Director Mr. Ayman Banayot.

PropertyLink09, which is the largest real estate event in the Kingdom, has attracted dozens of real estate firms and property developers in Jordan and the region, while the conference is considered a forum for experts, senior officials and top executives in organizations concerned with this vital sector. Participants will address throughout the conference's sessions various issues related to the real estate market, the future of investments in this sector and the challenges it is facing.

In his address to the press conference, H.E. Mr. Al-Kilani outlined the mission of DZC, the main sponsor of the conference, along with the Mafraq-based King Hussein Ben Talal Special Development Area and Maan Development Area.

H.E. Mr. Al-Kilani said the commission's keenness to sponsor the event stems from its policy aimed at supporting activities concerned with the investment environment and attraction in the Kingdom. He noted that the PropertyLink conference has for the past years proved a significant event on the investment and real estate development map, serving as a forum for key investors, real estate companies' executives and officials representing state agencies concerned with the industry.

H.E. Mr. Al-Kilani provided a detailed presentation on investment opportunities in development zones and the law governing their work.

He explained that the Jordanian government, with the incentives and facilities it offers to businesspersons, project owners and investors, has helped attract a large number of investments, from inside the country and abroad.

For his part, H.E. Dr Al-Nsour gave a briefing on investment promotion laws in the Kingdom and the incentives offered to encourage investors from all Arab and foreign countries to start projects in Jordan, stressing that such a package of incentives and privileges has worked optimally so far to lure a large number of projects. He highlighted elements of success like security, stability and modern legislation, along with the free trade agreements Jordan has entered with the United States and the EU and the freedom of capital flow guaranteed by the Jordanian laws.

The CEO went on to outline the situation of foreign investment in Jordan, expressing optimism that Jordan still retains its ability to lure projects that benefit from investment promotion laws despite the difficulties brought about by the global economic crisis.

H.E. Dr Al-Nsour added that PropertyLink exhibition and conference provide a good chance for investors to have a closer look at the opportunities available in this sector and a venue for networking among parties involved in the investment process, including investors, buyers and representatives supportive sectors.

His Excellency Eng. Fakhoury spoke of success stories Aqaba Special Economic Zone has made during its seven-year life, the key projects the zone has attracted and the thousands of jobs they have created for Jordanians. He also outlined the incentives Aseza offers investors, stressing, meanwhile, that ADC was keen to participate in PropertyLink09 to highlight the pioneering experiment of the company as the investment arm for Aseza.

He said ADC serves all economic sectors in the zone, translating the philosophy behind turning Aqaba into a special economic zone, in a way that helps upgrade efficiency, create investment opportunities and promote the area.

Eng. Fakhoury added that ADC emerged as a specialized entity to implement the set vision and develop the zone as an essential part in the approach adopted by special economic zones. It also seeks to prevent any conflict of interest between the regulatory and development roles of Aseza.

He said Aseza established ADC in implementation of its concept as a special economic zone to be its development arm. ADC, he explained, is run the private sector style, adding that a package of Aseza's assets and development rights have been transferred to the company, including lands, the airport, the port and public facilities. For its turn, ADC undertakes the development of these facilities through attracting developers and operators that meet the best international standards and are capable of executing Aseza's master plan. Citing major achievements, the CEO said work is under way in several projects, while deals have been signed for other plans.

For his part, Mr. Matarneh said that Limitless LLC, the international real estate developers based in Dubai, classifies Jordan as a target destination for its investments, stressing that all elements of investment attraction are available in the Kingdom. These include flexible laws and legislative, political and security stability, in addition to qualified human resources, a political will and a clear vision by the country's leadership, he said.

He said Limitless' sponsorship of PropertyLink for the second year in a row is a testimony to the major role the event plays in highlighting the real estate investment picture and providing participants with a proper venue to meet face to face with their peers and potential investors and buyers. He underlined the remarkable success the exhibition and the conference recorded in the past years.

Mr. Banayot said that the good aspect of the global economic crisis is that under the downturn, the real estate sector is shuffling down the real players from the testers".

"This year," he said, "PropertyLink is a special occasion in a different sense as it will host companies that have not been deterred by the financial storm and have relied on prudent policies and a strong will for success.

"We all agree that we are partners in a collective effort to push this industry forward into more progress, growth and prosperity," he said.

PrpetyLink09 has received distinguished support by the public and private sectors, including Greater Amman Municipality, Jordan Investment Board, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (Aseza), Development Zones Commission (DZC) and Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC).

Limitless LLC tops the list of property developers that sponsor PropertyLink09 as the Diamond Sponsor, while DZC, Maan Development Zone and King Hussein Bin Talal Development Zone as a mian conference sponsor , along with Emaar International, and Amman Municipality have announced their sponsorship of the conference to be held on the sidelines of the exhibition.

Gold Sponsors include, Aqaba Development corporation(ADC), ASTECO and Corner Stone Real Estate, while the Silver sponsorship is offered by Vertex, ALUTARGET, Century 21, LAMAR Heights. Meanwhile, Amlak newspaper acts as the event's official newspaper, along with Mazaj FM, the event's official radio station. Other media partners include Property World, Real Estate & Investment Middle East, MA, Hills Advertising and Middle East North Africa Financial Net work, Alaqaria News, Q-tech and Jordan Real estate Guide and The official ISP Orange.