JEDDAH, 4 November 2006 — Studies are under way to build a new port and a railroad in Jizan as part of the government’s efforts to boost the region’s overall development, according to Jizan Gov. Prince Muhammad ibn Nasser, who said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah would launch new projects worth SR7 billion in the region, including an economic city.
The king is scheduled to arrive in Jizan today on the last leg of his tour of the south, which has already taken him to Najran and Asir. The royal visit, according to Crown Prince Sultan, is aimed at achieving a balanced development for all the Kingdom’s regions and people. “All Jizan is waiting for the king’s visit,” the prince said.
The governor said that the Jizan municipality has set out a plan for the development of the region that includes proposals to build a new port, a railroad, an international road link, expansion of residential districts to accommodate the growing population and activation of real estate investment in the region.
Prince Muhammad spoke about the government’s efforts to strengthen the present port, which holds a strategic position as it is close to Asir, Najran and Baha as well as countries in the Horn of Africa. However, he pointed out, only 30 percent of the port’s capacity has been utilized since its inception. A royal decree has been issued stopping collection of tariff from incoming and outgoing ships that come to the Jizan port for a period of five years. The government also cut loading and unloading charges by 40 percent and marine service charges by 35 percent while goods were exempted from storage charges for 30 days.
The new economic city in Jizan, which is expected to draw investments worth SR30 billion, will change the face of Jizan. The plan to launch the fourth economic city in Jizan comes after a detailed study of the region’s industrial prospects and its strategic geographic position. Jizan has rich deposits of limestone, dolomite, marble, basalt, gypsum and silica. The Jizan region consists of fertile plains, forests, and mountains.
King Abdullah has already laid the foundation for three economic cities in Rabigh, Hail and Madinah, which are to draw domestic and foreign investment worth more than SR155 billion ($41.3 billion) and create nearly 100,000 new jobs.
Initiated by Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), the Kingdom’s prestigious economic city projects are aimed at attracting not only foreign investment but also the transfer of vital technology.
“The economic city projects are in line with SAGIA’s strategy to promote investments into the country,” said SAGIA Governor Amr Al-Dabbagh.
