Leading PC manufacturer Acer Computer Ltd, is mulling the port city of Aqaba's Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) for future investments, the Jordan Times reported.
Acer, which generated 2000 revenues of $9.4 billion last year, will first explore the zone's potential and gather information on what the low-tariff area has to offer before consolidating its presence in ASEZ.
Eric Tien, Acer Computer ME Ltd. managing director, was quoted by the daily as saying that “on general grounds, we do have deep penetration as well as a plan to expand in the Middle East as a whole. And Jordan is marketing itself attractively.”
“But at the moment there is nothing concrete... and no timetable yet,” Tien told the paper.
On Thursday, King Abdullah officially inaugurated the ASEZ — a tax haven expected to draw $6 billion in foreign direct investment during the coming two decades.
According to the daily, around 25 top-notch businesspeople, including Tien who arrived from Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone, will have a roundtable meeting on Friday with Minister of Telecommunications and Post Fawwaz Zu'bi to discuss the future of information technology and telecommunication in the kingdom.
“This region is full of energy. Although there is a gap in IT infrastructure compared to Europe and the US, it is catching up quickly,” he said. “There is a potential for growth and we are looking into it.”
Acer announced three months ago that it marked growth of 132 percent in its Jordan operation for the year 2000 – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
