Jordan’s various declared “Development Zones,” The Ajloun zone in the northern reaches of the country is one of the more dynamic, targeting tourism, hospitality, wellness, agro- and eco-businesses among its forests, hundreds of villages, and myriad heritage sites. Jordan’s Royal Court was keen to learn from successes in similar regions elsewhere in the world; notably, Tuscany, Italy.

OHK designed a study tour to facilitate this learning. Participants in the tour were from six leadership organizations charged with the management, regulation, and the development of investments in key sectors of the economy. Six ministerial-level commissioners took part in the tour, each responsible for a major area of regulatory or operational activity. Visits to key sites in Tuscany were coupled with workshops and seminars with various central and local government entities as well as private investors.

The tour encouraged its participants to think of ways to establish the institutional frameworks and program governance necessary to enable execution of development zones like Ajloun and how to devise policies that can be endorsed and adopted by the government of Jordan particularly in light of multiple and overlapping jurisdictions.