Ammon News - Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Youssef Shamali Thursday said the government "will not back down" on reducing customs fees on selected items.

Shamali said during his opening on Thursday of shops in Irbid and his meeting with Arab investors that the decision to reduce customs fees includes clothes and shoes, noting that the government aims to make reductions in customs fees for other goods and sectors to attract more investments, nationalise them and expand them.

He noted that the new investment environment law addressed outstanding challenges and issues of concern to the private sector, adding that the law gave a "strong" advantage to the stability of the legislation on which the investor bases their investment plans for a period of seven years without being affected by changes in the legislation governing investment.

Shamali explained that investment-related applications lodged with the competent authorities and are not replied to within 15 days would be automatically approved.

He noted that the economic development and modernisation plan follows "clear paths and constitutes a cross-government roadmap, developed in partnership with the private sector and meets the requirements of all parties, foremost of which is facilitating the flow of investment and its various chains."