Investigating the Current Strategic Planning for Sustainable Infrastructure in Jazan Industrial City: A Focus on Goal 9 of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

Abstract

In the 21st century, the global population is gradually surging towards an estimated 9.7 billion by 2050 (O’Sullivan, 2023), and as a result, the importance of sustainable development cannot be overstated. This research focuses on the Jazan Industrial City, as it represents the challenges and opportunities caused by rapid urbanization and industrialization. The current study aims to investigate the current strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure development at Jazan Industrial City, with a focus on Goal 9 of UN SDGs. The specific objectives focused on the influence of increased investment, training programs, community engagement and social equity, and environmental impact assessments. The study adopted a survey method that involved 109 city planners and project managers. The results revealed that four factors (Increased investment, training programs, community engagement and social equity, and environmental impact assessments) scored above a mean score of 2.5, which was the cut-off mark. The study concluded that the four factors (mentioned above) enhanced the strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure at Jazan Industrial City. The study also offered various recommendations, such as optimizing investment mechanisms, strengthening training initiatives, improving community engagement, and enhancing environmental impact assessments. This study is crucial for policy makers and future researchers as they may use the insights from the study to enhance the sustainability of infrastructural projects both locally and globally, thus realizing SDG 9.