investment JIB chief predicts ‘positive’ responses

AMMAN –– “Positive” talks are currently under way with Australian, Korean, Venezuelan and Gulf investors to implement a variety of projects in Jordan,  Awni Rushoud, acting chief executive officer of Jordan Investment Board (JIB), told The Jordan Times over the phone on Tuesday.

"Talks are really positive and we are optimistic to translate such encouraging discussions into feasible projects on the ground," Rushoud said.

He did not provide details except to say that energy, among other sectors, stands out as the most attractive for foreign and local investors to implement a set of projects in the Kingdom.

Rushoud said Jordan is eyeing to attract more investments this year after exceeding the target set for the first quarter of 2014.  He declined to be more specific as exact figures will be published next week.

In previous remarks to The Jordan Times, Ruoshoud said Jordan's investment inflows rose by 19.5 per cent in 2013  “reflecting investors’ confidence in the Kingdom’s economy and business environment".

He added that the volume of projects that applied to benefit from the Investment  Promotion Law reached JD1.92 billion (around $2.7 billion) in 2013 compared to JD1.61 billion ($2.2 billion) in 2012.