King outlines investment opportunities in ‘stable, secure’ Jordan

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on Sunday with an array of Jordanian and Japanese businessmen representing leading firms in both countries.

His Majesty told the audience that Jordan boasts a high level of security and stability and is able to overcome challenges and boost its strategic and economic partnerships.

He stressed that such stability is the outcome of serious efforts and the awareness of Jordanians.

King Abdullah outlined investment opportunities in Jordan as a gateway to regional markets, citing Jordan’s niche as a pioneer in the IT sector and one of the top 10 places worldwide to offer an encouraging environment for IT start-ups. He also noted Jordan’s considerable contribution to Arabic content on the Internet.

King Abdullah urged activating partnerships between Jordanian and Japanese businessmen to invest in vital projects, voicing appreciation for Japan’s support of the renewable energy sector in the Kingdom.

He highlighted the possibility of establishing a joint venture to produce cars working on solar energy. 

Other lucrative industries for investors, His Majesty added, include banking, phosphate mining, minerals and pharmaceuticals, noting that Jordan-made medicines have reached 60 countries in the world. 

Meanwhile, there is a great possibility to optimise investment in the tourism sector and attract more Japanese visitors to the country.

The King also outlined progress in economic reforms achieved by the country, including the enactment of key pieces of legislation and major projects such as the expansion of Queen Alia International Airport and the container terminal in Aqaba.

He said that the free trade agreements Jordan has signed with global and regional partners enhance its competitiveness as a destination for foreign investments.

For his part, Abe, agreeing that Jordan’s political stability is a great advantage, said that meetings like this offer a good opportunity for businessmen from both sides to explore available opportunities. 

The Japanese business delegation included representatives of major companies working in various sectors, such as insurance, energy, banking, automobiles and technology.