Amman, Jan. 12 (Petra) -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has built a €2.3 billion investment footprint in Jordan since entering the market in 2012, underscoring its long-term commitment to the Kingdom, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said.
Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Renaud-Basso said the Bank’s partnership with the government has produced "very positive" results, built on coordinated reforms, targeted financing, and ongoing technical support.
The EBRD is currently working with eight financial institutions in Jordan, including major banks and microfinance lenders, to expand access to finance, particularly for women-led businesses. It has also rolled out dedicated credit lines for small and medium-sized enterprises, energy-efficiency projects, and women’s economic participation.
Beyond finance, the Bank is backing large-scale renewable energy projects and preparing a new wave of strategic investments in cooperation with the government. It is also involved in a major infrastructure project aimed at upgrading facilities in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone.
Renaud-Basso said the EBRD is increasingly active in sectors such as digitalisation, tourism, municipal services, and transport, which have become a growing priority for policymakers.
Water and wastewater management will remain central to the Bank’s agenda, she said, alongside potential investments in rail transport and public-private partnerships for hospitals and schools, designed to draw private capital into essential public services.
The Bank invested €200 million in Jordan last year across 10 projects, a level Renaud-Basso described as "significant." Annual investment volumes are expected to remain around that level, depending on the rollout of major capital-intensive projects, including national water conveyance schemes.
Around 77% of the EBRD’s portfolio in Jordan is concentrated in the private sector, targeting financial institutions, large companies, and energy reforms, efforts that support job creation, competitiveness, export growth, and tourism.
On the regional outlook, Renaud-Basso said the lifting of sanctions on Syria could unlock major economic opportunities for Jordan, citing strong private-sector interest in reconstruction and cross-border investment.
She added that Jordan showed notable economic resilience last year and is expected to post stronger growth this year, supported by financial stability and contained inflation, factors that continue to position the Kingdom as a regional investment hub.
//Petra// RZ
