Amman, July 19 (Petra) - Jordanian expatriate businessmen and investors are calling for a structured, institutional framework to channel the vast expertise and financial capital of the diaspora into sustainable national development.
Following the conclusion of the ninth Conference of Jordanian Businessmen and Investors Abroad, delegates told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that moving from individual initiatives to an institutional system based on trust and transparency will stimulate high-value projects, create jobs, and boost economic competitiveness.
Expatriates noted that Jordan is "ideally positioned" to serve as a hub for innovation and investment, specifically high-growth fields that stand to benefit from advanced market expertise. These promising sectors include financial technology, logistics services, renewable energy, and smart agriculture.
Ammar Obeidat, CEO of Raboa Alyarmouk Agricultural Company and head of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) in Oman, stated that the next phase requires shifting the perception of expats from mere financial remitters to active production and investment partners. He proposed establishing business committees within Jordanian embassies to build databases of local opportunities and actively attract international investment.
Amal Daghlas, Managing Director of Adaa Sustainable Development Consultants and Chair of Business and Professional Women Association (BPWA), noted that major regional economies hold Jordanian talent in high regard. Drawing on global precedents, she said that nations effectively linking their diaspora to domestic needs see accelerated economic growth and technological innovation.
To convert this potential into reality, Zaid Darwazeh, board member of the Jordan Business Council in Dubai, recommended streamlining the investment process by launching a single-window clearing system. He also proposed tax incentives and matching funds to blend expat capital with public or local private sectors.
Darwazeh added that Jordan’s strategic location and free trade agreements with the US, Europe, and the Arab world make it an ideal export launchpad.
Munawar Zoubi, CEO of Medical East and a prominent pharmaceutical executive in Europe, pointed to the deep connection between expats and their homeland. She noted that the international prestige built by Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania provides a strong foundation for expats to act as economic and cultural ambassadors.
Zoubi urged Jordanian embassies to form specialized advisory councils in fields such as medicine, engineering, and technology to formally connect European businesses with local counterparts, open new export markets, and facilitate technology transfers to Jordan.
//Petra// HA
