LONDON, July 23 (Petra) -- His Majesty King Abdullah II led a delegation of top Jordanian executives to London on Thursday, joining more than 100 corporate leaders to pitch the Hashemite Kingdom as a stable industrial launchpad into the broader Middle East amid a sweeping national drive to modernize its economy.

The UK-Jordan Business Forum - gathering leaders from over 40 Jordanian companies alongside 60 British counterparts - marks a concerted push by Amman to translate decades of close political and security alignment with London into deeper commercial integration.

The high-level royal involvement reflects a broader pivot toward economic diplomacy as Jordan seeks to attract foreign direct investment, boost high-value exports, and advance its multi-year Economic Modernization Vision. By anchoring the private sector at the center of its growth strategy, the Kingdom is signaling top-tier state backing to reassure international investors navigating a volatile regional landscape.

Capitalizing on Post-Brexit Trade Channels The gathering served as a key operational step toward maximizing the benefits of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement established following Britain's exit from the European Union. Delegations spanning pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, information technology, and manufacturing held structured business-to-business negotiations aimed at establishing direct supply chains and joint ventures.

"Royal patronage provides essential momentum when advocating for national capabilities on the world stage," said Eng. Abdul Rahman Abu Tair, a board member of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) and an executive in the UK-Jordanian energy sector. "The forum serves as a high-level platform to translate bilateral goodwill into tangible joint ventures across energy, technology, research, and advanced services." Abu Tair emphasized the need to transition from initial promotional phases to active execution, leveraging Jordan's regulatory predictability, geographic position, and skilled workforce. He also highlighted the role of the Jordanian Embassy in London in facilitating institutional networks, calling for similar trade missions across major global financial capitals.

Securing Supply Chains and Regional Markets For industrial leaders, Jordan’s primary value proposition lies in its capacity to serve as a secure, duty-free manufacturing hub serving surrounding regional markets.

"His Majesty’s presence alongside private enterprise reflects a deeply rooted model of public-private integration designed to build direct linkages with international decision-makers," noted Hassan Al-Smadi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Giant Industrial Group.

Al-Smadi pointed to pharmaceuticals, food processing, chemicals, detergents, information technology, digital services, energy, infrastructure, textiles, and logistics as priority sectors poised to capture greater market share. "Jordan is uniquely positioned to act as a stable base for production, export, and supply chain management, backed by trade agreements that grant preferential access across the Middle East," he added.

Addressing trade imbalances was a central theme among delegates. While Britain represents a high-income consumer base of roughly 70 million, Jordanian exports to the UK remain relatively modest despite tariff-free access.

Raed Al-Takrouri, Chief Executive of Al-Bahar Industrial and Trading Group, noted that this dynamic presents significant headroom for growth. "The tariff exemptions under our bilateral trade agreement, paired with cost-competitive, highly qualified talent in engineering and IT, give Jordanian producers a clear edge," Al-Takrouri said. He cited high-end specialty foods, sweets, and consumer goods as immediate growth areas, particularly when targeting Britain's sizable diaspora communities.

Broadening the Industrial Footprint Co-organized by the Amman Chamber of Industry, the forum featured heavy representation from Jordan's core resource and manufacturing base, including its state-linked phosphate, potash, mining, chemical, and engineering conglomerates.

Dr. Iyad Abu Haltam, President of the East Amman Industrial Association and General Manager of Mohammad Abu Haltam Investment Group, stressed that targeted corporate matchmaking is critical to securing long-term foreign direct investment.

"The forum provides a structured framework for our chemical, engineering, electrical, food processing, and packaging sectors to secure commercial contracts," Abu Haltam explained. "Our objective is twofold: increase value-added exports to the UK and bring British industrial partners directly into Jordanian economic zones." Executives underscored that Jordan's domestic stability offers foreign enterprises a low-risk entry point into adjacent markets across the Levant and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

"Presence at the highest level of state injects vital confidence into the business community," said Eng. Ramzi Qandalaft, General Manager of Al-Faiha for Engineering Industries. "Jordan stands out regionally as a safe operational sanctuary. Investing in Jordanian capacity provides seamless commercial access to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the Gulf." Executing the Economic Vision As global capital flows grow increasingly selective, Jordanian business leaders noted that diplomatic momentum must be backed by institutional follow-through and regulatory agility.

"Economic diplomacy has become an indispensable instrument of statecraft," stated Rami Al-Sahib, JBA Board Member and CEO of RZ International and Bustami & Saheb Group. "Converting signed memorandums of understanding into active, capital-generating projects requires streamlined administrative processes, clear market analytics, and dedicated post-forum execution." Delegates concluded the day by advocating for permanent joint working committees to monitor commercial implementation, track capital commitments, and formalize trade channels between Amman and London over the coming decade.

//Petra// AA