-- State Minister reviews financial, investment landscape, promising opportunities in Jordan -- State Minister highlights key opportunities, strategic projects to London investors London, Sept. 17 (Petra) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh participated in the J.P. Morgan Emerging and Frontier Markets Opportunities Conference, held in London from Sept. 15-17 with the participation of investors, financial institutions, and senior representatives of companies and the financial sector to discuss investment opportunities in emerging and frontier markets. Jordan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Manar Dabbas, also participated in the conference.

Shehadeh’s participation comes as part of Jordan’s efforts to strengthen engagement with international investors and financial institutions and highlight the national economy’s fundamentals and investment opportunities, as well as major economic and development projects being implemented under the Economic Modernization Vision, the public-sector modernization roadmap, and government technological transformation.

During the conference and meetings with representatives of international investment and financial institutions, Shehadeh highlighted Jordan as an investment destination, outlining the strengths of the national economy and its ability to navigate successive regional crises and challenges. He also highlighted investment opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, water, energy, transport, logistics, and promising productive sectors.

Shehadeh reviewed the strength and resilience of Jordan’s banking sector, including its legislative and regulatory frameworks and reserves, which he said strengthen its stability and support confidence in its future prospects. He also noted the expansion of Jordanian banks into several neighboring markets, including Syria.

He highlighted the growth of the textile and ready-made garment sector and rising exports to the U.S. market under the Jordan-U.S. free trade agreement, reflecting the ability of Jordanian industrial and export sectors to expand and reach global markets.

Shehadeh also highlighted growth in transport, cargo handling, and loading activity at the Port of Aqaba, which reflects increasing trade and logistics activity and strengthens Jordan’s role as a hub serving regional trade.

He said Jordan continues to implement economic reforms and improve the business and investment environment while addressing regional challenges, enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy, expanding the investment base, and strengthening the Kingdom’s ability to capitalize on opportunities in regional and international markets.

Shehadeh also outlined major economic and strategic projects being implemented in Jordan and the opportunities they offer investors and international financial institutions. These include the National Water Carrier Project, development of the al-Risha gas field, Amra City, high-value sectors such as phosphate and potash, railway and transport projects, and infrastructure, energy, and logistics projects.

He said these projects would not only develop services and infrastructure but also serve as drivers of economic growth, improve supply-chain efficiency, strengthen Jordan’s competitiveness, support productive sectors, create jobs, and enhance the Kingdom’s ability to provide services and infrastructure to neighboring markets.

Shehadeh stressed the importance of expanding partnerships among the public and private sectors and international investment and financial institutions to provide the financing and expertise needed to implement priority economic and development projects and maximize their impact on the national economy.

On the sidelines of the conference, Shehadeh participated in a Morgan Stanley-hosted roundtable attended by representatives of major global investment and asset management institutions, including BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, Amundi, PineBridge, Insight, and Finistere Ventures. Discussions focused on investment opportunities in Jordan and the country’s economic fundamentals and opportunities for investors.

He also participated in a session organized by British Expertise International, a British business network specializing in supporting its members in accessing commercial and investment opportunities and international markets. The session brought together representatives of British companies and institutions working in transport, infrastructure, financial services, consulting, economic growth, technology, and risk management, including Maersk, KPMG, Crown Agents Bank, Adam Smith International, and other specialized institutions and companies.

The meetings also included a session with Innovate Finance, which represents the fintech sector in the United Kingdom, attended by Chief Executive Officer Janine Hirt and Director of International Companies Peter Connan. The session reviewed the British fintech ecosystem and discussed Jordan’s plans and objectives for developing the sector, expanding its growth, and benefiting from British expertise.

Shehadeh also participated in a high-level session held in partnership with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), as part of a series of meetings aimed at strengthening engagement with British and international financial and investment institutions and exploring areas for cooperation and exchange of expertise.

//Petra// AJ