Amman, Oct 1 (Petra) -- Minister of Investment Khairy Amro said on Saturday that Jordan is an ideal investment and business destination, thanks to the advantages, competitiveness and incentives it offes to businesses.

Amr said during his participation in the Jordan Investment Forum with Iraqi Kurdistan Region, which was organized by the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA), that the Kingom is rich in trade and investment opportunities in the information and communications technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, tourism and medical tourism sectors.

Jordan, he said, aspires to become a regional logistical hub, given its strategic location as a gateway between Eastern Europe and Turkey and the Arab Gulf states, stressing that the Kingdom has available opportunities to attract foreign capital in the infrastructure of energy, transport and other key sectors related to sustainable development.

The minister pointed out that the government, through the Public-Private Partnership Unit at the Ministry of Investment, has identified bankable projects in water, transport, digital and education sectors.

He noted that Jordan's recently-launched economic modernization roadmap for the coming years is a key turning point to unlock the national economy's potential to achieve comprehensive and sustainable growth, increase the Kingdom's GDP to $82 billion by 2033 and absorb more than one million young people in the labor market.

Amr said the government adopted a set of organizational and institutional priorities to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and improve the business and investment environment, including setting up the Investment Ministry as the entity to manage and oversee investment affairs, regulate an investor's journey through a one-stop-shop, attract foreign capital, stimulate local investments and manage public-private partnership projects.

He also cited the Parliament's approval of the investment environment bill, which is in line with international best practices, as it defines the rights, privileges and duties of investors, and treats them fairly, equitably and transparently, in addition to updating and simplifying procedures to spur business and economic activities.

For his part, JBA President Hamdi Al-Tabbaa said the forum is a first step towards building an action plan to seize available opportunities in Iraqi Kurdistan region, noting that Jordan's geographical location and proximity to Iraq is a privilege to launch joint projects, as well as highlighting Jordan as a regional logistics business hub.

He said Jordanian companies began exporting to Iraqi Kurdistan region in 2013, besides participating in exhibitions directed to the Erbil market, especially in the construction, chemicals and textile sectors, as well as agriculture, health and engineering.

//Petra//SS

01/10/2022 17:23:30