Amman, Nov. 25 (Petra) – Economic and investment stakeholders say His Majesty King Abdullah II’s directives to adopt a unified governmental approach to streamline procedures and ease the investor journey represent a decisive step toward strengthening Jordan’s investment climate.

They told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that presenting bankable investment opportunities and promoting them to attract major investments is essential to driving economic growth, noting that policy clarity and faster procedures are key to reinforcing Jordan’s position as a safe and competitive investment destination.

They said the royal directive lays the cornerstone for a new investment model in which investors move from navigating multiple authorities to a seamless, unified experience under one roof.

During a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace on Tuesday, attended by HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty called for a unified governmental approach that simplifies procedures, facilitates the investor journey, and strengthens the Ministry of Investment as the central reference for investment policies and strategies.

His Majesty stressed the importance of developing clear, bankable investment opportunities and promoting them to stimulate local investment and draw major foreign investments across sectors aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision.

Former investment minister Khuloud Saqqaf said His Majesty’s emphasis on a unified, comprehensive plan for developing the investment pathway reflects an understanding of the need to shift from fragmented efforts to an institutional, coordinated approach anchored in long-term strategy.

A unified plan, she said, would standardize policies and procedures among government bodies, ease the investor journey, and enhance confidence in the investment environment. She added that His Majesty’s message makes clear that improving the investment climate is no longer optional but essential to economic growth, job creation and attracting high-value investments, particularly in sectors with added value.

Saqqaf said the directive aligns fully with the Investment Environment Law, which establishes a unified legal framework for streamlining procedures and defines the Ministry of Investment as the primary reference for investors an important reform that reduces fragmentation and provides greater clarity throughout the investment process.

She said the move is consistent with the Economic Modernization Vision 2033, which places investment as a key driver of growth and emphasizes the importance of attracting quality investments and empowering the private sector to achieve sustainable development.

Former minister of state for public sector development and economist Khair Abu Sailik said the King’s call for a unified governmental approach is a clear message that improving the business environment can no longer be delayed. Administrative hurdles and overlapping authorities, he said, have long posed a major challenge to investors, making Tuesday’s directive a core step toward a more streamlined and predictable pathway for both local and foreign investors.

He noted that His Majesty highlighted the value of learning from sovereign wealth fund models in countries such as Indonesia and Kazakhstan, reflecting a desire to transfer expertise in managing large investments efficiently and sustainably.

Abu Sailik said the directive carries a practical dimension by consolidating efforts under the Ministry of Investment, in line with Article 7 of the Investment Environment Law, which designates the ministry as the main reference for investment in the Kingdom. This, he added, requires stronger coordination with government and municipal bodies to ensure a unified implementation plan and periodic progress assessments.

He said investors need transparent processes and faster government service goals that the royal vision seeks to strengthen through a more effective institutional approach that integrates digitalization and reduces bureaucratic barriers.

He noted that the new directive should feature prominently in the upcoming executive program, set to begin early next year. Translating these directives into concrete action, he said, would mark a turning point for enhancing Jordan’s investment competitiveness and attracting the high-value investments needed for job creation and sustainable growth.

Chairman of the Lower House Economy and Investment Committee Khaled Abu Hassan said the King’s clear interest in the investment file reflects the fact that Jordan’s national agenda is now firmly oriented toward strengthening the investment environment. He said this means tangible changes will soon be visible both in procedures and in the design of the investment journey an issue His Majesty emphasized during the meeting.

Abu Hassan said the King instructed officials to establish a clear program with defined standards for shortening the investor journey and to benefit from successful sovereign fund models in Asia to support economic growth.

He said the direct royal follow-up from His Majesty and HRH the Crown Prince provides strong momentum to overcome obstacles and reinforces confidence in the national economy.

President of the Eastern Amman Investors Industrial Association (EAIIA) Iyad Abu Haltam said His Majesty places significant emphasis on closely monitoring the investment file and on creating an investment-friendly environment capable of attracting high-value, knowledge-based investments.

He said the King’s international tours from Africa (Rwanda) to Central Asia (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) and to Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Pakistan opened major doors for investment partnerships and opportunities, especially in strategic sectors such as pharmaceuticals, fertilizers and advanced industries, including semiconductors.

Abu Haltam added that sovereign wealth funds can be an important tool for maximizing returns on natural resources and strategic projects, noting that Jordan’s mineral wealth in the south makes the establishment of a sovereign fund a promising step.

Secretary-General of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) Abdulrahman Abu Tair said the royal directives lay the foundation for a new investment model that shifts the investor journey from navigating dispersed authorities to a unified, efficient process. He said bankable projects with clear feasibility studies give investors confidence and accelerate decision-making.

President of the Jordan Investors Association (JIA) Mujahid Al-Rajabi said the King’s call for a unified governmental approach is a pivotal step toward a stronger investment climate. He said issuing periodic progress reports and learning from successful sovereign wealth fund experiences in Indonesia and Kazakhstan can enhance transparency and strengthen Jordan’s investment competitiveness.

He added that promoting bankable investment opportunities is fundamental to national economic development, noting that attracting foreign direct investments broadens the production base, transfers technology and creates quality jobs that support the goals of the Economic Modernization Vision.

Al-Rajabi affirmed the association’s support for all royal efforts to strengthen the business environment and attract new investments that contribute to sustainable economic growth.

//Petra// AF

25/11/2025 20:27:26