Amman, June 8 (Petra) -- Economists praised the substance of His Majesty King Abdullah II’s remarks during a meeting with economic figures on Monday, stressing the need to capitalize on opportunities available within the national economy.

They told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the King’s comments provide a strategic roadmap for generating economic growth and sustaining positive indicators despite ongoing regional tensions.

During the meeting, His Majesty the King said the national economy had demonstrated its ability to confront and overcome crises efficiently. He noted that Jordan, despite regional instability, has consolidated its stability and strategic standing, adding that the Kingdom’s stability remains a key factor in attracting investment.

The economists said strengthening regional connectivity in energy, transport, trade and digital transformation would reinforce Jordan’s role as a transit economy linking regional and global markets.

The King also emphasized the importance of leveraging opportunities offered by future regional connectivity projects to enhance economic cooperation and integration with countries across the region and beyond.

Former Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Maha Ali said the King’s remarks were highly significant in reaffirming the resilience of the Jordanian economy and its ability to withstand challenges despite regional tensions.

Ali said the King’s vision, together with Jordan’s economic, monetary and fiscal policies, provides a strong foundation for enhancing competitiveness, stimulating investment and advancing sustainable development. She pointed to economic indicators showing growth and a roughly 10% increase in exports in 2025 as positive signs.

She added that the King’s emphasis on expanding local participation in major projects and focusing on technological developments is important for creating economic opportunities and generating employment for young Jordanians.

For his part, Jordan Investors Association Chairman Mujahid Al-Rajabi said the King’s remarks represent a clear and comprehensive roadmap for improving the investment climate and strengthening the foundations of the national economy.

He said the Jordanian economy, under the King’s leadership and through the determination of its institutions, has demonstrated exceptional resilience and a strong ability to transform challenges into opportunities while remaining steadfast in the face of regional crises.

Al-Rajabi noted that Jordan’s stability and strategic position amid regional tensions provide the strongest guarantee for enhancing investor confidence and attracting domestic and foreign capital.

He said investors are closely following the Kingdom’s development and technological transformation, particularly efforts to implement the Economic Modernization Vision.

According to Al-Rajabi, initiatives and projects stemming from the Economic Modernization Vision serve as a key engine for job creation, reducing unemployment and driving sustainable growth.

He welcomed the King’s emphasis on increasing local participation in major projects and adopting a collaborative approach involving experts, saying this gives the private sector a leading role in development.

Al-Rajabi also expressed the readiness of industrial investors to seize opportunities arising from future regional connectivity projects, stressing that the association would continue working alongside all stakeholders to translate the King’s directives into tangible outcomes that support Jordan’s economic integration with its regional environment.

Economic analyst Munir Diyyah said the Jordanian economy achieved a number of positive indicators during the past year and the beginning of this year, demonstrating its ability to confront challenges despite regional tensions that have affected both the global economy and economies across the region.

He said endorsements from leading international financial and credit institutions show that Jordan has successfully adapted to developments in the region, implemented economic reforms and promoted greater stability and growth across economic and investment sectors.

Diyyah added that, despite significant regional challenges, Jordan has continued to advance implementation of the Economic Modernization Vision and its executive programs while launching major projects in partnership with local and foreign investors.

He said these efforts have strengthened confidence in the national economy and its capacity to attract investment, citing projects in water, energy, transport and infrastructure. He highlighted the National Water Carrier Project, the Aqaba railway project, the Risha gas transport project, and Amra City as examples that have boosted confidence in the Kingdom’s economy and its ability to manage crises effectively.

Diyyah also noted Jordan’s extensive experience in dealing with crises and adopting policies that mitigate their impact on economic sectors and living conditions. He said this was reflected in keeping inflation within manageable levels, maintaining supplies of essential goods and services, preserving supply chains and ensuring that ports, airports and land border crossings continued operating around the clock to keep inventories stable and secure.

Economic expert Adli Qandah said the King’s remarks reaffirm the strength of Jordan’s economy and its ability to adapt to crises despite regional instability and rapidly evolving challenges.

He said the King’s assertion that the economy has proven capable of overcoming crises reflects more than a century of Jordanian economic experience and demonstrates the institutional resilience and adaptability of the country’s economic model.

Qandah explained that the King’s focus on stability as a driver of investment reflects the concept of a "risk premium," whereby stability lowers perceived investment risks, increases private investment flows and stimulates economic activity.

He described the Economic Modernization Vision as a significant transition toward a more productive economy, moving from crisis management to growth generation through restructuring the relationship between the public and private sectors and empowering the private sector to become the primary engine of growth.

Qandah added that the King’s call to strengthen local participation in major projects addresses a long-standing challenge in Jordan’s economy the implementation gap between planning and execution arguing that involving national expertise improves efficiency and enhances the quality of development projects.

He said the King’s comments on regional connectivity projects underscore the strategic importance of Jordan’s geographic location, noting that stronger links in energy, transport, trade and digital transformation would reinforce Jordan’s role as a gateway economy connecting regional and international markets.

Yarmouk University Professor of Tourism and Hospitality Management Hakam Shatnawi said the King’s confidence in the economy’s ability to overcome challenges and crises reflects trust in its resilience and capacity to continue growing despite regional circumstances.

Shatnawi added that the King’s focus on stability, investment attraction and implementation of the Economic Modernization Vision carries important implications for economic sectors, particularly tourism, which is among the sectors most capable of stimulating investment and creating jobs.

He said Jordan’s stability provides a fundamental pillar for tourism growth and gives the Kingdom a competitive advantage in attracting visitors and tourism-related investment amid regional challenges.

According to Shatnawi, the major development and regional connectivity projects highlighted by the King open promising opportunities for the tourism sector by improving mobility and access to regional and international tourism markets.

He noted that tourism has a significant multiplier effect on the national economy, benefiting transport, hospitality, trade and service industries, making it a key partner in achieving the goals of the Economic Modernization Vision.

Shatnawi said the coming phase requires continued development of Jordan’s tourism product and greater investment in human resources, technology and tourism services to strengthen Jordan’s position as a leading tourism and investment destination and support sustainable economic development across the Kingdom.

//Petra// AF

08/06/2026 21:10:05