JEF, UK trade envoy discuss investment opportunities, growth indicators
AMMAN — The Jordan Economic Forum (JEF) has held a meeting with new UK Trade Envoy to Jordan Lord Iain McNicol to explore prospects for enhanced cooperation and investment.
JEF Chairman Mazen Homoud, members of the board of directors, general assembly members, British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall and a representative from the UK Department for Business and Trade attended the meeting, according to a JEF statement.
The meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic research and identifying high-value investment opportunities, emphasising the importance of building strategic partnerships to stimulate economic growth.
During the session, the forum presented a comprehensive overview of Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), which aims to stimulate growth and attract investment to create sustainable jobs, thereby reducing unemployment and supporting both economic and social stability.
The forum also highlighted the 'strength and resilience' of Jordan's banking sector, noting its positive growth trajectory, which reflects 'strong' investor confidence.
The sector plays a vital role in financing economic activities, especially investments that support sustainable development.
Homoud welcomed the UK delegation and reaffirmed the forum's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with international institutions aimed at positioning Jordan as a leading regional hub for investment.
He expressed appreciation for the UK's 'consistent' economic support to Jordan, most notably exemplified by the 2016 London Conference, which marked a 'pivotal' moment in boosting economic cooperation between the two countries.
He stressed that the current phase requires intensified cooperation in advancing economic research to produce practical solutions for development challenges and to meet the economic goals of both kingdoms.
Homoud reiterated the forum's commitment to 'actively' connecting investors with real opportunities, pointing to Jordan's competitive investment environment, supported by advanced infrastructure and a business-friendly legal framework.
He invited British investors to explore new projects in renewable energy, technology and education.
For his part, Lord McNicol praised the economic reforms recently implemented by the Jordanian government, describing them as 'crucial' steps towards enhancing economic stability and growth.
He expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts to improve the business climate, affirming that Jordan holds significant potential to attract international investment.
He noted the Jordan-UK Free Trade Agreement, which facilitates 'ambitious' bilateral trade cooperation, along with the free trade deals with the US, the European Union, countries of the Arab League and several others around the world, which offer valuable opportunities to Jordanian-based manufacturers and exporters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Jordan News
2 days ago
- Jordan News
Jordan's Tourism Grows by 8% in June and 18% in the First Half of 2025 - Jordan News
Jordan's tourism sector continues to show strong performance indicators, welcoming approximately 595,000 international visitors in June 2025, an 8% increase compared to June 2024, which saw around 551,000 visitors — despite regional challenges during that month. اضافة اعلان In the second quarter of 2025 (April–June), the total number of international visitors reached 1.784 million, marking a 23% growth compared to 1.452 million in the same period of 2024. This period also witnessed notable growth in both overnight tourists and same-day visitors, supported by intensified promotional efforts and improvements in tourism infrastructure and services. During the first half of 2025 (January–June), total international visitor arrivals reached 3.292 million, reflecting an 18% increase compared to the 2.786 million recorded during the same period in 2024. Overnight tourists numbered 2.717 million in the first six months of 2025, compared to 2.375 million in the same period of 2024 — a 14% rise. Meanwhile, same-day visitors reached 575,000, up from 411,000 a year earlier, recording an impressive 40% growth. Tourism revenue during the first five months of 2025 (January–May) amounted to 2.167 billion Jordanian dinars, an increase of 16% compared to 1.873 billion dinars in the same period of 2024. Revenue for May alone rose by 18%, reaching 447 million dinars, compared to 380 million dinars in May 2024. The report highlighted that the highest growth in overnight tourists during H1 2025 came from: European countries: +82% Asia-Pacific region: +44% American countries: +43% Arab countries: +5% This positive performance is attributed to the joint efforts of all stakeholders in the tourism sector, including the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, promotional agencies, the private sector, airlines, infrastructure and service investors, and tourism professionals. These collaborative efforts have focused on enhancing the tourism product, improving visitor experiences, and expanding promotional campaigns in new markets — all of which have reinforced Jordan's position as a premier tourism destination. The sector continues to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving sustainable growth, increasing its contribution to GDP, and creating new job opportunities, thereby strengthening the national economy and solidifying Jordan's global reputation as a destination rich in historical, religious, and natural sites. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism and the Jordan Tourism Board continue to address the impact of regional instability, which has led to a temporary decline in visitors from markets affected by the suspension of some low-cost airline routes to Jordan. Efforts are underway to resume these routes as soon as possible.
Ammon
2 days ago
- Ammon
83,000 trucks cross from Jordan into Syria, JCC says
Ammon News - Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Khalil Haj Tawfiq, said on Thursday that approximately 83,000 trucks have crossed from Jordan into Syria since the fall of al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024, in addition to 16,800 cement trucks. During his meeting with the governors of Damascus and Rural Damascus, Haj Tawfiq noted that a new page of economic relations with Syria is opening, based on partnership and joint development. Haj Tawfiq added, according to Al-Mamlaka, that he hopes the Syrian-Turkish agreement on transit and crossings will include the Jordanian crossings as a trade corridor. The Jordanian-Syrian Economic Forum and the Digital Forum will be held at the end of July, he pointed out. Damascus Governor Maher Marwan praised Jordan's role in hosting Syrian refugees during the conflict, which has lasted for more than 14 years. Marwan said that Syria is ready to cooperate and facilitate trade relations with Jordan in coordination with the Damascus Governorate.
Roya News
3 days ago
- Roya News
Netanyahu's son buys UK apartment under different name
Avner Netanyahu, son of 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, purchased a 502,500 pound (approximately USD 680,000) apartment in Oxford, UK, in October 2022 using a different legal name, according to a report by the 'Israeli' business newspaper Calcalist published Wednesday. The purchase came during a period of economic instability in the UK, shortly after then-Prime Minister Liz Truss unveiled a controversial mini-budget that caused the British pound to plummet. Avner Netanyahu reportedly paid just under 2 million shekels (USD 593,170), narrowly avoiding the 'Israeli' tax authority's threshold for reporting foreign assets, which is set at 2 million shekels. Calcalist revealed that had the purchase been made just 10 days earlier or later, the value of the apartment would have surpassed the reporting threshold, requiring disclosure to 'Israeli' tax officials. The property was bought under the name Avi Avner Segal, a legal alias Avner adopted using his paternal grandmother's maiden name, the report said. The acquisition was reportedly made in cash, without the need for a mortgage. Avner Netanyahu defended both the alias and the purchase, telling Calcalist that the name change was legally registered with 'Israel's' interior ministry. "I changed my name on my ID card at the Israeli interior ministry, and then changed my passport and driver's licence. It's a package deal," he said. "We reported everything that was necessary to the tax authorities in Israel and Britain. All of my conduct was legal, both here and there." Currently working at Strategy&, a strategic consulting firm within PwC, Avner explained that the name change was motivated by security concerns. At the time of the purchase, his father was the opposition leader, and his request for Shin Bet protection while studying abroad had been denied. "I didn't have security at the time," he said. "I knew that if I walked around with that name, in another country with Muslims, I would get stabbed by the first person who heard it at a train station." As of 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's annual salary is reported to be at least USD 150,000. The purchase and use of an alias have raised questions about legal thresholds and transparency but remain within the bounds of the law according to Avner Netanyahu's statements.
