King wants investment attraction policy in place

AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday urged putting in place “investment-attracting measures that can address the challenges facing this vital sector”, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty made the remarks during a meeting with the head of the Investment Commission Muntaser Oqla, also attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and other commission members.

He told the officials that improving the investment landscape and preparing a proper climate to lure investors contributes to pushing the development process forward and addressing poverty and unemployment, he said, which would reflect positively on the living standards of citizens.

In this context, the King underlined the importance of partnership between all parties concerned with advancing the sector.

His Majesty and the officials went over the commission’s action programmes, highlighting their role as a reference for all investment-attraction efforts and calling for expediting the enactment of relevant by-laws and regulations and empowering all concerned to overcome present and future challenges. They also stressed the need to take swift steps to serve investors and facilitate their businesses in Jordan.

They described the new Investment Law as an important step to support national economy to become “the most attracting investment incubator”, given the stability and security Jordan boasts amid a turbulent region.

In his presentation, Oqla underlined the commission’s mission and mechanism of work, affiliated agencies and efforts to unify all investment-related efforts under one umbrella.

He also outlined the guidelines of the 2015 National Strategy on Investment, which, he said, will be inclusive of all aspects of the investment attraction process, including promotion plans that highlight Jordan’s competitive advantages as a destination for foreign investors.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, following the meeting, the commission chief said the King’s support singles his agency out as the “first and last reference” as far as investment is concerned, stressing that His Majesty believes that the commission “was established to succeed”.   

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.