Investment minister meets CEOs of US companies

AMMAN — Investment Minister Khuloud Saqqaf on Tuesday met with a high-level delegation of CEOs from leading US companies, currently visiting the Kingdom to explore potential investment opportunities and prospects.

The delegation, representing a diverse range of investment sectors such as energy, ICT, education, technology, defence, and training, is in Jordan under the coordination of the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The delegation will visit various ministries and institutions in both the public and private sectors, to enhance communication channels and attract more US investments to the Kingdom.

Saqqaf emphasised the need to strengthen investment and economic ties between Jordan and the US in future phases. 

She also highlighted the Free Trade Agreement with the US, which has significantly boosted trade volume between the two nations, describing it as one of the most effective agreements for encouraging investors to establish new ventures in Jordan.

 She further noted that His Majesty King Abdullah has laid robust foundations for integrating Jordan into the global economy through a network of trade agreements with various economic blocs, providing Jordanian exports with new avenues to reach non-traditional markets.

Saqqaf also pointed out that Jordan stands as one of the Arab countries with the most extensive network of trade agreements worldwide, reaching over 1.5 billion consumers.

The minister also outlined key reforms implemented by the government to enhance the investment environment, aligning with the Economic Modernisation Vision 2033. 

She also underscored the improvements in national economic indicators over the past year, including satisfactory economic growth rates, the lowest inflation rates compared with other regional and global countries, and maintaining comfortable foreign currency reserves.

Saqqaf also highlighted the recent upgrade of Jordan’s credit rating from B1 to BA3 with a stable outlook by Moody’s, adding that this upgrade is expected to bolster Jordan’s position as an attractive and safe investment destination.

Members of the delegation commended the Kingdom’s stable and secure environment and the reforms implemented to enhance the business environment and their role in economic development, expressing their commitment to promoting Jordan’s investment environment within the US corporate sector.

The BCIU, a non-partisan US-based organisation, comprises 200 major US companies and aims to expand international trade and provide essential services to enable companies to pursue global growth opportunities. 

The council also engages multinational companies in promoting international trade and investment by facilitating mutually beneficial relationships among businesspeople and government leaders worldwide.