WEF to host special session on Jordan investment opportunities

AMMAN — The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa (WEF-MENA), which will be held on the shores of the Dead Sea May 21-23, will feature a special session on Jordan titled “Jordan Relaunched”.

Official sources told The Jordan Times that the event, scheduled for Friday, will be a key session in this year’s meeting.

His Majesty King Abdullah is expected to address the forum at the opening ceremony on Friday.

According to the sources, the “Jordan Relaunched” session “kicks off a campaign to revitalise the country’s economy and feature significant investment opportunities in seven vital sectors: energy, transport, urban development, water, infrastructure, tourism and ICT.”

The campaign “taps into the country’s value propositions for investors in the MENA region: strategic location, forward-looking leadership, highly competitive labour force, multiple international and regional free trade agreements, solid growth trajectory and leading market position in ICT, pharmaceuticals, financial services and banking, medical services and education”.

This is the 9th time WEF-MENA will be held in Jordan.

This year, the event brings together over 800 business and political leaders as well as representatives of civil society, international organisations and youths from over 50 countries.

This year’s meeting tackles the theme “Creating a Regional Framework for Prosperity and Peace through Public-Private Cooperation”.

The sources said that WEF’s returning to Jordan for the 9th time “sends a clear message that Jordan is stable and open to attract new partners and investments”.

Economic experts and leading businessmen agreed (see separate story).

“WEF provides a platform to showcase Jordan’s economic potential and announce numerous economic deals, projects and partnerships that will have a tangible and positive impact on Jordan’s economy.”

This year’s WEF-MENA will witness increased high-profile local participation, the sources said, adding that Her Majesty Queen Rania and HRH Crown Prince Hussein will take part, along with strong representation from the government, including Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.

Key international and regional participants, who have confirmed their participation, include heads of state and senior officials from Arab and foreign countries. 

In a previous statement, Planning and International Cooperation Minister and Chairperson of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) Imad Fakhoury, whose institution co-organises the event said: “The theme and topics of this year’s WEF-MENA meeting reflect Jordan’s deep commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and realising its true potential through building productive partnerships for sustainable and inclusive development as well as investing in human capital and talents.” 

WEF-MENA was last hosted in Jordan in 2013 in partnership with KAFD. 

WEF is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship. It engages with business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

KAFD was established by a Royal Decree in 2001 as a non-governmental organisation. Its aim was to support the Jordanian community by driving human and infrastructure development. 

KAFD also works to further develop key sectors in Jordan and improve local standards of living for all segments of the Jordanian community, targeting individuals, public and private sectors and civil society organisations.