ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Jordan-EU Investment Conference is an opportunity for European companies to “start investing and use Jordan as a hub for their future expansion”. This is the opinion of Jordanian Investment Minister Tareq Abu Ghazaleh, who in an interview with Italpress spoke about the Jordan-EU Investment Conference, scheduled for April 21 on the shores of the Dead Sea.
The event is part of a new chapter in relations between Amman and Brussels, opened on January 29, 2025, with the consolidation of a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership (SCP). A year later, on January 8, 2026, a new milestone was reached with the Jordan-EU bilateral summit, attended by Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa on behalf of the European institutions, while Jordan was represented directly by King Abdullah II.
This stage, according to Minister Abu Ghazaleh, represents “a very important moment” for the implementation of the agreement itself. “The Conference will focus on two main aspects in April: the first is the modernization of Jordan’s economy, where we are embarking on a new economic vision that includes greater support for the private sector and domestic investment. The second aspect concerns using Jordan as a gateway for the development and reconstruction of all neighboring countries such as Iraq, Syria, and, hopefully, in the near future, the West Bank and Gaza. Participating in this event is a profitable opportunity for the entire private sector”, the minister noted, specifying that €1.4 billion in financial assistance is also planned “so that European companies can expand, begin investing, and use Jordan as a hub for their future expansion”.
Among the sectors that will be highlighted are infrastructure, energy, and technology. “We have comprehensively analyzed our economy and identified several sectors we would like investors to focus on. The possibility of private sector tenders will be announced approximately next month”, Abu Ghazaleh said.
In infrastructure, the minister sees “a major shift in our logistics and transportation network and a major opportunity for several projects, including railways, dry ports, and cargo airports“. The second sector, energy, has seen Jordan as a hub of excellence for over 20 years.
“We are leading in energy diversification, with nearly 27% of our resources coming from sustainable sources. There will be a strong focus on solar energy, hydropower, as well as storage and combined-cycle electricity generation. We are determined to strengthen our position to continue to be a leader in this sector in the Middle East”, Abu Ghazaleh noted.
The third sector, technology, is considered by the minister to be “essential” for employment in the country. “Jordan boasts a wealth of young talent and has been present in the regional market for many years. For example, in the last five years, the majority of large companies or startups that have transitioned to a more mature investment stage is essentially Jordanian—27 out of 100—and this despite Jordan representing only 3% of the Arab world’s population”, the minister noted. Regarding relations with Italy, Abu Ghazaleh described them as “excellent” since the Kingdom’s founding.
“Our first political and economic relationship dates back to 1949, so we have surpassed 75 years of partnership and good relations. Recently, we have sought to intensify economic cooperation, without neglecting other aspects such as tourism, social welfare, education, and other subsectors,” Abu Ghazaleh continued.
“The trade balance is skewed in Italy’s favor, but in recent years we have seen significant growth in our exports. For example, in 2024 our exports were around 60 million euros, while last year we reached 200 million”, the minister explained. Beyond the economic sphere, the similarities are strong in terms of values and education.
“Jordan also has a rich Roman history and culture, which represents an excellent starting point for building further relations in tourism and education. A good portion of our students study Italian, which allows for a broader exchange of ideas and the ever-increasing construction of partnerships, which can be more like a twinning than two individual entities,” Abu Ghazaleh commented.
“We are proud of all this, and it has the blessing of both the highest political authorities: His Majesty King Abdullah and Prime Minister Meloni, who are always pushing for better coordination and an increase in relations. These will have an impact not only on the economy, but also on the quality of life of our citizens”, concluded the Jordanian minister.
-Photo Italpress-
(ITALPRESS).
