Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Al-Qudah said the government is preparing to launch a package of major projects in partnership with the private sector over the next three to four years, with estimated investments of around $10 billion under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
He said the projects would provide a strong boost to the national economy, stimulate investment and create job opportunities.
Speaking during a recent morning business meeting organized by the Jordanian Businessmen Association, Al-Qudah said the projects would cover water, energy, transport, infrastructure and public services.
Among the key projects are the National Water Carrier and a natural gas pipeline designed to transport gas from the Risha gas field to various parts of the Kingdom.
Al-Qudah expected the gas pipeline project to raise Jordan’s natural gas self-sufficiency rate to around 80% by 2028. Exploration activities are continuing in areas surrounding the Risha field, which could provide opportunities to increase domestic natural gas production in the coming years.
He also described the Airport City project as a strategic development initiative aimed at creating an integrated urban and economic center offering a modern environment for living, working and investment. The project is expected to help accommodate urban growth, ease pressure on Amman and create new economic and development opportunities.
Positive Economic Indicators
Al-Qudah said recent economic indicators reflected the strength of Jordan’s economy and its ability to maintain growth despite regional challenges and global economic conditions.
He said the government seeks to maintain and strengthen this upward trend, building on positive economic and sectoral indicators recorded during the first half of the current year.
Export performance, he said, was among the most significant positive indicators. Total exports increased by more than 14% during the first half of the year compared with the same period last year, following growth of approximately 11.5% in 2025 compared with 2024. This marks a continuation of export momentum for a second consecutive year.
National exports grew by 6.2%, reflecting an increase in locally manufactured or produced goods destined for foreign markets. Re-exports rose by 44%, which Al-Qudah said demonstrated Jordan’s progress in strengthening its position as a regional logistics and trade hub serving markets across the region.
He noted that these results were achieved despite regional challenges affecting supply chains, transportation and logistics services, as well as increasing competition in global markets. He said this demonstrated the ability of Jordan’s private sector to adapt and maintain access to international markets.
Aqaba Port Efficiency Improves
Al-Qudah said Aqaba Port had recorded a notable improvement in operational efficiency, with container handling volumes rising by more than 5% during the first nine months of the year compared with the same period last year.
He said the increase reflected improved logistics performance and the port’s ability to accommodate growing trade activity.
The diversity of Jordanian exports is also a key strength of the national economy, Al-Qudah said, noting that more than 12 industrial sectors recorded export growth during the recent period. This, he added, strengthens the economy’s ability to withstand external fluctuations and reduces reliance on a limited number of products or markets.
Expanding Export Markets
The government is simultaneously working to expand Jordan’s export market base through trade agreements and preferential treatment for Jordanian products in targeted markets, benefiting from the Kingdom’s network of free-trade agreements with the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Arab countries and Canada.
Al-Qudah said the government is also seeking to open new and non-traditional markets for Jordanian exports. He announced plans to sign two preferential trade agreements before the end of this year.
The first is with Rwanda, opening new opportunities in East and Central African markets, while the second is with Uzbekistan, which could serve as a gateway for Jordanian exports to Central Asian markets.
He also revealed that talks had begun with the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes several major countries in the region, with the aim of reaching a preferential trade agreement that would facilitate Jordanian products’ access to new markets with strong purchasing power and promising growth opportunities.
Al-Qudah said the government’s economic strategy is based on two main pillars: diversifying export markets and opening new destinations for Jordanian exports, and diversifying exported products while increasing domestic value added.
He stressed that the government would continue implementing its economic programs in partnership with the private sector to promote economic growth, increase exports, stimulate investment and improve the competitiveness of the national economy, in line with the objectives of the Economic Modernisation Vision.
Source: Jordan Gazette Agency (Petra)
Related Stories
