00:00And now to the Middle East, but not to Iran.
00:03Jordan is looking to turn its partnership with the European Union into a major economic opportunity.
00:09With billions of euros on the table, Amman wants European investment in everything from energy and infrastructure to technology and
00:17logistics.
00:18But beyond the money, this is also about geopolitics.
00:22As wars and instability reshaped the Middle East, Jordan is positioning itself as a stable gateway between Europe, the Gulf
00:30and the wider region.
00:32So what does Jordan want from Brussels and what can it offer Europe in return?
00:37To learn more about this, I'm now joined by Jordan's investment minister, Tarek Abu Ghazali.
00:43Good morning, sir, and welcome to the program.
00:45Good morning, Stefan.
00:46So you're in Brussels asking Europe to invest more in your country.
00:52What is the single biggest reason for a European investor to put money in Jordan?
01:00Simply, any investor is looking for predictability.
01:03And due to what's happening not only in the region, in the whole world, growth is questionable now.
01:09And Jordan and Europe is working hard to elevate the comprehensive and strategic partnership to a level where there is
01:17a productive investment opportunity are available for investors to yield more growth and prosperity at the end of the day
01:28for all related nations.
01:29So the EU has committed around 3 billion euros to Jordan through 2027.
01:35What do you want from Brussels now that you're not getting from that package?
01:41Actually, we are having good talk with Brussels and we are working closely to make things happen properly.
01:49Now, Brussels is helping us on the technicalities of the investment opportunities, etc., and supporting us in bringing to the
02:01conference high-level officials, interested investors,
02:05to make sure that dialogue is transforming from only talks to potential deals that will support as well the continuity
02:15of businesses and the modernity of the economical situation in Jordan and the region.
02:22Plus, as you mentioned, Jordan is becoming the safe gateway to support all neighbouring countries, ensure there is more cohesion
02:31between the plans and the economic integration.
02:34If I may, on that point, as you say, Jordan sees itself as a hub, a wider gateway into the
02:42Middle East.
02:42But for investors, it's also a very unstable region.
02:49So why should they choose Jordan rather than avoiding the region altogether?
02:54Because the region has a lot of potential in the future, and instability will fade out soon.
03:05So you have to be ready in order to ensure you seize the opportunity from now.
03:12Plus, Jordan has eventually showed all the investors that we have a resilient economy.
03:19For example, our capital market grew 40% in the last year, despite all the instability in the market,
03:28and was named by Bloomberg as the first Arab productive and performance capital market.
03:37Our economy is growing steadily at 3%.
03:41We're going to be able to have a better place for the future.
03:44We're going to be able to have a better place for the future.
03:44We're going to be able to have a better place for the future.
