The Jordan-European Investment Conference will be held next November at a critical juncture for the Jordanian economy. The timing is of utmost importance as it gains significant dimension; while the region is undergoing a state of severe turmoil and volatility, Jordan is inviting European Union countries to present investment opportunities in various sectors. Therefore, the conference will not merely be a platform to attract new investments, but an opportunity to rebuild the economic relationship between Jordan and the European Union based on investment, production, trade, and technology transfer. The importance of the conference is further enhanced by the strategic and comprehensive partnership between Jordan and the EU, and the financial and investment framework it provides, which can support long-term projects.
Jordan is preparing to present a portfolio of investment opportunities valued at nearly $15 billion, distributed across 15 sectors and sub-sectors. The largest share is concentrated in two main files: the first is energy and mining at about $7.1 billion, and the second is transport and railways at about $3.56 billion, in addition to logistics services at about $1.61 billion, as well as tourism, water, industry, the digital economy, and others. This reflects the diversity of opportunities, but it also reflects a clear focus on sectors that can transform the productive capacity of the economy.
It is important, first of all, to distinguish between the value of investment opportunities and the value of
actual investments. The $15 billion is not money that has already entered the Jordanian economy, but rather the value of projects and opportunities being presented to investors. Therefore, the success of the conference will be measured by the volume of projects that move from the presentation stage to the signing of agreements, financial closing, and implementation.
The importance of European investment lies in the fact that it does not only provide capital, but can also provide technology, management expertise, markets, and value chains. This is important for
Jordan, which needs to raise productivity, increase exports, and create job opportunities with higher added value. Therefore, the goal must be to attract productive investments rather than just increasing the volume of investment flows.
Jordan possesses a number of advantages that can make it an important investment destination for the European investor, foremost among them political stability under the leadership of His Majesty the King, in addition to its location connecting Arab and regional markets, human capital, growing capabilities in the technology and digital services sector, and a network of trade agreements. However, these advantages need to be supported by a competitive business environment, stable legislation, speed in licensing, and a reduction in the costs of doing business, energy, and transport.
Industry stands out as one of the most important areas that can benefit from European investments. Naturally, the requirement is that investment should not be limited to production for the local market, but that Jordan should transform into a production and export base. Partnerships with European companies can combine technology, capital, and European markets on one hand, and Jordanian human resources, location, and production capabilities on the other. This would improve product quality, reduce production costs, and increase the ability to access European markets.
Furthermore, the growth of Jordanian exports to the European Union confirms that there is room
for expansion. Jordanian exports to EU countries reached about 624 million dinars during 2025, and reached about 318 million dinars during the first half of 2026. Therefore, the fundamental question when attracting the European investor must be: What can we produce in Jordan and export to Europe?
As for converting investment opportunities into actual projects, it requires project readiness for financing, clear feasibility studies, viable financial models, a clear distribution of risks, and speed in government procedures. The role of European and international financial institutions is also important in providing funding, mitigating risks, and assisting in reaching financial closure.
At the sector level, energy and mining appear to be among the most important drivers of growth, not only because of the volume of investments on offer, but because of their impact on the rest of the economy. Low-cost energy raises industrial competitiveness, and mining can achieve greater added value if Jordan moves from exporting raw materials to manufacturing them.
Projects in transport, railways, and logistics also represent an opportunity to turn Jordan's geographical location into a real economic advantage by reducing transport costs and connecting production areas to markets and ports. As for water, it is not just an environmental issue; it has become a determining factor for economic growth, making desalination, loss reduction, and water reuse projects strategic investments.
The digital economy represents another important opportunity, especially since Jordan possesses a qualified human base that could allow it to expand exports of digital services, software, and artificial intelligence. As for green hydrogen, it could be an important future opportunity, but its success requires low-cost renewable energy, water, infrastructure, long-term markets, and appropriate financing.
Again, the success of the Jordan-European Investment Conference should not be measured by the number of opportunities announced or their financial value, but by Jordan's ability to turn these opportunities into productive projects. The real criterion is how much these investments will add to the GDP, exports, job opportunities, productivity, technology transfer, and the reduction of the import bill.
