LONDON, July 23 (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah II led a
delegation of top Jordanian executives to London on Thursday, joining
more than 100 corporate leaders to pitch the Hashemite Kingdom as a
stable industrial launchpad into the broader Middle East amid a
sweeping national drive to modernize its economy.

The UK-Jordan Business Forum – gathering leaders from over 40
Jordanian companies alongside 60 British counterparts – marks a
concerted push by Amman to translate decades of close political and
security alignment with London into deeper commercial integration.

The high-level royal involvement reflects a broader pivot toward
economic diplomacy as Jordan seeks to attract foreign direct
investment, boost high-value exports, and advance its multi-year
Economic Modernization Vision. By anchoring the private sector at the
center of its growth strategy, the Kingdom is signaling top-tier
state backing to reassure international investors navigating a
volatile regional landscape.

Capitalizing on Post-Brexit Trade Channels
The gathering served as a key operational step toward maximizing the
benefits of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement established following
Britain’s exit from the European Union. Delegations spanning
pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, information technology, and
manufacturing held structured business-to-business negotiations aimed
at establishing direct supply chains and joint ventures.

“Royal patronage provides essential momentum when advocating for
national capabilities on the world stage,” said Eng. Abdul Rahman Abu
Tair, a board member of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA)
and an executive in the UK-Jordanian energy sector. “The forum serves
as a high-level platform to translate bilateral goodwill into
tangible joint ventures across energy, technology, research, and
advanced services.”
Abu Tair emphasized the need to transition from initial promotional
phases to active execution, leveraging Jordan’s regulatory
predictability, geographic position, and skilled workforce. He also
highlighted the role of the Jordanian Embassy in London in
facilitating institutional networks, calling for similar trade
missions across major global financial capitals.

Securing Supply Chains and Regional Markets
For industrial leaders, Jordan’s primary value proposition lies in
its capacity to serve as a secure, duty-free manufacturing hub
serving surrounding regional markets.

“His Majesty’s presence alongside private enterprise reflects a
deeply rooted model of public-private integration designed to build
direct linkages with international decision-makers,” noted Hassan
Al-Smadi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Giant Industrial
Group.

Al-Smadi pointed to pharmaceuticals, food processing, chemicals,
detergents, information technology, digital services, energy,
infrastructure, textiles, and logistics as priority sectors poised to
capture greater market share. “Jordan is uniquely positioned to act
as a stable base for production, export, and supply chain management,
backed by trade agreements that grant preferential access across the
Middle East,” he added.

Addressing trade imbalances was a central theme among delegates.
While Britain represents a high-income consumer base of roughly 70
million, Jordanian exports to the UK remain relatively modest despite
tariff-free access.

Raed Al-Takrouri, Chief Executive of Al-Bahar Industrial and Trading
Group, noted that this dynamic presents significant headroom for
growth. “The tariff exemptions under our bilateral trade agreement,
paired with cost-competitive, highly qualified talent in engineering
and IT, give Jordanian producers a clear edge,” Al-Takrouri said. He
cited high-end specialty foods, sweets, and consumer goods as
immediate growth areas, particularly when targeting Britain’s sizable
diaspora communities.

Broadening the Industrial Footprint
Co-organized by the Amman Chamber of Industry, the forum featured
heavy representation from Jordan’s core resource and manufacturing
base, including its state-linked phosphate, potash, mining, chemical,
and engineering conglomerates.

Dr. Iyad Abu Haltam, President of the East Amman Industrial
Association and General Manager of Mohammad Abu Haltam Investment
Group, stressed that targeted corporate matchmaking is critical to
securing long-term foreign direct investment.

“The forum provides a structured framework for our chemical,
engineering, electrical, food processing, and packaging sectors to
secure commercial contracts,” Abu Haltam explained. “Our objective is
twofold: increase value-added exports to the UK and bring British
industrial partners directly into Jordanian economic zones.”

Executives underscored that Jordan’s domestic stability offers
foreign enterprises a low-risk entry point into adjacent markets
across the Levant and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

“Presence at the highest level of state injects vital confidence into
the business community,” said Eng. Ramzi Qandalaft, General Manager
of Al-Faiha for Engineering Industries. “Jordan stands out regionally
as a safe operational sanctuary. Investing in Jordanian capacity
provides seamless commercial access to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the
Gulf.”

Executing the Economic Vision
As global capital flows grow increasingly selective, Jordanian
business leaders noted that diplomatic momentum must be backed by
institutional follow-through and regulatory agility.

“Economic diplomacy has become an indispensable instrument of
statecraft,” stated Rami Al-Sahib, JBA Board Member and CEO of RZ
International and Bustami & Saheb Group. “Converting signed
memorandums of understanding into active, capital-generating projects
requires streamlined administrative processes, clear market
analytics, and dedicated post-forum execution.”

Delegates concluded the day by advocating for permanent joint working
committees to monitor commercial implementation, track capital
commitments, and formalize trade channels between Amman and London
over the coming decade.

//Petra// AA