Commerce leaders value King's economic, investment roadmap

AMMAN — The Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) described His Majesty King Abdullah's recent Royal directives in Aqaba as an enlightening roadmap to address imbalances in the Kingdom.

Noting that the guidelines aim at removing obstacles impeding the expansion of investment and economic activities, the ACC board of directors stressed in a statement that the Royal course of action must quickly be translated into immediate development on the ground so that it can be felt by both the citizens and investors.

"The current economic condition requires non-traditional mechanisms that contribute to stimulating the economy, executing investment transactions, and attracting foreign investors to the Kingdom," ACC President Issa Murad and the board said in the statement.

It added that the King pinpointed the economic hindrances facing local and foreign private sectors, as  impediments include complicated formal procedures that drive away investors and make them view the investment environment in Jordan negatively at a time when he personally strives to lure major world corporations to invest in Jordan. 

Murad and the board stressed His Majesty's efforts to enhance the security and stability of the Kingdom, realising that the biggest challenge facing Jordan is economy, creating job opportunities, and fighting poverty. 

They added that the King urged the government to prioritise economic issues on  top of its work and plans, which requires the government to review all its mechanisms in dealing with the investment environment and investors, as well as enhancing its partnership with the private sector.

The ACC's board of directors considered that the King's clear directives to the government can make Jordan a vital economic model in the region, especially under His Majesty's wise policies that make Jordan a destination for every Arab and foreign tourist and investor.

The ACC called for training employees at official institutions to be able to deal with investment procedures and view investors as partners in the economic and development process instead of dealing treating them with doubt and suspicion.

“This requires official stakeholders to work again, in cooperation with the private sector, to make programmes that enhance the efficiency of public sector employees and conduct regular evaluation of their work,” the statement concluded.