King, Norwegian monarch attend Jordan-Norway Business Forum

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and King Harald V of Norway on Monday attended the opening session of the Jordan-Norway Business Forum: Discovering Future Partnerships.

 Her Majesty Queen Rania, Queen Sonja of Norway, and HRH Prince Ali, the escort of honour, also attended the opening of the forum, held with the participation of business leaders from Jordan and Norway to explore cooperation in renewable energy, water technology, tourism, cancer treatment, women empowerment, music and art, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The forum featured the announcement that Jordan has joined the Digital Public Goods Alliance and Platform, founded by Norway and UNICEF, to support entrepreneurship in the Kingdom, and ease companies’ access to funding and networking with experts from around the world, the statement said. 

In her speech at the opening session, Queen Sonja noted that for many Norwegians, Jordan is a place where “a fascinating history, a rich culture and a dramatic natural environment meet in a peaceful corner of this part of the world”.

The queen added that the impression Norwegians have of Jordan has been shaped by the many colourful images they have seen in films shot in the Kingdom, noting, “Jordan has given generations of cinema-goers unforgettable memories. The kind of images dreams are made of.”

She said the business forum shows the common interest between Jordan and Norway in building partnerships based on shared experiences and ambitions, voicing hope that this state visit will help strengthen bilateral and economic ties, the statement said.

Queen Sonja said the Norwegian business delegation will explore opportunities for cooperation with Jordan in areas like tourism, cancer treatment, renewable energy, agriculture, and digital technology.

For her part, Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Iselin Nybø underscored the value of capitalising on opportunities in Jordan and Norway to enhance cooperation through partnerships, especially in business, innovation and trade.

She asserted the foundations for creating these partnerships are available, commending Jordan’s highly educated population and stressing the important role of the private sector in unleashing the creativity and potential of youth.

Nybø also praised Jordan’s rapidly improving business environment and noted the Kingdom as a beacon of stability in the region, according to the statement

Also speaking at the opening session, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Tariq Hammouri voiced hope that the forum will open new doors for cooperation, especially between the private sectors of the two countries.

Hammouri emphasised the need for a strategic vision to guide economic cooperation and increase the trade volume between the two countries to reach its true potential, noting Jordan’s efforts to improve the business environment and increase its competitive edge as a regional and international investment destination.

He said the Kingdom has witnessed a record number of home-based business registrations last year and a significant increase in the registered capital of companies and individual businesses.

Regarding the ease of doing business, Hammouri explained that economic reforms implemented over the past year helped Jordan rise 29 ranks on the Doing Business Report 2020, making it among the top three countries in terms of business climate improvement.

Hammouri highlighted Jordan as a regional hub for innovation, research and development, underscoring available opportunities in health, education, renewable energy, tourism, ICT and industry.

Videos screened at the forum’s opening session highlighted success stories from Norway in a number of sectors in which the two countries can cooperate.