Investors: Jordan an 'Attractive' Investment Hub for Key Sectors

Amman, April 8 (Petra) — Local and foreign investors told a session at the Economic Forum for Diplomatic Missions in Jordan that the Kingdom offers a "competitive" investment environment capable of attracting capital across pharmaceuticals, garments and information technology. The session, titled "Success Stories of Jordanian and Foreign Investors in the Kingdom," was held on the sidelines of the forum and brought together company executives and investors who cited royal support, free trade agreements and a supportive regulatory framework as key advantages.

"Jordan provides a 'favorable' environment for the pharmaceutical industry," said Tareq Darwazeh, Chief Operating Officer for the MENA region at Hikma Pharmaceuticals.

Context and details

Darwazeh highlighted the role of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, the Kingdom’s free trade agreements and Jordan’s membership in the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) as factors that facilitate access to global markets. He said Jordan’s infrastructure and regulatory framework enable the production of high-quality medicines that meet international standards, positioning the country as a regional hub serving Arab and global markets.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals, founded in 1978, now operates in more than 50 countries and produces a "wide range of innovative and advanced" treatments, with exports reaching the United States and European markets in line with strict quality and safety standards, Darwazeh noted.

Indian investor Sanal Kumar, chairman of Classic Fashion Apparel Industry, described Jordan as a "strategic" destination for garment manufacturing, pointing to free trade agreements, a business-friendly climate and government support. Kumar said the company, established in Jordan in 2003, employs 36,000 workers, including 8,000 Jordanians, and recorded sales exceeding $1.05 billion in 2025 with projections rising to $1.2 billion in 2026. He urged further sector development to attract more investment and boost industry output to over $8 billion by 2033.

Rami Qawasmi, CEO of Mawdoo3.com, underlined advances in Jordan’s information technology and entrepreneurship sectors, driven by artificial intelligence, data utilization and digital transformation. Qawasmi highlighted "strong" support from "His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II," and said government incentives and legislation have enabled startups to scale locally and regionally. He added that Jordan continues to offer "significant" investment opportunities, especially through regional market integration and partnerships with global firms focusing on Arabic content and AI to enhance competitiveness.

• Session: "Success Stories of Jordanian and Foreign Investors in the Kingdom" (Economic Forum for Diplomatic Missions in Jordan)
• Hikma Pharmaceuticals: founded 1978; operates in more than 50 countries; exports to US and Europe
• Classic Fashion Apparel Industry: founded in Jordan 2003; 36,000 employees (8,000 Jordanians); sales > $1.05 billion in 2025; projected $1.2 billion in 2026; target industry output > $8 billion by 2033
• Key enablers cited: Jordan Food and Drug Administration, PIC/S membership, free trade agreements, royal support

Outlook

The forum, organized by the Jordanian Businessmen Association in cooperation with the Ministries of Investment and Foreign and Expatriates Affairs under the theme "Investment for the Future," framed these sector successes as a platform for further growth. Speakers recommended continued development of regulatory capacity, targeted incentives and deeper regional and international partnerships to expand exports, scale digital services and attract additional foreign direct investment into pharmaceuticals, garments and technology.