Jordan unveils new investment incentives and infrastructure plans to boost foreign capital

In an interview, Investment Minister Tareq Abughazaleh outlined Jordan's strategy to make the country more appealing to foreign capital by cutting red tape and expanding fiscal incentives. Regulation No. 30, effective June 4, reduces the qualifying expansion threshold and adds technology upgrades and R&D to the definition of development, while a digital licensing platform now handles over 47,000 transactions in six months.

The government highlighted the National Conveyance Project, a 30-year public-private partnership for seawater desalination and transport, backed by a consortium led by Meridiam and SUEZ and supported by multilateral lenders. New gas legislation creates an open-access regime for green-hydrogen and ammonia projects, offering a reduced 5% income-tax rate and other exemptions. Rail infrastructure linking Jordan with the UAE, valued at roughly $2.5 billion for its first phase, is also underway, alongside reforms to the capital market that ease foreign portfolio investment and improve exit options. Together, these measures aim to position Jordan as a regional hub for technology, manufacturing and logistics.