"Independence stands for the sacrifices made by our forefathers to liberate the national will and build a better future", Amb. Al-Nahar

Despite of its luncheon reception to commemorate Jordan's 68th Independence Day, Amb. Omar Al-Nahar, Embassy of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Seoul, had a considerable number of good friends of Jordan who attended the function.
In a commemorating diplomatic gathering held on June 10th luncheon, 2014, at the downtown Lotte Hotel Seoul, he asked first of all for a moment of silence in tribute to departed Amb. Jad El Hassan of Lebanon who died due to a sudden car accident.
Many envoys who included Amb. Mohamed Salim Alharthy of Oman, Amb. Ahmad Al Barrak of Saudi, Amb. Mohammed Chraibi of Morocco & Amb. Hocine Sahraoui of Algeria etc. from Middle East & Africa region, joined the gathering. Harlow International Korea, KOIMA, Hyundai E&C, Daewoo E&C etc. sent their congratulating wreaths to the venue of the function.

▲ With African colleague envoys, Amb. Omar Al-Nahar of Jordan (center) observes its 68th Independence Day.

Before we begin, I should like to ask you to for a moment of silence in tribute to departed Ambassador Jad El Hassan of Lebanon, whom I am sure we all miss.

Thank you. Khamsa Hamnida.

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate,

On behalf of Jordan, a warm welcome to you all dear friends.

We meet today as Jordan celebrates its dearest national occasion, its independence.

As His Majesty King Abdullah II said: Independence stands for the sacrifices made by our forefathers to liberate the national will and build a better future. It embodies sacrifice, belonging and a sense of responsibility to build our homeland and preserve its security, stability and achievements.

He also said that what makes Jordan is; moderation and openness, respect for others, inclusiveness and concern for the future.

In Korea today we are celebrating Jordan’s past, present and future. For that and for the challenges and opportunities that we share, which are not unique to any one country in the interconnected world we live in, I call on you to embrace optimism, hope and the promise of a better future.

Please enjoy yourselves.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

▲ Amb. Al-Nahar of Jordan (second from left) celebrates its 68th Independence with local guests during the function.

With the establishment of the Investment Promotion Law in 1995, and with other subsequent actions designed to enhance the investment environment, Jordan has opened its economy to the wealth and prosperity business and investment should bring.

The Investment Promotion Law grants generous and attractive incentives to domestic as well as international investors in terms of: freedom from customs duties, tax holidays, income tax exemptions and unrestricted transfer of capital and profits. The implementation of this law is vested in the Jordan Investment Board, which is the only national entity responsible for promoting and facilitating investment in Jordan. The law irrevocably affirms that both Jordanian and non-Jordanian investors are treated equally.

10 Reasons to Invest in Jordan

1. Unique and Strategic Location
. Situated at the convergence of Europe, Asia and Africa.
. Transportation hub of the Middle East.
. Access to the Red Sea through the Port of Aqaba, and other ports
. via neighboring countries.

2. Stable Political Environment
. Dedicated and stable leadership in the Hashemite monarchy, supported by a democratically elected Parliament.
. Guaranteed freedom of belief, speech, press, association and private property.
. Firm commitment to private enterprise system.

3. Free Market Oriented Economy
. Economic policies based on outward-oriented, private sector led approach.
. Ongoing privatization of major state-owned enterprises.
. Significant advances in structural and legal reform.

4. A Package of Incentives and Exemptions to Encourage Investment
. Projects are exempted from income & social services taxes by 25%, 50%,
or 75% for a ten year period, depending on the location and sector of the project.
. Imported fixed assets are 100% exempted from customs duties and taxes.
. Imported spare parts for fixed assets are exempted from fees and taxes, up
to 15% of the total cost of the fixed asset.
. Additional exemption from customs duties and income tax is granted for the expansion, modernization, or development of existing projects.
. Hotels and hospitals may purchase furniture and supplies without custom duties once every seven years for renewal purposes.

5. Access to Major International Markets
. Access to the US market, the free trade agreement that was ratified in 2001.
. Duty & quota free access to the US market through the Qualifying
Industrial Zones (QIZ).
. Duty free access to EU markets.
. Access to more than 10 Arab countries through the Arab Free Trade Agreement.
. Bilateral agreements and favorable protocols with over 20 countries.
. Member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

6. Free Zones and Industrial Estates
. The Free Zones Corporation manages four fully operational industrial parks located in Amman, Aqaba and Zarqa.
. Nine private free zones in Jordan employ over 4,000 people in industries such as chemicals, fertilizers, and meat packing.
. The Industrial Estate Corporation manages four fully operational industrial parks in Amman, Irbid, Al Karak, and Aqaba.
. Private industrial parks, Al Tajamouat, Ad-Dulayl, Gateway, Al-Mushatta, Al-Qastal, and Cybercity which also enjoy QIZ designation.

7. Qualified and Competitive Human Resources
. Abundant and competitive workforce.
. Young and highly educated population.
. 89% of the population are literate.
. 17% of Jordanians receive higher education.
. Highly competitive wage rates.

8. World Class Infrastructure and Communications
. State telephone company operates on a commercial basis, with 40% of the company privatized.
. Choice of privately–owned Internet service providers.
. Direct Royal Jordanian flights to 47 major cities in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, North Africa, and North America, served by 26 international airlines.
. Modern highway network.
. Major trucking lines ensuring the movement of raw materials to and from the port of Aqaba as well as into and from ports of neighboring countries.
. Jordan’s port of Aqaba acts as a strategically located gateway to Jordan, the developing Red Sea region, and the Middle East as a whole.
. A telecom infrastructure that offers a wide range of services such as: PSTN; call free, digital leased lines, ISDN and ADSL services.
. Two satellite stations and two mobile operators providing GSM and GPRS services on the international level.

9. Attractive Investment Climate
. Income and social services tax incentives for up to 10 years.
. Total customs exemptions on imported fixed assets.
. Ease of licensing and registration procedures.
. Revenues on exports are exempted from income taxes until the end of 2002.
. Export industries are not subject to customs duties on imported raw materials.
. Free repatriation of capital, profits and salaries.

10. High Quality of Life
. Amenities of modern life are readily available and affordable.
. High quality public and private education provided in Arabic, English, and French.
. Health services in Jordan are of international standards at reasonable rates.
. Developed networking community, active local and international business associations and cultural centers.
. Traditional festivals, cultural entertainment events, and a wealth of archeological sites.
. Excellent clubs and restaurants.