Jordan looks for US$6bn investment

Investors from the GCC look set to begin a mad dash to acquire a foothold in Jordan’s economy as the Hashemite Kingdom invites offers for private companies to take a stake in key infrastructure projects.

Jordan will embark this year on a five year plan to lease key utilities and infrastructure, including airports, to investors and expects investments worth USD6bn, the Privatisation Commission’s head said on Tuesday.

Mohammad Abu Hammour, the head of Jordan’s Executive Privatisation Commission, said the “public private partnership” strategy to be launched in March would outline opportunities for international investors to run ports, utilities, postal services and public transport. “So our estimate for the coming five years is that we will have no less than USD6bn of public private partnership projects,” Abu Hammour said, referring to deals such as Build Operate Transfer (BOT).