CAFRAJ Hosts Power Breakfast Featuring New French Ambassador And Jordan's Trade Minister

(MENAFN- Amman Net) Jordan's Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply, Yarub Qudah, announced that the kingdom's economy continues to show resilience despite regional instability. Speaking at the Power Breakfast organized by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jordan (CAFRAJ), Qudah reported GDP growth of 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025-exceeding IMF projections-alongside a 9% rise in exports, a 10% increase in foreign direct investment, and a 33% surge in container traffic through Aqaba Port.

“Even with regional instability, Jordan has demonstrated that investor confidence remains strong,” Qudah said.

The minister highlighted the government's Economic Modernization Vision, first launched in 2022 and updated in 2025 with input from the private sector. He described the strategy as a detailed roadmap comprising more than 800 projects, each with clear budgets, timelines, and performance indicators, which are monitored directly by ministers, the Prime Minister, and the Royal Court.

CAFRAJ Executive Director Ibrahim Kattan opened the event by welcoming participants and introducing France's new ambassador to Jordan, Alexis Loukouar Grandmezon, who assumed his post earlier this month.

A veteran diplomat with decades of service across the Middle East, Grandmezon underlined France's enduring role as Jordan's top European investor.“France is the leading European investor in Jordan, with a portfolio of $1.5 billion and annual investments of $140 million,” he said, pointing to flagship projects such as the As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant and Queen Alia International Airport. He noted that French companies in Jordan employ around 60,000 people, including 30,000 women, and remain committed to training, local sourcing, and social responsibility.

Grandmezon also praised Jordan's economic resilience, citing the IMF's continued backing and the EU's €3 billion financing package signed earlier this year. He highlighted recent French participation in strategic projects, including the National Water Conveyor and the extension of the Queen Alia Airport concession.

The Jordanian minister announced a 33% increase in containers being unloaded in Aqaba, saying that 25% of those containers are transit to and through Syria.

Turning to trade, Qudah emphasized the importance of Jordan's relationship with the EU and called for simplified rules of origin to help Jordanian exports expand further. He noted that bilateral trade with France remains modest-valued at $250 million annually, with only 10% representing Jordanian exports-and urged efforts to balance the trade relationship.

In answer to a question from AmmanNet, the minister said that despite the 15% US tariff on Jordan, it is still able to be competitive in the textile exports to the US in comparison with big exporters in East Asia like Vietnam and others. He said he plans to visit eastern Asia to offer cooperation with those countries.

During a Q&A session, the minister addressed questions about U.S. tariffs, export competitiveness, and job creation in the apparel sector. He stressed that attracting more investment, particularly in manufacturing and downstream industries, was essential to generating employment and increasing local added value.

The event concluded with discussions on how to deepen Franco-Jordanian economic ties and enhance the private sector's role in driving sustainable growth.

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