Jordan offers opportunities to U.S. companies in sectors ranging from safety and security, medical technologies, information communications and technology, water technologies, and agriculture. To supplement the government’s limited resources for public infrastructure funding, some projects are being implemented as public-private partnerships. Market opportunities (export and project-based) highlighted in the guide include, but are not limited to:
Safety & Security
As the Jordanian government prioritizes security, there is strong demand for imported defense and security equipment. The market is comprised of four main segments: premises security, personal protection, security services operations, and firefighting. Primary end-users include government facilities, banks, hospitals, hotels/resorts, universities, as well as residential and commercial spaces.
ICT
The Information Communications and Technology (ICT) sector is highly competitive and one of the fastest growing sectors in Jordan’s economy, with over $3.3 billion in revenues, accounting for more than 25,000 jobs. There are approximately 1,000 companies operating in telecom, IT, online and mobile content, business outsourcing, and games development. Key partnerships can yield opportunities to access domestic and regional markets.
Medical Technologies
Jordan’s healthcare spending is over 9 percent of its GDP, and nearly 60 percent of the country’s pharmaceuticals and medical equipment is imported. Jordan is a regional leader for the provision of medical services, and a popular destination for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals seeking affordable and quality treatment, which creates demand for advanced medical technologies, supplies, and equipment. U.S. firms will also find market interest in e-health solutions, healthcare management systems, and software.
Water Technologies
As one of the most water scarce countries in the world, there is market demand for solutions that contribute to addressing Jordan’s long-term water security. U.S. firms will find both export and project-based business opportunities involving infrastructure development, smart water technologies (systems that automate monitoring and metering, treatment, distribution, loss, and leakage) as well as training and consultation services associated with water conservation, wastewater treatment, and desalination.
Energy
Over the past decade, Jordan has invested in renewable energy, including wind and solar. These rapid developments, coupled with weaker than expected demand, created excess electricity grid capacity. However, given Jordan’s strong potential to increase renewable energy production and ultimately export it, U.S. firms should continue monitoring the market over the medium-term, to include potential openings for energy storage solutions and hydrogen production. Technologies and services related to efficiency gains, including smart metering and grid management, may also find market opportunities.
Agriculture
Jordan is a net food-importing country, with a growing market of over 11 million consumers, including refugees. Jordan has increasingly westernized consumer tastes and imports up to 98 percent of consumable items from abroad, including wheat, barley, sugar, rice, powdered milk, tea, coffee, corn, vegetable oil (excluding olive oil), cheese, chickpeas, vermicelli, and lentils. Jordan also imports value-added products such as tree nuts, and to a lesser extent, poultry, and poultry products.