Khaberni - The Minister of Government Communication, the official spokesperson for the government, Mohammad Al-Momani, stated that today, which saw the signing of the final legal agreement for the national water carrier project, is a historic and good day for Jordan.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Jaffer Hassan, Al-Momani drew attention to the strategic importance of this project in enhancing water security and providing a significant part of the drinking water needs that Jordan has suffered from over several decades.
Regarding water prices for citizens, Al-Momani pointed out that water is expensive. The cost of one cubic meter of water that the government will buy from the company executing the project, currently estimated at approximately 190 piastres, will be provided to citizens at a rate of 80 piastres according to consumer brackets. He mentioned that the government, represented by the Water Authority, will bear the costs of supporting water prices, meaning that the current debt of the Water Authority, estimated at 4 billion dinars and currently about 12% of the total public debt, will rise in absolute figures but will decrease after many years with the expansion of the economy, the establishment of other water projects, and the rationalisation of consumption and reducing the percentage of loss from water networks.
Al-Momani affirmed that Jordan continues to implement its major strategic projects despite regional challenges, emphasizing the importance of the project in achieving water sustainability.
The Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Mohannad Shehadeh, stated that signing the agreement today to start this strategic project is a success for the Jordanian economic model in achieving economic achievements of a qualitative nature, notably the Aqaba Railway and the national carrier, which are products of the economic modernization vision.
He said that the economic indicators achieved confirm the effectiveness of the Jordanian economic model in starting national projects of great importance in enhancing Jordan's regional and global status, despite all the circumstances and challenges due to the situation in the region.
Shehadeh added that the Aqaba Rail project is a cornerstone for a regional and global train network, which enhances Jordan's economic position, boosts the competitiveness of the national economy, and increases the attractiveness of the Kingdom for quality investments.
He emphasized the importance of the national carrier project in boosting water security and independence for the kingdom, noting that the vision includes many projects of importance in enhancing the national economy and its development.
The State Minister for Economic Affairs highlighted the main economic indicators that the Jordanian economy is achieving in terms of higher growth rates, increased exports, foreign reserve currencies, trading volume in the financial market, and licensed areas.
The Minister of Investment, Tarek Abu Ghazaleh, confirmed that the start of the national carrier and Aqaba Rail projects represents a new and important phase in achieving national projects that enhance Jordan's economic status.
He stated that the ministry is working on restructuring the investment strategy and institutionalizing it within a national government framework, contributing to enhancing the investment environment, opening up to the private sector, and seeking feasible investment opportunities.
He pointed out that foreign investments in the Kingdom last year, 2025, reached about 2 billion dollars, an increase of 25% over the previous year. He noted that the ministry has investment requests expected to be proposed during the second half of the current year, reaching about 5 billion dollars.
The Minister of Transport, Nidal Qatamin, touched on the importance of the Aqaba Rail project in enhancing Jordan's position in securing supply chains for the region and Europe, and its role as a gateway for attracting investments.
He said that the project is a strategic step that reflects the level of economic partnership between Jordan and the UAE, enhancing its position as a regional center for transportation and logistics services, and facilitating the movement of goods and reducing transportation costs and increasing the efficiency of supply chains.
He confirmed that the project forms the nucleus for developing the national railway network and paves the way for a new phase of developmental and investment projects, within the framework of the economic modernization vision.
The Minister of Justice, Bassam Talhouni, pointed out that the national carrier project agreement was prepared to balance the interests of all parties, including mutual commitments.
