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Jordan’s rail, road, sea and air transport infrastructure is undergoing a rapid transformation, with opportunities for investment in all segments. These projects seek to capitalise on the kingdom’s growing domestic market, as well as on the geographic location that has long made it a natural transport and logistics corridor for the rest of the region, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the West Bank, Israel and Syria. While recent conflicts over several of these borders have led to closures and some challenging times for the sector, transport remains the lifeblood of the economy, particularly in connecting the kingdom’s main port – Aqaba – in the south with the capital and with larger cities in the north. This chapter contains an interview with Jeppe Jensen, CEO, Aqaba Container Terminal.

Though it lacks the petroleum resources of many of its Arab neighbours, Jordan’s limited hydrocarbons have helped its energy industry become one of the most progressive and dynamic in the region. Development of renewable and nuclear energy is set to significantly boost domestic capacity and reduce the kingdom’s fuel bill in the coming years. The emphasis on renewables should help Jordan showcase its commitment to a serious climate change policy; it has already committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 14%. This chapter contains interviews with Ibrahim Saif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources; and Adnan Z Amin, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The financial services sector is one of the most robust and mature in Jordan, remaining resilient in the face of significant external volatility and retaining its role as a driver of economic growth in 2015. The banking sector in particular has been a major source of strength, with the Central Bank of Jordan maintaining a pro-growth monetary stance, following on from growth in deposits and profits at commercial banks in 2015. This chapter contains an interview with Ziad Fariz, Governor, Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ); and Nemeh Sabbagh, CEO, Arab Bank.

Despite facing a set of extraordinary external and internal challenges over the past several years, Jordan’s economy remained resilient in 2015. Although GDP growth fell to a six-year low as the kingdom grappled with a rising refugee population and regional volatility, the banking and industrial sectors continued to record a positive performance. The dissolution of Parliament in May 2016 led to the appointment of Hani Al Mulki, a prime minister who is widely considered to be pro-business and who is expected to accelerate ongoing economic reforms aimed at boosting investment and private participation in a number of major planned infrastructure projects. This chapter contains interviews with Omar Malhas, Minister of Finance; and Thabet Elwir, Chief of Commission, Jordan Investment Commission.

OBG introduces the reader to the different aspects of the legal system in Gabon, in partnership with Deloitte Gabon. OBG talks to Nicolas Balesme, Managing Partner, Deloitte Gabon, about the governance and benefits of public-private partnerships (PPPs).

In conjunction with Deloitte Gabon, OBG explores the taxation system, examining Gabon’s investor-friendly environment. OBG talks to Angela Adibet, Head of Legal and Tax Department, Deloitte Gabon, about the Finance Act of 2016 and the fiscal framework.