I understand the feeling of being over-run by Iraqis who would just use Jordan’s resources then leave. Now you’ll REALLY have to save to get that condo in Aqaba. And as Nas mentioned, it must not be pleasant to have another country’s elections in your face when we can’t have our own.

But for a Californian who is used to having throngs of unskilled, poor people come to my country who then I have to finance the welfare through my taxes, I think comparatively Jordan is getting a pretty good deal.

I also read recently that Jordan is now getting more USAID money that Egypt, making it the #2 recipient after Israel. You probably don’t like that. But I think it is a much more worthwhile investment than Israel.

On another note, Im actually against posters in general for whatever purpose, creates visual pollution. bekafeena al 2armaat elli 3al tal3a wel nazle:)

Thanks for the great news, Natasha!

promises, my last two cents:

“Rafidain, which is now open to Iraqi nationals only, could later be listed on the Jordanian bourse…”

Anyway, it’s over now ;-)

Ya3ni You left out the 2 billion and quoted a part that suits your case and left out the continuation which says “Rafidain, which is now open to Iraqi nationals only, could later be listed on the Jordanian bourse

Why don’t we also give them the right to have a permanent representation in our parliament and government? You see, we have 400,000 Iraqis in Jordan. These are more than Bahraini population!!

On the other hand, we have to draw a line between, BUYING service/product and PROVIDING a service/product.

They BUY what they need for leaving does not help the economy of my country, contrary, it adds to the responsibilities my government have to take on their shoulders to keep my bread available. You see, now 400K Iraqis are sharing my bread piece.

What adds to a country economy is investments that generate $$ that adds to the purchasing power value of my dinar.

My neighbor has made a fortune selling cars to Iraqis.

Where are they buying the cement for these buildings?

The furniture for the homes?

Private schools for their kids?

Also, maybe I am mistaken, but didn’t Jordan enjoy discounted petroleum products for a substantial time period under Saddam?

I’m not mad or sarcastic or trying to be a pain, I’m just repeating what I’ve heard others tell me.

Anyhow, here’s an article Jordan times published sometime ago:

Jordan Times
Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Iraqi investors expand businesses from Jordan
By Suleiman Al Khalidi
Reuters

AMMAN — Leading Iraqi businessmen have started a high-profile investment company in Amman to cash in on Jordan’s expanding role as a main hub to service the rebuilding needs of their homeland, a founder of the group said on Monday.

Noaman Abdul Jabar Al Rawi said the 19 founders of the newly established Rafidain Projects Development Company are raising up to $100 million in capital from over 200 Iraqi investors.

“We are finding a lot of interest from senior Iraqi investors,” said Rawi, one of thousands of influential Iraqis with an investment portfolio ranging from the West to the Gulf who have moved to Jordan in recent years.

Violence in post-war Iraq has seen Jordan thrive as a safe haven for thousands of Iraqi businessmen, many of whom have set up ventures to supply their country with products and services and even expand in the region.

The influx of Iraqis has brought at least $2 billion of inflows into Jordan, bankers say, driving a real estate and business boom not seen since the 1991 Gulf War when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled Kuwait for safety in Jordan.

King Abdullah, who has twice met the founders of Rafidain, has promised tax incentives to the firm in a bid to woo Iraqi businesses ready to locate in Jordan.

“The situation in Iraq is very difficult and we don’t know how long this will last,” said Rawi, a real estate investor who left Iraq in the 1970s.

Rawi said industrialists and businessmen investing in the firm were bringing their expertise to set up viable projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The projects under study cover a diversified range of businesses from petroleum storage to telecoms and pharmaceuticals to construction materials.

They will complement existing ventures in Baghdad and use Jordan’s advantage as a regional logistical hub for Iraq, with it’s lower transport advantage, Rawi said.

Jordan has established itself as a gateway and supply route for Iraq during two war-scarred decades prior to the 2003 US-led invasion, when Iraq was also hit by crushing sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

Rawi said among the projects is a communications satellite link to tap rising demand in Iraq. Construction materials and medical supplies factories would serve not just the Iraqi market but also regional markets, Rawi added.

Rafidain’s investors, who come from leading merchant families and run their Iraq-based concerns from Amman, want to draw in a wide shareholder base, Rawi indicated.

“Many Iraqis don’t have huge sums but can still invest in our firm and we will seek to attract their savings,” he said.

Minimum shareholding for any founder is 50,000 dinars ($70,520) with a ceiling of 500,000 dinars for any shareholder either private or corporate, Rawi added.

An investors’ meeting will take place in mid-June in Amman to elect a board of directors for the company.

Rafidain, which is now open to Iraqi nationals only, could later be listed on the Jordanian bourse while the Baghdad Stock Exchange could list an Iraqi registered subsidiary.

Two billion, how about that?

On the other hand, you insist that ‘we are benefiting’. Ok, how? Where? And when?

Really I like to be enlightened in this.

I know of some Bahraini, Saudi and Kuwaiti projects. They are investing billions of dollars. But have not heard of the Iraqi ones. Can you enlighten us please?

Does one need to invest because one loves this or that country? its a buisness world afterall, but I’ll stick to my question: arent we benefitting?

Again and again, prices have been rising with or without Iraqis. Bread ring a bell? thats an example that happend long ago, the taxes in restaurants, the taxes on sweets. etc etc. And thats something substantial in a society,that they cant live without. not an apartment that I assume not anyone can afford even without the price risen.

Again, I’m not questioning Jordans support.

Thoughts dont die, only beings do. We need a paradigm shift, until that happens, I’m sure things will go much better in all arab countries, including Jordan.

As for Iraqi investments in Jordan, I don’t think that is right:

1. Iraqis didn’t invest in Jordan because they like Jordan and Jordanians, but because they have no where else to go.

2. What did Jordanians benefit from Iraqis expats? Money in the banks? Or the triple house prices that they caused since they flew Iraq?

3. Jordan always supported Iraqis, before and after war. In fact during all the wars Iraq went through. So I don’t think anyone can question our support to them.

4. Why on earth do I have to see the face of some foreign country politician faces hanging on my streets? For local Iraqis? They have TV. And if they care that much, let them go back to Iraq before it becomes another Palestine.

Last but not least, Arabism! I guess this term died 40 years ago. Everyone looks after his ass, and dreaming of a new United Arab, well just a dream (nightmare)