His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday met with several political and economic figures who are participating in the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa (WEF MENA).

His Majesty held separate meetings with President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq, Masoud Barzani, Saudi Prince Khaled Bin Al Waleed Bin Talal, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Sir Suma Chakrabarti, Vice Chairman of General Electric John G. Rice and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

At the meeting with Barzani, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, discussions covered means to boost relations between Jordan and Iraq.

They also touched on the latest regional developments, mainly those related to international anti-terror efforts.

King Abdullah reaffirmed Jordan’s position in support of efforts to boost Iraq’s security and stability, help it achieve national reconciliation and strengthen the capabilities of its government in confronting terrorist groups.

Barzani stressed his country’s commitment to boosting its cooperation with the Kingdom, in the various areas, expressing his appreciation of His Majesty’s stance in support of the Iraqi people.

At the meeting with Prince Khaled, discussions focused on the Kingdom’s investment climate, and its potential to accommodate key projects in several sectors, especially in the infrastructure and the industrial sectors.

Talks highlighted the importance of holding the WEF MENA in Jordan and addressing youth issues and chances to engage young people in initiatives and programmes that can offer them training and help them show their creativity and positive energy, in a manner that boosts their development role.

Prince Khaled lauded Jordan’s investment environment, describing it as investment conducive, and expressed his appreciation of the Kingdom’s efforts to convene the forum, and launch several youth initiatives, especially those related to the ICT sector.

During the meeting with Chakrabarti, discussions focused on cooperation prospects between Jordan and EBRD, in a manner that boosts the Kingdom’s development efforts.

The King expressed appreciation of the bank’s support for the Kingdom’s development plans, with investments in Jordan reaching JD500 million.

Chakrabarti voiced hope that the recent opening of an EBRD office to run its operations in the Kingdom will work to support projects that reduce unemployment, stressing the bank’s commitment to increase its cooperation in supporting small projects, especially those that contribute to governorate development.

EBRD, which focuses on renewable energy and small- and medium-scale projects, is currently preparing studies for railway projects and the investment environment in the Kingdom.

At the meeting with Rice, talks covered investment prospects in the Kingdom, mainly in the energy sector, as Jordan is working to diversify its sources of energy and to reduce its energy imports.

Discussions highlighted the competitive business environment that Jordan provides for investors, as well as the Kingdom’s stability and its qualified human resources.

Talks also addressed the possibility of benefiting from General Electric’s developed technologies as a means to train young people and the company’s capabilities in extending pipelines and oil shale prospecting and exploration.