Jordan

About the Flag

Located in the Middle East northwest of Saudi Arabia, Jordan is a constitutional and democratic monarchy with its capital at Amman. The King is the Chief of State and the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. There is a bicameral National Assembly, and the legal system is based on the French Law. Arabic is the official language, but English is understood by the vast majority of the people. Jordan is a full member of the United Nations, the Arab League, and the IMO, as well as member of the World Trade Organization WTO. Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s when its gross national product grew at an annual rate of more than 10%. Since then, Jordan's economy has experienced several problems and rebounds. The principal exports are phosphates, fertilizers, potash and agricultural products, and chief trading partners are the EU, United States, Iraq, Japan, and Turkey. The unit of currency is the Jordanian Dinar JD. Aqaba is the only port in the country and it is a Free Zone Area Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZA).

The law which governs Jordan's maritime industry is the Maritime Commercial Law No. (12) year 1972, chapter (3) article (10) to article (42), based on Napoleon's French Civil Code. In addition, the Encouragement of Investment Law No. (16) year 1995 gives investors great benefits in order to invest in Jordan. The Registry is administered by the Ports Corporation in Aqaba.