Amman: Chairman of the Social Security Investment Board (SSIF) Omar Malhas announced that the Fund is actively monitoring investment opportunities in significant national projects. These include the National Water Carrier Project, the Risha gas pipeline, and various strategic energy and infrastructure ventures. Malhas emphasized that any national project expected to yield returns exceeding 10 percent aligns with the Fund’s long-term investment strategy.
According to Jordan News Agency, Malhas highlighted that land and real estate investments remain central to the Fund’s asset allocation, considering them as stable investments that offer solid long-term returns. With the average age of Social Security contributors ranging between 30 and 35 years, Malhas pointed out that long-term investments are both logical and financially sound.
Malhas elaborated that the Fund’s involvement in large-scale infrastructure projects aims to boost returns without elevating the overall risk profile. Projects like the National Water Carrier and gas transmission pipelines present promising opportunities for portfolio diversification. Recently, the Fund acquired several plots of land, including properties in the Amra area, at prices approximately 30 percent below the administrative valuation, thanks to the Government’s facilitation.
According to Malhas, the development of new areas necessitates integrated infrastructure, transportation networks, and railway systems, which present additional investment opportunities for the Fund. The Fund is evaluating the possibility of participating in such projects through models like Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangements.
Currently, investments in real estate and land account for about 5 percent of the Fund’s total assets, with the investment policy allowing this share to potentially rise to 10 percent. Malhas noted that any expansion will target projects with the highest possible returns over periods exceeding ten years.
Regarding government bonds, Malhas stated that the Fund holds nearly JD10 billion in Treasury bonds, which are considered among the safest investment instruments due to the Government’s consistent record of fulfilling its domestic obligations on time. The Fund has also invested in equity and financing instruments in several major national companies, including a 16 percent stake in the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company.
Malhas underscored that investment decisions at the Fund are made on an institutional and independent basis, guided by thorough feasibility studies and governed by the Social Security Law and the Investment Fund’s regulations.