ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore today welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan to Annapolis. His Majesty’s presence marks the first time a foreign head of state has visited the Maryland State House on official business.
“Your Majesty; your Excellencies; Madam Ambassador; and members of the Jordanian delegation—We are honored to welcome you to the Maryland State House and to the Great State of Maryland,”
said Gov. Moore. “Today, we are here to talk about ways to work together toward common goals. We have brought together leaders from across the state to engage in this historic visit and we look forward to a vibrant discussion about our people, our economies, and our futures.”
His Majesty King Abdullah II thanked Governor Moore for the hospitality, expressing admiration of the state of Maryland. His Majesty said the meeting in Annapolis was an important step in advancing Jordan’s strategic partnership with the United States across various sectors, building on 75 years of ties.
The King traveled to Maryland to meet with Governor Moore and take part in a roundtable discussion with a group of leaders from Maryland higher education institutions and the private sector. Maryland’s leading industries—including academia, biotechnology, engineering, research, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, financial services, and technology—attended the meeting to discuss trade, investment, and partnership opportunities between Maryland and Jordan.
The State of Maryland has a wider variety of business incentive programs than any other state in the country, providing nearly 100 grant, tax credit, and loan programs—including those targeted toward international businesses. Maryland also ranks first in the nation for the proportion of university graduates with science and engineering degrees and fourth in the nation for the percent of its workforce employed in STEM careers.
Among Maryland’s emerging industries, life sciences generates $20 billion in economic activity in Maryland every year and supports more than 54,000 jobs. The Maryland Department of Labor projects that growth in industries like cyber and IT will create more than 17,000 Maryland jobs between 2022 and 2032.
High-wage jobs in finance and insurance account for about 84,000 Maryland jobs and 4.5% of our state’s economy, while Maryland’s burgeoning hospitality industry welcomes more than 45 million travelers each year, contributing $20 billion to the state’s economy.
Prior to his arrival in Maryland, the King participated in United Nations General Assembly activities in New York City, where he delivered Jordan's address before the 79th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Note:
Meeting readout.