Samer Asfour is an economic development, global trade and
investment specialist with a vast academic and professional
experience in the fields of investments, economics, city planning,
business administration and management. Samer joined
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at the beginning of this year as their
Director of Government Sector for Emerging Markets and also as
Director of Thought Leadership & Research for Middle East
Public Sector Institute. Prior to that Asfour was the CEO of the
Jordan Investment Board. and before that, Samer was the Senior
Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Jordan.
Mr. Asfour served between 2007-2010 as Commissioner for Investor
Services and Development at the Development Zones Commission.
Prior to that, Asfour was Deputy City Manager for Economic
Development, Planning & Investments at Greater Amman
Municipality, where his main mission was the new Amman Master Plan
and setting the city vision for the next 20 years.
Asfour's earliest work experience was shaped during his work at
Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), as he supported directing a number of
projects towards fully engaging Jordan into the global economy, and
was selected as Employee of the year 1994, 1995, and 1996. He
negotiated for Jordan at the Paris Club to reduce its debt.
Asfour's academic background endowed him with business leadership,
strategic planning, market assessment and competitiveness as he
holds an MBA degree with honour, from the US. MSc in International
Securities, Investment and Banking degree with honour from
University of Reading, and a BSc in Economics, Statistics and
Political Science with honour from the University of Jordan.
His education is not limited to academic studies; as he
participated, spoke and attended seminars, trainings and workshops
all over the world, a speaker at the World Economic Forum in Dead
Sea, a speaker at the Crescent Clun in Texas; and at Stanford
University; and attended a specialized seminars and leadership
courses at Harvard Business School,; and at the Kennedy School of
Government on Leadership & Innovation for Senior Executives;
Harvard University.
Asfour is a Member of the Board of: Jordanian Irish Business
Council; Arab Innovation Summit, Dubai; Recipient of Awards
including: President Eisenhower Fellowships (2005); Pioneer Award,
University of Denver (2002); Student of the year, Daniels College
of Business (2002); Young Arab Leaders since 2008; Young Global
Leader 2009, Curator for the Young Global Shapers - Jordan Chapter
.
