AMMAN, JORDAN – Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Khalil Haj Tawfiq said Iraq is an “important” trade partner and gateway for Jordan’s economy.
Haj Tawfiq said, “Jordan and Iraq have wide, prolific potentials, fields and grounds to build economic integration, in light of the strong brotherly relations, political support, strong and sincere desire, and joint agreements signed in the fields of trade, investment, energy, transportation and construction.”
Jordanian-Iraqi economic relations have witnessed a “remarkable” development, in light of the joint trade agreements and projects signed between the two countries, he said.
Work is underway to remove all obstacles that impede these ties, he affirmed, stressing the need to expedite implementation of joint projects, especially the oil pipeline and the industrial estate.
He stressed on the need to increase joint trade exchange and overcome any obstacles to entry of the two countries’ products and commodities to their respective markets and give them preferential status.
Haj Tawfiq said that additionally business owners should be stimulated to establish joint trade, investment and industrial partnerships.
He stressed on Jordan’s keenness to promote the joint “deep-rooted” relations to serve common interests and facilitate trade exchange, agriculture and information technology, as the Kingdom has “advanced” expertise to be the gateway to Iraq’s reconstruction.
Stressing the importance of the Jordanian economic delegation’s visit to Baghdad this week, he said the sector hopes that the current visit to Iraq would contribute to increasing trade exchanges and exploring investment and commercial opportunities.
The delegation is one of the largest economic delegations to visit Baghdad, which reflects volume of Jordan’s interest in building “strong” economic relations with Iraq.
Haj Tawfiq said that the visit is important to follow up on efforts made by King Abdullah II and the Iraqi leadership at various levels.
Jordan’s trade sector is “proud” of the level of bilateral relations in various fields and hopes that the next stage will witness a “new” beginning based on partnership, he said.
Opportunities for cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors are “large”, he added.