AMMAN, JORDAN – Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) and the Iraqi Embassy here agreed to open Iraqi Trade Center at ACC’s headquarters ahead the end of 2023.
During his meeting with Chargé d’Affairs at Iraqi Embassy, Munif Ali Hussein, ACC Head, Khalil Haj Tawfiq, said Iraq is a “key” trade partner for the national economy, which requires building new joint cooperation rules based on mutual interests, to reach the desired economic integration.
Haj Tawfiq said the center’s inauguration will allow Jordanian, Arab and foreign businesspeople, contractors to view investment opportunities and bids offered by the Iraqi government in housing, roads, infrastructure, information technology, finance, banking, industry and others.
According to an ACC statement on Saturday, Haj Tawfiq said the center will provide Jordanian companies with the opportunity to learn about Iraqi industries and agricultural products, needed by local market, which would be reflected in the joint trade exchanges and pave way for building joint economic partnerships.
Hussein affirmed his country’s interest in opening the center at the ACC’s headquarters, which would have a “remarkable” impact in promoting the commercial and investment opportunities available in Iraqi economy.
He said it would stimulate Jordan’s commercial sector to benefit from them and thanked ACC for hosting the center’s temporary headquarters.
ACC First Vice President Nabil Khatib stressed need to review the transit trade file between the two countries, to make port of Aqaba again as the main gateway for Iraqi imports, as it was in previous years.
During the first half of 2023, national exports to Iraq amounted to US$368 million (JD261 million), compared to US$104 million (JD74 million) for imports, according to official data.