Jordan eyes promising African markets — Ali

AMMAN — The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply is currently cooperating with the private sector to find new markets for Jordanian products, especially in Africa which has promising markets, Minister Maha Ali said Saturday.

At a meeting with South African Ambassador to Jordan John Davies, Ali added that Jordanian exports were negatively affected by the unrests in Syria and Iraq and lost these two markets, according to a ministry statement.

She noted that the Kingdom also lost its only transit route to Europe which used to pass the Syrian territories to export Jordanian products, especially the agricultural produce.

The ministry, in coordination with the private sector, is also considering the signing of free trade agreements with African countries such as South Africa to stimulate national exports to these markets, the minister indicated, highlighting the Kingdom's keenness to increase trade volume with African countries.

She also underlined the importance of joint action with South Africa to increase commercial exchange, in addition to encouraging the South African private sector to invest and benefit from available opportunities in Jordan, the statement said.

Davies, for his part, expressed his country's willingness to develop economic relations with Jordan, boost commercial exchange and benefit from available investment opportunities.

Ali also met with Irish Minister of State for Development and Trade Seán Sherlock and discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries at all levels, especially commercial and investment fields.

She also called for facilitating Jordan's advantage from the partnership agreement with the European Union, noting that Jordanian exports to European countries are still below the expected level, and the private sector could not benefit from the agreement as desired, according to a ministry statement.

Ali called on the Irish private sector to benefit from economic and investment opportunities available in the Kingdom which is considered a gateway for the region due to its geographical location.

Sherlock expressed his country's interest in developing economic cooperation with Jordan valuing the country as a pioneer in the region in economic reforms, and calling on both countries' private sector to benefit from available opportunities.