Russian-Jordanian Business Forum working to upgrade ties

AMMAN — The Russian-Jordanian Business Forum and the Eighth Joint Session of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council started on Monday at the headquarters of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC), and will continue until Wednesday.

During the opening session, JCC President Nael Kabariti and co-chairman of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council said that despite the Kingdom's enormous capabilities, especially with regard to agricultural products,  Jordan's trade with Russia is still small, adding that economic relations are not as strong as political ones.

He voiced hope that commercial relations and trade exchange will grow among big companies in both countries.

"Jordan is one of the best countries when it comes to tourism since it has many religious and archaeological tourist sites," Kabariti said, noting that the tourism sector should be emphasised and discussed in future meetings since it can help stimulate the economy.

Co-Chairman of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council Evgeniy G. Novistskiy said that since its establishment 10 years ago, the council completed many works and projects. 

Noting that the council has a website that connects the two countries, he added that Jordanians can access information about companies registered at the council. 

Although businesspeople from both countries conduct visits and there are around 150 companies registered at the business council, no one can claim that commercial exchange is huge, according to Novistskiy. 

He said that with the help of Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov,  who was attending the forum, economic and commercial exchange can grow. 

Moreover, he noted that the annual Russian Industrial Exhibition will not be held this year, but hopefully it will be in coming years.

Jordan Ambassador to Russia Zaid Al Majali said that His Majesty King Abdullah and Russian President Vladimir Putin always discussed economic relations immediately after political issues. 

He said the tourism sector should be looked at not only with regard to investment and economy but as a cultural dimension, because introducing two cultures to each other increases interactions between them and therefore increases commercial exchange. 

The private sector and the government are exerting effort to remove obstacles facing commercial exchange and help increase the figures once again, Majali said.

Deputising for the Russian Ambassador to Jordan Boris Bolotin, Oleg Levin, a counsellor at the embassy, referred to His Majesty's visits to Russia and the good political relations that started since the time of late King Hussein. 

He said that in October last year, chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko visited the Kingdom and in May this year, Senate President Faisal Fayez is scheduled to conduct an official visit to Russia. 

According to the Department of Statistics, the trade balance between Jordan and Russia stood at $740.90 million in 2015 whereas in 2014 it stood at $267.84 million. 

Most important Jordanian products exported to Russia include vegetables, chocolate, medicine and cleaning materials whereas the most important imports include wood, paper, cars and car parts, according to the JCC.

The Russian-Jordanian Business Forum is part of the Third Session of the Russian-Jordanian Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation Development and it is attended by businesspeople representing Russia and Jordan.