Jordan, Egypt discuss ties, potential to benefit from WEF

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi on Thursday held talks which addressed prospects for cooperation in various fields, as well as the latest regional developments.

During a one-on-one meeting, followed by a broader meeting, the two leaders expressed pride in the "distinguished" Jordanian-Egyptian relations, stressing their commitment to maintaining coordination and consultations, a Royal Court statement said.

Sisi commended Jordan's stand in support of Egypt, expressing his appreciation of the Kingdom's efforts to convene the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the Dead Sea, which provides an opportunity for leading political and economic figures to discuss regional issues and challenges.  

In this context, the two leaders stressed the importance of utilising the forum to achieve positive results that can benefit the economies of the region’s countries, and mitigate the challenges their peoples are facing, mainly the problems of poverty and unemployment.

They reviewed regional and international developments and ways to deal with them in a manner that safeguards the security of the region and its people.

The two leaders also discussed the efforts to revive Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations on the basis of the two-state solution and international resolutions. 

In addition, they asserted the need for confronting terrorism, which poses a threat to regional security and stability, highlighting the significance of clarifying the true image of Islam and its tenets on tolerance and moderation. 

Regarding the conditions witnessed in some countries, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, the two leaders stressed the need to arrive at political solutions to end these crises, in a manner that guarantees the security of their peoples and the safety of their territories. 

Sisi arrived in Amman earlier in the day and is scheduled to participate in the WEF meeting on the Middle East and North Africa, which started at the Dead Sea on Thursday. 

Also on Thursday, King Abdullah met with several political and economic figures who are participating in the WEF. 

His Majesty held separate meetings with Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani, Saudi Prince Khaled Bin Al Waleed Bin Talal, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Sir Suma Chakrabarti, Vice Chairman of General Electric John G. Rice and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Shwab. 

At the meeting with Barzani, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, discussions covered means to boost relations between Jordan and Iraq.

They also touched on the latest regional developments, mainly those related to international anti-terror efforts.

King Abdullah reaffirmed Jordan’s position in support of efforts to boost Iraq’s security and stability, help it achieve national reconciliation and strengthen the capabilities of its government in confronting terrorist groups. 

Barzani stressed his country’s commitment to boosting its cooperation with the Kingdom, in the various areas, expressing his appreciation of the King’s stance in support of the Iraqi people. 

At the meeting with Prince Khaled, discussions focused on the Kingdom’s investment climate, and its potential to accommodate key projects in several sectors, especially in the infrastructure and the industrial sectors. 

Talks highlighted the importance of holding the WEF in Jordan and addressing youth issues and chances to engage young people in initiatives and programmes that can offer them training and help them show their creativity and positive energy, in a manner that boosts their development role. 

Prince Khaled lauded Jordan’s investment environment, describing it as investment conducive, and expressed his appreciation of the Kingdom’s efforts to convene the forum, and launch several youth initiatives, especially those related to the ICT sector.  

The prince expressed his desire to set up export projects in Jordan, noting that investing in the Kingdom is a priority for him.  

The two sides highlighted the key economic sectors, the different commodities that Jordan provides for the domestic and external markets, and means to benefit from the Jordan-US Free Trade Agreement. 

During the meeting with Chakrabarti, discussions focused on cooperation prospects between Jordan and the EBRD, in a manner that boosts the Kingdom’s development efforts.

King Abdullah expressed his appreciation of the bank’s support for the Kingdom’s development plans, with investments in Jordan reaching JD500 million.

Chakrabarti voiced hope that the recent opening of an EBRD office to run its operations in the Kingdom will work to support projects that reduce unemployment, stressing the bank’s commitment to increase its cooperation in supporting small projects, especially those that contribute to governorate development. 

The EBRD, which focuses on renewable energy and small- and medium-scale projects, is currently preparing studies for railway projects and the investment environment in the Kingdom. 

At the meeting with Rice, talks covered investment prospects in the Kingdom, mainly in the energy sector, as Jordan is working to diversify its sources of energy and to reduce its energy imports. 

Discussions highlighted the competitive business environment that Jordan provides for investors, as well as the Kingdom’s stability and its qualified human resources. 

Talks also addressed the possibility of benefiting from General Electric’s developed technologies as a means to train young people and the company’s capabilities in extending pipelines and oil shale prospecting and exploration.