PM urges Russia to open market to Jordanian produce

AMMAN — Jordan is looking forward for Russia to open its market to Jordanian agricultural products and grant them preferential treatment, in addition to lowering customs duties at Russian airports, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said on Tuesday.

At a meeting with Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov, who is chairing a delegation to participate in the third meeting of the Jordanian-Russian ministerial committee, Ensour noted that the fruit and vegetables season in the Kingdom comes earlier than in many other countries, which puts Jordan in a favourable position to supply demand in many markets.

The premier expressed Jordan’s desire to buy Russian wheat at preferential prices to contribute to helping the Kingdom in hosting large numbers of refugees, especially since Jordan bears some 70 per cent of the cost of hosting Syrian refugees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also highlighted the importance of attracting more Russian tourists to the Kingdom due to its peace and security, as well as its housing of many archaeological and religious sites.

Tkachyov expressed his country’s keenness on boosting commercial, economic and agricultural exchange, calling on both countries to take advantage of all available resources to increase bilateral cooperation, Petra added.

He also voiced Moscow’s readiness to help Jordan provide the necessary infrastructure for the railway project, calling for studying the possibility to establish a free trade zone between Jordan and Russia.

Also on Tuesday, Ensour met with Wayne Brownlee, executive vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer of the Canadian PotashCorp of Saskatchewan (PCS), which owns 28 per cent of the Arab Potash Company’s (APC) shares, and called on the APC to double its efforts to compete with the production of the Israeli potash company operating on the other shore of the Dead Sea.

The premier urged the APC to play a role in establishing a railway from the Jordan Valley to Aqaba in cooperation and coordination with the ministries of planning and transport, according to Petra.

Brownlee thanked the government for supporting the company, in terms of customs and tax exemptions, noting that the APC is proud of the assistance it presents to local communities.

The PCS is the largest shareholder in the APC, according to the Jordanian company’s website.