Day: June 27, 2021

Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI), Fathi Jaghbir, said Jordan, Iraq and Egypt have potentials to achieving joint economic integration, provided that trade obstacles are removed.

In a statement to “Petra” on Sunday, he noted the three countries have diverse competitive advantages, whether in industry, agriculture or natural resources, which makes related “economic integration “a reality if its components are used in the required manner.”

“Perhaps the most prominent leverage to success of economic integration lies in the geographical proximity, and easy transportation between the three countries, in addition to the large available agricultural components and energy products from oil and gas,” according to Jaghbir.

Three countries, he noted, have industrial bases to build on, which the follow-up committees have identified, and are concentrated in four sectors targeted in the first phase to enhance tripartite cooperation, covering pharmaceutical, chemical, textile and ceramic industries.

To achieve trilateral economic integration requires the “true” implementation of integration mechanisms in industry and agriculture sectors by studying their supply chains, and axing importing raw materials and semi-manufactured goods from third nations, in a manner that enhances added value and achieves export and local benefits in the three countries, according to Jaghbir.

On future action to achieve integration, he stressed the need to work on expanding trilateral economic, commercial and investment cooperation, especially the sectors targeted in the Jordanian-Egyptian-Iraqi tripartite summit, through crystallizing agreements on the ground in the near future.

On the ground, he called for removing trade obstacles, facilitating flow of products without restrictions and movement of labor and commercial shipping operations.

The recent period, he said, witnessed “wide and unrelentless” efforts by the three countries to expand economic, commercial and investment cooperation to achieve their common interests and serve Arab economic integration.

Efforts focused on the importance of expediting development and implementation of the necessary plans to enhance joint cooperation, especially in the economic, commercial and investment fields, through industrial integration, cooperation in agriculture, food security, logistical areas, and the Jordanian-Iraqi Economic City project, he noted.

Jordan, he pointed out, possesses “remarkable” potentials in a number of “highly” competitive sectors and industries, through which major partnerships and investments can be built in the region, especially if the three countries’ supply chains are boosted.

According to Jaghbir, Jordan’s most prominent assets are concentrated in the food and pharmaceutical industries, fertilizers, chemical industries, packaging, information technology and human resources.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Head of the Jordanian-European Parliamentary Friendship Association, MP Khaldoun Hina, said Jordan’s stances, under leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, are “firm and unwavering, and non-negotiable” towards the Palestinian cause, and Jerusalem particularly, adding that official and popular Jordan positions will remain united to “thwart any conspiracies that would tamper with rights of the Palestinian people.”

At a meeting on Sunday, with German ambassador to Jordan, Bernhard Kampmann, at the Lowe House headquarters, the association head and members discussed ways to advance Jordan-Germany relations at various levels, and the latest developments on the regional and international arenas.

Hina said the Palestinian cause constitutes the “biggest” challenge for Jordan, in light of the related developments as a result of the recent Israeli violations in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem, and its “uneven” war on Gaza Strip.

Stressing Jordan’s principled stances in support of Arab issues, Hina pointed to pressures exerted on the Kingdom seek to change its positions, but will only heighten its resolve in this regard.

Hina also reviewed Jordan’s “difficult” economic conditions, as a result of the region’s political conditions, as a result of the influx of Syrian refugees, which led to depletion of natural resources, infrastructure, health and educational services.

In turn, the association’s members pointed to the “advanced” level that Jordanian-German relations have reached, thanks to wisdom and leadership of the two friendly countries, stressing importance of strengthening them in all fields, especially in parliamentary domain.

They also called on expanding horizons of joint cooperation between the two friendly countries, to cover all economic, commercial, tourism and educational fields, highlighting the need to raise volume of investment in Jordan and increase investor opportunities.

Jordanian market benefited “greatly” from the German expertise in the field of technical and vocational education, which confirms the need for more networking to benefit from Germany’s expertise, the lawmakers noted.

For his part, the envoy highly lauded Jordan’s efforts to achieve security and stability in the region, host refugees and address regional issues “wisely, effectively”, as well as Amman’s role in presenting an “advanced” reform model despite the regional turmoil, stressing that German government views with “great respect and appreciation” the endeavors made by His Majesty King Abdullah II to push peace and combat extremism and terrorism.

Noting his country’s continuous assistance to Jordan to maintain its humanitarian role towards refugees, Kampmann stressed Germany’s support for vocational training institutes and the technical path to reduce unemployment among Jordanian youth, as well as providing programs to address severe water shortage and environmental pollution.

Kampman called on Jordan to take advantage from investment opportunities in the open markets in the European Union, which would enable the Kingdom to deliver its products to these destinations, especially in view of the development of Jordan’s pharmaceutical industries, high quality agricultural products.

Source: Jordan News Agency