Jordan an ‘indispensible partner’ for US, says ambassador

AMMAN — The Kingdom’s Free Trade Agreement with the US is one of the most successful agreements signed by the Kingdom, as the agreement covers the service sector, in addition to goods, said minister of industry, trade, Supply and labour, Youssef Shamali, during an iftar event organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham-Jordan).

During the event, Shamali also described that the Economic Modernisation Vision as “distinguished” due to its private sector involvement, sending a clear message from His Majesty King Abdullah about the private sector’s important role in economic advancement.

Prior to the signing of the agreement in 2001, Jordanian exports to the US did not exceed $50 million, and have since risen to “remarkable figures” over the last two years, he added.

US Ambassador to Jordan Henry Wooster affirmed the importance of Jordan’s partnership with the United States.

“Jordan continues to be an indispensable partner and our bilateral relationship remains strong.  This is reflected in the size of our mission, the level of our economic assistance, and the number of high-level visits, like the one here tonight,” the ambassador said. 

Reflecting on the size of the diplomatic mission in Jordan, Wooster noted that the US embassy in Amman is the eighth largest US embassy in the world.

The mission of American diplomats in Jordan is to support Jordanian economic reform, as stability is the essence of American policy in the Kingdom, Wooster said, praising the role of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan in facilitating dialogue between the public and private sectors.

Economic growth requires an enabling business environment for the private sector that sets clear goals to facilitate business, double GDP growth, increase women’s participation rates in the labour force and provide more job opportunities, he added.

Samer S. Judeh, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan, said that Jordan and the US enjoy a “deep, strategic relationship”, demonstrated by the free trade agreement between the two countries. The strong partnership is also evident in joint business development through bilateral trade and investment.

Judeh also stressed the Chamber’s keenness to provide services and consultations with American and local companies on expanding local investments and entering the American market. The Chamber is also eager to provide programmes for businesses to increase and upgrade their skills, providing new opportunities to develop existing business relations and establish new ones.

Head of the visiting US delegation to Jordan, Congressman Ken Calvert, praised Jordan’s pivotal role in achieving stability in the region, which is witnessing great political challenges coupled with the existence of the Kingdom’s domestic challenges, the most prominent of which being Jordan’s role as a host country for Syrian refugees. 

Calvert affirmed the US’ support for Jordan’s leadership and people through exchanges of defence and economic expertise, and developing strategic resources to achieve a brighter future.