Jordan 2nd largest destination for Thai students globally — chargé d’affaires

AMMAN — Jordan is the second-largest destination for Thai students in the world, Chargé d’Affaires at the Thai embassy in Amman Chawadol Nipathannont said on Sunday.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, in an interview on the occasion of his country’s national day, Nipathannont pointed out that there are 600 Thai students pursuing their studies in Jordanian universities.

He said that the majority of Thai students in Jordan study Sharia (Islamic law) and jurisprudence, given that Jordan is a moderate Islamic country whose education sector enjoys a high reputation.

A cultural exchange agreement will be signed between the Thai and Jordanian ministries of culture soon, to enhance scientific and cultural cooperation between the two sides, he announced, highlighting that Thailand is one of the main destinations for Jordanian tourists, as there are 12,000 Jordanian tourists who visit his country annually, while 5,000 Thai tourists annually visiting Jordan.

The number of tourists declined due to the pandemic, he said, expressing hopes to return to normalcy. 

He underlined the depth of the relations between the two countries, which are supported by the “distinguished” relations between the two royal families, pointing out that the diplomatic relations established since 1966 have witnessed continuous growth and development in various fields. 

On trade, he noted that annual volume of trade exchange between the countries amounts to $130 million, stressing that the two sides are looking forward to increasing this number and enhancing trade and economic cooperation.

Thailand considers Jordan a country with many investment opportunities, an appropriate and attractive investment environment, and distinguished geographic location, he said, describing the Kingdom as “a gateway to the region’s markets”.

The chargé d’affaires shed light on the role played by the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) in enhancing cooperation with Jordan, as it provides grants to Jordanians for training in economic, agricultural and other fields, highlighting that more than 100 Jordanians have benefited from these grants. 

In regard to the Thai community in Jordan, he pointed that there are about 200 Thai nationals living in Jordan.

He extended appreciation towards Jordan’s pivotal role under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah and his efforts to achieve regional peace and stability in the region, affirming Thailand’s support towards resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, which his country considers the best and most important solution for both parties.