Mulki thanks US for support, says Jordan seeks to attract more investments

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Tuesday stressed the “depth” of Jordanian-US relations. 

During a meeting, attended by Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Yusuf Mansur, Mulki commended Washington’s support for aid to Jordan, which he said contributes to implementing development projects and supports the Treasury. 

Speaking to Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs at the US Department of State Ziad Haider, the premier added that since signing the agreement on qualified industrial estates and the free trade deal, the US has become Jordan’s main trade partner, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US contributed to increasing the volume of trade and boosted the quality of Jordanian products exported to the US market, Mulki said.

This also benefits Jordan’s trade relations with the EU, improving the quality of Jordanian products exported to EU member states under the recently signed agreement to relax the rules of origin for Jordanian exports to Europe, Mulki added. 

The premier highlighted the US support to the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, which he said “has become a reality” and is a strategic project that aims at securing water and increasing the Dead Sea’s water level. 

Jordan looks forward to attracting investments by US companies and increasing cooperation in establishing and developing centres and training programmes that prepare young people to join the labour market, the prime minister added.

For his part, Haider said the visit of the delegation, comprising representatives of “major US companies”, aims at building on bilateral relations and finding opportunities for investment and future cooperation, Petra reported. 

He said that the US is aware of the burdens Jordan shoulders and it is ready to provide further assistance to the Kingdom.

The delegates stressed the interest of their companies in investing and establishing projects in Jordan, especially in the fields of renewable energy and ICT. 

Also on Tuesday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah met with Haider and discussed means to expand benefits from the FTA signed between Jordan and the US, Petra reported.

Qudah reviewed the government’s initiatives aimed at enhancing the rule of law and creating an investment-attractive environment in line with the “best international practices”.

For his part, Haider, in the presence of US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells, highlighted the importance of further developing relations between Amman and Washington, and working jointly to take advantage of available opportunities to move relations to a higher level.