Jordan, Palestine review means to boost trade exchange

AMMAN — Members of Jordanian chambers of trade and industry on Wednesday met with a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron and discussed means to bolster  cooperation, specifically increasing the volume of trade exchange between both countries.

Deputy Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce Jamal Rifai said that the Palestinian economy has “transformed its challenges into opportunities and success stories”, emphasising the Palestinian industry’s ability to compete in and access new markets, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Highlighting the chamber's efforts to increase Palestinian-Jordanian cooperation and remove any obstacles, Rifai said that liaison officers will be assigned to receive complaints and updates submitted by any Palestinian investors.

Deputy Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry Mohammed Jitan said that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries grew by 60 per cent during the first five months of 2022, reaching a value of JD100 million, compared with the same period last year.  

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron Abdo Idris expressed his appreciation for the Jordanian chambers of industry and commerce in their support of Palestinian industry, and notably its reactivation of the signed agreements.

The volume of national exports to Palestine during the first five months of 2022 amounted to about $109 million, showing an increase of about 74 per cent, compared with same period in 2021. The volume of imports from Palestine reached about $31 million, marking an increase of about 23 per cent.

According to the figures of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, untapped export opportunities to Palestine are estimated at $60 million in the food and livestock industries. Untapped Palestinian export opportunities to Jordan are estimated at approximately $15 million, Petra reported.  

Also on Wednesday, President of the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) Khalil Hajj-Tawfiq met with the delegation and stressed the ACC's readiness to serve the Palestinian economy, Petra added.

Hajj-Tawfiq also announced the opening of a liaison office for the Hebron chamber at the ACC as of Thursday to follow up on any issues that concern the commercial and service sector in Hebron.

Idris said that Palestinian businesspeople are interested in benefiting from investment opportunities available in the Kingdom and enhancing commercial initiatives, praising Jordan's stances supporting the Palestinian cause and defending the rights of the Palestinian people.