Relations between private sectors of Jordan, Iraq 'stronger than ever' — ACI

AMMAN — The Iraqis "never cast doubt" on Jordanian exports being actually produced in the Kingdom but have just requested data on manufacturers’ production capacity, according to the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI). 

Commenting on news reports claiming that the Iraqi side has raised questions on the originality of the Jordanian products, ACI affirmed that the Iraqi importers have just requested information about the maximum production capacity of Jordanian manufacturers.

In remarks to The Jordan Times on Thursday, ACI General Manager Nael Hussami described the Iraqi request as a “simple routine”, aiming at confirming the Jordanian origin of the exported commodities and manufacturers’ production capacities to meet the demands in the Iraqi market.

He said that the request coincided with the Iraqi Cabinet's decision to exempt 344 Jordanian products from customs fees.

Hussami also described that the relation between the private sectors of both countries as “stronger than ever”.

The chamber has asked the factories wishing to export their products to Iraq to fill-in the forms with accurate information that specify the name of every commodity produced with its categorisation and customs number, he added.

A report issued recently by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) has predicted that Jordanian exports will top off at around $8.2 billion in 2019, a 4.8 per cent increase from last year.

The report said the growth comes in light of reopened Jordan’s border crossings with neighbouring countries, multiple trade agreements with Iraq and mitigation of EU restrictions on Jordanian exports that grant the Kingdom a reduction in conditions of origin.