Taiwan seeks to share renewable energy expertise with Jordan

AMMAN — Taiwanese and Jordanian companies have recently signed several agreements worth $10 million in various fields, according to Kevin Jiang, economic division director at the Taiwan commercial office.

“A delegation representing about 32 Taiwanese companies met with representatives of about 150 Jordanian companies in Amman recently and they reached some agreements, most of [which] are buying products and solutions from Taiwan,” Jiang told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.

He said there is great potential for increased bilateral cooperation in the ICT, healthcare and renewable energy sectors.

“Jordan and Taiwan are similar in the shortage of their local energy resources, as both import about 96 per cent of their energy needs annually.” 

“Taiwan has great experience in renewable energy projects,” Jiang noted, adding that his country is known for producing high quality solar panels and solar cells.

Trade exchange between Jordan and Taiwan rose by 12 per cent in 2013 to $370 million, of which about $54 million are Taiwanese imports from Jordan.

“I expect trade exchange to grow significantly this year and that Jordan’s exports to Taiwan will rise as well,” he said.

Jiang added that around half of Taiwan’s imports from Jordan are phosphates, potash and fertilisers, noting that the prices of these commodities are rising globally.

“In the field of ICT, Taiwanese and Jordanian companies have good cooperation, but we can do more,” he said, especially since Jordan is a “pioneering ICT hub” in the region.

Investments by Taiwanese companies in Jordan stand at $50 million, all of which are garment factories in the Qualifying Industrial Zones, according to Jiang.

The five Taiwanese factories employ about 6,000 people, about 30 per cent of whom are Jordanians, he said, adding that the investors are keen on hiring more Jordanians.