Amman, January 19 (QNA) – Jordan aims to forge new and broader economic ties with Qatar, aiming to foster trade exchanges between the two countries and expand the scope of joint investment projects. .
Blessed with abundant economic opportunities, Jordan seeks to attract new Qatari investments and expand existing ones, particularly in the real estate, tourism, industry, energy and financial sectors.
The two countries have several bilateral agreements, including the Partnership Agreement between Jordan’s Court of Cassation and the Qatari Court of Cassation, and the Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the Optimal Application of Customs Law and the Prevention, Investigation, and Combat of Customs Violations. connected by agreement. They also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of labor.
Additionally, the two countries have concluded a Cultural Cooperation Agreement, a revised Agreement on Cooperation in Standardization Activities between the Jordanian Institute of Standards and Metrology and the Qatar Institute of Standards and Metrology, and an Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Mutual Investment and the Avoidance of Double Taxation. , Prevention of Tax Evasion on Income, Great Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) Agreement, Agreement on Commercial and Economic Cooperation.
The Jordanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Amman Chamber of Commerce and Industry also signed bilateral agreements with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), including the Jordan-Qatar Business Council Establishment Protocol and the Qatar-Jordan Council Establishment Agreement. Economic Events Council.
According to the Amman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qatari investments in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) last year amounted to approximately JPY 756 million, ranking fourth among foreign investments of 385 shares and 184 million shares. Ta.
Qatar has promised to provide 10,000 job opportunities for Jordanians in Doha, as well as a series of investments targeting $500 million worth of infrastructure projects.
The number of Qatari investors in Jordan registered with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply is 80 partners, with a total capital of JORD 5.5 million, and the number of Qatari partners registered with the Amman Chamber of Commerce and Industry is 26, The capital amounted to JORD 5.5 million. 2.6 million dinars.
The two Qatari companies registered with the Amman Chamber of Commerce and Industry are Qatar Airways Group and Electromechanical Engineering Company, with a capital of JORD 29 million.
According to statistics from the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the number of Qatari students studying at Jordanian universities is 2,530, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.
In 2024, the number of Qatari tourists visiting Jordan reached 21,830 in the first nine months of this year, compared to 17,463 in the same period in 2023, an increase of 25%.
In comments to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Khalil Haj Tawfik, president of the Jordanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that economic cooperation with Qatar continues and that the private sector is working to strengthen it. Ta. He confirmed that the coming period will see strong cooperation between businessmen from both countries, with emphasis on exchange visits and joint events to establish a commercial partnership that meets mutual aspirations.
Mr. Tawfik called for building economic integration between the two countries as a basis for broader Arab economic integration, and establishing sustainable business and investment partnerships between Jordanian and Qatari entrepreneurs. He emphasized that Qatar’s investments in Jordan play an important role in supporting the national economy and creating job opportunities.
The President of the Jordanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed hope that trade exchanges between the two countries will further expand, especially regarding Jordanian exports, as there is a wide variety of products that meet the needs of the Qatari market. He stressed that the private sectors of both countries have a responsibility to build bridges of cooperation and continuously coordinate on economic issues.
Jordan’s exports to Qatar in the first 11 months of the previous year amounted to about JD76 million, compared to imports of about JD11 million, including chemical industry, food, machinery, equipment, plant products, It covered a variety of products containing live animals. .
Jordan and Qatar’s trade balance continued to grow impressively in 2024, recording an annual increase of 5.6% compared to 2023.
According to statistics on the Qatar Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) website, trade exchanges between the two countries in the past year amounted to 900 million riyals, compared to 860 million Qatari riyals (approximately 236.2 million USD). The total amount was close to 10 million Qatari riyals (approximately 250 million US dollars). ) 800 million Qatari riyals (approximately USD 219.7 million) in 2023 and 2022.
Jordan’s exports to Qatar include fresh and processed foods, raw materials, vegetables and fruits, dates of all kinds, fresh cheese and dairy products, meat and poultry, grains, rice, herbs and honey. Exports to the market include various chemical materials such as motor oil, luthrin, aluminum molds, paraffin, polyethylene, iron rods, and various chemicals. such as fertilizers and medical solutions.
The trade balance between Jordan and Qatar is growing rapidly, supported by the continued increase in imports from Qatar of Jordanian food, consumer goods and products, especially vegetables and fruits, which have recorded particularly strong growth since 2020. It is showing growth.
According to official statistics published by the PSA, the trade balance between the two countries exceeded 11.5 billion Qatari riyals (approximately US$3.17 billion) in the past 10 years.
In a statement with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Jordanian Businessmen’s Association (JBA) President Hamdi Tabaa pointed to the vitality of Jordan-Qatar relations, framed by a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries. He pointed out the existence of mutual economic benefits. at the national and private sector institutional level.
The Jordan-Qatar Joint Business Council, established in 2005 between the JBA and the Qatar Businessmen’s Association (QBA), is based on the Jordanian private sector’s desire to develop economic and investment relations with the Qatari side in a variety of key areas. confirmed the existence of this desire. he added.
Mr. Tabaa pointed out that the JBA is working tirelessly to strengthen economic, trade and investment relations between Jordan and Qatar, and through continuous meetings and trade delegations organized between the two countries. He suggested that there would be lasting cooperation.
The next stage will see more cooperation and collaboration between Qatari and Jordanian businessmen, he added, encouraging businessmen and investors from both countries to increase joint investments and represent more economic sectors and values. , called for diversification through activities that add quality to the current situation. projects and investments.
Qatar’s investments in Jordan amount to approximately $1.6 billion, distributed across tourism services, banking, healthcare and education, in addition to Qatar’s $1.5 billion investment in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). (QNA)
