Preparatory meetings of the Joint Jordanian-Palestinian Higher Committee has kicked off on Tuesday in Ramallah.
The meetings were chaired by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Youssef Shamali and Palestinian Minister of National Economy Khaled Osaili, with the participation of Ministers of Transport, Wajeeh Azayzeh, Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Kharabsheh, Digital Economy, Ahmad Hanandeh, and Agriculture, Khaled Hunaifat, and their Palestinian counterparts, Jordan’s Ambassador in Ramallah, Mohammad Abu Wendy, and a number of officials from both countries.
The committee is discussing a number of issues aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various economic fields.
Minister Shamali said the Jordanian government is keen on developing economic and trade relations between the two countries, and d creating trade and investment opportunities for the Jordanian and Palestinian business community.
“We work together to facilitate the establishment of sustainable bilateral partnerships in the trade, industrial and other fields, which contribute to efforts aimed at achieving sustainable economic and social development in the two countries,” Shamali added.
He said that in light of the obstacles facing Jordanian-Palestinian economic relations due to unilateral Israeli measures that limit the flow of goods to the Palestinian market, as Israel controls the other side over the border crossings between the two countries, it has become necessary to find a solution to these obstacles and to put in place effective frameworks to develop trade exchange between Jordan and Palestine.
The value of Jordanian exports to the Palestinian market amounted to $152.2 million last year, a decrease of 6.3% compared to the previous year, while the value of Palestinian exports to the Jordanian market amounted to $50.5 million last year, an increase of 6.4% compared to 2019.
During the first eight months of this year, the value of Jordanian exports to the Palestinian market amounted to $115.7 million, an increase of 30.2% compared to the same period last year, while the value of Palestinian exports to the Jordanian market during the same period of this year amounted to $43.3 million, an increase of 53.7% compared to the last year.
Source: Jordan News Agency