Amman: His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal participated on Tuesday in a dialogue session titled "Jordan in Light of Regional Geopolitical Changes."
According to Jordan News Agency, the session was organized by the Palestinian-Jordanian Business Forum and gathered business leaders and economic experts to evaluate Jordanian-Palestinian economic relations and explore their development prospects amidst ongoing regional challenges.
Prince El Hassan highlighted the significant transformations occurring across the region, expressing concerns over escalating Israeli extremism and the uncertain future of Palestinians amid ongoing discussions about Israeli annexation plans. He emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the crisis, noting that approximately 2,900 children remain missing under rubble, urging that these figures should be recognized as human stories rather than mere statistics.
He further stressed that trade should prioritize fairness in market access, particularly given the restrictions on border crossings and the movement of goods. In this regard, he highlighted Jordan's crucial role in promoting Arab economic integration.
Prince El Hassan warned that the region is entering a phase of structural instability, where military escalation consistently affects economic flows and heightens risks. This situation, he stated, underscores Jordan's significance as a stable nation capable of navigating a turbulent regional environment.
Outlining strategic priorities, Prince El Hassan advocated for transforming transit activities into value-added economic opportunities, developing a data-driven logistics sector, and enhancing integration with Palestine through multi-corridor connectivity. He mentioned that while the global system is evolving towards a multipolar economy, the more profound transformation lies in creating a sustainable model grounded in equitable access, human dignity, and identity, aligned with a "people-first" development approach.
The Prince reiterated concepts he has long championed, particularly comprehensive human security that links economic, water, and social dimensions, emphasizing the need to "humanize statistics" to ensure development policies remain responsive to genuine human needs. He highlighted the importance of anticipating crises through data-driven analysis rather than merely reacting to them.
Engineer Nazmi Atmeh, Chair of the Forum's Board, addressed key challenges facing the business sector, including supply chain disruptions and energy shortages, emphasizing the necessity to strengthen economic cooperation and trade between Jordan and Palestine. He discussed growth opportunities despite ongoing restrictions.
Vice President Saleh Marqa noted that the trade potential between the two regions exceeds current levels, but logistical and political challenges have hindered the movement of goods and the number of operating trucks. He suggested practical initiatives to boost trade, focusing on sectors such as pharmaceuticals and food industries, increasing awareness of the Jordanian market, and addressing existing barriers.
Participants underscored the importance of developing sustainable financing tools, particularly developmental endowments, to support economic resilience. They emphasized the empowerment of youth as a vital driver of economic integration and called for translating proposals into actionable programs.
The session concluded with a call to build on such dialogues to strengthen the Jordanian-Palestinian economic partnership, enhance integration, and support regional stability amid unprecedented challenges.