Jordan is a reliable partner of Ukraine and the two countries hold a shared vision on a number of critical issues and meet all the requirements necessary for an enhanced bilateral partnership with a particular focus on trade relations and food security, said Dmytro Senik, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
In a press conference held at the Ukrainian embassy on Monday, Senik stated that Jordan and Ukraine stand for reglobalization and multilateralism as the only way for the international community to come on top of the challenges and risks associated with the post-COVID world. Both countries stand resolutely against any form of terrorism and extremism, and are vocal fighters for tolerance, international law and norms, he added.
Strategically, Ukraine plays a major role for the pan-European security and stability, while Jordan has been traditionally known to be a key cornerstone for the regional stability in the Middle East. Thus, both countries share a lot of responsibility and a lot of potential, Senik said.
Next year, the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. “This time has allowed us to strengthen the foundations of bilateral relations through active cooperation in trade, economic, political, military and security spheres,” he indicated.
He pointed out that the key driving force of bilateral cooperation in the political sphere is the dialogue at the level of heads of state between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and His Majesty King Abdullah II. “We are delighted that both Heads of States have a shared belief in the prospects of the Ukrainian-Jordanian partnership and actively coordinate to strengthen it,” he added.
In addition to political consultations, Senik’s visit to Jordan has a packed business agenda. During a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, they will hold a discussion on the practical steps of how Ukraine can contribute to increasing the level of efficiency of agricultural production of the Kingdom through cooperation in exchange of experience and technology, vocational training of Jordanian specialists in Ukrainian universities in relevant spheres.
With the Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship of Jordan, Senik will discuss ways of how Ukraine can become Jordan’s partner in developing e-governance, supporting entrepreneurship, online education and training of digital skills, applying IT solutions in industrial production in view of the strategic goal of the Kingdom to become a regional IT hub.
“We are going to extend the partnership network with the leading associations of Jordanian businessmen. We are planning to sign memorandums of understanding between the Council of Exporters and Investors under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and several leading Jordanian business associations, ” he said.
Senik said that he was pleased to see that the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have not critically affected the dynamics of bilateral trade, adding that the Ukrainian exports to Jordan steadily grow. Trade in goods between Ukraine and Jordan in the first 8 months of 2021 amounted to USD 129,714 million.
He stated that more or less 2 thousand Jordanian students annually study in Ukraine, mainly in technical, engineering and medical specialties. He expressed willingness to work closely with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Jordan to expand Jordanian students’ access to high-quality and relatively low cost educational services in Ukraine and remove existing barriers.
He added that opening of the full-fledged Jordanian embassy in Kyiv could become an effective tool for building permanent business linkages (in particular finding Ukrainian importers of Jordanian goods) and following up Jordanian students’ current issues.
Source: Jordan News Agency